PHINDA IMPACT SMALL GROUP JOURNEY Care for the land, wildlife and people on a journey to where our story began

Transcription

1 PHINDA IMPACT SMALL GROUP JOURNEY Care for the land, wildlife and people on a journey to where our story began

2 JOURNEY TO WHERE OUR STORY BEGAN AT A GLANCE Departure dates: May 2019; Nov 2019 Duration: 7 days / 6 nights Private Guide: Nikki Muller Maximum guests: 6-8 Rate: FROM ZAR per person sharing (includes ZAR donation to Africa Foundation) Embark on a journey of discovery with this privately guided, 7-day small group set departure journey that aims to highlight conservation and community development activities, which underpin the &Beyond ethos of leaving the world a better place than we found it. Whilst traditional game drives are integral to this safari experience, it incorporates elements of our ranger training curriculum as well as selected conservation activities. You will also be introduced to the community surrounding &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, and experience a day in the life of a school pupil. Perfect for those who wish to travel with purpose, this small group journey offers a fantastic opportunity for growth and learning, in an exciting and stimulating environment. The exposure to authentic and exclusive community and conservation experiences, as well as gaining insight into Zulu culture, is a rare and priceless gift. You will stay at the breath-taking &Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge, a sole-use lodge in the southern reaches of &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, which offers its own private vehicle and guide, butler and chef. Departure dates have been carefully selected around the best climates of the year, to ensure that you are able to make the most of your adventure. What we love about the Phinda Impact Story Small Group Journey: -- Experience incredible opportunities to go behind the scenes at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, and gain first-hand awareness of &Beyond s impact model including ranger training, conservation and community initiatives -- Get insight into the typical training of an &Beyond guide, actively participate in conservation projects and enjoy insightful cultural immersions -- Access to renowned &Beyond conservationists, a specialist photographic guide, and privately guided throughout by a specialist &Beyond ranger -- Unparalleled wildlife experience at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, which is host to the big five as well as excellent viewing opportunities of cheetah and the rare black rhino -- Exclusive accommodation at &Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge, complete with private chef and butler -- Photographic Guide Andrew Schoeman will guide each guest on their photographic journey and a canvas of your best photograph will be sent to you after your safari -- Includes ZAR donation to Phinda s Africa Foundation Star Project

3 THE PHINDA STORY 27 YEARS OF CARE OF THE LAND, WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE &Beyond was launched with the creation of Phinda Private Game Reserve in 1991, on a model that is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious and successful blueprints for international ecotourism. Over the years, &Beyond Phinda has successfully showcased our Impact Model of Care of the Land, Wildlife and People, through our offering of extraordinary guest experiences. Now one of the most sought-after safari destinations in South Africa, the success of our model has seen the reserve grow into a thriving commercial enterprise. In 1991, once overgrazed agricultural land was purchased and rehabilitated before the reintroduction of all the large mammal species that originally inhabited the region. Neighbouring Zulu communities were and continue to be consulted in all aspects of development, ensuring that their expectations and aspirations could be met in a sustainable way. Phinda s name, which means the return, has been prophetic in more than one way. Not only was the wildlife returned to the land but a significant portion of the land has since been returned to its ancestral owners in a ground-breaking agreement between &Beyond and the Makhasa and Mnqobokazi communities. This partnership has been so successful that, as additional pieces of land have been handed back to the communities, they have requested that this land be included in &Beyond Phinda believing that their best financial return would be gained through the use of the land for conservation tourism. &BEYOND IMPACT: LEAVING PHINDA BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT PHINDA PROPERTIES IN 1991, PREVIOUSLY DEGRADED FARMLAND Ha &Beyond Phinda Owned Land PHINDA PROPERTIES IN 2018, NOW PRISTINE CONSERVATION LAND &Beyond Phinda Community Land Mun-ya-wana Member Land Ha

