African Vet Safari - KZN Big 3

Arrive at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg - International flights for your own arrangement.

Note: International flights are for your own arrangement, but Brothers Safaris can assist with quotes and bookings as required. We can also assist with any other travel arrangements before or after your vet safari, throughout Africa.

On arrival in Johannesburg, your driver will meet you and transfer you (15 minutes) to your hotel for the night – The Radisson OR Tambo.

Your accommodation for the night is on a single room bed & breakfast basis and check in is from 15h00. Early check in subject to availability and may incur an additional fee.

Enjoy dinner (for own expense) at your hotel complex.

Enjoy breakfast before checking out of your hotel and returning to OR Tambo International Airport with a transfer from reception.  

Please ensure that you are aware of the shuttle departure time. 

Your flight departs from OR Tambo International Airport and arrives at Richards Bay Airport in northern KwaZulu Natal province, where the rest of your safari is based. 

On arrival you will be met by a representative of Brothers Safaris and transferred to Umlilo  Lodge in the small town of St Lucia   – approximately a 1,5 hours drive.     

On arrival at Richards Bay Airport, LOOK FOR A SIGN WITH “Brothers Safaris Big 3 African Vet Safari”

After check in and a late lunch you will head to one of the largest estuaries in Africa for a boat cruise. 

Embark on a 2 hour cruise at 15h00, in search of Nile crocodiles and hippos. It is estimated that 800 hippos and 1200 Nile crocodiles reside in the area. The estuarine system, 85km from top to bottom and 25km wide at its widest, is regarded as the largest estuarine system in Africa. With an incredible abundance of Birdlife year-round you are assured of some magnificent sightings and photographic opportunities.

After the cruise you return to your lodge for a traditional dinner and an early night.

Your stay for the next 3 nights is on a sharing (twin or double) full board plus activities basis (accommodation, activities and daily meals). All drinks and extras are for your own account.

After an early breakfast you set off for a day in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. You will be accompanied by a local guide and your African Vet Safaris wildlife vet as you spend the day exploring the terrestrial animals in the park, and also visit the stunning Cape Vidal beach.

From St Lucia to Cape Vidal several loop roads lead to excellent natural features for bird-watching, game viewing and scenic lookout points. The Eastern Shores section hosts elephant, rhino, buffalo, crocodile, hippo, hyaena, leopard – and many species of smaller game.

Enjoy a swim (tide dependent) or a walk on the beach during our stop at Cape Vidal. Pending the weather, drive sightings and mood of the group, this may also serve as our lunch stop.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park before being dropped back off at your accommodation at around 15h00.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park is the ideal beach and safari destination! The Park was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and unique global values.

The 332,000 hectare Park contains three major lake systems, eight interlinking ecosystems, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, 526 bird species and 25,000 year-old coastal dunes – among the highest in the world. The name iSimangaliso means miracle and wonder, which aptly describes this unique place.
Cape Vidal “resort” is situated in a marine reserve yet only a short drive away from game areas. Marine life includes humpback whales, dolphins, rare turtles, whale sharks, marlin and sailfish.

You’ll arrive back at your camp late afternoon and have some time to freshen up, before dinner at around 19h00 and enjoying another good night’s rest.

This morning will be a very early start as you depart for the Hluhluwe Imfolozi National Park where you will enjoy a full-day excursion, game viewing and learning more about Africa’s wildlife!  You will travel into the park in an open-game viewing vehicle, accompanied by a local guide and of course your African Vet Safaris vet. Drive time to the park gate is roughly 1 hour.

Spend the day driving in search of the many species of wildlife to be found in the park with comfort breaks and a stop for a picnic breakfast and lunch. The average travel time in the park is slow, stopping to enjoy animals and birds en-route. 

Head for the wildlife bomas/holding facilities in the Imfolozi section of the park, arriving at the bomas around 14h15. Here you’ll enjoy a talk on the veterinary role in the park’s conservation and management efforts and be shown around the bomas, explaining the design, use and the reason for any animals you might see in the boma.

After the boma tour, and time dependent, you’ll have a chance to look around the local craft market (remember your cash/cards…) before making our way back to our lodge.

After another busy day you’ll arrive back at your lodge late afternoon/early evening.

After freshening up, dinner is in town tonight, at one of the quaint restaurants – for your own expense.

