This safari assists a private game reserve in the Eastern Cape Province with the responsible management of their cheetah population, while giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime hands on experience!

This safari affords clients the opportunity to be involved in a cheetah immobilisation, carried out by one of the African Vet Safaris Wildlife Vets, and the subsequent procedures – blood sampling, treatment and placing a tracking collar on the patient.

The time preceding and after the immobilisation allows time for traditional game drives and learning more about cheetah and other wildlife species, as well as preparing you for the immobilisation procedure.

Guests are given the opportunity to participate in the procedures being carried out, once the animal is immobilised, and it is thus safe to move closer. Guests have the option of a hands-on approach, or, if they prefer, simply observing from up close and getting those pictures of a lifetime!

Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime safari, while helping to conserve one of Africa’s endangered wildlife species through your participation……..

Day 1 – Tuesday, 25 January 2011

Arrive at Port Elizabeth airport in the morning – flights for your own arrangement. On arrival you will be met by a Brothers Safaris representative who will transfer you to Amakhala Game Reserve – approximately 45 minutes drive to your lodge. The transfer will leave the airport at 12.00 pm.

Early/late arrivals can be accommodated on request, but may incur a private transfer fee.

Check in to Leeuwenbosch/Shearer’s lodge on arrival and enjoy some lunch and time to acclimatise/freshen up.

Enjoy some leisure time and a late afternoon/evening game drive on Amakhala Game Reserve in an open Land Rover in search of their wildlife – rhino (white and black), elephant, cheetah, buffalo, lion, giraffe, black wildebeest, zebra, tortoise and over 16 antelope species. Watch the sun set while enjoying drinks and snacks, before searching for elusive nocturnal animals such as spotted hyena, lynx, porcupine and spring hare.

Back at the lodge we’ll review the programme for the rest of the safari, and enjoy drinks and dinner, before a good night’s rest.

Overnight in Amakhala Game Reserve at Leeuwenbosch Lodge.

Accommodation here is on a full board basis (excludes certain drinks and extras).                                                                                                                       

Amakhala Game Reserve is owned and run primarily by families that have been there for some five generations. Their ancestors were Frontier Settlers who settled in the Eastern Cape to farm sheep and cattle on the wild and often hostile Zuurveld. Today they are still there, in the now historic and hospitable Frontier Country, but today they run a Private Game Reserve. The reserve is home to a variety of species, including lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and numerous other antelope species. The vegetation and landscape are awe inspiring and the time spent in this reserve of approximately 7000 hectares will teach you a great deal about African wildlife.

Dr William Fowlds, one of our wildlife veterinarians, and his family own and run Leeuwenbosch which consists of the Country House and Shearers Lodge. Built in 1908 and set in its own lovely garden, the Country House is a large and beautiful home, which offers true country living in every sense. Both spacious and comfortable, it has four en-suite bedrooms and a newly added suite.

Shearers Lodge was originally built in 1930 and used for shearing and classing wool.

It has now been beautifully converted into four luxury en-suite bedrooms, one with a private lounge. All the rooms open on to a wide colonial verandah, overlooking indigenous gardens, rolling lawns and the quaintly charming Leeuwenbosch Chapel.

For more information and images, please visit http://www.amakhala.co.za/

Day 2 – Wednesday, 26 January 2011

After early morning tea and coffee, we set off early in search of cheetah. This morning the focus will be on this species and we will hopefully get a chance to spend some time viewing cheetah and learning about their habitat, feeding, social behaviour and the issues that affect their management and survival as one of Africa’s most endangered predators.

We return to the lodge later in the morning for breakfast/brunch.

After brunch there will be some informative talks on issues relating to cheetah immobilisation and conservation/management and the actual procedure, equipment, drugs, etc. This will also cover safety aspects and guests involvement in the procedure. Time permitting guests will be allowed to fire tranquiliser darts, loaded with water at a target!

Head out again late afternoon and enjoy another afternoon game drive on Amakhala, searching for wildlife not yet seen. Enjoy sundowners and snacks in the bush, before returning to the lodge for dinner.

Overnight Leeuwenbosch Lodge and have a good rest, if you can keep your mind off the excitement that awaits you in the morning…..

Day 3 – Thursday, 27 January 2011

After another early start we set off early morning to immobilise a cheetah on Amakhala Game Reserve.

Most dangerous wild animals need transmitter collars in order to monitor their movements on the reserve – living next to traditional farmers has inherent risks for both man and animal.  The batteries in these collars run flat necessitating collar replacement. Over and above this the Amakhala Research team also monitor the cheetah and record kills, movement on the reserve, etc. as part of the reserve’s management and research policy – this information will be shared with you during the safari.

