Arrive at any time. Arrive in Johannesburg any time and make your way to the joining point hotel. A brief departure meeting will be held in the hotel reception area in evening on Day 1 of your tour. Upon arrival look for information from your tour leader on the hotel bulletin board regarding the meeting time. Our starting hotel is located outside of the city of Johannesburg, but take some time on an excursion to Soweto or to the famous Apartheid Museum.
Drive through scenic mountains, experience traditional Shangaan dinner and dance, visit Shalati village and a community project supported by Planeterra. Game drive and animal viewing in overland vehicle. The name Manyeleti, means 'Place of the Stars' in the local Shangaan language and guests have the opportunity to view the magnificent Southern Constellation. Manyeleti is situated away from the mainstream tourist areas and guests can experience the tranquility of the African Bush in absolute seclusion. In the late afternoon/early evening relax around the pool, sit around the campfire and enjoy your sundowner drink, followed by a traditional meal and traditional dancing by the villagers. Sleep tight and listen to the haunting sounds of the African night. The 23,000 hectare Manyeleti Game Reserve is situated between the Timbavati Private Reserve, the Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. With no fences separating Manyeleti from Kruger and the neighbouring reserves, a huge variety of wildlife roams freely over more than 2 million hectares of African bush. Game drives in open vehicles (optional) could bring you into close contact with the Big 5 (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) for an unforgettable safari experience. The Manyeleti Game Reserve is managed by the Mnisi tribe who have been in the area for many generations. The Mnisi are committed to retaining the integrity of the game reserve and ensuring that the benefits of tourism in the reserve are delivered to the surrounding communities. In the late morning of the following day we will visit and interact with the local community of the Planeterra volunteer program, Hope Africa. We continue into the Kruger National Park searching for Africa’s "Big 5", we will spend the remainder of the day game driving to spot wild animals in our own vehicle. Planeterra Project Hope Africa Children's Day School Over 80 children, under the age of 5, attend Hope Africa Children's Day School. Planeterra focuses on sustainable solutions, such as early childhood education, to provide access to resources for communities in need. Hope Africa Children's Day School has one teacher, and two teacher's helpers that organize activities for the children, as well as provide them with two meals each day. This school provides support to the children and prepares them for the transition into primary school. Why is this project needed? In the South African community of Mnisi there are many single parent families and a vast number of orphaned children, often cared for by their grandparents. This is due in part to the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Many children do not begin school until the age of eight, and receive no formal education and limited support during their early formative years. Hope Africa Children's Day School aims to provide children with the opportunity to begin their education, and become involved in organized activities. Planeterra and G Adventures' Support Planeterra is currently fundraising for the most urgent needs of the school. Working with our local community partners, and members of the community and school, a proposal was developed to determine what resources needed to be addressed first. Planeterra is funding the construction of a new washrooms facility, a borehole to provide access to water in the community, as well as a 5000-L holding tank. Planeterra also plans on constructing a kitchen facilities, as meals are currently cooked over an open pit fire. You can assist this project by bringing a children's picture book (in English) and donating it to this project on your visit.
Approximate Distance: 277 km Estimated Time: 6 hrs Rise to the sounds of the wild, depart upon arrival in Johannesburg in the late afternoon.
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