Formerly known as the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve now the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, the park is claimed to be the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, officially opened in 1895. The Park is 97 000 hectares in extent and consists of two distinct areas namely northern Hluhluwe section and the southern iMfolozi section. (970 square kilometers, roughly the same size as Netherlands Antilles while Hong Kong is 1104 square kilometers in size). 

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is the only state run park in Kwazulu Natal province that is home to the African Big 5. The Park is world renowned for its conservation efforts and history. The Umfolozi was previously used as the Zulu King’s (King Shaka) private hunting grounds. The conservation efforts have contributed to this park having the largest population of White Rhino in the world.

Once in the Park which is home to 86 species including the African Big 5, there is ample opportunity to sight a variety of game species and birds.  Species include Black & White Rhino, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Nyala antelope, Nile Crocodile, Hippo, Giraffe, African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Kudu, Impala, Bushpig, common Warthog, Hyena, Water Buck, Duiker, Blue Wildebeest, Jackal and much more.

The park is a birder’s paradise with approximately 340 species found within the area.

The Hluhluwe section is in the region of 40 000 hectares and is home to the highest concentration of Rhino in Africa while the Imfolozi offers a better chance of seeing Lion, especially on the Sontuli Loop road. Both areas boast breathtaking views from some of the higher areas.

Day 5 

After breakfast, enjoy a morning of leisure with a few hours to explore the town or take part in an optional activity—please speak with the African Vet Safari guides for assistance. You’ll check out at around 11h00 and then head off to Manyoni Private Game Reserve, with a drive time of approximately 1.5–2 hours.

On arrival at the lodge, you will be welcomed by your hosts, who will give you a brief orientation in camp and settle you into your rooms.

After lunch, it’s time to start exploring your new “home”.

Head out on a late afternoon game drive in an open game-viewing vehicle, with your local guide and African Vet Safaris wildlife vet. Another chance to see Africa’s wildlife in its natural habitat and get those photos of a lifetime! 

Mavela Game Lodge is nestled in the heart of the breathtaking Big 5 Manyoni Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This exceptional five-star, all-inclusive luxury lodge offers safari-style tented accommodation, giving both local and international travelers the opportunity to experience close encounters with Africa’s magnificent wildlife.

Renowned for its outstanding birdwatching and excellent game-viewing opportunities, Mavela promises an unforgettable safari experience. Our dedication to warm hospitality and exceptional service reflects not only our love for this lodge, but also the importance we place on hands-on, attentive management.

It’s truly remarkable how Mavela has become a cherished destination for guests seeking authentic wildlife encounters and sightings of the iconic Big 5. The reserve is also deeply committed to conservation, actively protecting some of Africa’s most endangered species—including the Temminck’s Pangolin, Black Rhino, and Cheetah—adding even more meaning to your safari adventure.

Enjoy sundowners in the bush before continuing back to camp, searching for nocturnal animals along the way.

Back at camp, you’ll have some time to freshen up before enjoying a delicious dinner and time around the campfire.

Immerse yourself in the African bush with this unique experience in a serene sand forest.  Each tent is equipped with air conditioning, boasts camping chairs on private decks, and features comfortable queen-sized beds dressed with high-quality linen. 

Your stay for the next 3 nights is on a sharing (twin or double) full board plus activities basis (accommodation, activities, local wines & beers and daily meals). All extras are for your own account.

Day 6 

Wake to the delights of a new day as dawn breaks over the African bush.  After morning tea/ coffee, it’s time to head out on your morning game drive, looking for the many species of wildlife that abound in the reserve.

Not only can one expect to see different species at different times of the day, but they may also be busy with different activities/behaviour… so each drive is a chance to discover something new!

Enjoy a coffee break while out on a drive, and head back to the lodge mid-morning to enjoy a delicious cooked breakfast.

Enjoy some leisure time before lunch, or go visit the nearby hide to observe animals coming to drink, and get some great photos! 

Mid to late afternoon, you head out on another game drive, in search of species not yet seen!

You’ll arrive back at your camp early evening and have some time to freshen up, before dinner at around 19h00 and enjoy another good night’s rest.  

Day  7

Begin your day with a gentle wake-up of coffee and rusks before setting out on a guided safari walk—an immersive way to truly reconnect with the natural world. Exploring the bush on foot offers a completely different perspective: you’ll notice the intricate details, learn about the medicinal and cultural uses of various plants, and perhaps even follow the tracks of one of the Big Five.

