On an Elephant Path with Alan: Umlani

On an Elephant Path with Alan: at Umlani Bushcamp
Timbavati Game Reserve
4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS
Personally guided by Alan McSmith

*Join Alan on a unique specialist elephant safari at Umlani, Timbavati Game Reserve
* Spend 4 nights exploring the big 5 private concession
* Spend a night in a tree-house overlooking a waterhole
* Exclusive use of open vehicle game drive
* Tracking & walking a must!
* Discover fascinating elephant behaviour
* Each trip is personally guided by Alan McSmith
* Discover how these remarkable animals are the principal ecologists of the bush
* Option to have a day of elephant monitoring with ELEPHANTS ALIVE and Alan, tuning into research projects by tracking GPS collared bulls with telemetry. Discover all about the importance of monitoring behaviour and how human/elephant conflict could be mitigated. A small additional donation required to secure their time. You can read about our association HERE.

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

This safari is based at a place and an area that is close to our hearts, and here Alan feels deeply connected. It is in the Timbavati, albeit a few decades back, that Alan started an elephant identification project that went on to become the humble beginning of a much bigger project that is today, Elephants Alive. From this project, Alan was part of the first “green hunt” with Dr, Ian Douglas-Hamilton, in an effort to navigate and possibly balance the need for money and adrenaline.
This safari is a unique special interest encounter focussing primarily on elephant behaviour and ecology and is kind of a culmination of Alan's time in the Timbavati spanning some 30 years. All activities, on foot or by vehicle are conducted on an exclusive and private basis, and we are based at one of our all-time favourite camps, Umlani Bushcamp. The safaris are ideal for small groups (max 8).

WHAT TO EXPECT

Empathetic encounters with elephants are the order of the day ... with the golden thread platforming a greater awareness of their behaviour and conservation. We have freedom to move over 15000 hectares on foot or by vehicle, day and night, so our office is pretty substantial. All game viewing activities are exclusive so we have use of a private game viewer or walk, and we make use of the Umlani facilities as a home base. As a result, we have a lot of flexibility to set times or routines accordingly. Sitting with, or waiting for elephants means the pace is somewhat slower, and we spend time tracking, following, stalking, and simply being with elephants.

But when we do sit with Elephants, we are not alone and there is so much other activity. As they are a keystone animal, their behaviour and habits play a major part in the ecological vibrancy of the reserve. And consequently the movements and distribution of countless other wildlife. So a holistic and abundant game viewing opportunity is assured. It is also amazing how much information about predators or other animals you can pick up like this, either through noise, birdcall, alarm sounds, or with a dash of good old-fashioned patience! The patience is of course backed up by ticking all the boxes! ... a hot box, a cooler box and a snack box! Each one packed to aid in the pleasure of patiently being in wilderness moment! This of course is the address of life ... www.hereandnow.com!

Ideally, I try to offer comprehensive elephant encounters, so on foot and by vehicle, but most are spontaneous.

The specialist elephant behaviour safari is a collaboration between ourselves, Umlani Bushcamp and the well known NPO Elephants Alive and it's all in the name of elephant conservation and creating a greater understanding and connection with these extraordinary animals. A donation for each safari is made to the Elephants Alive project fund, so you will be actively supporting this reputable organisation.

Elephant conservation is a delicate, complicated and urgent affair. Because of this, it was inevitable that I would dedicate my life and work to this narrative. To share the story, from their side. As if in partnership with the elephants themselves and as a voice for their silence. I've often wondered what an elephant would say to me if it could speak, and perhaps this would be it: “tell them who we really are”.

Hope to see you on this path and THANK YOU for joining this great, grey and very wrinkled partnership of awareness!

THE ITINERARY

DAY 1: Alan will meet you at Umlani Bushcamp in time for an alfresco lunch and check-in.
After a camp orientation and time to find your bush feet or boots as we like to say, we depart on an introductory game drive. We are private and flexible and stop often to chat, to listen and just to be. WE also stop for a welcome iced beverage as we salute the setting of the sun over this magnificent backdrop.
Return to camp for dinner and valuable time spent staring at the fire.

DAYS 2 - 4: Full days spent in search of elephants and other game by vehicle, on foot or a combination of both. Early starts are a must and sometimes we do this in the dark as we may set out on foot with the sunrise. Waterholes in the dry season are often elephant magnets so we will spend time anticipating movements and find the right positions for meaningful encounters and photographs.
More often than not, the slow pace and attention to detail provides us with clues about the whereabouts of other game. An alarm call, birdsong, or a sudden quiet in the air may bto alert us to leopard or lion, or even rhino. We believe by paying attention to these signs, a lot of information can be absorbed ... the safari may focus on elephant, but its invariably about the sum of the parts.
Due to our exclusive activities, we have great flexibility to determine our routines, returning to camp for meals and down-time. Umlani is an ideal base for this and packing us a picnic breakfast is all done with ease and flexibility. A night in the tree house overlooking a waterhole is available (max four guests at a time ).

DAY 5: Another sunrise is gratefully embraced, and a morning game drive/walk is available followed by a leisurely breakfast on return to camp. Time for a final coffee on the deck and departure.

But it’s not goodbye, only Famba Kahle (go carefully) and we hope you take the wilderness with you!

Please note that we could extend the safari by arranging connections to a wide range of destinations in the area.
We are able to arrange your travel logistics to Timbavati, and take care of any ongoing arrangements to Cape Town for example, or beyond to Botswana or Victoria Falls Zimbabwe.
Please CONTACT us to discover more.