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Cape Town, South Africa (March 29, 2022): The conscious safari traveler wants to get involved in understanding conservation in Africa, what’s happening behind the scenes, and how their safari travels have a direct and lasting impact. Extraordinary efforts are made across the continent to protect wildlife and biological diversity and assist surrounding communities in their heroic battle against determined poaching syndicates. The following selection of immersive conservation experiences offered on Go2Africa journeys through Africa will take you from spectator to active participant, with profound encounters of wildlife and the incredible people committed to their preservation.

WILDLIFE

SOUTH AFRICA

Dart, track & monitor Africa's beloved mammals at Marataba Conservation Camps in Marakele National Park. One of South Africa’s most innovative conservation models and home to a population of endangered white and black rhinos, Marataba supports repopulation to various locations across the continent. Funds raised by these conservation experiences go directly into funding tools such as microchipping equipment, radio collars, and camera traps. Spending time with the conservation team and the Managing Director/Lead Vet for the reserve, Dr. Andre Uys, visitors learn all about the intricacies of what it takes to preserve the wildlife and participate in identifying, monitoring, tracking, and collecting data on the large mammals including rhino, elephant, and cheetah. Marataba is a public-private collaboration that aspires to be a leading African conservation initiative by sustainably managing ecosystems and keystone species for generations to come. They are committed to driving a financial model that supports the long-term conservation of the park while maximizing sustainable socioeconomic opportunities for surrounding communities. Everything that is done at Marataba is underpinned by the guiding compass and three founding pillars: conservation, communities, and commerce.

"One of the best trips I have been on was a visit to Marataba Conservation Camps. We took part in several conversation activities accompanied by the two vets who are in charge of the reserve’s efforts. I was able to join in darting rhinos for ultrasound scans and checking fertility, the mass collection of impala for relocation — an incredibly well-orchestrated operation — and setting up camera traps. To be able to play your own role in these kinds of experiences is something humbling and fundamentally meaningful,” shares Maija de Rijk-Uys – Managing Director, Go2Africa

RUAHA, TANZANIA

Usangu Expedition Camp, Asilia’s new pioneering safari destination in the Ruaha wetlands, embodies conservation and allows clients to participate in the collaring and de-collaring of animals, including elephants, lions, wild dogs, and leopards. Visitors are given the opportunity to track collared animals on safaris, support researchers in the research center, and help with camera trap settings. The implementation of conservation-themed tourism is the first step to understanding what is needed to conserve the area and its inhabitants in order to preserve this incredible natural world for future generations.

COMMUNITIES

KENYA

The annual Serengeti Girls Run, which takes place in late October annually, is hosted by the Grumeti Fund in conjunction with Singita. The Serengeti Girls Run is a charity event in which all the runners aim to raise as much money as possible for women's empowerment initiatives in Tanzania. All the participants are required to raise a minimum of $8,500, and contributions raised for the run are donated to the Grumeti Fund. This non-profit organization carries out vital wildlife conservation and community development work in the western Serengeti. In 2021, Go2Africa’s Managing Director Maija de-Rijk-Uys participated and plans to run again in 2022 for travelers interested in joining her or making contributions.

"We had the most spectacular wildlife experiences running among the wildebeest and zebras, being followed by hyena, and hearing all the bush noises you don’t hear from a safari vehicle: the loud bellowing of wildebeest, the nickering of zebra, and the giggling of hyena. In the end, we helped to raise essential funds to enhance the quality of education provided to the youth in local communities, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers and livelihoods," shares de-Rijk-Uys.

UGANDA

Volcanoes Safaris has developed a Batwa Resettlement Project and Heritage Tour at Gahinga Lodge. The Gahinga Batwa community comprises over 100 adults and children who have had no permanent home since they left Mgahinga National Park over 25 years ago. In 2018, Volcanoes Safaris built a permanent village for the Batwa community and their families on about 10 acres of land to allow them to build homes and a community center and have land for agricultural and recreational use.

The Batwa Cultural Heritage Site represents a significant commitment to the Batwa tribe from Volcanoes Safaris and the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT). Built on the Mount Gahinga Lodge property, the Heritage Site consists of a demonstration-based herbal garden, a small collection of traditional huts, and a short trail that allows the Batwa to demonstrate to interested Volcanoes Safaris guests how they used to live, hunt, and collect honey and other resources from the forest.

ENVIRONMENTS

SOUTH AFRICA

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve comprises 30 rooms split across six intimate lodges, villas, and camps, providing understated luxury and one of the highest land-to-guest ratios in South Africa. Working through their social development partner, the Ubunye Foundation, they invest in projects that improve lives and create sustainable livelihood opportunities in marginalized rural communities.

A guest stay allows travelers to participate in various activities to get to know the people, participate in vital conservation work, and give back to the community, making the Kwandwe experience possible. Planting spekboom is an important guest initiative as it is a type of thicket vegetation that is native to the Eastern Cape and prolific on Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. One of the top five carbon-storing vegetations on the planet, helping to plant Spekbom is a great way to offset your carbon footprint.

Visitors can also offer their expertise, skills, and time by reading stories during preschool mornings, helping in the vegetable garden, assisting at the afternoon homework club, or offering basic computer training for children and staff, as some examples.

ACROSS AFRICA

From Kenya to Botswana, a handful of lodges have embraced a low-impact approach to sustainable eco-tourism. Electric safari vehicles are rapidly getting into pole position for zero-emission, carbon-neutral holidays in Africa. Sustainable safari experiences with their innovative electric safari vehicles are typically retrofitted diesel 4x4 vehicles – the internal combustion engines are replaced with an electric motor, batteries, and charging points. The result is a near-silent, solar-powered vehicle that significantly reduces the disturbance for animals and the harm done to the environment.

Benefits of electric vehicles include:

Smooth & Silent Game Drives—The near-silent vehicles amplify the sounds of the African bush, making bird and animal calls much easier to hear. Wildlife photographers will also love the absence of shuddering start-ups and jerky gear changes synonymous with diesel-powered 4x4 safari vehicles.
Zero Emissions—An electric safari vehicle does not burn fuel. There is no need for exhaust systems, and therefore, no hazardous gases are emitted into the atmosphere.
Reliability - electric safari cars are much more reliable than any standard combustion engine, as the motor relies on only one working part.
Low Maintenance—Running costs are greatly reduced in electric safari cars. There is no need to purchase fuel—the vehicles can be powered by the sun—and almost no maintenance is required on an electric motor.
Performance—Electric safari cars run at around 95% efficiency vs. 20-30% for standard combustion engines. This is a significant improvement in the vehicle's performance. Capability is also not a concern—electrical components are rugged, and the sealed 'engines' allow guides to wade through deep sand and even ford rivers.

For U.S. safari bookings and inquiries, contact: www.go2africa.com / contact@go2africa.com / 1-866-438-8677

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About Go2Africa:

Go2Africa, part of the Nawiri Group, has been crafting personalised African safaris for over 25 years. With deep local connections and first-hand knowledge, we personally visit every destination, accommodation, and experience we recommend. Based in Cape Town since 1998, we have created seamless and unforgettable journeys for over 200,000 travellers. Recognised by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and the World Travel Awards, we offer expert guidance with 24/7 support. Every journey with us supports Africa’s people and ecosystems, ensuring that travel makes a positive impact. With Go2Africa, it’s not just a safari - it’s your greatest adventure.

Media Inquiries

Alexandra Avila

alexandra@reyacommunications.com