56 Day Conservation & Culture Experience - South Africa

Product Details

The Programme - is based on our main 12 week programme and includes many exciting and challenging activities. Experience Africa through donating time and effort to the Thembalethu Community project, visit local townships and even meet a Sangoma (witchdocter). This is a great chance to experience our wildlife and ecosystems whilst contributing towards the local community and gaining an understanding of local ways.

Some of the Highlights — hands on involvement at the Aids orphanage & school, animal rehabilitation centre visit, conservation project on property, township tour, carnivore programme and Mozambique camping trip.

Location - the reserve is just south of Kruger National Park (Malelane, gate is 20 minutes away). The Swazi and Mozambique border are 30-40 minutes away. Transfers from Johannesburg take 5 plus hours.

Accommodation - Gazebo Lodge is your home in the heart of the reserve. Shared single sex bedrooms with en-suite bathroom. On site dining lapa, swimming pool, games room, small bar, boma all facing a lake.

Safety - is of paramount importance both on and off the reserve. Our Gap Year Ranger and Coordinator are on hand 24/7. We only use highly reputable and licensed thirty parties for off property activities and are registered with the Red Cross helicopter service for emergencies.

Week One
Day 1–4 - Introduction to Kwa Madwala including orientation, game drives, bush walks and aerial microlight safari flight over the reserve.
Day 5 - Visit to the Swazi Matsamo Cultural Village located on the Swazi border, including lively tribal dancing and lunch.
Day 6 – Kwa Madwala conservation activities on the reserve including bush braai (barbeque) and sleepout under the stars.
Day 7 – Day off - chill out or take an organised excursion off property.

Week Two
Day 8 – Kwa Madwala conservation activities including identification of wildlife, birds, trees and tracking skills.
Day 9-10 - Visit Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation up north followed by a tour of the famous Panoramic Route.
Day 11-13 - Kwa Madwala conservation activities including interaction activities at the elephant project and 4x4 driving experience.
Day 14 – Day off - relax at Gazebo Lodge or take a trip into town.

Week Three
Day 15-19 - Day visits to a nearby children’s orphanage and community project, assisting in a variety of necessary and valuable tasks such as painting, carpentry and teaching.
Day 20 - Kwa Madwala conservation activities including road maintenance and clearing of alien plant species.
Day 21 - Relax to relax, take a trip into Malelane or even join one of our organised excursions off property.

Week Four
Day 22-25 - Hands-on project on the reserve – usually of a conservation, community or construction nature.
Day 26 - Township tour, including visits to local landmarks, Sangoma (traditional healer) and lunch.
Day 27 - Kwa Madwala conservation activities including camp chores such as collecting firewood and cleaning.
Day 28 - Relax to relax, take a trip into Malelane or even join one of our organised excursions off property.

Week Five
Day 29 – Kwa Madwala conservation activities including bushwalks and game drives.
Day 30-31 – Carnivore Programme including game drives, tracking big cats and slide shows.
Day 32-34 – Excursion to Sabi for Extreme Adventure Course, including kloofing, bridge-swinging and river tubing.
Day 35 – Day visit to Nelspruit for shopping, internet, and visit to Reptile Park and Botanical Gardens in Nelspruit.

Week Six
Day 36 – Visit to a neighbouring game farm with buffalo and rhino breeding projects.
Day 37-39 – Kwa Madwala conservation activities, including elephant safari and a bush braai at the Elephant Boma.
Day 40-44 – Five day camping trip to a beautiful Mozambique beach. Visas available at the border or in advance.

Week Seven
Day 45 – Kwa Madwala conservation activities including game drives and possible microlight aerial game counting.
Day 46-47 – Bird of Prey Expert visit including capture, tagging and release and educational lecture with slideshow.
Day 48 – Kwa Madwala conservation activities including bush walks, night drives, track spoor, fence monitoring.
Day 49 – Day to relax.

Week Eight
Day 50-53 – Three night camping safari to Kruger National Park, including morning and afternoon game drives, and optional evening game drive using spotlights.
Day 54 – Overnight stay at our luxury 4-star Manyatta Rock Camp.
Day 55 – Kwa Madwala conservation activities - final game drive and climbing Wilson’s Koppie for the perfect view!
Day 56 - Departure to the airport in Johannesburg.

Conservation days will consist of a variety of activities such as:

• Game drives & bush walks, covering a variety of subjects such as tracking, bird identification, tree identification
• Lectures and practical experience on various aspects of life on a game reserve, including management, eco-lodges, maintenance, anti-poaching, agricultural farming, astrology, birding.
• Interaction and assistance with the Elephant Back Safari programme.
• 4x4 driving skills / shooting and gun safety, bush survival skills. Sleeps outs on the reserve.
• House chores around the lodge – cleaning, painting, maintenance, cooking, firewood collection, telephone reception.
• Visits to nearby Malelane for personal shopping and internet/telephone access.

Please note: the order of events as listed above may change, but the contents will remain the same except due to events beyond our control.

Please note: There is a special offer price of £2295 for gappers able to leave on 14th April. The usual price for this project is £2495.