South Africa school trip · 10 days
Conservation & Adventure
Explore conservation in South Africa and Eswatini through game drives, bush walks, community visits and wildlife experiences in Hlane Royal National Park.
About this trip
We take part in a South Africa/Eswatini expedition centred on conservation, with hands-on opportunities to learn about wildlife protection, habitat preservation, and responsible tourism. Through guided wildlife experiences, including white rhinos, bush walks, and ethical animal encounters, we gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing these ecosystems and the work being done to protect them. We also support community-based conservation through school visits and a beach clean-up. Highlights include a Big Five game drive, an elephant experience, and a boat cruise spotting hippos and crocodiles, all approached through a strong conservation lens.
Trip highlights
- Conservation talks, bush skills and camera traps
- School visit and beach clean-up at Sodwana Bay
- Game drive in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park
- Boat cruise on St Lucia Estuary
- Rhino tracking in Hlane Royal National Park
Your recommended itinerary, with the meals included on each day.
- 1
Day 1
Arrive in Durban and Transfer to Albizia Camp
All meals included
On arrival in Durban, we head straight up to the north of the province to Albizia Camp where we will settle in and go through a safety and orientation briefing.
- 2
Day 2
Environmental Awareness, Snake Talk and Bush Walk
All meals included
Today we start our Environmental Awareness Programme covering the many facets of conservation and wildlife management of game and game reserves in Africa. We will have a snake talk - an interpretative talk about the various species of Scorpions, Spiders and Snakes we found in South Africa. We will go through basic species identification, venom types and first-aid protocols. This will be followed by an interpretative walk. We will learn basic bush skills and tracking. While we are in the field we start our camera trap study. We'll set a little competition to see which group finds the most animals by placing the camera traps in the best positions!
- 3
Day 3
Pineapple Farm and Elephant Interaction
All meals included
A visit to a pineapple farm is an immersion into the world of tropical agriculture. Surrounded by rows of neatly arranged pineapple plants, the farm is a verdant landscape dotted with the spiky tops of these unique fruits. The Elephant Interaction Program is designed to offer a close and ethical encounter with these magnificent creatures. Set in a natural environment, this program focuses on educating participants about elephant behaviour, conservation, and the importance of responsible tourism.
- 4
Day 4
Sodwana Bay – Beach Clean-up and Culture
All meals included
Today we’ll visit with the students of a poorly funded rural private school and learn about their school life and home life. After that we’ll go to the beach where we split up in teams and comb the beach for any debris washed up on the shore line. We spend time together with local children, playing football and other sports which is a great way of getting to know them.
- 5
Day 5
Full Day Game Drive in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park
All meals included
Set in the heart of Zululand, this is the oldest game reserve in Africa where Zulu kings such as Dingiswayo and Shaka hunted and put in place the first conservation laws and where today the "big five" of African legend stalk the verdant savannah. Today we will head out for a full day game drive to see the wildlife in its habitat! Established in 1895, game viewing is the prime attraction. Viewing hides overlook waterholes enabling visitors to see animals at close range. The Park covers some 96,000 ha and contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora. Hluhluwe is characterised by hilly topography, and this northern section of the park is noted for its wide variety of both bird and animal life. As the home of Operation Rhino in the 1950s and 60s, the Park became world-renowned for its white rhino conservation.
- 6
Day 6
St Lucia Estuary – Boat Cruise
All meals included
A two-hour boat cruise on the Estuary gives us the opportunity to see Hippos, crocs and the many bird, mammal and plant species that make this a World Heritage Site.
- 7
Day 7
Hlane Royal National Park - Eswatini
All meals included
Today we will transfer to Hlane Royal National Park which is a protected area in North-eastern Eswatini. It is a flat, lowland area with grassland and shallow pans, and the park is traversed by the Umbuluzana River. Roads and trails offer views of diverse wildlife such as lions, elephants, hippos, white rhinos, leopards, and giraffes. White-backed vultures and other raptors nest in the ancient hardwood trees. The park also hosts a colony of marabou storks. Settle in and in the evening there is a good chance of seeing some Swazi dancing!
- 8
Day 8
Sunrise Rhino Drive and Conservation Work
All meals included
We have an early start this morning. From the safari vehicle we go in search of White Rhino. Once we’ve tracked and found the animals, we will go on a nature walk to experience these majestic animals up close and personal. We will spend the rest of our day unwinding and enjoying the full experience of just being in nature until we head off on a sunset drive into the rest of the Game Reserve where there is a good chance of seeing lions.
- 9
Day 9
Depart South Africa
All meals included
Today we enjoy a scenic drive through dramatic mountains and then vast plains as transfer from Eswatini to Durban Airport, for our evening flight home.
- 10
Day 10
Arrive Back in the UK
Meal included: breakfast
On day ten, we return to the UK with lasting memories of wide-open spaces, remarkable wildlife, and an unforgettable journey.
Itineraries can change with the seasons, local conditions and your group's needs. Ask us and we'll tailor it.
Questions teachers ask about this trip
How long is this itinerary? The suggested itinerary is 10 days.What wildlife activities take place in Eswatini? We have an early start this morning. From the safari vehicle we go in search of White Rhino.