4 SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES DAY ONE - Embark on a fascinating game drive through &Beyond Phinda s Seven World s of Wonder. The reserve is famous for its sightings of the iconic Big Five and cheetah. - Enjoy a briefing and orientation session conducted by Les Carlisle, &Beyond s Group Conservation Manager. DAY TWO - Get behind-the-scenes and discover what each &Beyond guide and tracker has to learn and experience in their unique &Beyond training programme. - Learn the art of photography and master skills that will be used throughout the rest of your safari. - Delve into the bush on a guided walk with the focus on tracking, and participate in track and sign exercises, as well as tree and plant identification. - Be captivated by a frogging expedition, (if frogs are active), and listen for distinct frog sounds, track them down, identify and photograph them. - Gaze up at the night sky, a blanket of infinite sparkling stars and learn to distinguish myriad stars and celestial constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. DAY THREE - Get out your binoculars for a fantastic birding session. Take part in a bird ringing exercise, which entails netting and then recording measurements, and ringing (tagging) the birds before releasing them. - Strap on your walking boots for a bush walk. This adventure will show you the focus and awareness our rangers need in the bush, and offers practical ranger rifle training, with an exhilarating simulation of a lion charge! - Focus more on tracking and viewing nocturnal animals on an evening game drive. Enjoy an adventure-filled sleep out under the stars, and enjoy being out in the wild - under the protection of qualified night-security. DAY FOUR - Embark on a walking safari from your sleep out camp, and navigate back to the lodge, recalling your birding, tracking and tree identification skills along the way. - Conduct a tracking exercise, using the skills you have learnt, and spot fresh elephant, buffalo or rhino tracks. - Delight in an afternoon game drive and focus on hospitality, with a fun-filled session of craft gin and tonic or beer tasting. There will also be a delicious food pairing to enjoy too. DAY FIVE - Spend an enjoyable day out in the local community and gain insight into projects that the Africa Foundation is undertaking. - Interact with members of the community and learn about their way of life as well as the fascinating Zulu culture. - Engage with students at Nkomo Primary School and assist in preparing lunch meals for children. - Teach a classroom of kids and present a short presentation, which is in line with their school curriculum. - Relish a delicious lunch in the community, and visit a craft market and local clinic. DAY SIX - Meet up with a wildlife research technician from the reserve, and find out more about the wildlife monitoring and research programs currently in place. - Take part in the capture of a rhino for research purposes. Alongside the team, you will carry out either an ear notching exercise (for monitoring purposes) or collaring of a specific animal. If necessary, you may have the opportunity to participate in a rhino dehorning exercise, which will help protect the animal from poachers. - Learn to use telemetry equipment, which is essential for the research teams to locate wildlife. - Head out in search of elephant herds, and collect data which is used to inform the numerous research projects. DAY SEVEN - Spend your last morning over breakfast engaging in a debrief session of the week s activities with Les and Andrew, and delight in the handover of a photography canvas that has been taken with pictures of your journey.

5 SIGNATURE TRADEMARKS PRIVATELY GUIDED - MEET NIKKI MULLER Nikki s enthusiasm for conservation started at an early age, on a farm in the heart of South Africa s Free State. Learning about, and discovering farming practices that were based on the principle of conservation and sustainable development, his passion for the environment and conservation grew. This led Nikki to pursue a qualification in Nature Conservation and Game Farm Management. Over time, he has spent his life dedicated to all activities related to the environment, including the recording of rare plant species, rehabilitation of previously disturbed areas, and partaking in environmental educational programs. Nikki joined the &Beyond Inkwazi Ranger Training School at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, and compiled an environmental management plan for the reserve. This included the geology of the reserve, and anti-poaching legislation.he has been involved in a number of rhino notchings, collaring and dehornings, and replacing collars on elephant and cheetah. Incredibly inspired by the way &Beyond looked at sustainable development in the communities surrounding &Beyond Phinda, Nikki was encouraged to include a number of ideas and methods into his management plan. Actively involved in caring for the land, wildlife and people, Nikki believes that conservation should not be a job, but a lifestyle that is practised each day. AN ICONIC DESTINATION - &BEYOND PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE Offering a rich wildlife viewing experience and a spectacular setting near the northern KwaZulu-Natal coastline, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve boasts a variety of habitats and high density of game, including some rare and less easily spotted species. The reserve is home to a magnificent variety of wildlife, including the entire Big Five, but is best known for its large population of elegant cheetah and the endangered black rhino. With seven distinct habitats, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve boasts a magnificent tapestry of landscapes, from woodland to grassland, wetland and forest, interspersed with mountain ranges, river courses, marshes and pans. Home to the unique ecosystem of a large portion of the world s remaining rare sand forest, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is situated close to the unspoiled beaches and marine reefs of the Indian Ocean, with a combination of bush and beach adventures possible from the reserve. EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION - &BEYOND PHINDA ZUKA LODGE Bordered by lush green valleys and densely wooded hills studded with aloes, &Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge sits in the west of the reserve. With just four thatched Zululand bush suites, this intimate lodge is ideal for family gatherings and special occasion safaris and can be booked as a sole-use use villa or for individual room bookings. Characterised by hues of blue and stone, with a strong emphasis on shape and texture, the overall ambiance of &Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge is that of cool, coastal bush style embodying sophistication of simplicity. The charming suites cluster around a busy waterhole where a diversity of wildlife is regularly seen and birdlife flourished. Each suite boasts a luxurious ensuite bathroom, complete with a circular bath chamber, double showers and twin hand basins. Comfortable lounge chairs on private verandas allow for gentle contemplation or even an afternoon siesta. Guest areas include an interactive cafe-style kitchen, indoor sitting and dining areas, an intimate library with internet access, and a swimming pool with an extended wooden deck overlooking the surrounding wilderness. * Terms and conditions apply

