south africa
This is Not A Safari but Something More...
An Indalo working conservation trip places you alongside the professionals doing the real, daily work of protecting wildlife and wild places. It is immersive, authentic and occasionally challenging, and that is precisely what makes it one of the most meaningful journeys you will ever take.
Not A Spectator Experience
come to work. leave transformed.
Indalo Adventures takes you behind the scenes of wildlife conservation, alongside the people doing the hard, essential work of protecting what remains. Come prepared to participate, to learn and to be changed by what you see. This is conservation in a way few travelers ever experience. And it matters.
2027 Travel Dates
South Africa
April 3-12
$6,500 per person
Limited to 10 participants
Tembe Elephant Park & Ithala Game Reserve
South Africa
July 12-21
$6,500 per person
Limited to 10 participants
Tembe Elephant Park & Ithala Game Reserve
South Africa
Sept. 1-10
$6,500 per person
Limited to 10 participants
Tembe Elephant Park & Ithala Game Reserve
Itinerary
5 Nights – Tembe Safari Lodge (TSL)
Conservation activities may include:
- Lion call-ups and tracking
- Lion and rhino walking
- Setting up bait stations for predator monitoring
- Camera trap setup and retrieval
- Other associated conservation activities as available
5 Nights – Ithala Bush Camp
Conservation activities may include:
- Rhino monitoring and activities associated with rhino dehorning
- Elephant collaring and tracking
- Rhino walking
- Other associated conservation activities as available
Included
All accommodations at Tembe Safari Lodge and Ithala Bush Camp
All Meals
Conservation activities
Conservation levies
Elephant collars
Rhino pods
Helicopter/ferry hours required for the collaring operations
Veterinarian fees/Drugs
Helicopter hours for dehorning and elephant collar operations
NOT INCLUDED
International and domestic flights
Personal expenses
Gratuities
Alcoholic beverages
Transfers:
All ground transfers are fully included, including airport transfers and transfers between the different destinations.
"I 100% recommend this trip! The guides at Custom Trails were 10/10. They were extremely knowledgeable and overall entertaining to be around. Heather was fantastic. She made the trip feel safe but adventurous. A truly life changing experience."
Charlie H.
What To Expect
Indalo Adventures takes you beyond the traditional safari—working alongside the people protecting wildlife, gaining a deeper understanding of the realities they face and contributing to work that makes a difference.
Come prepared to participate, learn and adapt—and to experience conservation in a way few travelers ever will.
Real Conservation. No Filter.
An Indalo working conservation trip is not a traditional safari. It is an immersive opportunity to experience wildlife conservation as it happens in the field—alongside the professionals working to protect wildlife and wild places.
The experience can include long days, physical activity, changing plans and challenging moments. That authenticity is also what makes these journeys so meaningful.
We want every participant to arrive informed, prepared and ready to embrace the experience.
Conservation As It Actually Happens.
Field conservation is not always comfortable or picturesque. Activities vary according to the needs of the wildlife, habitat and conservation teams at the time of each trip.
As part of responsible wildlife and habitat management, participants may witness the culling of species such as nyala or impala. Culled animals may also be used as bait for lion monitoring or trail-camera research.
When appropriate, participants may be invited to assist conservation professionals with collecting blood or other biological samples from culled hoofstock for research and monitoring. Participation is always optional.
You may encounter blood, deceased animals and other realities associated with wildlife management and veterinary fieldwork. We believe it is important to be transparent about these possibilities before you travel.
Long and Unpredictable Days.
Wildlife does not operate on a schedule—and neither does field conservation.
Expect early mornings, late nights and occasional long days. Plans may change with little notice based on animal movements, weather, veterinary priorities and opportunities that arise in the field.
Some days may include extended periods in open game-drive vehicles over rough or uneven terrain, as well as frequent climbing in and out of the vehicle. Flexibility, patience and a sense of adventure are essential.
