THE “BIG CAT” AFRICAN VET SAFARI – 2008 & 2009

Come face to face with the magnificent cheetah, the leopard, African Wild Dog, African Elephant, and of course the mighty lion...

This safari takes guests behind the scenes and gives them the opportunity to interact with researchers, ecologists, Vets and guides while discovering the fantastic world of wildlife in Southern Africa.

Guided throughout the safari by Dr Peter Brothers, Wildlife Veterinarian and registered Tourist Guide, you will be given a unique insight into the world of wildlife.

Not only do you have a fantastic time, but your participation also helps save the endangered cheetah and other species!

Join us for the experience of a lifetime and know that your dreams about Africa will never be the same...

Day 1 – Saturday

Arrive at Johannesburg International Airport (OR Tambo) – flights for your own arrangement.
On arrival transfer from Johannesburg International Airport to your nearby hotel, via the free shuttle service provided by the hotel.
Your accommodation for the night is on a bed & breakfast basis.

Enjoy dinner at your hotel complex – for your own expense.

Your hotel is a sensational hotel, casino and convention resort that combines timeless classical elegance and sheer excitement, conveniently situated alongside Johannesburg International Airport. This 80-key three-star select-services hotel offers you cosy, comfortable and affordable accommodation and delightful service. All guests enjoy breakfast at the charming Primavera Restaurant and access to a magnificent variety of facilities.

The rooms are furnished with two upholstered armchairs, a coffee table and a large desk. The en-suite bathrooms have showers over the bath, and dressing area is equipped with a hand basin in a marble vanity. Other amenities include a hairdryer and a personal key-pad safe. The radio/TV offers a range of channels.

Day 2 - Sunday

After breakfast at the hotel (included in safari cost) you will be met at 10am by Brothers Safaris, and transfer to De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre, just North West of Pretoria (approximately 1 hour drive).

Check in and enjoy lunch at the De Wildt Cheetah Lodge.

Enjoy a private afternoon tour of the facility, with the likely opportunity to have your photo taken with one of De Wildt’s “Cheetah Ambassadors” – proceeds from photographs go to De Wildt’s Outreach Education Programme.

Sundowners (sunset drinks) are followed by dinner back at the lodge.
Overnight at De Wildt Cheetah Lodge.

De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife 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-the only one in the world with this approval!

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.
A renovated old farm homestead, the lodge has eight suites, each individually decorated to highlight the species that are bred at the Centre, or the environment. Each meal is a sumptuous experience. Brothers Safaris rates this lodge 3 star.

Day 3 - Monday

Early breakfast at the lodge.

After breakfast the morning will be spent observing, and where possible, assisting with the immobilisation of cheetah/wild dog, or other species at the centre that require immobilisation for management reasons or disease control/Veterinary treatment.
These procedures will be carried out by a Veterinarian who will allow you to participate where possible/practical/safe. Should you prefer, you are welcome to just watch and get those close-up photos of a lifetime!
In the unlikely event that there are no procedures that need doing, we will spend some time with staff observing and, where practical, assisting with daily management tasks at the centre.

Return to the nearby lodge for lunch.

After lunch we transfer to the Elephant Sanctuary - approximately 30 minutes by road - where we will participate in an afternoon tour of the facility and meet the
individual elephants in a hands-on experience.

The Elephant Sanctuary is not a rescue centre for elephants (although most of its residents have been rescued) but a commercial centre that accomplishes great work with the resident elephants and guests, in terms of the experience and education they offer through their passion for these amazing animals. A knowledgeable guide conducts this “hands-on tour” on foot, and you are sure to leave the sanctuary feeling enlightened.

Return to De Wildt Cheetah Lodge early evening for dinner.
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.

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.

Enjoy packed lunch en route.

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.
Our stay here is on a full board basis and a reasonable amount of local drinks - soft and alcoholic - are included. Brothers Safaris rates this lodge 3 star.

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.

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.
You have to work hard at your game viewing here, but this offers a true sense of Africa and its wildlife!

Various research projects are planned/in progress, and mostly focus on monitoring and data collection on various species such as the African Wild Dog, elephant and lion. The Reserve’s best-known programme is the African Wild Dog programme, which has already been running for 6 years and is set to continue. The project focuses on the resident wild dogs and their role in sustainable Eco-Tourism. An integrated predator research project is also underway in the reserve and surrounding area, under the auspices of the Endangered Wildlife Trust and any veterinary work we do while here assists this project. Participation also ensures additional donations to this project.

We will join researchers this morning and learn more about their work and the skills of tracking wildlife using telemetry, as well as the conservation issues surrounding this endangered species, and the veterinary aspects and involvement of veterinarians.
If there is any veterinary work that needs doing with the dogs, we may do this at the same time.

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 immobilisation and conservation/management and the actual procedure, equipment, drugs, etc. This will also cover safety aspects and guests involvement in the procedure.

Mid to late afternoon we return to the reserve for the immobilisation procedure on one of the lion requiring management procedures such as contraception or collar replacement. Depending on the individual we may be able to “free dart” without a bait and having to call him/her up under the cover of darkness, or we may have to set up a bait in the area we expect to find our patient and try coax him/her onto our bait so we can dart.
It could be a long night and there is no predicting exactly how things will go ...but you are sure to return to the lodge late evening with adrenalin pumping through your body, after all, it is not every day that you handle a wild lion!

Enjoy dinner and a good night’s sleep, if you can ...

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.

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!

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 lion immobilisation the night before, we will again attempt an immobilisation tonight.

Return to the lodge for dinner and to overnight.

Day 7 - Friday

After breakfast we check out and head across the border into Botswana.
We check into our new camp late morning and enjoy some leisure time before and after lunch.

Late afternoon we head out on a game drive into this new environment with our local ranger and Dr Peter Brothers 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.

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 ...
(Any guests who do not wish to participate in the walk, or are unable to, will be taken on a game drive with other lodge guests during this time, subject to availability; Dr Brothers might not accompany you on this activity)
For those who have had enough activities, sleep in and wake to the sounds of Africa ....

Return to the lodge mid morning for breakfast and check out.

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.

Besides income generated from the safari, further donations are made on behalf of each participant to:
1. The De Wildt Cheetah & Wildlife Centre
2. The Endangered Wildlife Trust Predator Research Project
3. The predator and elephant research projects in Botswana

Costing:

This safari is available at a cost of ZAR26 000-00 per person sharing.
Single supplements apply – subject to availability.

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 (Veterinarian Dr Peter Brothers 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 (exept at our second lodge), dinner and lunch on day 1, lunch on day 9, any visa costs applicable for Botswana, any optional additional activities, items of a personal nature, gratuities, travel insurance (medical insurance compulsory) and flights.

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.

Departure Dates:

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

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:
While every endeavour is made to locate and dart the animal in question, factors such as severe weather conditions or illness involving the animal, which are 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 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.