An Impactful Big Five Safari for Those Seeking to Travel with a Purpose.

Thanda Safari, the Big Five game reserve situated on 14 000 hectares in the northern reaches of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, is inviting families and friends to travel with a purpose and join them on a once-in-a-lifetime African safari.

With every booking facilitating the purchase of a GPS collar, the five-night Collars for Conservation Safari offers six guests the rare opportunity to witness first-hand the positive impact of their visit. They will join the Wildlife Conservation Team in identifying, darting to sedate and placing a collar on one of Africa’s iconic species – a lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah or hyena. An essential yet thrilling task, this contribution enables the wildlife conservation team to more effectively monitor and protect the animal as well as gather much-needed data for research.

Guests will also join the wildlife conservation team as they undertake their daily tasks to safeguard and preserve the animals that call the reserve home. Whether tracking big game such as the endangered rhino, using telemetry equipment to locate a rehabilitating cheetah or examining footage from a carefully placed camera trap, they will gain in-depth awareness of the threats faced by some of Africa’s diminishing species together with an insight into their behavioural and feeding patterns, ecology and more.

Days will also be spent seeking out Africa’s mightiest habitants on game drives led by professional safari guides who have grown up on these lands, observing the activities of its smaller residents on hikes across the landscape accompanied by armed rangers and listening to the soundscapes of the bush over dinners under the stars deep in the wilds.

Offering the perfect solution for today’s challenges, this immersive safari includes helicopter transfers straight from Durban’s King Shaka International Airport to Villa iZulu, Thanda Safari’s magnificent five-suite bush homestead that, amongst many other attributes, features its own helipad. Combining five-star hotel service with the discretion of a private home, the villa’s laid-back ambiance, characterised by high thatched roofs, airy lounges and spacious grounds, invites guests to relax into a slow tempo when not out exploring the reserve.

Approximately 100km east of Thanda lies the remote 9-Mile Beach, located in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, an area of 220km of pristine, protected coastline. Guests’ stay concludes with a scenic 25-minute flight crossing the Lebombo Mountains and a drive through the sand forest and dunes before being greeted by the warm Indian Ocean and a sumptuous beach braai (barbeque). Following an afternoon of sun, sea and sand they will fly back via the western range for a 360° panoramic sunset sundowner, capping off a most memorable stay.

The 5-night Collars for Conservation Package for 6 guests costs R 716 750 (a per person approx. GB£35,000; US$47,500; EUR42,000; AU$66,500 – xe.com 14/02/22). Hosted by a dedicated hospitality team it is inclusive of all meals and beverages, game drives and bush walks, wifi, laundry, wildlife conservation activities mentioned and transfers by helicopter.