6 SIGNATURE TRADEMARKS SPECIALISTS YOU WILL MEET IN THIS SMALL GROUP JOURNEY LES CARLISLE (&BEYOND GROUP CONSERVATION MANAGER) Les Carlisle has been an intrinsic part of the &Beyond team for more than 25 years, providing invaluable conservation management across the group. He also works in close proximity with the Africa Foundation as one of their trustees. Les long history with &Beyond began in February 1991 with the creation of &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. Not only was he involved in the building of the reserve but he played an instrumental role in reintroducing predators and other species onto the reserve, managing the game translocations required to transform it into the world-renowned reserve that it is today. As Group Conservation Manager, Les represents &Beyond on the boards of two conservation areas and advises the company on the proper management of such areas. Les is often invited to international conferences as a keynote speaker to talk about &Beyond s successful business model. He is heavily involved in &Beyond s sustainability initiatives, which are aimed at minimising the environmental impact of the company s lodges. In addition, he has taken on the role of Project Manager for Rhinos Without Borders, a joint project by &Beyond and Great Plains Conservation. An adventurer at heart, Les is an advanced scuba diver and has sky dived and piloted aircraft. He is a keen naturalist, an avid birdwatcher and passionate about sport and flying, building his own model airplanes. ANDREW SCHOEMAN (&BEYOND PRIVATE PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE) Andrew s love affair with photography began almost by accident, when he came across an unopened roll of film lying in the midst of a dusty bush road at a game reserve where he was guiding. Fired with inspiration, he could hardly wait for the next game drive to try his hand. While the film turned out to be completely overexposed, he was hooked! Driven by a desire to take the best photos he possibly could, he devoured as many photography books he could get his hands on, scouring the National Geographic and BBC Wild channels for ideas. 17 years later, he has enjoyed many years of guiding and photography experiences, including four years in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, where he was privileged to capture iconic wildlife, and traverse extraordinary landscapes of the continent, including the breathtaking beauty of the Serengeti. The highlights of his photographic career have included seeing his images in print all over the country. Andrew thrives on sharing his love and passion for photographing Africa s wild places with his guests, helping them capture indelible memories of their adventures. BHEKI NTULI (AFRICA FOUNDATION REGIONAL MANAGER KWAZULU-NATAL) Bheki is a Regional Manager for Africa Foundation (&Beyond s community development partner) in the KwaZulu- Natal region, based at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. Working closely with five communities that neighbour &Beyond Phinda, since joining Africa Foundation, Bheki s passion for community development has grown through experience. Bheki joined Africa Foundation in February 2004, starting as a Community Development Officer, later moving to Regional Program Officer and, now, KZN Regional Manager. Having completed his Bachelor of Science Degree (Agriculture) at the University of Zululand, while Bheki was working as an assistant, his interest in community development was sparked when he was conducting research about the impact of poverty in the rural areas. His findings led to the scope of the research being increased, to answer the question of what relevant methods of poverty alleviation could be introduced in previously disadvantaged communities. An advocate of life-long learning, he has also completed short courses on Introduction to Project Management and Advanced Project Management through the Regenesis School of Business, as well as additional short online courses through the University of Cape Town.

