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Core Itinerary: October 19 - 24, 2026
Extended Itinerary: October 24 - October 29, 2026

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

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

Core: Oct 19 - 24

Extended Oct 24 - 29

Core: 6 days, 5 nights

Extended: 5 days, 5 nights

Group Size

9

Activity Level

Moderate

About This Experience

Join us for a week of wildlife conservation, safari adventures, and community connections! SOSA has teamed up with Wild Tomorrow for a 6-day immersive experience in KwaZulu-Natal, with the 5-day extended itinerary in partnership with Zululand Conservation Trust. You’ll patrol with rangers, contribute to biodiversity monitoring, engage in habitat restoration, connect with local communities, and witness South Africa’s incredible wildlife up close - all while supporting real-world conservation efforts.

MEET YOUR TEAMS

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

SOSA Team

Blake Moynes

SOSA Founder and Storyteller

Blake is a conservation guide and expedition leader dedicated to connecting people with purpose in the wild. With a background in outdoor adventure and sustainable tourism, he has worked alongside scientists and conservationists across ecosystems around the world. His field training in search and rescue, wilderness medicine, and guiding brings both expertise and adventurous energy to every expedition.

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.
Wild Tomorrow Team

Kevin Jolliffe

Wild Tomorrow Reserve Manager

Core Itinerary Expert

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

Core Itinerary Expert

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.

Tori Gray

Wild Tomorrow Development and Partner Relations Manager

Core Itinerary Expert

Tori discovered her lifelong passion for wildlife conservation while studying Political Ecology and Wildlife Conservation in Tanzania. After completing a degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado and internships in conservation, including at the Ukuwela Conservancy, she joined Wild Tomorrow, working across programs in the US and South Africa. Tori now leads volunteers, projects, and community initiatives that connect people with meaningful conservation work.
Zululand Team

Karen Odendaal

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

Extended Itinerary Expert

Karen has led rhino and wildlife conservation in KwaZulu-Natal since 2005, starting as a Black Rhino Monitor at Manyoni Private Game Reserve. Now Managing Director, she has guided the reserve through drought crises, anti-poaching initiatives, and innovative wildlife management strategies. As COO at the Zululand Conservation Trust, Karen spearheads community engagement programs and has played a pivotal role in establishing the Zululand Rhino Orphanage. A published researcher on black rhino behaviour and conservation, she brings a combination of field expertise, scientific insight, and hands-on leadership to every project, ensuring lasting impact for both wildlife and local communities.

Blake Beukes

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

Extended Itinerary Expert

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

Extended Itinerary Expert

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.

about

Wild Tomorrow

Wild Tomorrow protects some of the most ecologically precious land left on Earth. Their flagship reserve, the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve, forms a critical wildlife corridor preserving the possibility to link the Munyawana Conservancy to the iconic iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This connection isn’t just geographical…it can open up essential pathways for elephants, giraffes, antelope, predators, and countless smaller species whose survival depends on being able to move freely across intact wild landscapes.

Stretching across nearly 5,000 acres along the Mzinene River, the reserve sits within one of the planet’s 36 recognised biodiversity hotspots: the Maputaland–Pondoland–Albany region. Here, rare sand forests, wetlands, and riverine habitats are being restored and rewilded so elephants, antelope, predators, and countless smaller species can move freely through a thriving, connected ecosystem.

Wild Tomorrow is actively restoring and rewilding this landscape: clearing invasive plants, rehabilitating degraded land, reconnecting fractured habitats, and rebuilding functioning ecosystems piece by piece. Their long-term vision is bold and absolutely attainable: a thriving conservation corridor where wildlife can move safely, naturally, and forever.

Wild Tomorrow leads the core itinerary, immersing SOSA travelers in grassroots conservation on the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve - from restoring rare sand forest habitats to working alongside rangers and researchers monitoring wildlife. The extended itinerary continues with Zululand Conservation Trust at Manyoni Private Game Reserve, where participants join anti-poaching teams and conservation specialists to track elephants and pangolins, monitor predators, and support rhino protection efforts on the front lines of African wildlife conservation.
Visit Wild Tomorrow's Website

about

Zululand Conservation Trust

Africa–based nonprofit dedicated to protecting some of the country’s most vulnerable wildlife through hands-on conservation and anti-poaching initiatives. Working alongside rangers, researchers, and local communities across KwaZulu-Natal, the organization supports critical efforts such as rhino protection, species monitoring, and habitat conservation.

Through immersive field programs, Zululand Conservation Trust (ZCT) connects people directly with the realities of frontline wildlife conservation while helping safeguard the region’s extraordinary biodiversity for future generations.

VISIT ZCT's WEBSITE

experience highlights

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

Patrols & Paws

Join Wild Tomorrow rangers on snare and fence line patrols, experience K9 demonstrations, and help monitor wildlife across the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve. You’ll gain a first-hand understanding of anti-poaching work and see how conservation teams protect threatened species every day.

Secrets of the Sand Forest

Work alongside Wild Tomorrow’s all-female Green Mambas team to restore critically endangered sand forest habitats. Plant trees, monitor seedlings, and take a guided “Little Things” walk to discover how small species sustain the ecosystem you’re helping protect.