An expertly trained trails guide leads each walking experience, which generally lasts between 2 and 3 hours. Depending on bush conditions, walks may take place during the morning game-drive slot, or after breakfast, ensuring the best possible opportunities to encounter the reserve’s remarkable wildlife.

Your guide will tailor the route to match your interests and fitness level. Whether you prefer a relaxed stroll with plenty of time to pause and observe, or a more energetic trek along the ridges and valleys of the Manyoni Reserve, the experience is shaped around you.

After your walk, return to the lodge for a well-deserved breakfast. Enjoy some downtime before lunch, or visit the nearby hide to watch animals gather at the water—perfect for quiet viewing and fantastic photo opportunities.

During your leisure time you can also arrange an optional visit to the nearby rhino orphanage, subject to availability and for your own expense.

In the mid to late afternoon, embark on another game drive, seeking out any species you haven’t yet encountered.

You’ll return to camp in the early evening, with time to freshen up before dinner at approximately 19h00, followed by a restful night under the African skies.

Wake up for another early morning game drive, or simply lie in and wake to the sounds of the bush…..

After breakfast it is time to pack your bags and say farewell.

You will be met by the transfer company to depart to Somkhanda Game Reserve – drive time approximately 1 hour.

Check in or arrival and enjoy lunch and some leisure time in your new camp.

Mid afternoon, head out on a game drive to explore this new area and try spot some new species while learning about this reserve. After stopping for sundowners to stretch legs and enjoy a drink, return to camp after sunset.

Freshen up and enjoy dinner before a good night’s rest.

Somkhanda Game Reserve is a malaria free, community-owned Big 5 game reserve that stretches across 12 000 hectares of natural Zululand Bushveld. This majestic reserve boasts the Big 5, various species of plains game and magnificent birdlife. Accommodation options are designed to immerse you in the natural beauty of this stunning reserve, while providing you with all the comforts of home.  

The reserve team is dedicated to ensuring your stay is an unforgettable experience.​ You accommodation will be in tastefully decorated thatched lodge rooms. Rooms are designed to immerse you in the natural beauty of the reserve, while providing you with all the comforts of home. Each lodge room features a tea and coffee station, en-suite bathroom and comfortable living areas.

Your stay for the next 5 nights is on a sharing (twin or double) full board plus activities basis (accommodation, activities and daily meals). All drinks and extras are for your own account.

It’s an early start to the day and after morning tea/coffee, it’s time to head out on your morning game drive on an open game viewer vehicle.

This morning you will be guided by a member of the reserve team, participating in monitoring of animals on the reserve as you go, and learning more about management practices in the reserve as an introduction to your hands-on safari here.

You will also be accompanied by your African Vet Safaris veterinarian on each drive, who will share additional information on relevant species and aspects experienced on your drive.

Enjoy a coffee break along the way, before heading back to the lodge mid-morning to enjoy a delicious breakfast.

After breakfast back at the lodge your African Vet Safaris vet will present a talk in preparation for the veterinary work to follow the next day – elephant immobilisation! This gives guests an insight into the procedures to be done, the conservation reasons and how to safely participate.

After the talks, enjoy lunch and some leisure time, followed by a mid to late afternoon game drive and sundowners in the bush.

Enjoy dinner back in camp, and a good night’s rest, if you can contain your excitement for tomorrow’s adventure…..

This morning you set off after an early breakfast and attempt to immobilise and (re)place a tracking collar on one of the elephants on the reserve… head to the rendezvous point on the reserve for final preparations and safety briefings. When the chopper arrives, it’s all go!

Once the elephant that has been earmarked for this necessary management procedure has been located, the animal will be darted from a helicopter, or vehicle, by your African Vet Safaris vet accompanying you on this safari.

When the elephant is immobilised and it is safe, guests will be allowed to leave their vehicle and join the duty veterinarian, hands-on! There will be an opportunity to help monitor and treat the elephant/ assist with procedures. Provided the patient is stable and the work is done, there will be time for those photos of a lifetime too!

Once all is done, the vet will reverse the elephant’s immobilising drugs, and you’ll watch him recover from a safe distance. Hopefully he heads off in a direction away from us!

Your participation in this safari covers the costs of this intervention, contributing directly to wildlife conservation – thank you.

