2024 South African Conservation
Trip Highlights
Working with Project Rhino
There were just 5 of us on this trip which made truly intimate and gave us extra time to explore the landscapes and wildlife. This trip was led by Project Rhino’s Grant Fowlds which made it extra special.
Grant Fowlds is a South African conservationist, author, and wildlife ambassador dedicated to protecting endangered species, particularly rhinos. He co-authored Saving the Last Rhinos and Re Wilding Africa, and works on anti-poaching, conservation, and community engagement initiatives. Fowlds advocates for sustainable wildlife protection through local and global efforts. His work has made him a prominent figure in the fight to save Africa's wildlife from extinction. If you're interested in his projects or books, I can provide more details or resources.
Distinct Safari Experiences
After departing Durban, we headed for the deep African bush and hit: We hit Thanda Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, and Phinda Private Game Reserve, which are all renowned wildlife conservation areas in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
While they share some similarities, such as being located within the same general region, they each offer distinct safari experiences due to their unique features, management, and focus. Here's a breakdown of their key differences:
Thanda Game Reserve is a luxurious, exclusive private reserve and is known for its intimate safari experiences and strong conservation efforts, particularly rhino conservation.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is a public national park with significant historical importance in rhino conservation.
Phinda Private Game Reserve is a high-end, luxury private reserve with diverse ecosystems, known for its specialized wildlife conservation programs and diverse safari offerings, such as boat safaris and bird watching.
Thanda, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, and Phinda all host the Big Five, but private reserves like Thanda and Phinda tend to offer more exclusive, predictable sightings, whereas Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is excellent for rhino conservation and offers a more rustic, self-drive safari experience as well.
Apart from experiencing some great game drives, we left plenty of time to do some conservation work and spend time with the Project Rhino team.
ZAP-Wing
One of the highlights included jumping into Project Rhino's ZAP Wing (Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing) Plane. This is their aerial surveillance and response initiative established in 2012 to combat rhino poaching in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
This public-private partnership between Project Rhino and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife provides daily helicopter reaction support and fixed-wing aerial surveillance to approximately 26 state and private game reserves, covering around 300,000 hectares in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The ZAP-Wing aircraft undertake daily aerial patrols, assist rangers and anti-poaching units in tracking poaching trends, transport law enforcement teams and K9 units to remote areas, investigate suspicious vehicles, report unusual activities around border areas, and help locate missing rhinos in difficult terrain.
The Zululand Rhino Orphanage was another highlight that’s located in the Zululand region. It’s part of a conservation initiative aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned rhinos, often victims of poaching. The orphanage is typically situated in a secure and undisclosed location to protect the rhinos from potential threats.
Combining safari experiences with conservation work is a powerful way to protect wildlife and educate people. It allows visitors to witness the beauty of nature while contributing to its preservation. By merging tourism with conservation, funds raised can support anti-poaching efforts, habitat restoration, and community development, ensuring a sustainable future for both wildlife and local populations. This approach fosters deeper connections between people and nature, inspiring long-term commitment to environmental stewardship.
Another highlight was working on several white Rhinos with the vet teams. Their conservation work is truly extraordinary and makes a meaningful difference for one of Africa's most iconic species. Being directly involved in such vital efforts was incredibly rewarding and impactful.
Here’s some photos from the trip.
Testimonials
"I had the pleasure of a trip to Kwa-Zulu Natal in July, orchestrated by Lisa Goldsmith, Headed To Africa, and Grant Fowlds, a conservationist with Project Rhino. It was an extraordinary experience. I received an education on numerous aspects of conservation and took part in various activities related to it. I had the opportunity to witness medical procedures on a rhino, go on multiple safari drives, and observe how wildlife and community conservation efforts are being managed in South Africa. I was honored to be part of this mission to protect and preserve our planet's animals and beauty. If I rated this experience, it would be a 10!!" - Chris G.
"When we signed up for a safari to South Africa with Project Rhino/Headed to Africa. We knew we were in for something a bit different but had no idea it would turn into a guided tour by Project Rhino’s Grant Fowlds. He drove all over the reserves. We experienced a lot of the conservation work being done on Africa’s endangered rhino by being involved in a rhino dehorning, going to a rhino orphanage, visiting the K9 tracker dogs, jumping into the Project Rhino Zap Wing Plane and helicopter used for anti poaching patrols and more. Things we would normally never have access to. All this was accompanied by Grant’s conversation and commentary which gave us an amazing insight into conservation efforts and how it can be hugely complicated. We also had some amazing safaris and wildlife sightings as well. We have been on several safaris previously but this trip was distinctly different and just very cool!" - Andrew H.
South African Conservation Adventure 2024
Join Headed to Africa, Project Rhino and Wild Impact on an exclusive Safari-Conservation Philanthropic Adventure where you'll travel deep into the South African bush for some exceptional safari games and unique conservation experiences.