Rhino Protection in Action

At Manyoni Private Game Reserve, work alongside Zululand Conservation Trust teams supporting rhino monitoring and protection initiatives, including observing rhino horn trimming procedures and learning how rangers safeguard these iconic animals from poaching threats. This rare behind-the-scenes experience offers a powerful look at the realities of protecting endangered species on the ground.

Tracking Africa’s Most Elusive Wildlife

Join expert rangers in the field to track some of Africa’s most fascinating species, from elephants and pangolins to elusive predators. Learn how conservation teams use camera traps, tracking skills, and night patrols to monitor wildlife populations and gather critical data. Each outing offers a new perspective on how science and field expertise come together to protect biodiversity across the Manyoni landscape.

trip Details & Pricing

📍 South Africa, Africa

Trip details

  • Core Itinerary: October 19 - 24, 2026
  • Extended Itinerary Add-on: October 24 - 29, 2026

Cost per person

  • Core itinerary: $3,695 USD
  • Extended itinerary add-on: $3,995

Includes

  • Accommodation and meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) throughout the core and extended itineraries
  • Core itinerary: Conservation experiences with Wild Tomorrow (Ranger patrol, K9 Unit demo, ecology with the Green Mambas, etc.)
  • Extended itinerary: Conservation experiences with Zululand Conservation Trust (rhino orphanage work, elephant/pangolin tracking, Ranger bootcamp, etc.)
  • Guided savanna and sand forest excursions, including Big 5 game drives
  • Transportation between itinerary locations within South Africa
  • Expert-led educational sessions with SOSA guides and NGO partners
  • High-quality images 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

Reserve your spot with a 25% deposit

Pre-Register for 2027

trip itinerary

Oct 19–20

Arrival & First Steps in Conservation

Touch down at Richards Bay Airport and travel to Wild Tomorrow's Conservation Center, your base for the week. Kick off your SOSA adventure with an orientation and a sundowner drive through the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve, helping set up camera traps to begin monitoring wildlife. The following day, dive into hands-on habitat restoration with the all-female Green Mambas team, planting native trees in the rare sand forest. Explore this unique ecosystem on a “Little Things” walk, discovering the critical roles of smaller species, and end the day with a night drive and stargazing under Africa’s wide-open skies.

Oct 21–22

Wildlife Protection & Safari Adventures

Step into the front lines of conservation alongside Wild Tomorrow’s ranger team. Participate in snare and fence-line patrols, witness K9 anti-poaching demonstrations, and then head to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park for a thrilling Big Five game drive. Contribute to avian research during a bird ringing session and assist with reserve monitoring, from setting small mammal traps to educational biodiversity walks. End one of these days with a peaceful sunset birding cruise along the Mzinene River, observing wildlife gathering along the water’s edge.

Oct 23–24

Wild Tomorrow Community Connections & Journey to Manyoni

See how conservation and community come together during a visit to a Wild Tomorrow-supported early childhood center, where guests engage children in conservation-themed activities and share a traditional isiZulu lunch in the Mduku community. Back at the reserve, retrieve camera traps, review wildlife footage together, and reflect on the week’s discoveries during a final game drive.

After a farewell breakfast the following morning (Oct 24), core itinerary guests depart for Richards Bay Airport, while extended travelers continue deeper into Zululand, journeying to Manyoni Private Game Reserve. There, Zululand Conservation Trust welcomes the group for the next phase of the experience, with an orientation to the reserve and the frontline conservation work that will shape the days ahead.

Oct 25–26

Rhino Protection & Ranger Training

Begin your days with Zululand Conservation Trust early alongside rangers, assisting with rhino orphanage care, feeding, and daily maintenance while learning about the challenges facing these endangered animals. Experience elements of ranger life through a conservation “bootcamp,” help deploy and monitor camera traps, and venture into the field for wildlife tracking and game drives that reveal how conservation teams monitor and protect the reserve’s species.

Oct 27–29

Tracking the Wild & Conservation Operations

Spend your final days working alongside ZCT conservation specialists in the field. Track elephants across the reserve, assist researchers during predator monitoring and collaring efforts, and join nighttime patrols under the full moon to see how rangers protect wildlife after dark. Observe rhino protection procedures and learn how K9 detection teams support anti-poaching work. After a final team braai and farewell breakfast, depart with a deeper understanding of the dedication required to safeguard Africa’s most iconic species.

YOUR IMPACT

A Shared Commitment to Protect the Wild

Every acre protected here safeguards a future for species on the edge. Every corridor restored strengthens the resilience of the entire region. And every person who steps onto this reserve becomes part of a generational effort to defend one of Earth’s last great strongholds of life.

Directly Supporting Restoration and Protection

On this journey, guests will help fund Wild Tomorrow’s initiatives, including sand forest restoration, upgrading perimeter fencing to Big Five standard, and the all-woman Green Mambas’ removal of invasive plants. These efforts allow rangers and researchers to better monitor and protect wildlife, restore critical habitats, and ensure the long-term resilience of the reserve.

Expanding Conservation Across Zululand

Your participation also supports broader wildlife conservation in South Africa. Through the extended programming with Zululand Conservation Trust, the expedition contributes to protecting additional habitat, monitoring key species, and supporting community-led programs that help safeguard the region’s remarkable biodiversity.

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.