Late afternoon you head out on a game drive on Amakhala Game Reserve in an open game viewing vehicle, with your local guide, 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.

Return to the lodge early evening where we’ll enjoy dinner and review the programme for the safari.

Overnight in Amakhala Game Reserve at Leeuwenbosch Lodge.

Accommodation here is on a full board basis, including drinks (excludes certain premium drinks, spirits 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 Capeto 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 vets) 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 veranda, 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 – Sunday

After early morning tea and coffee, we set off early in search of rhino and elephant…... This morning the focus will be on these species and we will spend some time viewing them in their natural habitat and learning about their habitat, feeding, social behaviour and the issues that affect their management and survival in Africa.

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

After brunch there will be some informative talks on issues relating to Veterinary Science and Wildlife and Elephant immobilisation, also covering aspects such as the conservation/management of elephant and the actual procedure, equipment, drugs, etc. This will also cover safety aspects and guests involvement in the procedure.

We’ll also take a look at dart gun systems and darts and try our hand at darting a target.

After the talks we’ll head out again late afternoon to enjoy another afternoon game driveon Amakhala, searching for wildlife not yet seen, and also explaining telemetry trackingand practice our hand at this skill. Enjoy sundowners and snacks in the bush, before returning to the lodge for dinner.

Overnight Leeuwenbosch Lodge.

Day 3 – Monday

After early breakfast we head for nearby Addo Elephant National Park today, a drive of approximately 40 minutes.

We’ll enjoy an open vehicle game drive through the main park conservation area and discuss aspects of wildlife management in national conservation areas, as we go.

We will also visit the bomas (wildlife holding facility) in the park and if we are lucky will spend some time with South African National Parks staff discussing conservation issues in the park, in particular issues relating to their large and unique elephant population – this depends on staff schedules and availability at the time.

Lunch is at the park restaurant – for your own expense.  There will also be some time to explore the park shop and buy some souvenirs to take home. 

Addo Elephant National Parklies deep within the shadows of the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape. The original Elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area - today this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 420 elephants, 450 Cape buffalo, black rhino, a variety of antelope species, as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. For the first time in over 100 years, lion and spotted hyena were reintroduced to the park in 2005.

After lunch, en route back to Amakhala, we will pass through one of the poorest villages in South Africa, Paterson, where we visit a local Aids orphanage led by its dedicated staff, to learn more about the plight of these children in the context of the HIV pandemic in South Africa. Donations of clothes or financial contributions would be much appreciated. Purchase of items the children and the Trust need can be facilitated in advance through Brothers Safaris purchasing these goods, and guests handing such purchases over on the day of their visit.  This saves on packing space and ensures we purchase relevant items for the children.

Return to Amakhala Game Reserve late afternoon for some leisure time and to enjoy dinner in the evening.

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

Day 4 – Tuesday

Set off early morning, after tea/coffee/a light breakfast, to attempt to immobilise an elephant and place a tracking collar….. most likely at one of the nearby Eastern Cape Private Game Reserves – maximum drive time normally one hour each way.

The final venue and work to be done will be finalised nearer the time, but the most likely scenario is that a collar will be placed to collect data as part of a research project relating to behaviour and/or spatial distribution of elephant in different vegetation habitats. This data will benefit the participating Private Game Reserves in the Eastern Cape in managing their expanding elephant populations.

On arrival final preparations are made and then the elephant will be located and darted – either from a helicopter or a vehicle, depending on the terrain, etc.

When the elephant is immobilised and it is safe, guests will be allowed to leave their vehicle and join the duty veterinarian, hands on! There will be an opportunity to help monitor and treat the elephant/help with procedures. Of course there will be time for those photos of a lifetime too!

Once we are done we’ll reverse the elephant’s immobilising drugs, and watch him/her recover. Hopefully he heads off in a direction away from us!

We will take a packed lunch along with us today, which we will enjoy after the immobilisation procedure is complete. 

We return to Leeuwenbosch Lodge in the mid afternoon to relax and rid ourselves of some of the adrenalin that is sure to have coursed through our bodies and to discuss the morning’s adventure …

Should we arrive back earlier we may head out for another game drive.

Dinner and overnight at Leeuwenbosch Lodge.

Please note: The elephant immobilisation is subject to confirmation nearer the time, pending a local university finalising the research project, but in the unlikely event that this is not possible, another veterinary procedure will be scheduled for today.

Day 5 – Wednesday

After our early morning tea or coffee we will head out on a game drive to the Bushmans River, which runs through the Reserve, where we will enjoy a river cruise and experience the bird life which is prevalent along the river (dependent on water levels), before returning to the lodge for breakfast.

