SOUTH AFRICAN GAME RESERVE EXPERIENCE - SAMPLE ITINERARY
ITINERARY 12 WEEK EXPERIENCE (84 days)
Day 1 Arrival and issuing of time tables
Day 2 - 15 Ranger and Tracker Course - start of bush orientation course, including bush survival skills, tracking skills, bush ecology and conservation.
Day 16 Day trip to local town for supplies, e-mails etc.
Day 17 Visit to a Black Rhino and Buffalo Breeding Project. Visit to Matsamo Cultural Village inclusive of village tour, tribal dancing and curios
Day 18 All participants at leisure.
Day 19 Visit a local township inclusive of an introduction to local 'chiefs', traditional witch doctor and cuisine at a local township restaurant.
Day 20 7 Day Kruger National Park Camping trip.
Day 28 Visit Reptile Park and evening out in Nelspruit.
Day 29 Shooting Course - clay pigeon and handgun.
Day 30 Shooting Course - .22, large calibre and archery followed by culling, skinning and dressing
Day 31 4 x 4 Driving skills & vehicle maintenance.
Day 32 All participants at leisure
Day 33 - 37 Introduction to Game Farm Management - anti-poaching, security, maintenance of roads, bush clearing, invasion weed control, erosion, fence patrol and monitoring.
Day 38 Day and night out for shopping, e-mails and social.
Day 39 All participants at leisure.
Day 40 - 43 Extreme Adventure Course - caving, kloofing, abseiling, bridge swinging and white water tubing.
Day 44 Panoramic Tour - God’s Window, Pilgrims Rest, Three Rondawels and Blyde River Canyon.
Day 45 Visit Maholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre and a Cheetah Breeding Project at Kapama.
Day 46 All participants at leisure.
Day 47 - 51 5-Day back packing and hiking experience through indigenous forests, swim under waterfalls and climbing up mountains.
Day 52 Live snake presentation and talk.
Day 53 All participants at leisure.
Day 54 Agricultural farming experience - 'a day on a South African farm'
Day 55 Mining Experience
Day 56 Tiger fishing - full day experience.
Day 57 - 58 Birds of Prey Course - catch and release as well as tagging of live raptors.
Day 59 Day and night out in local town.
Day 60 - 64 4-Day camping trip to an 'unspoilt' Mozambique beach.
Day 65 - 67 Specialized tracking of lion and hyena by Carnivor Expert (3-day course). Photographic course.
Day 68 Fun day - 'caving' tour.
Day 69 Elephant Back Safari.
Day 70 Light aircraft safari.
Day 71 Light aircraft safari.
Day 72 Birding & bird identification.
Day 73 Bush adventure course.
Day 74 All participants at leisure.
Day 75 Visit to a local sugar factory.
Day 76 - 77 Introduction to managing an eco tourism game lodge.
Day 78 Day trip to town for supplies and e-mails.
Day 79 Day visit to a local fruit-processing factory.
Day 80 Crocodile farm.
Day 81 All participants at leisure.
Day 82 Exclusive birding as was done on day 72.
Day 83 Farewell dinner and certificates.
Day 84 Departure for Airport Please note it is important for potential participants to acknowledge that the schedule of events as listed above may change, however, the basic program will stay the same. All activities as listed above will be covered.
ITINERARY 25-DAY PROGRAM (4 weeks)
WEEK ONE Day 1 : Arrival at lodge, welcome, orientation and safety lecture. Day 2 : Morning game drive, introduction to the 'Big 5'. Day 3 : Bush walk - tree identification, tracking and bush skills. Day 4 : Shooting course - handgun, clay pigeon, .22 and .375 rifle. Day 5 : Amphibian and reptile identification / visit to Reptile Park Day 6: Game farm management (review of anti-poaching, erosion control, control of invasive plants, etc.) Day 7 : Relax at lodge / optional tours
WEEK TWO Day 8 : Kruger Park to view 'Big 5', overnight at Tented Camp. Day 9 : Kruger Park game viewing, overnight Day 10 : Kruger Park, return to Game Reserve Day 11 : Lecture and slide show on re-introduction of lions at Game Reserve Day 12 : Wildlife photography course / evening game drive-viewing lions Day 13 : Tracking lions in the bush with Lion Expert Day 14 : Relax at lodge / optional tours
WEEK THREE Day 15 : Birds of Prey Course / Introduction to birding Day 16 : Economics of game farm management (costs, ethics, hunting, culling etc.) Day 17 : Lectures on illegal trade in wildlife / birding trip in Reserve. Day 18 : Game drive at Black Rhino, Buffalo and rare Antelope breeding project. Day 19 : Visit to traditional village in Swaziland Day 20 : Game viewing from Microlight aircraft Day 21 : Relax at Lodge / optional tours
WEEK FOUR Day 22 : Panoramic tour in Sabie, visit Pilgrims Rest historic village Day 23 : Sabie adventure course, review of forestry practices. Day 24 : Lecture on South Africa cultural issues / involvement of local community Day 25 : Morning bush drive, semi-formal farewell bush dinner Day 26 : Departure § Optional early morning bush / birding walks with a Ranger will be available 3 times per week.
ITINERARY 7-DAY PROGRAM (limited availability)
THE GAME 7-DAY / NIGHT EXPERIENCE ARRIVAL Welcome / orientation / safety lecture EVENING Dinner (braai) at lodge boma DAY 1 AM Game drive with Ranger and Tracker PM Ranger Course (tracking and bush skills, introduction to the 'Big 5' Dinner at Manyatta Rock Camp) DAY 2 AM Day trip to Kruger National Park to view 'Big 5' PM Panoramic tour in Sabie region DAY 3 AM Game Farm Management (review of anti-poaching, erosion control, removal of invasive plants etc.) PM Game drive at Black Rhino, Buffalo and Rare Antelope breeding project. Dinner at lodge DAY 4 AM Shooting course (firearms safety & handling, handgun, clay pigeon and shooting with .22 and .375 calibre rifles) PM Game viewing from Microlight aircraft. Bush braai DAY 5 AM Cultural visit to traditional Swazi Village PM Relax at Lodge DAY 6 AM Introduction to Birding / Bird Identification PM Game Drive - bush braai and optional overnight in viewing stand DAY 7 AM Morning game drive PM Semi-formal bush dinner