Adventure specialist Exodus has put together a collection of ‘behind-the-scenes’ wildlife safaris following a partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation.
The itineraries include the chance to learn from wildlife experts about gorilla conservation in Uganda, elephant habitats in Zimbabwe and protecting the wolf population in Ethiopia.
As a result of the tie-up, clients will gain access to AWF projects and meet those involved in conservation work.
The safari trips will be led by AWF conservationists Carter Smith and Craig Sholley. Smith worked with Sir Iain Douglas-Hamilton at Save the Elephants, spent years rehabilitating birds of prey in the bush, and owned her own safari company, while Sholley studied mountain gorillas with renowned conservationist Dian Fossey at Rwanda’s Karisoke Research Centre, and was a scientific advisor for the award-winning IMAX film Mountain Gorilla. He is currently senior vice president of AWF.
Exodus marketing director Robin Brooks said: “During these times, supporting incredible, like-minded organisations such as African Wildlife Foundation is more important than ever before. We are honoured to join forces with such an incredible group of people and their efforts through this partnership and as with all Exodus adventures across the globe are dedicated to ensuring tourism dollars are used responsibly to support regenerative and sustainable initiatives and organisations that benefit destinations and the communities within them.”
The trips are: 11-day Extraordinary Ethiopia: Highlands and Beyond, from £8,899; 11-day Namibia Flying Safari, from £9,299; 10-day Uganda: Great Apes & Wild Savannas, from £10,799 and 10-day Zimbabwe, the Wild Zambezi & Victoria Falls, from £11,199. Costs exclude flights.
As an example itinerary, the Zimbabwe trip offers the chance to experience an anti-poaching unit in action, track rhinos in teh wild, visit an AWF Classroom Africa school, and go on a Zambezi River cruise.
Safaris depart from September 2021 and are also bookable for 2022. Exodus will donate a portion of each sale back to AWF to one of its local projects.
The operator is urging any interested travel agents to join a virtual safari led by AWF conservationists in Uganda at 5pm on March 25 to see mountain gorillas and other wildlife such as elephants, giraffes and lions from the comfort of their own homes. Agents need to register to attend on the operator’s Facebook page.