Kruger Swaziland and Big 5 Conservation with Acacia Africa

Day 1 - 2 Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Kruger National Park
Leaving Johannesburg we enter Mpumalanga Province, passing through some of the natural spectacles of the area - Blyde River Canyon, the Three Rondavels , Bourke’s Luck Potholes – en route to a private reserve bordering Kruger. We enter the famed Kruger National Park each day for game drives. This is South Africa’s best known wildlife reserve, an enormous reserve which offers unrivalled opportunities for game viewing including Africa’s ‘big five’ (leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and elephant), abundant grazing animals – giraffe, zebra, antelope - and prolific birdlife.

Day 3 - 4 Swaziland, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Royal Enclosure
We continue to Swaziland, a mountainous landlocked kingdom sandwiched between Mozambique and South Africa. We spend two nights in the ‘Big Game’ Parks area and check out Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, visit the Royal Enclosure and have time to browse local craft markets and factories.

Day 5 - 7 Hluhluwe/ Umfolozi Game Reserve, St Lucia, Thanda Private Game Reserve
We cross back into South Africa and enter KwaZulu-Natal. We visit a local village on the way to the Hluhluwe/ Umfolozi Game Reserve. After game driving in South Africa’s oldest game reserve we continue to the wild beaches and natural beauty of St Lucia. There is an option to enjoy a boat cruise checking out the wildlife of this World Heritage site. We are then met by our conservation representative who will transfer us to our volunteering base inside the Thanda Private Game Reserve. Here you will be given a full briefing on what to expect over the next two weeks.

Day 8 – 20 Thanda Private Game Reserve Volunteering
The Thanda Private Game Reserve is home to the big five with 14,000 hectares of stunning African bush .The programme includes the monitoring of elephant, cheetah, lion, leopard and black rhino. The research programme involves you being involved in a variety of research initiatives on endangered and other wildlife species. You will contribute to research and conservation work during your stay and play a part in vital conservation activities. The majority of the data you gather will support the long-term objectives of the Thanda Foundation. Highlights include:

• Live in the heart of a Big 5 game reserve
• Carry out research on endangered wildlife within the reserve to provide information for the Thanda Foundation and the African Lion Environmental Research Trust.
• Monitor the night time movements of the Rhinos in the park
• Monitor the movements and behaviours of a newly introduced herd of elephant
• Assist on conservation initiatives within the Park such as alien plant control and soil erosion
• Assist on game capture if and when possible.

• There is no additional information for this tour