:: AFRICA ADVENTURES ::

This safari assists a private reserve in northern South Africa with the responsible monitoring of their black rhino population, while giving guests a once-in-a-lifetimehands on experience!This safari affords clients the opportunity to be involved in a black rhino immobilisation procedure (hopefully at least two animals per safari!) in order to place atracking device in the horn for monitoring, microchip the horns and body to helpcombat poaching, and ear notch for better identification of individuals and thusbetter management. The procedure will be carried out by Dr Peter Brothers - Wildlife.Veterinarian and registered tourist guide, and one of your hosts throughout the safari. The time preceding and after the immobilisation allows time for traditional gamedrives and learning more about black rhino in general, as well as preparing you for the immobilisation.Guests are given the opportunity to participate in the procedures being carried out,once the patient 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!Guest participation covers all veterinary and implant costs.So come join us for the experience of a lifetime and contribute to the conservation of an endangered species!

Day 1 - Thursday
This safari departs early morning from Johannesburg International Airport and the drive takes us approximately 5 hours north. We arrive at our lodge early afternoon and settle in.Enjoy some leisure time in the beautiful surroundings and high tea before a late afternoon/evening game drive to introduce guests to the reserve and its wildlife. Enjoy sundowners before returning to camp for an evening at leisure with dinner at our lodge. The Game Reserve is a vast tract of 190 square kilometres of privately owned African bush - bushveld savannah - forming part of the Limpopo Valley in the northern part of South Africa.The reserve is home to 45 mammal species, with various rare and endangered species, including black and white rhinoceros, cheetah, sable and roan antelope. Other mammals of particular interest include leopard, Cape buffalo, brown hyaena, caracal, serval, jackal, aardwolf, ant bear and bat-eared fox. There are around 300 species of birds and numerous reptile species including the impressive African rock python.

The comfortable accommodation comprises:
An 8 bed house with large thatch outdoor living area and swimming pool, situated in an open plains area with a lot of activity at the nearby waterhole. A tented camp consisting of four individual en-suite safari tents on decks, situated on a hill with unforgettable views. The camp runs on a combination of solar, gas and generator power. Accommodation will be selected to best suit the group and can be described as 3 star. There is no public access to the reserve, so you will be assured of privacy andexclusivity, whichever camp you select for your stay.

Day 2 - Friday
Early morning light breakfast/tea/coffee is followed by a game drive on the reserve,focusing on the black rhino. We will be accompanied by a local guide and thus gain a good insight into the species in this environment. Of course we are bound to come across several of the other wildlife species found in the reserve too. We return to the lodge late morning for brunch. After brunch there will be some informative talks on issues relating to black rhino immobilisation and conservation/management issues, 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 load tranquiliser darts with waterand fire them at a target! (This activity is time dependent today may be done on Saturday as it can take quite a while.) Mid to late afternoon we return to the reserve for another game drive, taking in the other wildlife species which we may not yet have encountered during our stay. Return to camp after sundowners for dinner and to overnight.

Day 3 - Saturday
This is the day we have all been waiting for, and we set out early morning after tea/coffee and snacks. We head into the area of the reserve in which we anticipate finding the specific black rhino that need procedures doing. Once located, the black rhino will be darted from a helicopter by Dr Brothers. This is a tense moment since the black rhino could go down in a bad area. Once the patient is secure and it is determined that the area is safe, guests will beallowed to alight from their game drive vehicles and assist with basic procedures, aswell as just examining the patient from up close, hands-on. There will of course be time for photos since the whole procedure, until we wake the patient, takes approximately an hour. Once our patient is safely back up on his/her feet, we head back to camp, no doubt filled with adrenalin and smiles! We return to the lodge for brunch and leisure time for the rest of the day. If we have not covered any aspects yet due to time constraints, or guests want more talks/interaction, then we’ll happily oblige. After high tea we head out to try locate our patient and do a visual check up, whileenjoying a game drive on route. We enjoy sundowners in the bush for the last time, and return to our lodge early evening. We enjoy dinner in camp and are sure to spend some time sitting around the fire discussing the day’s experiences!

Day 4 - Sunday
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 bus. Brunch is enjoyed at the lodge, before checking 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.

Costing:
This safari is available at a cost of £1000.00 per person sharing. Single supplements apply – subject to availability.This is based on 8 persons participating in total. 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), all tours, presentations and activities as laid out above, entrance fees, VAT and Government Tourism levies.Not included are drinks, lunch on day 4, 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 black rhino 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:
9 - 12 October 2008
30 October – 2 November 2008

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

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.