The patient will be darted from a vehicle, if possible in view of the guests on the same or another game viewing vehicle. When the cheetah is immobilised and it is safe, guests will be allowed to leave their vehicle and join the vets, hands on! There will be an opportunity to help monitor and treat the patient. Of course there will be time for those photos of a lifetime too!

Once the procedures have been completed, we’ll reverse the immobilising drugs, as far as pharmacologically possible, and watch our patient recover.

Once adequately recovered to be safely left alone, we return to our lodge to rid ourselves of some of the adrenalin that is sure to have flooded our bodies, and to discuss the morning’s adventure….

Enjoy leisure time for the rest of the day.

If we have not covered any planned activities yet due to time constraints, we’ll do so at this stage.

If the cheetah could not be located or was in an inaccessible area, we will adapt the day’s plans and times to allow for another attempt later today.

Late afternoon we head our again to locate our patient and do a visual check up, making use of telemetry tracking. On route we enjoy other species we have not yet encountered. Enjoy sundowners in the bush for the last time tonight.

Return to our lodge late evening for drinks and dinner, and to relish the day’s experience and tales. Overnight Leeuwenbosch Lodge.

Day 4 – Friday, 28 January 2011

We start early again today, with tea and coffee before heading out on our last game drive, or simply lie in and wake to the sounds of the bush.

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before checking out at 11.00 am and transferring back to Port Elizabeth airport. Arrive at Port Elizabeth around 12.00 pm

*** END OF SERVICES***

 Costing

ZAR 15650-00 per person sharing. 

Single supplements may apply.

This cost is based on a minimum of 6 persons participating in total, and allows for a maximum of 8 participants. Larger groups may be accommodated on request.

This is inclusive of: All ground transfers; accommodation on a full board basis (including 3 meals daily, teas and coffees, and certain drinks - house wines, local brand  beers, soft drinks and bottled water); all activities as laid out in the itinerary; the services of an African Vet Safaris Wildlife Vet and the services of local guides and staff, as indicated; tourism levies and Government VAT.

Cost excludes: Additional optional activities; any drinks not included in the above (Premium brands and spirits); items of a personal nature; gratuities, and travel and medical (compulsory) insurance.

Departure Dates:

25 – 28 January 2011

Tailor-made/exclusive departures and alternate dates are available on request.

Please note:

• Arrangements (transfers/accommodation) can be made for early arrivals from abroad/late departures, but these costs are not included in the itinerary.
• This program is a guide and all these activities will be done, but not necessarily in this order, as cheetah don’t read that well!!
• Every effort will be made to ensure that the client participates in the darting procedure, as laid out in the itinerary, but the animal's welfare will not be compromised at any stage, and a procedure may have to be aborted and the animal revived in certain circumstances. The animal is the primary reason for this safari, and we need to bear that in mind and respect the patient.

Please note the following regarding the darting/immobilisation procedures:

While every endeavour is made to locate and dart the animal in question, factors such as severe weather conditions or illness involving the animal; inability to locate or approach the animal close enough due to bush conditions; failure of the animal to come to a bait, etc; which are all unpredictable, may prevent the darting from going ahead. Every effort will be made to ensure that the client participates in the darting procedure, or similar, as laid out in the itinerary, but the animal's welfare will not be compromised at any stage, and a procedure may have to be aborted and the animal revived in certain circumstances. This may shorten the procedure/down time and hence the close up experience for the client. Brothers Safaris, its staff, and appointed agents will not be held liable for any losses incurred by a client as a result of such situations, and accept no responsibility whatsoever. Every endeavour is made to ensure the health and safety of all our clients, but any procedure with a potentially dangerous wild animal and veterinary drug is of such a nature that certain circumstances may be beyond our control. Should any such situation arise which leads to death or injury due to any reason whatsoever, Brothers Safaris, its staff, and appointed agents, will not be held liable for any losses incurred as a direct, or indirect, result of such a situation, or our actions in such a situation.

Terms and conditions for booking

• A 30% non-refundable deposit is payable at confirmation of booking
• Balance of 70% payable 56 days before commencement
• 60% Refund for cancellation 42 - 56 days prior to commencement
• 50% Refund for cancellation 28 - 42 days prior to commencement
• Cancellation within 28 days subject to full forfeiture
• Payment of deposit implies acceptance of terms and conditions
• Cancellation must be made in writing to Brothers Safaris
• An administration fee of ZAR 500-00 per person will be charged for amendments made after confirmation
• Brothers Safaris reserves the right to use a similar lodge/hotel if the intended lodge/hotel is not available, this may affect pricing
• The itinerary costing is subject to availability and currency fluctuations
• Terms and Conditions are subject to change without notice