7 SIGNATURE TRADEMARKS SPECIALISTS YOU WILL MEET IN THIS SMALL GROUP JOURNEY SIMON NAYLOR (RESERVE MANAGER - &BEYOND PHINDA) Simon Naylor has been an integral part of &Beyond s conservation and guiding teams for the better part of two decades. After completing a degree in nature conservation, Simon joined &Beyond as a guide at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. When he got his first glimpse of the sand forest and plains of the reserve, as well as the Indian Ocean and Lake St Lucia, from the plane that was bringing him to his new home, an enduring love affair was born. Five years later, the exciting opportunity arose for Simon to take &Beyond s Ranger Training Programme to East Africa. The Mwewe Ranger Training School was launched and Simon communicated the &Beyond way throughout Kenya and Tanzania, exploring the region s most remote and beautiful natural sanctuaries in the process. After nearly four years, Simon was due for a change of scenery and moved to Kasane to take charge of &Beyond s Botswana Mobile Camping Expeditions. In 2006, when fate came knocking with an opportunity to return to &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, he accepted the position of Reserve Manager without hesitation. Simon considers himself blessed to have worked in some of Africa s most beautiful and pristine wilderness areas. Watching wildebeest cross the Mara River, seeing wild dog hunting in the Selous and herds of elephant swimming across the Chobe River, stargazing in the Namib Desert and scuba diving off &Beyond Mnemba Island are all special moments for him. CRAIG SHOLTO-DOUGLAS (ECOLOGIST/RESEARCH TECHNICIAN) Craig obtained BSc degrees in Zoology and Environmental Science from Rhodes University before joining the Rhodes Restoration Research Group as the project research technician. Following academics, he worked for an environmental consultancy as an ecological specialist and project manager, conducting numerous ecological assessments and faunal surveys throughout Southern Africa. Craig heads up the research and monitoring department at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. His role involves the co-ordination and management of ecological monitoring teams, internal and external researchers, data and samples collection and management, and the maintenance of the reserves databases. Craig also assists with general reserve wildlife management, veld management and off-take strategies, and the facilitation and implementation of annual reserve game counts. JAMES RAWDON (CONSERVATION TEAM MEMBER: ORNITHOLOGIST) With a BSc degree in Zoology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg under his belt, James followed his dream and started out as a game ranger at MalaMala Game Reserve for three years. He then joined Wilderness Safaris for five years as a guide and lodge manager, in Botswana s Okavango Delta. He researched the resident lion prides on which he published a scientific paper and magazine article for Africa Geographic. He obtained his bird ringing license in 2012 through SAFRING (University of Cape Town) after 18 months of training with other licensed ringers. He has been ringing birds at various sites around KwaZulu-Natal including the Drakensberg, Midlands, Zululand and the North Coast as well as venturing into Mpumalanga (Crocodile River of the Kruger National Park and Wakkerstroom) and the Nylsvley Nature Reserve in the Limpopo Province. His most recent ringing trip has been to Sierra Leone. To date, he has rung over bird, of 270 different species, during the 220-odd ringing sessions conducted to date.

8 EXPECT THE EXTRAORDINARY Day one Familiarisation and orientation Upon your arrival, via Airlink, you will be welcomed by an &Beyond representative who will drive you to &Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge. At the lodge, you will have the opportunity to settle in before enjoying your first game drive in the reserve. Afterwards, unwind with pre-dinner drinks and an orientation of your up-coming adventures, hosted by Les Carlisle, &Beyond s Group Conservation Manager. This discussion will reveal what is planned for the week and aims to provide an explanation for this safari experience, what you will be discovering and learning, and why specific activities were chosen. Enjoy your first dinner on Phinda Private Game Reserve under the stars in a classic &Beyond boma experience

9 EXPECT THE EXTRAORDINARY Day two Guiding introduction It s an early start today as you wake for a day that is focussed on photography, and exploring ranger training and ethics. Start your day with a game drive, followed by breakfast at the lodge. Your morning s adventure will offer insight into the role of a ranger, what their job entails and what needs to be accomplished in order to successfully meet our &Beyond requirements. You will also participate in an informative wildlife photography lesson to help you capture your sightings and adventures with us. These photographs will be used to create a wonderful photographic canvas that will be presented to you at the end of your stay. Afterwards, put your guiding hat on and embark on a bush walk, where you will be introduced to the art of tracking and tree and plant identification. Relish a delicious lunch back at the lodge and then enjoy an afternoon game drive with a frogging expedition (if frogs are active), which involves listening for distinct frog sounds, tracking them down, identifying and photographing them. In the evening, gaze up at the sky and marvel at the celestial constellations of the Southern Hemisphere and revel in a stars presentation and identification session.

