Big

Cat Two
Special Group safari

with Will Fox



Special big cat 10 day group safari
25th Sept 4th October 2018 inclusive
Price: 2,355 pp sharing, 2,985 single

Owing to the success of our big cat special safaris, we have added a second safari
in South Africa in 2018. This safari is based in the Greater Kruger Park are
offering a unique opportunity to visit some of the most iconic game reserves in
Africa. And most importantly, we have been able to secure significant discounts
on the standard rates for these exclusive reserves, enabling us to offer this
special package at an unbeatable price.

Big cat special (2) safari combines three game reserves within the Greater
Kruger National Park, each offering a unique and exclusive safari experience,
enjoying some of the best game viewing in Africa.
South Africa is by far our most popular location. It is where we started and put
down roots and is still the operational base for our award winning safaris, as
well as the home of our leopard conservation programs. Each safari helps to fund
our leopard and community programs in South Africa.
Our CEO (Will Fox), will accompany you on this safari. Will has been studying big
cat behavior in the bush for over fifteen years and has had many interesting
times with Africa big cats. You will learn about big cat behavior, how to
recognize tracks and individual cats, how to monitor their movements and the
ever changing dynamics of predators in the wild. And of-course you will take two
game drives each day to not only see and photograph animals, but to understand
more about them and their environment.




Detailed itinerary

Day 1
You will be met on arrival at Johannesburg International Airport. From here you
will transfer to our safari base - Rukiya Safari Camp.
Rukiya is a small luxury tented camp within the Wild Rivers Reserve and is a key
area for our leopard research team. The camp nestles along the banks of the
Blyde River among age-old tress, a truly stunning location.
Later in the day, before the sun sets well take a short stroll along the riverbank
and enjoy a sundowner, returning to the lodge for dinner.
Note: The day 1 itinerary above assumes your arrival at Johannesburg Airport
before 10:00. The vast majority of international flights arrive between 07:00 -
10:00. If however your preferred flight is scheduled to arrive after 10:00, then
we can arrange for overnight accommodation before starting your safari.

Day 2/3
You are woken with an invigorating cup of coffee before setting off on a morning
game drive, which will take you through the Wild Rivers Reserve and into the
adjacent Balule Reserve (part of the Greater Kruger Park) where you will be able
to enjoy your first big five game drive, before returning for brunch. Followed by
time to relax and enjoy the views from your private deck with river views, before
high tea and your afternoon game drive, returning home for a splendid dinner.
During your afternoon game drive we will include our unique bush senses
experience. This is an activity that we have developed over many years and has
proven to be very popular with our safari guests. In a fun way it encourages you
to use all of your senses when in the bush. Not just sight, but also smell, hearing
and touch. Modern living dulls some of our senses, but this simple and fun
exercise quickly hones ones bush senses, ideal preparation for any safari.

Day 4
After breakfast we will transfer to the near-by Thornybush Game Reserve, famed
for its exceptional game viewing and a favoured location for movie stars and the
rich and famous, providing a lovely sedate bush atmosphere, with personal and
friendly service. Even on bush roads it takes only 45 mins to transfer to
Thornybush so you will have plenty of time to settle in and relax before
afternoon high tea and game drive. Again returning to your lodge for dinner.

Day 5/6
No two days are ever the same on safari. Your next days in the Thornybush Game
Reserve starts with an early morning game drive, returning to your lodge in time
for a late breakfast/brunch. Your afternoon game drive will start after high tea
and will cover previously unseen areas of the reserve, followed by dinner often
taken around the fire in an outside boma.

Day 7-9
On your last morning in Thornybush, your game drive aims to visit those parts of
the concession that we havent had time to reach previously, offering an
opportunity to get those final photographs, before returning to the lodge for
breakfast.
Then transfer to Vuyatela Lodge, Djuma in the Sabi Sands.
Djuma is famed for its exceptional game viewing and a favoured location for
WildEarths TV broadcast of live safari drives.
You will arrive in time to settle in before your first Djuma game drive, returning
to Vuyatela in time for dinner.

Your days in Djuma start with an early morning game drive, returning to
Vuyatela in time for a late breakfast/brunch. After which you may have the
option of taking an accompanied big five bush walk. The trail will return for a
well-deserved rest during the heat of the day, where there will be time to relax
and enjoying watching animals passing by, or drinking from the adjacent
waterhole.
The afternoon game drive will start after high tea and will cover previously
unseen areas of the reserve, and surrounding properties.

For those fans of the TV Safari Live TV show, who would like to take a tour of the
broadcast studios we can arrange that for you, where (depending on operations
at the time), wed hope to introduce you to many of the WildEarth team
members.

Day 10
On your last morning in Djuma, your game drive aims to visit those parts of the
concession that we havent 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 the lodge for a late
breakfast.
Then transfer back to Johannesburg International Airport. Arriving at around
17:30 and in time for check-in for most international flight departures.


