| The Big Cat Safari 2012 |
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Day 1 – Saturday
Arrive at Johannesburg International Airport (OR Tambo) – flights for your own arrangement.
Enjoy dinner at your hotel complex – for your own expense.
If you prefer to transfer directly to De Wildt on day 1 and avoid the night in the city, this can be arranged subject to availability and at an additional cost.
Contemporary convenience at its best... your 3-star Hotel offers stylish and comfortable rooms as well as a "group-friendly" experience for corporate, convention and leisure guests. The hotel offers a variety of room configurations and amenities which include LCD flat screen TV, satellite DSTV channels for all languages, tea and coffee stations, secure internet connections, laptop safe, working desk with business-convenient plug points. The hotel's clean and modern façade is complimented by a private and sheltered pool terrace, set in a beautifully landscaped garden, providing guests with food and beverage service throughout the day.
Day 2 - Sunday
After breakfast at the hotel (included in safari cost) you will be met at 10 am by Brothers Safaris, and transfer to the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, just North West of Pretoria (approximately 1 hour drive).
Check in and enjoy lunch at the De Wildt Cheetah Lodge.
Sundowners (sunset drinks) are followed by dinner back at the lodge.
Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre is renowned for its breeding success of rare and endangered species. The very rare King Cheetah was first bred here and similar success was achieved in breeding the Wild Dog, Brown Hyena, Blue Duiker, Suni Antelope and various species of vultures. Visitors to the Centre can see these animals up close and learn interesting facts about their nature, habitat and way of life when taking a tour in an open vehicle, conducted by a knowledgeable guide. The centre is a CITES approved cheetah breeding centre.
De Wildt Cheetah Lodge is situated just north west of Pretoria, in the De Wildt area. The lodge is set in lush green gardens on an adjacent property to the breeding Centre, nestled in the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountain range. This presents a landscape of open veld (bush), many indigenous trees, and a panoramic view to the north.
Day 3 - Monday
Early breakfast at the lodge.
After breakfast we transfer to the centre where the morning will be spent observing, and where possible, assisting with the management tasks at the centre. Staff will take guests behind the scenes for a look at how things are run. Return to the nearby lodge for lunch.
After lunch we will head out to visit the local craft market where you will have an opportunity to stock up on some mementos and gifts to take back home with you. Return to the lodge after your shopping expedition and start packing for an departure from De Wildt early tomorrow morning. Enjoy some leisure time at the lodge. Dinner and overnight at De Wildt Cheetah Lodge.
Day 4 - Tuesday
After early breakfast we transfer to the neighbouring De Wildt Cheetah Centre to witness a “cheetah run”! The ambassador cheetahs are exercised regularly, using a lure to invoke their hunting instinct, as part of a new programme to exercise them and in so doing hopefully also eliminate gastritis which is an ongoing problem for captive cheetah. Please ensure that your bags are packed & ready as we will depart on our journey immediately after the cheetah run.
After the run we check out of the De Wildt Cheetah Lodge and transfer to the far north west of the country - approximately a 6 hour drive through some remote areas of South Africa. After the run we check out of the De Wildt Cheetah Lodge and transfer to the far north west of the country - approximately a 6 hour drive through some remote areas of South Africa. We will stop to pick up a take away lunch en route – for your own account. Check in mid-afternoon and enjoy a short game drive (time and mood dependent after the day’s drive) and sundowners before returning to camp for an evening at leisure with dinner and overnight at our lodge. Our lodge is situated on a sandstone ridge offering guests breathtaking views. The lodge is built of stone and thatch and offers simple luxury. All rooms are en-suite, air conditioned, and are set a short distance away from the main lodge area. While staying here we have exclusive use of the lodge.
Day 5 - Wednesday
Early morning light breakfast/tea/coffee followed by a transfer into the neighbouring nature reserve (VLNR) which we’ll be working in.
Predator work at VLNR is presently in the balance, as there is some uncertainty regarding the future of the lion population currently on the reserve. However various research projects are in progress, and mostly focus on monitoring and data collection on predators and elephant. The predator research project falls under the auspices of the Endangered Wildlife Trust and any veterinary work we might undertake with the predators while we are here, assists this project. Participation also ensures additional donations to this project. We will join reserve staff this morning – subject to which projects are running at the time of the safari and who is available - and learn more about ongoing projects and the skills of tracking wildlife using telemetry, as well as the conservation issues surrounding endangered species, and the veterinary aspects and involvement of veterinarians. Return to the lodge later in the morning for brunch (and some leisure time). After brunch there will be some informative talks on issues relating to lion/predator immobilisation and conservation/management and the actual procedure, equipment, drugs, etc. This will also cover safety aspects and guests involvement in the procedure. Any veterinary work which we may be able to do will be undertaken this afternoon, failing which we will head out on a game drive onto the reserve. Enjoy dinner back at the lodge and a good night’s sleep.
