Collar An Elephant And Fight Poachers

Wilderness Safaris have created a special ‘Travel with Purpose’ itinerary for travellers who’d like to be part of conservation and community experience in Zimbabwe’s largest national park.

The Hwange Elephant Collaring safari taking place from 14th to 19th September 2019 offers guests a unique behind-the-scenes experience of the process with all proceeds from this life-changing journey donated to the Scorpion Anti-Poaching Unit.

“Our guests should expect to get their hands dirty participating in planned activities such as the collaring of an elephant cow, game counting and helping the Scorpion Anti-Poaching Unit conduct a snare sweep. We want to involve guests in what has been our core purpose for more than 35 years now, to conserve and restore Africa’s wilderness and wildlife,” said Wilderness Safaris Zambezi Environmental Manager, Arnold Tshipa, one of the hosts, who added,

“Having been in this area for more than 20 years, we have contributed to, and led, a vast number of important conservation initiatives such as game water supply, firebreak maintenance, anti-poaching unit support, and various other community upliftment projects.”

Arnold has done extensive elephant research in Hwange National Park, including the collaring of some 32 elephants. Also bringing their expertise will be Wilderness Safaris’ legendary game water supply manager, Willem Botha, and Children in the Wilderness’ (CITW) Mxolisi Sibanda, who was one of the first male community health workers in the Zimbabwe Red Cross HIV/AIDS programme, before he joined CITW to spearhead a number of its local projects.

Together they will guide guests through this adventurous conservation-focused itinerary, teaching them about the park’s game water supply and human-wildlife conflict mitigation efforts; they will also visit Ziga village to interact with the CITW Eco-Club children, and learn about the women’s empowerment projects.

All proceeds from this trip will go to the Scorpion Anti-Poaching Unit, which has removed some 2 500 snares and significantly reduced the levels of poaching within the boundary areas of Hwange since its inception in 2011. The unit covers a 76 km-long stretch of Hwange bordering the neighbouring Tsholotsho Communal Lands. This group of rangers works to combat wildlife poaching and protects the area’s diverse fauna and flora, in partnership with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management (ZPWMA).

“Wilderness Safaris has been committed to driving sustainable ecotourism in Zimbabwe for over two decades, and I am really looking forward to hosting like-minded guests on this purposeful journey so that we can continue making a positive difference to the ongoing conservation of this extraordinary park, as well as the empowerment of our local community partners”, Arnold concluded.