A WILD SAFARI:Experience Africa!

FOCUS ON: ANIMALS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT

NamibiaNamibia is the last place on the planetwhere black rhino roam freely – one of

the ‘Big Five’ - which also includes lion, elephant,buffalo and leopard. With the Western black rhino only recently being declaredextinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is moreimportant that ever that efforts to save the rest of the species are supported, andwell-managed tourism is one way to do this effectively.

Popular with those wishing to combine luxury and adventure, MAHLATINI works withthe WILDERNESS SAFARIS’ DESERT RHINO CAMP in Namibia, which offers excursions into thevast rocky desert landscape to track these rare black rhino. Rhino poaching is acrisis currently sweeping Africa, with desert rhino no exception from persecution.Fortunately for Namibia’s rhino, the camp works in conjunction with UK-basedcharity SAVE THE RHINO, which engages in extensive monitoring, field patrols andcapacity building for the species. Since the charity’s intervention 30 years ago, blackrhino numbers have increased to five times their original standing.

For a more intense experience, BIOSPHERE EXPEDITIONS runs a big cat and elephantexpedition in Namibia, which highlights the importance of lay people to seriousresearch and conservation projects. The local scientists set up traps tocapture wildlife for radio-collaring, and those taking part in a Biosphereexpedition help to monitor the traps.

WEST AFRICA

Africa is perhaps the first destination onethinks of when considering where to viewendangered species in the wild, whetherthat be on a safari drive or a jungle trek. Abbe Bates explores the opportunities.

South Africa is currentlyexperiencing a major crisis inrhino poaching, but otherspecies are also suffering, so

organisations such as EARTHWATCH, which workswith tour operator KUONI, give vital support.Kuoni’s wildlife volunteering holidays currentlyoffer opportunities including the study of theleopards and primates (chacma baboons, vervetmonkeys and samango monkeys) of theSoutpansberg Mountain range. Tasks range fromobserving behavior and collecting GPS data totrialling revolutionary new technology. Inparticular, local farmers see the monkeys aspests quick to take advantage of crops and this project helps examine how to help the twoco-exist well.

KUONI and EARTHWATCH also work together tooffer a volunteering holiday that helps protectpenguins in South Africa. In 2010, theconservation status for the African penguin waschanged from Vulnerable to Endangered andresearch into their survival rates, foragingecology and overall breeding productivity isessential for future conservation. The mainconcern for Earthwatch is to help understandthe causes for the African Penguins’ rapidpopulation decline and to use any information

gathered to help develop appropriateconservationmethods. Money

from the trips helps fund research and education

work as well as buying basicscientific equipment.

SOUTH AFRICA

On safari with Exodus Travel.

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Accommodation is generally in lodges or camps, with thelatter allowing travellers the excitement of sleeping outunder the stars.

Unfortunately big game hunting is an activity openlypromoted by some African tourist boards, it is important tomake sure that you book through a reputable touroperator, with a proven track record in ethical conservationpractices.

Steer clear of those whose offer involves unnecessary closecontact with wild animals, which only serves as a photoopportunity and is of no benefit to the animal.

SAFARI TOP TIPS

The animal shapeson the map are justsome of the animalsyou can see in eachpart of Africa andthey relate to the

country descriptionsin panels.

TanzaniaTanzania’s SERENGETI plains have beenwelcoming travellers for decades,

overlooked by the continent’s highestmountain, Mount Kilimanjaro.NATURETREK offers an itinerary thatvisits the Serengeti, along with other

flagship reserves in Northern Tanzaniasuch as Ngorongoro Crater, the

world’s largest inactive caldera, andArusha National Park, home to elephants, Masai

giraffe, buffalo and waterbuck, plus a wonderful variety ofbirdlife, from the spectacular tacazze sunbird to the prehistoric-looking ground hornbill. The itinerary visits the Lobo region ofthe Serengeti National Park, dotted with rocky outcrops called‘kopjes’. Between December and April, two million white-bearded wildebeest and tens of thousands of Burchell’s zebraand Thompson’s gazelles spread out over the short grass plainsof the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro ConservationArea, creating one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles.

