6 Day Safari Guide Experience Explorer

Breakfast (own arrangements and own expense) at the hotel. Join a morning shuttle (shared) transfer from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit where you will be met by your expert ranger. The fences between Pridelands and the Greater Kruger National Park were removed in September 2017, incorporating the Pridelands Conservancy into the Great Kruger National Park with an additional 2000 ha of land and greatly expanding the animal habitat. Surrounded by woodlands, bush willows and open areas that punctuate the landscape with herds of elephants that roam freely in this lush landscape add to the beauty and magic of the place. The well-being of wildlife is a priority at the Pridelands Conservancy, making it the perfect camp to learn wilderness awareness. On arrival at camp, freshen up before an exciting afternoon open safari vehicle game drive or bush walk. Enjoy dinner at the camp.

Experience a morning game drive or walk before breakfast. Today’s focus is on basic ecology and geology. Around noon, partake in an interactive discussion with the instructor on geology and soils; weather and atmosphere; food web and energy flow; and habitat ecology and conservation. Lunch at camp. Enjoy an afternoon game drive or a guided bush walk. Apart from the ‘Big 5’, you may see wild dogs, hyenas and a variety of antelope. Guides will illustrate the theory discussed earlier in practical learning, whilst out in the field. You will be encouraged to apply these skills in an informal Q&A session whilst out in the field. Return to camp early evening and enjoy dinner at camp.

This morning, you will walk the trails from camp focusing on animal tracks, a hands-on experience. Participate in an interactive discussion on the theories and practical application of tracking in the African bush which include an introduction to basic tracks and tracking skills. Tracking contributes to key insights into how animals behave and is an art that teaches observation, reasoning, and deduction.

The second discussion will cover anti-poaching which consists of two general categories. The first targets the illegal incursions and includes coercive methods to track and catch poachers. The second deals with campaigns and policies to prevent the illegal trafficking of animal products i.e. targeting the supply and demand chains of the trade. The discussion will include basic anti-poaching strategies and logistics out in the field.

In the afternoon, we will focus on the key points of the day’s theory, and apply these principles either on a game drive or on a bush walk. This evening you will spend the night in the bush applying basic survival skills including the sourcing of water; preparing a bush fire; practical bush cooking and safety. Understanding the energy-output-for-benefit ratio and making smart decisions. Activities will include astronomy and orientation by understanding the southern hemisphere constellations including the Southern Cross. Survivalists claim that navigation is the key to getting home. On clear nights and a full moon, you can also apply basic navigation theory and get a directional fix from the moon. Enjoy dinner around the campfire with storytelling.

This morning after breakfast, we will walk back to the main camp applying their newly found skills tracking, navigation and orientation skills. Today will focus on situational awareness and approaching wildlife on foot, a walking activity. The instructor will teach you to be more aware of your surroundings, and to rely on your senses beyond sight, to understand the bush better. Using sound and smell to experience and appreciate their environment. This will also cover how to safely handle wildlife on foot, learning to appreciate animals safely without getting too close and disturbing them, and how to interpret the actions of the game they are seeing and knowing when to leave them be. Enjoy lunch at camp before an afternoon game drive where you will practice and incorporate general game viewing and enjoy a sundowner before returning to camp for a special boma dinner.

Enjoy breakfast at camp after a morning game drive. Today you will participate in an interactive discussion on birding and identification using bird reference guides, before taking part in an exciting Field Observation Challenge. The instructor will point out a series of elements/objects in the bush, like a feather, some spoor and challenge you to figure out what it is with describing the object’s specifics. This is an interactive activity that will allow you to implement what you have learned. Enjoy the last afternoon game to a private game lodge. Dine at the lodge which will be followed by a presentation of certificates of participation.

Enjoy an early morning game drive on an open safari vehicle before breakfast. Board a shuttle transfer (non-guided) to OR Tambo International Airport. Arrive in the late afternoon.