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Core Itinerary: November 2 - 7, 2026
Extended Itinerary: November 7 - 12, 2026

Rangers, Rhinos & Rare Sand Forest Safari South Africa, Africa

ABOUT | MEET YOUR TEAM | ABOUT ZULULAND CONSERVATION TRUST | ABOUT WILD TOMORROW | HIGHLIGHTS | TRIP OVERVIEW | YOUR IMPACT

Core: Nov 2 - 7

Extended: Nov 7 - 12

Core: 6 days, 5 nights

Extended: 5 days, 5 nights

Group Size

10

Activity Level

Moderate

About This Experience

Join us for a week of wildlife conservation, safari adventures, and community connections! SOSA has teamed up with Zululand Conservation Trust for a 5-day immersive experience, followed by a 6-day extended itinerary in partnership with Wild Tomorrow. You’ll take part in rhino orphanage care, anti-poaching operations, ranger training, and K9 unit support, alongside field patrols with rangers, biodiversity monitoring, habitat restoration, and meaningful engagement with local communities - while witnessing South Africa’s incredible wildlife up close and contributing directly to real-world conservation efforts.

MEET THE TEAM

Because when you travel with SOSA, you travel with experts.

SOSA Team

Scott Bradley

SOSA Videographer

Scott leads SOSA’s content production, creating cinematic expedition films and social media stories that bring conservation to life. A graduate in Marine & Natural History Photography, he combines field expertise with creative storytelling to inspire curiosity, empathy, and action. Whether capturing the wildest corners of the world or sharing a giggle in the field, Scott always comes equipped with both skill and personality.
Core Itinerary Experts

Karen Odendaal

Zululand Conservation Trust Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Manyoni Private Game Reserve

Core Itinerary Experts

Karen is a conservation leader with a passion for protecting South Africa’s wildlife and habitats. As COO of Zululand Conservation Trust and Managing Director of Manyoni Private Game Reserve, she oversees anti-poaching initiatives, species monitoring, and reserve management, while fostering partnerships with communities and conservation teams. Karen combines hands-on experience with strategic leadership to ensure long-term protection for the region’s most iconic species.

Blake Beukes

Zululand Rhino Orphanage Manager and Wildlife & Habitat Manager of Manyoni Private Game Reserve

Core Itinerary Experts

Blake leads wildlife and rhino conservation at Manyoni Private Game Reserve and the Zululand Rhino Orphanage, where he oversees habitat management, calf rehabilitation, and veterinary operations. With a BSc Honours in Wildlife Science and hands-on experience from Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, Blake combines scientific expertise with field experience to protect rhinos, monitor wildlife health, and ensure successful rewilding.

Chrisjan Visser

Head of Law Enforcement & Security, Manyoni Private Game Reserve

Core Itinerary Experts

Chrisjan leads anti-poaching and security at Manyoni Private Game Reserve, overseeing ranger teams, K9 units, and drone surveillance. A PSIRA Level 5 certified Security Dog Handler, he brings over a decade of experience in wildlife protection, tactical field operations, and canine deployment. Chrisjan also co-owns Kilo9 Academy, training working dogs and handlers to support conservation security across South Africa.

Shay Meyrick

Wild Tomorrow Wild Tomorrow Volunteer and Guest Experiences Coordinator

Core Itinerary Expert

Shay is passionate about connecting people to conservation through immersive, hands-on experiences. Trained as a Field, Marine, and Trails Guide with Bhejane Nature Training, she has combined guiding with conservation work across South Africa, including wildlife monitoring and working with international students in the field. At Wild Tomorrow, Shay leads volunteer and guest programs that create meaningful, lasting connections to the natural world.
Extended Itinerary Experts

Kevin Jolliffe

Wild Tomorrow Reserve Manager

Extended Itinerary Experts

Kevin is the Reserve Manager at the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve. Growing up in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, he discovered a love for wildlife and plants that shaped his career in conservation. With experience across reserves in southern Africa, the Seychelles, and the Bahamas, Kevin brings hands-on expertise in habitat restoration and wildlife management. His passion for connecting people with nature guides every aspect of his work in the field.

Aphiwe Notshaya

Wild Tomorrow Community Conservation Manager

Extended Itinerary Experts

Aphiwe is a conservation educator passionate about connecting communities with nature. Growing up in KwaZulu-Natal, she developed a love for trees, marine life, and reptiles, which led her to earn a degree in Environmental Management. She has taught marine ecology at uShaka Sea World and worked on provincial climate change initiatives, bringing education, awareness, and advocacy to every project. Aphiwe believes that empowering communities is key to lasting conservation impact.

about

Zululand Conservation Trust

Zululand Conservation Trust (ZCT) is a South Africa–based nonprofit dedicated to protecting some of the country’s most vulnerable wildlife through hands-on conservation and anti-poaching initiatives. The organization operates across KwaZulu-Natal, supporting critical programs such as the Zululand Rhino Orphanage, rhino dehorning and anti-poaching operations, wildlife monitoring, and habitat restoration. Working alongside rangers, researchers, and local communities, the Trust combines frontline protection with education and community engagement. Through immersive field programs, participants gain direct experience in wildlife care, conservation management, and anti-poaching efforts, helping safeguard the region’s extraordinary biodiversity for future generations.