Some animal attractions in the UK are extending theexperience that visitors get in this country and linking it tovisiting indigenous habitats. The LONGLEAT AFRICAN SAFARI,which the ADVENTURE TRAVEL COMPANY offers in conjunction with the UK’s LONGLEAT SAFARI AND ADVENTURE PARK, is directlylinked to elephant and turtle conservation projects in SAADANINATIONAL PARK, Tanzania. Families spend time with the elephant collaring team in Saadani to learn about poaching and how they are tackling the issue, as well as their efforts toestablish safe elephant corridors through Tanzania. From Julyto September, it is also possible to witness green turtleshatching at a turtle conservation project and help them back to the ocean.

EXODUS offers a different way to see the country. Its TANZANIACYCLE SAFARI combines the best that being on safari in Tanzaniahas to offer interspersed with cycling through a diverse andspectacular landscape. Starting from ARUSHA in the north of thecountry, you head out across cultivated banana and coffeeplantations before meeting the RIFT VALLEY and the grasslandsused by the Masai for grazing cattle. Cyclists get close to thesouthern shores of LAKE MANYARA and will almost certainly spotsome game here – zebra, giraffe and wildebeest. The final daysof cycling head to LAKE NATRON and the awe-inspiring activevolcano OL DOINYO LENGAI, passing only Masai with their cattleand the wildlife they live alongside.

EAST AFRICA

Uganda and Rwanda

Whilst Kenya and Tanzania have their famous national parks as a huge wildlifedraw on a safari expedition, near neighbours UGANDA and RWANDA play animportant role in the survival of the mountain gorilla, of which there are only 700remaining on earth. Nearly hunted to extinction by poachers, they are stillendangered, but are slowly recovering their numbers, due in no small part tosensitive tourism efforts. The jungle terrain is best suited to trekking with aranger guide and in very small groups due to the elusive and private nature ofthese animals. The majority of the gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains thatcross Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while a smallernumber live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda. It is possible towatch a handful of these groups in the wild - the largest primates in the world -with troops led by huge silverback males.

MAHLATINI can include the BWINDI SAFARI LODGE in the BWINDI NATIONAL PARK,Uganda, in their programmes, where guests have one of the best chances

to meet these elusive creatures, all the while staying in one of the park’s most exclusive properties. To encouragedevelopment through conservation, THE UGANDAN WILDLIFEAUTHORITY at Bwindi works in partnership with local

communities. Locals receive a proportion of the park’srevenue, are offered employment as rangers and wardens and are taught how to better make use of the land. Through this, the local people are less tempted to turn to

poaching as a source of income.

EAST AFRICA

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KenyaKENYA is a firm favourite amongst African

destinations, with the prolific fauna of the MASAI MARA NATURERESERVE, which joins up with the Serengeti National Park inTanzania, a highlight. THE ADVENTURE COMPANY offers a package,‘Land of the Masai’, that includes a visit to the Masai Mara, with thechance to see an array of wildlife including lion, leopard, cheetah,elephant, buffalo, rhino, zebra, giraffe and hippo, plus wildebeestand many species of antelope and some of East Africa’s splendidbirdlife. There is also a meeting with local Masai people and achance to learn something about their fascinating culture.

A highlight of MAHLATINI’S itineraries is the recently-opened SEGERA RETREATin LAIKIPIA, Kenya, dedicated to conservation, but also providing guests with anauthentic wilderness experience, with sweeping savannah plains andinnumerable game. The lodge has enacted an array of policies to monitor theecology of the area, with specially trained rangers keeping guard over the habitat.Segera has also created a 20-acre agricultural plot; a demonstration to locals onhow sustainable farming can be effectively practiced. Guests can explore thearea’s vibrant local culture and meet the communities the lodge aims to help, andobserve the many species of wildlife that populate the area, including elephant.

EAST AFRICA

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