Physical Activity
Participants should be prepared for a moderate level of physical activity. Certain conservation activities may involve walking through the bush for distances of up to approximately five miles, sometimes over uneven terrain or in warm and challenging conditions.
You should be comfortable spending extended periods outdoors and repeatedly getting into and out of safari vehicles.
Weather and Field Conditions.
Conservation work takes place outdoors. Depending on the season, you may experience heat, cold, rain, wind, mud, dust and rapidly changing conditions.
We adapt activities whenever possible to support participant safety and comfort, but travelers should arrive prepared for less-than-perfect weather and authentic field conditions.
Come Ready To Participate
The best Indalo travelers bring flexibility, curiosity, patience and a willingness to get their hands dirty.
There will be extraordinary wildlife encounters and unforgettable moments. There may also be long drives, waiting, dusty clothes, tired legs, changing plans and experiences that challenge you. Each is part of understanding what meaningful conservation work truly requires.
FAQ
What makes an Indalo Adventure different from a traditional safari?
Indalo Adventures is about experiencing Africa more deeply. Our conservation journeys provide rare opportunities to participate alongside the professionals protecting wildlife in the field, while our overland expeditions take travelers beyond the traditional lodge experience and into some of Africa's most extraordinary wilderness areas. Every trip is intentionally small, personal, and designed around authentic experiences rather than mass tourism.
Do I need conservation or animal-care experience?
Not at all. Our trips are designed for anyone with a genuine interest in wildlife, conservation, and adventure. Conservation professionals guide all specialized activities and will explain what is happening, why it matters, and how guests may appropriately participate.
What conservation activities will we participate in?
Activities vary from trip to trip and may include wildlife monitoring, lion call ups, immobilizations and collaring, telemetry and tracking, rhino conservation work, biological sampling, camera-trap work, habitat management, wildlife relocations, or time alongside veterinarians and conservation professionals.
No particular activity or species can be guaranteed. Conservation needs—not our itinerary—determine what happens in the field. That's part of what makes every Indalo journey authentic.
How physically demanding are the trips?
Guests should be comfortable with an active and sometimes unpredictable travel environment. Depending on the trip, days may include long periods in game drive vehicles, frequent climbing in and out, early mornings, late evenings, uneven terrain, bush walks, heat, dust, and changing weather conditions.
You don't need to be an athlete, but a reasonable level of mobility and fitness will make the experience considerably more enjoyable.
How large are the groups?
Small by design. We intentionally limit our group sizes to create a more personal experience, remain flexible in the field, and minimize our impact on the conservation professionals and places we visit.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is required for Indalo travelers. We strongly encourage coverage for the full nonrefundable cost of your trip, along with medical treatment, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, interruption, and baggage protection.
What should I pack?
Once your trip is confirmed, you'll receive a detailed packing guide specific to your journey. Comfortable neutral-colored clothing, sturdy closed-toe shoes, sun protection, insect repellent, layers, and clothing you don't mind getting dusty are generally good starting points.
For conservation trips, remember: this is fieldwork, not fashionable.
What happens if a planned conservation activity changes?
We embrace flexibility. Wildlife doesn't operate according to an itinerary, and neither does real conservation work. Veterinary needs, wildlife movements, weather, permits, reserve priorities, or safety considerations can change plans with little notice.
When something changes, our in-country team works to provide the best meaningful alternative available.
Is this trip right for everyone?
Probably not—and that's okay.
Indalo Adventures is best suited to travelers who are curious, flexible, respectful, comfortable with some unpredictability, and genuinely interested in experiencing Africa beyond the traditional tourist experience.
If you require a highly structured itinerary, guaranteed wildlife activities, or traditional luxury accommodations every night, an Indalo journey may not be the right fit.
But if you're willing to get a little dusty, embrace the unexpected, and experience conservation and wild Africa in a deeply personal way, you may find it's exactly the adventure you've been looking for.
Your Trip can make a Difference.
Don't Just Visit. Contribute.