10 EXPECT THE EXTRAORDINARY Day three Guiding practical Today, you will put what you learnt from the previous day into practice, on an early morning game drive. You will also be introduced to birding; learning about bird physiology, behaviour and breeding. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to take part in a bird ringing exercise, which involves netting and recording measurements, and ringing the bird for monitoring purposes, before releasing it. After a fun-filled morning, you will head back to the lodge to tuck into a hearty breakfast before setting off for another bush walk to focus on fine-tuning your awareness skills when walking through the wilderness. Learn how to carry a rifle, followed by practical ranger rifle training, and then participate in a thrilling simulation of a lion charge and the drills that need to take place. Enjoy a delectable lunch back at the lodge, and the opportunity to unwind, before a late afternoon/evening game drive that focuses on tracking and viewing nocturnal wildlife. The drive then culminates in a bush dinner and an exciting sleep out in the wild. You will be protected by qualified night-security throughout your night s stay.

11 EXPECT THE EXTRAORDINARY Day four Walking Safari and Tracking Wake up early and head into the bush for an exhilarating walking safari. From your sleep out camp, you will be given instructions on how to navigate back to the lodge, and as you make your way, your identification skills on birds and trees will be called upon. You will be under the guidance of your ranger at all times, and should any fresh elephant, buffalo or rhino tracks be encountered along the way, your group will conduct a tracking exercise, using the skills learnt earlier in the week, so as to be able to view these animals on foot. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure and look forward to an evening game drive, with a stop in the wilderness that focuses on hospitality. Enjoy a private, craft gin and tonic and food paring, craft beer and biltong paring, or wine and cheese tasting.

12 EXPECT THE EXTRAORDINARY Day five A day in the local community Today, you will have the opportunity to explore a local community just outside of the reserve. Gain insight, and contribute towards, some of the projects that the Africa Foundation (&Beyond s community development partner) is undertaking. Interact with members of the community and gain knowledge and perspective into their everyday life. You will also have the opportunity learn about the Zulu culture during your outing. Spend the morning at Nkomo Primary School, where you can sit in on the children s morning assembly. Afterwards, assist in preparing lunch meals for children at the OVC Centre (Orphans and Vulnerable Children Centre), and help serve meals. You can interact with a classroom of kids, and present a short presentation to the children, which is in line with their school curriculum. The outline will be provided to you and will cover elements that relate to geography, history and life orientation. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the community and visit a traditional craft market, and then a local clinic. Head back to the lodge for tea and then an exciting evening game drive ahead.

13 EXPECT THE EXTRAORDINARY Day six Conservation Experiences This morning, you will gain insight into the activities of the conservation team based at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, and actively partake in some of the research projects, which are currently being conducted on the reserve. Wake early and depart from the lodge with a reserve wildlife research technician. You will be introduced to the various monitoring programs that are being carried out and will have the opportunity to assist in the tracking of the various species being monitored. You will then assist in recording the necessary data required for the various research programs. After this, depending on the research requirement, you will be able to participate in either a: Rhino notching exercise - the research teams to carry out an ear notching exercise (for monitoring purposes) OR Collaring of a rhino to better locate for monitoring purposes - if necessary, you may be able to participate in a dehorning exercise to protect the rhino from poachers After an exhilarating morning, enjoy a picnic breakfast in the bush, and learn how to use the researchers telemetry equipment, which is essential in helping to track wildlife. Following breakfast, re-join the wildlife monitoring team and head out in search of elephant herds, to assist the team in collecting data, which is used to inform the numerous research projects that focus on elephant, about their behaviour and role in the greater ecosystem. After your time in the bush, have a late lunch at the lodge, and later enjoy an evening game drive.

14 EXPECT THE EXTRAORDINARY Day seven Farewell After tucking into a wholesome breakfast at the lodge, you will have a wrap up and debrief session of the weeks activities with Les Carlisle and Andrew Schoeman. There will be a review of the week s photography and a selection of the best photographs and a canvas will be sent to you after your safari. You will then be collected for your homeward flight, via Airlink, to O.R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg before your departing international flight home.

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