ELEPHANT IMMOBILISATION SAFARIS – 2008 & 2009

This safari assists a private reserve in Botswana with the responsible monitoring of their elephant population, while giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime hands on experience!This safari affords clients the opportunity to be involved in an elephant immobilisation procedure in order to place a tracking collar on the elephant, which is vital for monitoring as part of a conservation based research program. The procedure will be carried out by a local veterinarian, with Dr Peter Brothers (Wildlife Veterinarian and registered tourist guide, and one of your hosts throughout the safari) close at hand to assist clients and the veterinarian. The elephant on this reserve are being monitored to try answer some key questions with regard to their impact on their environment and to try establish factors that naturally limit their numbers.The time preceding and after the immobilisation allows time for traditional gamedrives and learning more about elephant in general, as well as preparing you for the immobilisation.Guests are given the opportunity to participate in the procedures being carried out,once the patient 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! Guest participation covers all veterinary and satellite tracking collar costs, which are very expensive and unattainable for the project without assistance. So come join us for the experience of a lifetime and do something for wildlife research and conservation!

Day 1 - Monday
This safari departs early morning from Johannesburg International Airport and the drive takes us approximately 6 hours north to the Botswana border. We arrive at our lodge early afternoon, after clearing the border post, and settle in. Enjoy some leisure time in the beautiful surroundings and high tea before a late afternoon /evening game drive to introduce guests to the reserve and its wildlife. Enjoy sundowners before returning to camp for an evening at leisure with dinner at our lodge.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.Our luxurious camp (5 star) offers 14 tastefully and authentically decorated suites. Each suite is furnished with either two three-quarter beds and a day bed, or two double beds and a day bed, expansive en suite bathroom with shower, bath, his and hers basins, and a second W.C.A private lounge area overlooks the unfenced surrounding bush and 24 hour temperature control completes the comfort of each suite. The camp is elevated around a waterhole and offers excellent game viewing opportunities from within the camp itself. The dining area, stunning day lounge and bar provide diverse lookouts from which to enjoy and appreciate the environment.Facilities within the camp include a swimming pool, an air-conditioned lounge and dining room and a lala-palm enclosed African boma, in which sumptuous dinners are savored under the magnificent African night sky and around a blazing fire. A well appointed curio shop complements the facilities. The "piece de resistance" of the camp is the research room: a base for the scientific research conducted on the reserve, and a magnifying glass though which the animals and history of the reserve can be examined.

Day 2 - Tuesday
Early morning light breakfast/tea/coffee followed by a game drive in the reserve,focusing on the mighty elephant. We will be accompanied by the local elephantresearcher and thus gain an incredible insight into the species and in particular their role in this environment. Of course we are bound to come across several of the other wildlife species found in the reserve too.

The basics of the research programme:
Elephant numbers are increasing in many parts of their range. In all of these areas, changes in habitat structure and composition are being observed. Elephants are commonly perceived as the major agents driving these changes. Emerging from discussions between wildlife managers on the effects of limiting elephant numbers and casual agents of change in elephant habitats is a realization that there is a severe lack of knowledge concerning four main issues. Firstly how elephant populations are limited; secondly, the relative importance of other herbivore species, climate and fire as determinants of systems structure, composition and dynamics; thirdly, how coexistence between elephants and trees was achieved in the past; and fourthly, how vegetation structure and composition influences overall biodiversity. This research program aims to address all four of these areas of knowledge. We return to the lodge late morning for brunch. After brunch there will be some informative talks on issues relating to elephant immobilisation and conservation/management issues, 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 load tranquiliser darts with water and firethem at a target! (This activity is time dependent today may be done on Wednesday as it can take quite a while.) Mid to late afternoon we return to the reserve for another game drive, this timeaccompanied by another local researcher, but focusing on the elusive but exquisite leopard, also taking in the other wildlife species 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 3 - Wednesday
This is the day we have all been waiting for, and we set out early morning after tea/coffee and snacks, heading into the area of the reserve in which we anticipate finding the specific elephant(s) that need their collars changing/collaring. Once located, the elephant will be darted from a vehicle by a veterinarian. This is a tense moment since the elephant could go down badly and there could be other elephant in the vicinity, making approach of the immobilised animal dangerous. Once the patient is secure and it is determined that the area is safe, guests will beallowed to alight from their game drive vehicles and assist with basic procedures, aswell as just examining the patient from up close, hands-on….. There will of course be time for photos since the whole procedure, until we wake the patient, takes approximately an hour. Once our patient is safely back up on his/her feet, we head back to camp, no doubt filled with adrenalin and smiles! We return to the lodge for brunch and leisure time for the rest of the day. If we have not covered any aspects yet due to time constraints, or guests want more talks/interaction, then we’ll happily oblige.After high tea we head out to try locate our patient and do a visual check up, whileenjoying a game drive on route. We enjoy sundowners in the bush for the last time and return to our lodge early evening. We enjoy dinner in camp and are sure to spend some time sitting around the fire discussing the day’s experiences!

