RE-wilding AfRica
Paradise Reborn - A Conservation safari
Re-wilding is the large-scale restoration of ecosystems to the point where nature can take care of itself - sustaining communities and tackling the species extinction crisis and climate emergency. On this journey you will be immersed in ambitious projects to restore some of Africa's most ancient conservation landscapes back to their former glory. Joining wildlife veterinarians and conservationists, we will trace these efforts across the savannah, forest and mountains of Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda and the Republic of Congo. Expect thrilling wildlife encounters, to be actively involved in wildlife translocations and conservation efforts, and to meet the communities who benefit from the rehabilitation of these landscapes. This trip will take in some of Africa's most impressive, culturally diverse and wildlife-rich landscapes.
Republic of Congo - Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Lying between the snow-capped peak of Mt Kenya, and the Great Rift Valley, Laikipia is a flagship for conservation sustaining 80% of endangered Grevy’s zebra, half of Kenya’s critically endangered black rhinos and globally important populations of wild dogs
Mozambique - Gorongosa National Park
Gorongosa National Park represents perhaps Africa's greatest wildlife restoration story. At the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Lab, we will join scientists studying the park's ecological dynamics and restoration of its ecosystems.
Rwanda - Akagera National Park and Virunga Volcanoes Conservation Region
The gateway to Kenya's vast Northern hinterland is a spectacular landscape of sprawling savannah and desert, interspersed with wildlife-rich forest-clad mountains. The area is dominated by community-owned conservancies, which incentivize sustainable land management and the preservation of wildlife. Our trip to Akagera will coincide with the reintroduction of white rhino to the park, giving hands-on experience of a rhino translocation.
ITINERARY
Day 1
The safari begins in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for the day/night. We will have our representative meet you assist through customs and luggage.
The tour leader will brief you about the logistical plans for the next day. Check in and get ready for the next day adventures. The hotel has a restaurant should you wish to grab something.
Day 2
The tour leader and concierge will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to the airport for your 9:00am charter flight to Dzanga-Sangha for the first night at Sangha Lodge.
If time permits we will venture out in the afternoon to explore the forest, followed by a short afternoon sundowner cruise on the Sangha River.
Day 3
Today, after breakfast, you will head down to Bai Hokou where you will spend time tracking a group of western lowland gorillas.
Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve and its neighbours in Congo's Nouabale-Ndoki and Odzala-Kokoua National Parks are the only places in the world where you can find habituated lowland gorillas.
Day 4
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Enjoy breakfast overlooking the Sangha River before heading out with a group of Ba’aka net hunters as they go about their daily hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
It's both fascinating and a joy in itself to see how well-adapted and comfortable the Ba’aka are in the forest.
You will be shown several of their medicinal plants while the hunt goes along in the background, and the excited cheers will alert us if they do catch something.
Please note that this activity is not contrived. The hunters are there to catch their food so some animals may be killed.
Days 5
After a hearty breakfast, it's time to visit Dzanga Bai! This large clearing in the middle of the rainforest is where forest elephants gather in large numbers to indulge in drinking the mineral-rich waters that bubble across the clearing.
The interaction between so many different groups of forest elephants is riveting and there's always the possibility of seeing some of the other normally shy forest creature like bongo, giant forest hog, red river hog, sitatunga and forest buffalos as well as exceptional birdlife.
Day 6
Today after breakfast you will be driven to the airstrip to take a charter back to Bangui where you will connect your afternoon flight to Nairobi, Kenya.
You will be met by our representative at Jomo Kenyattta Airport in Nairobi upon landing and transferred to your hotel for the night.
Days 7 & 8
After a morning flight back to Kenya's capital, you will embark on a city tour in Nairobi.
The tour will begin with a visit to the iconic Nairobi National Museum, where you will explore fascinating exhibits on Kenya's cultural heritage, natural history, and contemporary art. Next, delve into the bustling streets of the city center, where you will discover landmarks such as the Kenyatta International Conference Centre and Parliament Buildings.
After the tour, enjoy a delicious dinner at the Norfolk restaurant at 1800hrs, before heading to the airport for your departure flight at 2345hrs.
We leave Nairobi after breakfast, and transfer by private air charter to Lamu.
Lamu is one of the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlements in East Africa. Dating back to the14th century this UNESCO World Heritage Site on Kenya's northeast coast is celebrated for its rich blend of Arab, Persian, Indian, and African influences.
Day 9 & 10
After an early breakfast, you will transfer at 0700hrs by private charter from Lamu, flying over Mt Kenya to reach the Sarara Valley in Northern Kenya. This sweeping wildlife rich valley, surrounded by the towering forest-clad Mathews mountains, is a model for community-based conservation. The local Samburu people and their livestock coexist with large mammals such as elephant, giraffes, lion, leopards and African wild dogs.
After settling into camp, enjoy lunch
Day 11 & 12
TBI
Day 13
Today we will transfer by road to Akagera National Park. Prepare for a long day ahead as we will spend at-least 5-6 hrs on the road, making iot tio the next lodge for a late lunch.
Akagera was established in 1934 and is in the process of being restored to its former glory through an ambitious rewilding project led by Africa Parks. Over 30% of the park is made up of lakes and interconnected papyrus swamps, which together form one of the largest protected wetlands in Africa.
The afternoon will be spent at leisure before embarking on a late afternoon boating safari.
Game drives and boating end with an evening of traditional cuisine, stories, song and dance.
Day 14
After a hearty breakfast, we will make our way to African Park headquarters during which you will have a chance of spotting a variety of large mammals and birds such as buffalo, rhino, elephants, lions, giraffes and zebra.
We will then join one of Akagera's rhino rangers on a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of the park's security and data management systems, including a demonstration by the K9 unit.
The rest of the afternoon will be spent with these rangers -who are responsible for monitoring the recently reintroduced Southern white rhinos - as they track these animals deep into the bush.
We will return to the lodge for dinner, stopping for sundowners on the way.
At dinner, we will be joined by a representative of African Parks, who will speak about their organization's efforts to rehabilitate twenty two of Africa's most biodiverse landscapes in partnership with governments and local communities.
Day 15
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With a slow morning, we say our goodbyes to Magashi and Aklagera and make our way by road to Kigali, where we will spend the night at the beautiful Heaven Retreat.
Enjoy a day discovering Kigali’s art, history, fashion and culture. Discover the old city of Kigali, tour a local market, taste Rwandan coffee, enjoy local art and a visit to an entrepreneur’s workshop. Return to Fusion restaurant for a local, traditional meal.
Optional: Visit to the Genocide Memorial.
This will give you a fascinating, though sobering, insight into Rwanda's modern history. It is remarkable to learn just how far Rwanda has come in such a short period of time and it certainly adds a deeper understanding about the Rwandan people.
The tour leader will debrief you on the logistics for the next day before you retire.
Day 16
Day 17 & 18
Leave Ethiopia and fly to Gaborone Botswana and transfer to lodge, Okavango delta
Day 19 & 20
Nhoma Camp
Day 21 & 22
Serra Cafema
Day 23 & 24
Cape town
Day 25
After breakfast at camp, we bid farewell to Odzala-Kokoua, and depart for Brazaville on a private air charter.
From here, you can connect your flight home. If you wish to extend your safari after this, kindky talk to us to help plan.