Visit Zululand Conservation Trust’s Website

The experience begins with Zululand Conservation Trust at Manyoni Private Game Reserve, where SOSA travelers work alongside anti-poaching teams and conservation specialists on the front lines of African wildlife protection - supporting wildlife monitoring, rhino protection, and K9-assisted anti-poaching operations.

The journey then continues with Wild Tomorrow on the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve, where participants engage in hands-on habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and ecosystem rehabilitation alongside rangers and researchers working to reconnect fragmented landscapes, with time also spent engaging with the nearby Mduku community through local outreach initiatives that support everyday wellbeing alongside conservation work.

Together, these two organizations form a complementary conservation system. Their efforts are deeply interconnected; protecting wildlife in the present while rebuilding the ecological corridors needed for the future.

about

Wild Tomorrow

Wild Tomorrow is a South Africa–based nonprofit focused on restoring and reconnecting critical wildlife habitats in one of the world’s most biologically rich regions. Their flagship project, the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve, sits within the Maputaland–Pondoland–Albany biodiversity hotspot and plays a key role in linking protected areas to support wildlife movement across the landscape. Through land restoration, invasive species removal, and rewilding efforts, the organization is rebuilding functioning ecosystems from the ground up. Working alongside conservationists and local communities, Wild Tomorrow combines science-driven restoration with education and engagement - rebuilding ecosystems that allow wildlife and people to thrive together.

Visit Wild Tomorrow’s Website

experience highlights

Richards Bay → Manyoni Private Game Reserve → Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve

Rhino Protection in Action

Work alongside Zululand Conservation Trust teams at their rhino orphanage supporting the care and rehabilitation of young and recovering rhinos. Engage in rhino monitoring and protection initiatives, observe rhino horn trimming procedures, and learn how specialist ranger teams respond to poaching threats in real time. This rare behind-the-scenes experience offers a powerful look at what it takes to safeguard one of Africa’s most iconic and endangered species.

Tracking Africa’s Most Elusive Wildlife

Join expert rangers for in-field training sessions and guided wildlife tracking experiences focused on species such as elephants, pangolins, and elusive predators. You’ll learn how conservation teams deploy camera traps, apply tracking techniques, and conduct night patrols to monitor wildlife. Each experience offers a deeper understanding of how fieldwork and science combine to protect biodiversity across the landscape.

Patrols, Protection & Rare Sand Forest Restoration

Join Wild Tomorrow rangers and conservation teams on snare and fence line patrols, experience K9 demonstrations, and take part in wildlife monitoring across the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve. Work alongside the all-female Green Mambas team to restore endangered sand forest habitats by planting trees, monitoring seedlings, and learning how small species sustain the wider ecosystem.

Mduku Community Connections

Spend time in the Mduku community, a rural isiZulu-speaking area where Wild Tomorrow supports locally driven education and wellbeing initiatives. Volunteer at the Saturday soup kitchen and visit one of Wild Tomorrow’s supported creches to deliver conservation-themed activities for young learners, helping connect children to the natural environment around them. Enjoy a traditional isiZulu meal shared within the community, offering a meaningful moment of cultural exchange and connection.

trip Details & Pricing

📍 South Africa, Africa

Trip details

  • Core Itinerary: Nov 2 - 7, 2026
  • Extended Itinerary Add-on: Nov 7 - 12, 2026

Cost per person

  • Core itinerary: $3,995 USD
  • Extended itinerary add-on: $3,995

Includes

  • Accommodation and all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) throughout the core and extended itineraries
  • Core itinerary experiences with Zululand Conservation Trust, including rhino orphanage work, elephant and rhino tracking, ranger bootcamp, and more
  • Extended itinerary experiences with Wild Tomorrow, including ranger patrols, K9 unit demonstrations, sand forest ecology with the Green Mambas, Big 5 game drives and community engagement
  • All ground transportation within South Africa, including airport transfers to and from Richards Bay Airport
  • Expert-led educational sessions with SOSA guides and NGO partners
  • High-quality imagery captured throughout the experience (thanks, Scott!)

