The Kalahari - Sustainable Wildlife SAfaris
The Ultimate Eco Safari Experience the incredible adventure that this wildlife research project has to offer in one of Africa's last remaining true wildernesses.
An unparalled expreience A True Eco-Safari - Wildlife Conservation in South Africa
Explore The Kalahari – South African Eco-Wildlife SAfari
Kalahari Conservation Adventure - the the ultimate experience
This project takes place on South Africa’s largest private Big-5 game reserve, the !Khamab Kalahari Reserve.
The biggest threat facing Africa’s wildlife today is habitat loss!Throughout Africa, you can see first hand how urbanisation, agriculture, mining, and other human activities have plagued local wildlife habitats for decades. As a result, numerous wildlife species face extinction. Many animals are simply unable to adapt to such radical environmental changes fast enough, and the ensuing decline in suitable habitats has lead to widespread inbreeding throughout local wildlife populations. The resulting lack of genetic variation is a significant contributing factor to the demise of these animals. Growing human settlements continue to encroach on wilderness areas, and this is leading to a dramatic increase in human wildlife conflicts.
!Khamab Kalahari Reserve, !Khamab (the Nama name for Cape Fox) was formed in 2007 when multiple farms were purchased in the Eastern Kalahari Bushveld of South Africa and combined to form a large 240 000-acre reserve with the objective to return this part of the Kalahari Desert to its former glory by creating one massive free-roaming ecosystem.
Beyond their highly specialised anti-poaching team, the reserve is run by a small team of committed professionals. The reserve simply does not have the necessary hands required to conduct their much-needed field work. The purpose of this project is to contribute to the reserve’s ecological needs by assisting with these much needed ecological activities and events! Working with Wildlife is proud to be the reserve’s exclusive partner in offering such conservation experiences.
Guests are accommodated in a tented lodge which offers incredible game viewing and sensational star-gazing opportunities to all who visit! There are four two-sleeper tents each with an en-suite bathroom (rooms are shared between guests). There is a kitchen and dining tent, a shaded outdoor section for guests to relax, and a boma for outdoor dining. There is electricity and hot water at the lodge, and safe drinking water is available.
Projects you can get involved with
Predator Research. Based on the ecological needs of the reserve, you will be participating in the continuous research of various predatory species. This research will focus primarily on developing a database of the reserve's African Wild Dog (Painted Wolf) and Lion populations. This database is essential for the reserve's ecologist to determine the reserve’s predator/prey populations, and ensure a balanced ecosystem is maintained. This research may involve other wildlife including (but not limited to); Cheetah, Leopard, Brown and Spotted Hyena, Elephant, Rhino, Vultures, and Buffalo.
Camera Traps and Game Counts. We will place and monitor camera traps to conduct scientific research and animal identification (e.g. a wild dog’s unique coat or a leopard’s unique pattern). Due to the sheer size of the reserve, placing and collecting camera traps from around the reserve before analyzing the data is no small task! We'll drive specific routes to conduct game counts and monitor any increase or decrease of significance in any of the reserve’s wildlife populations. Accurate game counts are one of the most important tools for reserve management as changes in wildlife populations or sex ratios can be an early indication of specific ecological problems (e.g. too many/few predators). Management can isolate different variables and use these counts to correctly identify an ecological problem before it’s too late.
Vegetation Surveys and Reserve Work. The reserve’s ecologist has set a programme in motion to monitor changes in fauna and flora. Over sixty randomly selected sites have been identified, and vegetation surveys are used to identify gradual and/or sudden changes in vegetation across the reserve, recognise changes in species composition, health of the grass layer, bush encroachment and whether the reserve is overstocked. This data is captured and analysed and used to determine the impact that environmental factors, including herbivores, are having on the vegetation of the reserve. Bush encroachment is a problem throughout African savannas. Not only does it impact on the habitats available to animals, it also impacts the infrastructure that we need to use in conservation areas. As this is a large reserve that is not open to the general public, many of the roads are hardly used. In fact, you’re unlikely to encounter another vehicle during your entire stay at the reserve! This also means that many of these roads get overgrown with encroaching bush and trimming of bushes on the road verges provides access to the road across the reserve. Other reserve work may include removing invasive plant species, and removal of old fencing wires from left over from earlier farming days that may entangle animals
Why South Africa’s Kalahari Desert?
This Wildlife Research Project gives guests the opportunity to enjoy living on a Big-5 and Malaria Free private game reserve in South Africa’s Kalahari Desert. The project offers a true perspective of the problems facing African Wildlife and allows guests to give something back to the continent’s conservation efforts. Break free from tourists and time limits as you follow animals in their natural habitat in this once in a lifetime conservation experience!
The Kalahari is home to some incredible nocturnal species such as; Aardvark, Aardwolf, Bat-Eared and Cape Foxes, Brown and Spotted Hyenas, Caracals, Genets, Honey Badgers, Leopard, Porcupines, and Pangolins. Some of these cannot be seen in other reserves
The Kalahari is also home to 179 different bird species including some of the country’s most endangered species. Additionally, the reserve is home to a fascinating vulture breeding project where participants will be able to join in the annual tagging and measuring of chicks of the critically endangered species if this should take place during their stay.
An Educational safari Learn from qualified and experienced personnel about the reserve’s ecology, biology and interesting animal behaviours, as well as the importance of habitat restoration and nature conservation for future generations
Learn about the ongoing rhino poaching crisis from experts in the anti-poaching field, the methods that are currently employed to combat poaching, and the importance of saving the species.
Learn how to track animals with radio antenna and GPS as well as conventional methods like spoor, signs of movements, and even the birds that can indicate the presence of a specific animal
Learn about the various plants, amphibians, reptiles and bird species that occur in the reserve
Understand the significance of alien invasive species and the effects these plants have on the ecosystem
Understand the importance of eco-tourism and the role it can play in conservation
Understand the role that certain species have on the ecosystem and the impact that population decline/growth has on the environment
End the day off with a relaxing sun set drink
This is a Malaria FREE area.
Let Go SAfari arrange this eco safari for you!
Allow our experience to work for you.
I spent 7 days with my best friend in South Africa. Susan organised my trip from A to Z. Glen (her husband) picked up us in Johannesburg and drove us to Kruger National park. He's a very nice man, helpful and very interesting. He told us a lot about the cities, citizen & history. We went on the panoramic road which was great. Then he dropped us in Mohlabetsi Lodge in Great Kruger. We spent 3 nights there and it was just fabulous. The lodge is wonderful and we had the 2 best guides ever. We saw the big five in 3 games drives. Every time they were tracking for an animal they found it, amazing!! Then we spent 2 nights in Sausage Tree Lodge. That’s a smaller lodge more familiar and it was a very nice experience to sleep in a tent.
We had our best holidays ever. Susan and Glen did their best to organise the best for us and it was just perfect. Next time I’ll go back to Kruger, I’ll go with my kids and I’ll definitely ask Go SAfari to organise my holidays again!