Day 6 - Thursday
Early morning light breakfast/tea/coffee followed by a game drive on one of the two local nature reserves, depending on how the game viewing and tracking progressed the day before.
Return to the lodge late morning for brunch and some leisure time.
Mid to late afternoon we head out again, this time to enjoy a game drive in a different area and sundowners in one of the most magnificent spots in Africa! If we have not been successful with our planned immobilisation the night before, we will again attempt an immobilisation tonight.
Return to the lodge for dinner and to overnight.
Day 7 - Friday
After late breakfast we check out and head across the border into Botswana at 1.00pm. If the river is in flood we may have to cross the river by cable car…. Another adventure…
We drive through the reserve for approximately 45 minutes to get to our camp and check into our new camp mid afternoon and enjoy some leisure time before high tea.
Late afternoon we head out on game drive into this new environment with our local ranger and your Brothers Safaris vet to explore, and in search of more wildlife…….and new species not yet seen….
We enjoy sundowners in the bush before returning to camp for dinner and a good night’s rest.
Please note: Some foreign nationals require visas to enter Botswana and it is the responsibility of the guest to obtain these as required by the Botswana government.
During our stay we explore some 75,000 acres / 30,000 hectares of pristine privately owned game land, whish has been set aside to preserve the unique, prodigious features of this exhilarating continent. The area covers a diverse wilderness of savannah, riverine forests, marshland, open plains and sandstone outcrops, and is the home of no less than seven of Africa's giants: the African elephant, the lion, giraffe, the baobab tree, the eland, the ostrich, and the kori bustard.
Nestled in the remote northern area of the reserve lies our luxurious tented camp. With never more than sixteen guests, this idyllic getaway provides accommodation in the form of eight twin tents. Although rustic in character every facility is provided. The tents are insect-proofed, have comfortable beds and each has an en-suite shower and W.C. facility. There is an open sided thatch deck where meals are served and a traditional boma for intimate camp¬fire dinners. This camp also contains a very welcome plunge pool. Your total comfort is the priority of your hosts. While on game drives, you will be taken care of by your ranger and on your return, the camp staff will gladly attend to your every need.
Day 8 - Saturday
Early morning tea and coffee is followed by a game drive, this time with a local resident researcher, the focus is elephant…… Learn more about this species in the wild, in particular in this unique environment. Of course there will be other species to view along the way too…
Return to the lodge late morning for breakfast and leisure time to relax and enjoy your surroundings and facilities.
Enjoy a late afternoon game drive with another of the resident researchers, this time we focus on the elusive but exquisite leopard, but also taking in the other game which we may not yet have encountered during our stay. This is chance to hopefully witness hunting behaviour….
Return to camp after sundowners for dinner and to overnight.
Day 9 - Sunday
Early morning tea and coffee are followed by a bush walk, who knows what you may come across…..
Return to the lodge mid morning for breakfast and leisure time.
After high tea we head out again on a game drive in search of any species still not seen…. Return to camp after sundowners for dinner and to overnight.
Day 10 - Monday
Early morning tea and coffee is followed by a short game drive, or for those who have had enough activities, sleep in and wake to the sounds of Africa……….
Late morning departure back to Johannesburg International Airport to arrive in time for connecting flights back home. Lunch en route for own expense.
Your safari ends at Johannesburg International Airport, at around 5pm.
If you are flying home today please do not book a flight departing before 8 pm. For guests not departing today, accommodation arrangements can be made on your behalf – not included in safari cost. Single supplements apply. This 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 special request.
This cost includes board and accommodation as laid out above, all land transfers in a comfortable air-conditioned mini-bus, guides (including a Wildlife Veterinarian throughout the safari, and various local guides and researchers), all tours, presentations and activities as laid out above, entrance fees, VAT and Government Tourism levies.
Not included are drinks, dinner and lunch on day 1, lunch on day 4, lunch on day 10, any visa costs applicable for Botswana, any optional additional activities, items of a personal nature, gratuities, travel insurance (medical insurance compulsory) and flights.
Departure Dates 2011:
2012: 14 - 23 April 6 - 15 October
Please note that due to the nature of this experience, times and plans may need to be adjusted slightly as we proceed, especially since wildlife do not read itineraries very well! We will however always endeavour to complete all activities as laid out, but please bear with us should changes become necessary.
Please note the following regarding the darting/other procedure/s:
Terms and conditions for booking
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Come face to face with the magnificent cheetah, the leopard, African Wild Dog, African Elephant, and of course the mighty lion...
Enjoy a private afternoon tour of the facility, with the likely opportunity to have your photo taken with one of the centre’s “Cheetah Ambassadors”.
VLNR is 34 000 hectares in size, and home to many species of antelope, giraffe, lion, African Wild dogs, leopard, elephant, white and black rhino, and many more. The vegetation consists mostly of Mopane scrub, which presents a harsh landscape and does not favour all species, or only carries low numbers of grazers. 
After brunch we’ll explain how the dart gun system works and guests will be allowed to load tranquiliser darts with water and fire them at a target!