We enjoy breakfast back at the lodge before checking out. Transfer to another Eastern Cape reserve, approximately 1.5 hours drive away.

Check into our new tented camp and enjoy some leisure time.

Late afternoon we head out on a game drive in our new environment, with our local guide and African Vet Safaris vet, to explore the scenery and search for wildlife.

Enjoy sundowners before returning to camp for an evening of leisure and to enjoy dinner in our new camp.

This Private Game Reserve consists of five thousand five hundred hectares with hilly topography and dense thickets, interspersed with mosaics of grass, bush and abundant wildlife. The reserve is very diverse with stunning nature scenes from the many vantage points. The varied habitat types support the tremendously rich array of plant and animal life, many endemic to the area.

There are 78 mammal species present within the reserve. A wide variety of birds are to be found on the property and to date there have been 245 birds listed in the area. A wide variety of reptiles, insects as well as some endemic plants species are still to be identified.

The Luxury Tent Camp offers an intimate safari experience, located within the heart of the game reserve. In keeping with the reserve’s Green environment policy, the camp is entirely powered by solar energy and is designed to capture the splendour of the surrounding valley. The four luxury tents are spacious and offer classic safari luxury, with well appointed en suite bathrooms and private verandas.

Intimate guest areas include an elegant central dining tent and a traditional boma for those beautiful star lit evenings around the fire, further enhancing your safari experience. The friendly local staff offer charming service, in true Eastern Cape spirit, and their passion for the reserve will delight guests from all over the world. The chef will provide first class South African Cuisine including coffee and traditional rusks to start your day and a hearty brunch after your early morning activity. Late afternoon high tea, at the camp, is the perfect time to enjoy the sounds of the birds and view the brilliant afternoon sunlight filtering through the valley. A sumptuous three course dinner prepared by our chef is the ideal way to end your day, with a large range of South African beverages available to compliment your meals.

Take respite from the heat on those hot African days in the camp splash pool.

Day 6 – Thursday

After early morning tea/coffee, we head out on a bush walk on the game reserve, giving us a totally different perspective on things. If we are lucky we will have the opportunity to track rhino on foot too…..

Return to the camp for brunch mid to late morning.

After brunch we enjoy a talk by a local conservationist on rhino management and conservation issues, with special reference to black rhino. We also discuss rhino immobilisation and the actual immobilisation procedure planned for the next day in order to ensure that everyone gets the most from the experience in a manner that is safe for the patient, and safe and enjoyable for the guests.

Enjoy some leisure time before we head out on a late afternoon game drive again, or just relax to the sounds of the bush in camp.

Dinner is enjoyed in camp and then another night’s sleep under canvas, with the knowledge that another immobilisation awaits tomorrow and that no two immobilisations are ever the same…..

Day 7 – Friday

After another early start, the team heads out into a nearby game reserve to locate the patient(s)…

The moment of truth arrives when we dart the rhino from a helicopter….. (executed by one of our wildlife veterinarians) probably a black rhino…. 

Once the rhino is safely immobilised, you will have the experience of your life while assisting with the various procedures – ear notching for positive identification and management reasons, and to help combat poaching, and also micro-chipping and blood sampling for research purposes - all the while monitoring the status of the patient.

All being well, there will be plenty of photo opportunities as you get hands-on with one of Africa’s most endangered species…..

Once the procedures are done, guests retreat to the safety of the nearby vehicle while the rhino recovers and walks off into the bush, often a little disgruntled!

We will attempt to immobilise and work with two rhino per safari, all being well.

After the immobilisation and the rhino’s recovery, guests return to the camp to reflect on the morning’s activities, after all, it is not every day you get to work with one of Africa’s most endangered species….

Enjoy lunch, and some leisure time.

Head out late afternoon on your last afternoon game drive looking for any species not yet viewed in the preceding days.

We enjoy sundowners for the last time, before heading back to camp to enjoy dinner and the day’s tales. Enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep after the day’s excitement….

Day 8 – Saturday

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 brunch in camp before checking out at 11.00 am and transferring back to Port Elizabeth airport. Arrive at Port Elizabeth around 1.30 pm.

*** END OF SERVICES***

Costing

ZAR 31900-00 per person sharing. 

Single supplements may apply.

This cost is based on a total of 8 guests participating in the safari.  Different size groups may be accommodated on request.

This is inclusive of: All ground transfers; accommodation on a full board basis (including all meals, and certain drinks at Leeuwenbosch Lodge only - 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; drinks at the second venue and dinks not included at Leeuwenbosch; items of a personal nature; gratuities, and travel and medical (compulsory) insurance.

Departure Dates:

06 – 13 November 2010

26 February – 05 March 2011

27 August – 03 September 2011

05 – 12 November 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 Elephant & Rhino’s 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