Spend two days at the UBhetyan-O-Africa Wildlife Sanctuary, working closely with the owner and manager. The sanctuary is home to a variety of wildlife, including predators, antelope, and rhinos. Learn about different species and explore the reserve by game drive vehicle and on foot. Participants will have the chance to handle a darting gun used to immobilise wildlife and to practice darting from a helicopter.

The owner will share insights into the challenges of rehabilitating and releasing wild animals. You will participate in daily operations at the rehabilitation centre and help care for the animals. Your host is the program director and former director of the Centre for Wildlife Management at the University of Pretoria, Prof. Wouter van Hoven, who will provide talks on wildlife management and conservation.

After breakfast, travel east through scenic landscapes towards the Lowveld (about three hours). Stop at the ALZU wildlife rehabilitation centre en route. Proceed to the Malelane Golf Club to meet the former chief ecologist of Kruger Park, who will discuss wildlife management, especially of elephants and rhinos, and vegetation management in Kruger National Park.

Spend the first day viewing wildlife from your own safari vehicle and stay overnight at one of the southern rest camps.

Meander up north through the Park, enjoying the varying habitat and wildlife. Overnight at Satara or Olifants Camp.

We exit Kruger National Park at Orpen Gate and check in at Swadini Resort.

Community Outreach – Take a walk in a rural community to observe local lifestyles and animal care. Visit Nourish Eco Village, a non-profit near Kruger National Park focused on connecting communities with conservation through education, sustainable agriculture, enterprise development, and cultural engagement. Nourish runs several programmes, such as RISE Educare for early childhood development and the Green Kidz Club for environmental awareness and creativity. The SEDIWA Hub offers skills training in permaculture farming, green building, computer literacy, and financial management. Nourish also models sustainable agriculture, operates a craft shop supporting local artisans, and provides cultural experiences.

Visit Moholoholo wildlife rehabilitation centre, known for caring for a variety of species from large predators to small antelope and birds. Learn from expert staff and observe the animals in their care. Next, visit the “Down to Wire” anti-poaching facility to hear firsthand about efforts to combat rhino poaching. End the day at the GreenTrax canine anti-poaching unit, where you will learn about the use of dogs in wildlife protection.

Travel north to visit a centre dedicated to pangolin conservation and rehabilitation of various wildlife species. Continue to Bela Bela and check into the resort (about two hours).

Join a local wildlife veterinarian for game capture operations, assisting in the capture, care, and relocation of wildlife as needed. Only animals requiring treatment or testing will be darted; no procedures are performed for demonstration purposes alone.

Visit a rhino sanctuary and tour the facilities with the resident veterinarian. Assist with bottle-feeding juvenile rhinos. In the afternoon, visit Bambelela Wildlife Care and Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation for a guided tour and learn about preparing orphaned and abandoned monkeys for re-wilding.

Travel south to a wildlife sanctuary for the final two days. Enjoy nature walks on trails and view wildlife on foot, or relax by sunbathing and swimming.

Visit De Wildt to experience the Cheetah and Wild Dog sanctuary and conservation programme focused on release and re-wilding. If time and weather permit, visit the Vulpro vulture rehabilitation centre before attending the evening farewell dinner hosted by Ecolife.

Travel to the airport for departure and say goodbye.