After the immobilisation and the elephant’s recovery, guests will return to the lodge to catch their breath and share their experience in more detail as they examine their photographic records. There will also be a chance to ask your vet any questions about the morning’s procedure.

Enjoy some leisure time before enjoying lunch. Depending on plans and timing, lunch may be a packed lunch in the field on days when we are participating in vet procedures.

After lunch your African Vet Safaris vet will once again present a talk in preparation for the veterinary work to follow the next day – rhino immobilisation! The talk will focus on species specifics and procedure differences and the conservation reasons for the procedures.

Then it’s time to head out into the reserve again in the late afternoon for another game drive, during which we will endeavour to find our patient from this morning and conduct a visual check-up, if possible. Enjoy sundowners in the African bush .

Freshen up back at the lodge and enjoy dinner and the tales of the day around the camp fire. Enjoy another good night’s rest.

This morning you set off after another early breakfast and head to the rendezvous point for final preparations and safety briefings.

Today the plan is to work with two to three rhino which need various management procedures performed. Work needs to start early to avoid the heat of the day, but it takes time to find the right animals in a reserve this size and in the thick bush….!

The work you participate in forms part of ongoing reserve management and specific interventions are thus dictated by their needs, but it is likely that you will be part of the ongoing rhino dehorning and collaring program in order to combat poaching.

Your participation once again covers the costs of these procedures, contributing directly to rhino conservation – thank you.

The moment of truth arrives when your African Vet Safari vet darts the rhino from the helicopter…... Once the rhino is safely immobilised, you will have the experience of your life while assisting with the various procedures – ear notching for positive identification and management reasons, blood sampling for DNA to help combat poaching, collaring, potentially de-horning, etc. - all the while monitoring the health status of the patient.

All being well, there will be plenty of photo opportunities as you get hands-on with one of Africa’s most endangered species….

Once the procedures are done, you’ll retreat to the safety of the nearby vehicle while the rhino recovers and walks off into the bush, often a little disgruntled!

Once all the procedures are done for the day, you return to the lodge to savour the day’s experiences and have a delicious lunch, or enjoy a packed lunch in the bush, depending on timing.  

After lunch, there will be another talk – this time focusing on predator immobilisation, specifically lion immobilisation.

Depending on the lion prides’ locations and who needs collaring, we may start trying to dart this evening already….. If we are not successful, we continue our attempts tomorrow.

These particular lion are fairly habituated to game drive vehicles but are less shy at night, as for most predators. Hence our darting attempts are likely to be at night. Provided they are in an accessible area, one hopes to have success, but you may need to set up a “bait station” with your African Vet Safaris vet and use some animal calls to lure them in…. There are never any guarantees with wildlife in the wild….

These massive beasts are truly impressive and their size and obvious strength will make the hair on your neck stand up, especially when you get hands-on!

Once all the procedures are done, and photos taken, the antidote is administered and you monitor the recovery of the lion, before leaving it capable to fend for itself. Sometimes the recovery can be a long process….

As for the other species, your participation in this safari covers the costs of this procedure, and hence contributes directly to lion conservation – thank you once again for choosing to make a difference!

Return to the lodge after dark for dinner and some sleep, after a busy day!

This morning you will have a canine unit demonstration from the anti-poaching team and also join them on a snare sweep on the reserve. In doing so guests better understand some of the challenges faced by those on the front line of conservation, as well as lending a hand to much needed work.

Pending timing, you’ll enjoy breakfast before or after this activity.

In case of bad weather or any other unforeseen circumstances, the schedule today may be swapped with one of the veterinary procedure days.

Enjoy lunch back at the lodge and some leisure time before a final afternoon game drive and sundowners in the bush.

As already indicated, you may attempt to dart lion this evening again.

Dinner is enjoyed back in camp with time around the fire discussing the many experiences of the past week.

Enjoy breakfast before checking out at 08h00. The drive to Richard’s Bay airport is approximately 3 hours long.

Arrive in time for your domestic flight departing at 12h25 and arriving at OR Tambo in Johannesburg at 13h35 – included in safari cost.

Note: Please do not book any international onward travel departing before 17h30 to allow for late arrivals.

Onward travel is for your own arrangement, but please note that Brothers Safaris can assist with quotes and bookings as required. We can also assist with any other travel arrangements before or after your vet safari, throughout Africa.

                                                                          *** Your safari ends here ***