Day 4 - Thursday
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. Brunch is enjoyed at the lodge, before checking 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.

Costing:
This safari is available at a cost of £1250.00 per person sharing.
Single supplements apply – subject to availability.
This is based on a minimum of 12 persons participating in total, and allows for a maximum of 18 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, lunch on day 4, 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:
10 – 13 November 2008
16 – 19 March 2009

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

Please note:
Due to the nature of this experience, times and plans may need to be adjusted slightly as we proceed, especially since elephants 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. 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 becompromised 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 bare that in mind and respect the patient. Should this be the case, we normally have a “plan B” to ensure the client still receives the same/a similar experience.

This safari assists a reserve with the responsible management of their lion population, while giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime hands on experience! This safari affords clients the opportunity to be involved in a lion immobilisation, carried out by Dr Peter Brothers (Wildlife Veterinarian and registered tourist guide, and one of your hosts throughout the safari), and the subsequent procedures – blood sampling, treatment and collaring if necessary. The lion on this reserve form part of an integrated predator research project which falls under the auspices of the Endangered Wildlife Trust.

The time preceding and after the immobilisation allows time for traditional game drives and learning more about lion and other predators such as African Wild Dogs in general, as well as preparing you for the immobilisation. Guests are given the opportunity to participate in the procedures being carried out, once the animal/s is/are 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! Besides covering the costs of this procedure, which is crucial to the conservationproject, a further donation is made to the project on behalf of each participant.So come join us for the experience of a lifetime and do something for wildlife conservation!

Day 1 - Thursday
Arrive at our lodge around midday and settle in – about 5.5 hours north of Johannesburg on the Botswana border. Enjoy lunch and some leisure time in the beautiful surroundings before a late afternoon/evening game drive to introduce you to this section of the reserve and its Page 2 of 4 wildlife. Enjoy sundowners before returning to camp for an evening at leisure with dinner at our lodge.Our lodge is situated on a sandstone ridge offering guests breathtaking views of the river floodplain below. 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. Most rooms have twin beds. 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.

Day 2 - Friday
Early morning light breakfast/tea/coffee followed by a transfer into another reserve across the road where the actual Veterinary work will be done.This reserve 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, only carrying 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 of predators such as the lion and African Wild Dog, but elephant data is also being collated. 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.We will join researchers on a game drive 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, as well as the lion on the reserve. As mentioned, the predator project falls under the auspices of the Endangered Wildlife Trust. We return to the lodge later in the morning for brunch.

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. Time permitting guests will be allowed to load tranquiliser darts with water and firethem at a target! (This activity is time dependent today may be done on Saturday as it can take quite a while.)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 tracking 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 3 - Saturday
Enjoy an early morning game drive/or walk and check up on any lion darted the night before if driving the same area. We return to the lodge for brunch and leisure time for the rest of the day. If we have not covered any aspects yet due to time constraints, or guests want more talks/interaction on the lion, then we’ll happily oblige. After high tea we again head out to immobilise lion if not successful the night before,or possibly some of the other predators involved in the predator monitoring project,such a brown hyena – this can be a real challenge! By now you know the drill, but the excitement is just the same, or maybe even better……and no immobilisation is ever the same! If the group feels they have seen enough behind the scenes work we’ll enjoy a moretraditional game drive in another reserve instead, with sundowners at an amazing spot….. Return to our lodge late evening for dinner and to overnight.

Day 4 - Sunday
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…..
Breakfast is enjoyed at the lodge, before checking out late morning (11 am) and returning to Johannesburg.

Costing:
This safari is available at a cost of £1000.00 per person sharing. Single supplements may 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 is inclusive of:
Return transfers from Johannesburg International Airport to our destination;
accommodation on a full board basis; drinks;
all activities as laid out in the itinerary;
the services of Dr Peter Brothers throughout;
the services of management,
local guides and staff and Government VAT.
Cost excludes:
Additional optional activities, items of a personal nature, gratuities, and medical insurance (compulsory).
Safari Dates:
13-16 November 2008 - Inclusive
12-15 March 2009 - Inclusive

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

Please note:
This program is a guide and all these activities will be done, but not necessarily in this order, as lion do not 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 bare 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, unable 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. We bnot 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 and will not be held liable for any losses incurred as a direct, or cindirect, result of such a situation, or our actions in such a situation.