Black Leopard (14 days)

A note from Will Fox
“We've designed this 14 day safari package to enable our guests to become involved, and experience African wildlife rather than just view animals. We balance game viewing with time for some R&R as you wish, to create a unique and authentic African experience. The schedule can be tailored to suit your requirements (normally at no extra charge) and extra days can be added on a pro-rata basis.”

Suggested Itinerary:

Day 1
Pick up at Johannesburg Airport (O R Tambo International) and transfer to Black Leopard Camp near Lydenburg. A luxury tented camp, with stylish lavishly appointed bedrooms each with inside and outside private bathrooms. You should arrive in time for a dip in the pool overlooking the mountain gorge, before afternoon tea and time to rest and recuperate after your flight. Your evening meal will be taken in the tree top dining room after which you can relax by an open fire in the well appointed lapa. If you’re quiet, then you may enjoy a visit from the bush babies living in the trees that surround this mountain paradise.

Day 2
Black Leopard Camp – After breakfast, a morning bush appreciation and introduction to wildlife tracking session. We find this activity quickly hones your bush senses and gives you a feel for the African bush. Ideal preparation for any safari. Mid day at leisure. Early evening game drive followed by sun downers in the bush and transport back to camp for a sumptuous dinner.

Day 3
Black Leopard Camp - Early morning escorted bush walk. Thaba Tholo is an exclusive private 6,000 hectare reserve, where you will have space and time to explore, guided by one of our experienced rangers. Brunch is followed by time to relax and enjoy the views from Black Leopard Camp or perhaps take a soak in your luxurious, private outside bathroom with mountain gorge views. When the heat of the day has faded a little, you join our rangers learning to track leopards and other predators within the Thaba Tholo reserve, where the Ingwe Leopard Project is monitoring the resident leopard population.

Day 4
Black Leopard Camp - Morning game drive before brunch, game viewing within the reserve as well as stopping off to visit the many previously undiscovered early san people settlements that are prevalent in the reserve. Late afternoon sighting of camera traps before dinner. Here you have the chance to second guess the movement of night time predators by placing motion activated cameras along game trails. It’s not only great fun but of key importance to the Ingwe Leopard Project. All photographs are added to our research data base and sent to regional authorities to help conserve these magnificent animals.

Day 5
Breakfast and then transfer to the five star Shiduli Lodge within the 10,000 hectare Karongwe Private Game Reserve. You will arrive in time for a late lunch followed by an afternoon big five game drive. Sundowners will be taken in the African bush prior to returning to the main lodge to refresh before dinner.

Day 6
Early big five morning game drive within the Karongwe reserve, followed by brunch and transfer to the luxurious Zuleika Country House near Hoedspruit. Weather permitting we would hope to take in a sightseeing visit to the world famous Blyde River Canyon en route to Zuleika.

Day 7
An early morning visit to our friends at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre to view their work in conserving Africa’s wildlife. Moholoholo has long been associated with the Ingwe Leopard Project, which affords our guests a unique tour of the facilities. Then on to the Kruger National Park for afternoon big five game viewing, with overnight stay in a Kruger Park Lodge.

Day 8
Early morning big five game drive, followed by transfer to the exclusive Sabi Sands Game Reserve. On arrival, you will have time to settle in before an evening game drive, skirting the river basin and returning to your lodge for a sumptuous dinner in the main lapa. After dinner, you will be afforded the unique opportunity to enjoy a late night game drive (should you wish). This exclusive event provides a chance to share the wilderness at night and enjoy sounds and senses, which are heightened in big five country. Coffee is served on our open vehicles as we silently wait and listen to the sounds of the night, ready to move to centre stage as the drama of the nocturnal opera begins.

Day 9
Early morning wake-up and an invigorating cup of fresh coffee in the lounge. Groups will then set off on their early morning game drive. We hope to check out scenes from the previous evenings events; however, each safari offers a new exciting experience.

The early morning game drive will return to your lodge for brunch, after which guests have the option of taking an accompanied bush walk. An opportunity to trail in the Sabi Sands game reserve is an experience that will never be forgotten. The trail will return for a well-deserved rest during the heat of the day, where you have time to relax or enjoy the plunge pool overlooking the riverbed, which is often host to zebra, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, rhino, and lion.

The afternoon game drive will start after high tea and will cover previously unseen areas of the reserve. After dinner, groups are again afforded the chance to enjoy an extended late night game drive if they wish. We may stay out late into the night or early into the next day so that we can fully appreciate all the nocturnal events, the choice is yours.

Day 10
A morning game drive aims to visit those parts of the concession that we haven’t had time to reach previously, offering an opportunity to get those final photographs. Time permitting we will take the chance to take a short bush walk from the vehicle, before returning to your lodge. Brunch will be served upon return after which we will transfer back to Black Leopard Camp through the spectacular Long Tom pass and arrive in time to relax before for dinner.

Day 11
Late morning bush walk and brunch, followed by time to relax and unwind. Afternoon spent with the Ingwe Leopard Project team within the Thaba Tholo reserve. At this point we open doors that are not available to anyone other than conservation professionals. We offer you the chance to join dedicated conservationists of the ILP, working to conserve not only leopards but all predators within their research zones. Previous guests have joined the ILP team relocating endangered leopards or close monitoring predators aiming to preserve the last of the big five that survives outside of game reserves.

Day 12
Breakfast and then a day visit to the nearby Leutla Conservancy, for a guided bush walk along the valley floor exploring the rivers and waterfalls in the company of our experienced guides. Or for the more adventurous, a gentle hike into the mountains where the scenery is simply breath-taking. A packed lunch can be enjoyed along the game trails or perhaps at Paperbark Bush Retreat, home of the Ingwe Leopard Project. Return to Black leopard camp enjoying a dusk drive through the Thaba Tholo reserve just as the resident predators start their night time work.

Day 13
Morning coffee followed by a game drive exploring new areas of the vast Thaba Tholo reserve. By now we hope that you will have had a chance to photograph and observe many large mammals and birds, this drive aims to fill in any gaps as well as concentrating on smaller mammals and other wildlife or flora and fauna. Brunch followed by early afternoon relaxation or if you wish a visit to the community farm school that we support. As late afternoon approaches we hope to follow leopards moving through the reserve using satellite and radio tracking systems. This may involve our moving outside of the reserve dependant on leopard movement.

Day 14
Final morning game drive or leisurely bush walk followed by brunch. Afternoon transfer to Johannesburg airport.