Company rolls out safaris that focus on conservation efforts

Travel firm ExtraOrdinary Journeys has announced a collection of safaris that highlight conservation efforts in Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Custom safari experiences to east and southern Africa aim to highlight how various organisations meet the needs of local communities while also preserving and protecting the continent’s natural landscapes and wildlife.

The first safari of the year will take place in northern Kenya for seven days starting February 24. The trip will involve a visit to the Lewa-Borana Wildlife Conservancy. Tourists will go through monitoring and tracking of rhinos and lions.

The trip will cost $7,244 (Sh746,132) per person sharing for four nights, additional charges will apply for those extending the stay.

Tourists visiting Tanzania on February 28 to March 5 will visit the Elephant Collaring Conservation Safari at Grumeti Reserve.

“Travellers will spend days hosted by renowned conservation specialist Stephen Cunliffe, Executive Director of the Singita Grumeti Fund, while working with local conservationists, vets, and pilots to participate in elephant locating, GPS-enabled satellite collaring, and monitoring,” the firm said in a statement.

The package cost starts at $7,370 (Sh759,110) based on two people sharing.

The group touring the reserve is expected to contribute an extra $150,000 (Sh15.4 million) to go towards supporting Singita’s community, wildlife and conservation programmes.

The South Africa package will involve visiting Rhino Conservation Safari for four months starting May.

Visitors going to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park will monitor various Big Five species like the rhino and support the rhino orphanage and ranger training programmes for the first two nights. Travellers will visit Manyoni Private Game Reserve, known for its black rhino population, for the next three nights.

The package starts at $2,500 (Sh257,500) per person sharing.

In July Hands-On Wildlife Conservation Safari in South Africa will be dedicated to wildlife protection and conservation efforts.

“Participants in the week-long programme will experience first-hand all aspects of conservation efforts in the destination, from community outreach to outfitting teams with the most innovative technologies, to veterinary intervention and wildlife reintroduction programmes,” the firm said.

The Zimbabwe trip in September will involve learning and experiencing first-hand lion protection efforts.

The group will be based on private sanctuaries bordering Hwange National Park and run by local communities.