 Big cat special (2) safari Game Reserves

WildRivers Nature reserve

Our safari home and base for much of our work in leopard conservation is
Rukiya Safari Camp within the Wild Rivers Nature Reserve. As you might expect
all of our standard itineraries start with time spent with our team at Rukiya, as it
is offers a unique and intimate wildlife experience and the opportunity to take
Big Five game drives in the adjacent Balule game reserve. When entering Wild
Rivers Nature Reserve, expect to be immersed in the vista of endless woodland
set against the back drop of the majestic Drakensberg mountains that change
colour as the day walks on. This 2,600 hectare reserve is bordered by both the
Blyde and Olifants Rivers and boasts a diverse landscape with rocky outcrops
and savanna where plains game roam freely. Leopard wander and river banks
are frequented by hippo and crocodiles. Although Elephants and Lions are
sometime seen on the reserve (having drifted into the reserve from the adjacent
Kruger Park), there are normally no Big Five animals resident on the Reserve.
Rukiya Safari Camp is an intimate, luxury tented camp situated on the confluence
of the Blyde and Olifants Rivers in the heart of Wild Rivers Private Nature
Reserve.
The development of the camp was done with a least-impact footprint with a
variety of green or eco-friendly principles employed during the construction
process. A large part of the area comprises of deck and canvass that has a
minimal effect in contrast to conventional brick and mortar. The operation of the
camp follows the ecological-sensitive philosophy by utilizing environmentally
friendly products that does not contain harmful chemicals. Up-cycled drift- and
pallet wood were used to furnish and decorate the camp and were sourced from
local suppliers in support of the community.
Following a holistic approach to contribute to an ultimate nature experience,
great care is taken to provide guests with all the special touches, pampering and
comforts during their stay. Safaris and bush walks are part of the offering of all-
inclusive packages. The iconic tented accommodation fortifies the African
experience that allows guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of the
magical Lowveld. Six en-suite luxury tents have been carefully placed
underneath the shade of giant Jackalberry trees with wonderful views to the
river.


Rukiya Safari Camp is dedicated to ensuring a once in a lifetime African safari
experience for our guests, with access to other prime wildlife areas in the Kruger
Park region. Rukiya often has sole access to these areas, for bush walks and game
drives, offering our guests an intimate game viewing experience.
WildRivers Nature Reserve is also the operational base for our INGWE Leopard
Research program and offers you an opportunity its to be involved with our
team and understand more about wildlife conservation.
Accommodation is four-star accommodation and five star service.

ThornyBush Private Game Reserve

Thornybush Game Reserve is approximately 14,000ha of game habitat: open
savannah woodland with pat Hectares of tangled thicket and thorny scrub. It is a
well established reserve and perfect habitat for Africa's famous Big Five as well
as a host of other animals (eg. cheetah, African wild dog, hippo, crocodile, giraffe,
zebra, various antelope species, porcupine, aardvark). Thornybush is home to
147 mammal species, 114 types of reptile, more than 500 bird species, dozens of
fish and amphibian species and 336 types of trees, as well as countless grasses,
insects, etc.
Game viewing in the reserve ranks as some of the best in Southern Africa with a
near perfect year round climate.
Guests can enjoy off road close-up views of special sightings and once darkness
falls, you'll be treated to thrilling spot-lit night drives in search of rare nocturnal
creatures and big cats on the move. Guided nature walks complete the spectrum
of safari activities.
From Thornybush the Drakensberg escarpment is visible in the distance, rising
up from the lowveld in the west (on top is the famous Panorama Route).
Thornybush is a favoured safari location for movie stars and the rich and famous
and some of the high end game lodge rates reflect that notoriety. However there
is also reasonably priced accommodation available and the best news of all is
that all lodges share the same access to the reserve and wildlife sightings.
Accommodation is four stars

Sabi Sands Game Reserve

The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is located in the southern section of our principle
operating region. It is a reserve that our CEO Will knows very well, having
worked there regularly since 2010 directing live TV safari shows.
The Sabi Sands is a 65,000-hectare reserve, pioneered by local landowners in the
1950s, and shares a border with the world-renowned Kruger National Park.
Today, many of these families are now third and fourth generation landowners,
their legacy being the successful conservation of the highest density of big game
in South Africa. Even though there is a 50 kilometre unfenced boundary with the
Kruger National Park, wildlife in the Sabi Sands Reserve is well habituated,
resulting in extraordinary close encounters and prolific sightings, particularly of
the elusive leopard. The Sabi and the Sand Rivers run through the reserve, which
add further dimension to the bio-diversity of this area.
The Sabi Sands is in particular well known for its amazing leopard sightings. The
most elusive animal of the Big Five is frequently spotted when going on a game
drive in the reserve. Beside the Big Five, other game species occur in great
numbers, among which are more than 300 bird species.
One of the key elements of this reserve are the abundant waterholes, that attract
large herds of animals. This to the enjoyment of travellers and large predators
alike.
As with other private reserves, the rangers are allowed to drive off road so when
following a leopard, you ranger is allowed to follow it in the bush. An amazing
experience and worth a trip to the bush on its own.
Accommodation is five stars.