Every year between May and June, the [highlight]Ant Collection[/highlight] hosts an extra special safari week that drives visitors from all over the world. Guests’ rush over to be part of their annual game census safari and this year was no different. Visitors from the US, England, Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, and Ireland all saddled up for an action-packed week in the name of wildlife conservation management.
It’s a totally different safari experience and this snippet from Ant’s Africa Geographic [highlight]game census article[/highlight] explains it best:
“The week lends itself to all sorts of conservation activities from game counting to darting, and even relocating the reserve’s wildlife populations. The game count begins with the whole reserve divided into blocks, through which the rider’s criss-cross in a systematic way recording the species, sex, and rough age group of the wildlife. The horses remain the superhero resources of the week as most of the game census jobs are completed from horseback.”
It’s also important to mention that traditional game censuses are done by helicopter, but the lodge firmly believes performing the operation on horseback remains more accurate and less expensive than a helicopter and most importantly, causes zero disturbance to the wildlife.
The 2015 game census safari proved another successful event with no injuries to either man or beast. The horses were willing and responsive from the start of the week to the very end and the participants also remained dedicated and willing riders, spending long hours in the saddle to get the daily tasks complete.
However the top highlights of the week were the captures of the sable bull, buffalo heifer, and the giraffe – all which take extreme coordination, riders circling the game in numbers, fast reaction time, and the love of each moment’s rush!
Sable Capture:
Buffalo Capture:
“A game census safari or a safari with a purpose.” Whatever you’d like to call it, it’s wild and wonderful chance to become part of wildlife conservation while giving your heart a reason to skip a beat in the bush.
Contact the [highlight]Ant Collection[/highlight] to be part of 2016’s adventure.