Excludes

  • International and domestic flights to/from South Africa (this experience begins in Richards Bay, South Africa which may require some travelers to take a domestic flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Richards Bay)
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Premium beverages, personal expenses, souvenirs
  • Gratuties

Reserve your spot with a 25% deposit

JOIN THE WAITLIST

trip itinerary

Nov 2–3

Arrival, Orientation & Rhino Orphanage Volunteering

Touch down at Richards Bay Airport and travel into the heart of Zululand to Manyoni Private Game Reserve, a Big Five landscape of open grasslands, dense natural vegetation, and winding river systems. Here, Zululand Conservation Trust welcomes you into the first phase of the journey. Settle into camp and join an evening orientation that sets the tone for the days ahead in one of South Africa’s most active conservation landscapes. Step inside ZCT's closely protected rhino orphanage. Work alongside carers and conservation staff supporting feeding routines, enclosure cleaning, and daily maintenance, gaining direct exposure to the level of care required to raise and rehabilitate one of Africa’s most endangered species.

Nov 4–5

Ranger Field Ops & Wildlife Tracking Training

Train alongside ZCT rangers in structured field sessions focused on reserve operations. Work side by side with the team in real-world conditions, building experience in how frontline conservation is carried out day to day. Join guided pangolin tracking sessions and elephant tracking game drives, learning and applying field methods used to locate and monitor key species across the reserve. Continue into predator monitoring and collaring support activities, gaining direct insight into how wildlife movement, behaviour, and protection strategies are managed in real time.

Nov 6–7

Rhino Protection, K9 Operations & Transition to Wild Tomorrow

Experience frontline conservation operations alongside ZCT field teams, participating in rhino horn trimming operations led by veterinary specialists and observing how these procedures form part of ongoing rhino protection efforts. See K9 detection units in action during anti-poaching demonstrations and as night falls, take part in a full moon patrol to experience after-dark monitoring and reserve security operations in practice. Close the ZCT experience with a final team braai, marking the end of your time in Manyoni. The following morning, enjoy an early breakfast before departure. Core itinerary guests transfer to Richards Bay Airport for onward travel. Extended itinerary guests continue into the next phase of the journey with Wild Tomorrow at the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve.

Nov 8–10

Rangers, Research & Restoring Rare Landscapes

Work alongside the all-female Green Mambas team in the endangered sand forest, restoring habitat through tree planting and seedling monitoring, then explore the ecosystem on a guided walk focused on the smaller species that underpin ecological balance before experiencing the reserve on a stargazing drive at night. Continue into wildlife monitoring and protection work with Wild Tomorrow ranger teams, joining snare and fence-line patrols and K9 demonstrations in the field, then head into Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park for a Big Five game drive. Take part in bird ringing sessions supporting ongoing avian research and contribute to broader biodiversity monitoring through small mammal trapping and ecological surveys, before ending the day with a sunset birding cruise along the Mzinene River.

Nov 11–12

Community, Conservation Data & Departure

Return to the Mduku community to visit a Wild Tomorrow-supported creche, delivering conservation-themed activities for young learners, followed by a traditional isiZulu lunch shared in the community. Back on the reserve, retrieve and review camera trap footage collected throughout the week, identifying species and contributing to ongoing biodiversity monitoring. Close the experience with a final game drive and group reflection on the full conservation journey across both reserves. Enjoy a farewell breakfast the following morning before transferring to Richards Bay Airport for departure.

YOUR IMPACT

Supporting Wildlife & Community Across South Africa

On this journey, guest participation directly supports local wildlife conservation, community outreach, and education initiatives across South Africa. To further this impact, SOSA is aiming to raise $15,000 USD for Wild Tomorrow - an organization that acts as connective tissue across the region, linking wildlife protection and community wellbeing. 

Protecting Rhinos & Strengthening Local Communities

Their work helps fund critical needs beyond reserve boundaries, including rhino protection and K9 units supporting Zululand Conservation Trust, as well as essential community services such as the Mduku Saturday soup kitchen, which provides reliable weekly meals for local families. Wild Tomorrow also works in close collaboration with fellow SOSA Alliance partner Lessons in Conservation.

Restoring Habitats & Building Long-Term Conservation

In addition, funds raised support Wild Tomorrow’s on-the-ground initiatives, including sand forest restoration, upgrades to perimeter fencing to Big Five standards, and the all-woman Green Mambas team removing invasive plant species. Together, these efforts strengthen wildlife protection, restore critical habitats, and build long-term ecological resilience across the reserve.

Accommodations

QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about SOSA experiences or, visit our FAQ Page - and if you can’t find the answers you’re looking for, send us a message by filling out our experience inquiry form!

DISCLAIMER

Please note daily schedules and activities may change dates and times due to the nature of working with wildlife, weather and operations. While we strive to offer an unforgettable wildlife experience, sightings of specific animals or species are subject to their natural behaviors and cannot be guaranteed. Animal placement, veterinary medical emergencies, and program schedules can potentially cause delays or conflicts in schedule. SOSA will do its absolute best to make sure you are able to participate in this category.