Responsible Tourism

Fourteen Day African Safari

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Highlights of this tour.

Experience the difference and become involved. We provide more than a canned photo opportunity. We give you the chance to witness real life animal behaviour guided by one of South Africa's leading conservationists.
We align big five game viewing in the exclusive Sabi Sands Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park, with time for rest and relaxation and an insight into conservation projects at the exclusive carbon neutral Paperbark Bush Retreat.
Paperbark Bush Retreat is the base for the Ingwe Leopard Project an lies at the heart of a lush hidden valley with waterfalls, mountain streams and an abundance of birdlife and indigenous game. Guests are afforded the opportunity of becoming involved in monitoring leopard behaviour via GPS tracking and camera trapping (motion activated digital cameras placed along game trails). These activities give a wonderful insight into the world of real life conservation.

Example of the itinerary.

Day 1 Pick up at Johannesburg Airport (O R Tambo International) and & transfer to the Paperbark Bush Retreat to unwind and recuperate.

Day 2 Bush appreciation and introduction to wildlife tracking. Early evening escorted bush walk followed by sun downers in the bush.

Day 3 A chance to assist our staff monitoring leopard behaviour and movements, together with further chance to hone your bush skills.

Day 4 Early morning game drive followed by transfer to the exclusive Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Evening game drive, returning for a sumptuous dinner in the main lapa. After dinner, you will be afforded the unique opportunity to enjoy a late night game drive. This exclusive event provides a chance to share the wilderness at night and enjoy sounds and senses, we silently wait and listen to the sounds of the night, ready to move to centre stage as the drama of the nocturnal opera begins.

Day 5 Early morning game drive. We hope to check out scenes from the previous evenings events; however, each safari offers a new exciting experience. The early morning game drive will return to camp for brunch, after which guests have the option of taking an accompanied bush walk. An opportunity to trail in the Sabi Sands game reserve is an experience that will never be forgotten. The afternoon safari activity will start after high tea and will usually comprise of a short drive in the game vehicle to a specific location, after which guests will depart on foot for a short trail, before returning to a delicious supper that awaits them. After dinner, groups are again afforded the chance to enjoy an extended late night game drive if they wish. We may stay out late into the night or early into the next day so that we can fully appreciate all the nocturnal events, the choice is yours.

Day 6 A morning game drive aims to visit those parts of the concession that we haven't had time to reach previously. Offering an opportunity to get those final photographs. Time permitting we will take the chance to take a short bush walk from the vehicle, before returning to camp, followed by transfer to the Kruger National Park. Afternoon game viewing, evening game drive and braai (bbq).

Day 7 Early morning game drive, followed by a visit to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (home of the Hoedspruit Cheetah Project) and overnight stay in Hoedspruit.

Day 8 Morning visit to Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, (a real must see, their work in wildlife conservation is inspirational), followed by local shopping and return to the Paperbark Bush Retreat.

Day 9 For the more energetic, an early morning walk before breakfast. Optional morning conservation activity. Late afternoon sighting of camera traps before dinner.

Day 10 Breakfast prior to retrieval of camera traps and return to the main lodge for lunch and review of images. Early evening escorted bush walk followed by dinner in the bush (all cooked on a camp fire).

Day 11 Light morning stroll and brunch, followed by visit to the nearby ex colonial town of Lydenburg for shopping and visit to the local heritage centre.

Day 12 Choose from a selection of sightseeing tours, or perhaps a photo safari. Or join our staff with the Ingwe Leopard Project.

Day 13 Leopard tracking and mountain stream walk or for those feeling less energetic a leisurely day with perhaps a dip in a river pool. Late afternoon sighting of camera traps.

Day 14 Breakfast prior to retrieval of camera traps and return to the main lodge for lunch and review of images. Transfer to the airport at Johannesburg or Nelspruit.

The benefits you bring in taking this tour.

This safari provides a unique and exciting opportunity to experience big five county in the company of one of Africa's leading conservationists and large predator experts. Funds raised from this safari are used to assist conservation projects through PAW (Protection for African Wildlife) Conservation Trust.

For over 25 years we have been associated with wildlife conservation projects. We founded the Ingwe Leopard Project in 2004 and are regularly engaged in large predator research. Each safari adds further data to the Ingwe leopard Project. This data is used to help determine the density of Leopards in non-protected area's i.e. outside of fenced game reserves, where Leopards and many other creatures are vulnerable to licensed hunters and developers. By monitoring this apex predator we are better able to determine the true nature of the eco-structure in which they survive and help to conserve many wildlife species.

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