In every person’s life there comes a moment, a moment that has the potential to change a life forever. 23 youngsters aged between 15 and 18 years encountered that moment on Friday morning when two Sunway Safaris vehicles arrived at the Pen organisations office. After a brief introduction by the guides, a safety briefing and signing indemnities the group was split in two to board the two Sunway vehicles. The excitement the kids were feeling was tangible.

WILDLIFE EXPOSURE FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN 2016
3 day participation camping small group educational safari (free of charge)
DEPARTS JOHANNESBURG on Friday @ 08:30
ENDS JOHANNESBURG on Sunday @ 15:30
Group size min 20 children & 4 Pen Organisation representatives/care-givers to help with organising the children
Objectives:
* To expose children (ages 14-19) to wildlife experiences, which we believe is essential to each and every child in
Africa
* To educate children about Africa’s natural environment, its wildlife and the interaction of society and the wild
regions of our country
* To expose children to the growing tourism business in Africa; possible career opportunities in guiding, tour
   operating, national park employment, resort management and conservation.
* To expose our tour leaders to the reality of disadvantaged children and give them an avenue to assist
   Includes
* 2 nights camping in dome tents (all camping equipment provided)
* Entrance fees to Pilanesberg Game Reserve and game drives
* Use of camping equipment (except sleeping bags / blankets)
* Transport in minibus or safari truck
* All meals as per itinerary (prepared by guide with assistance from group on rotation roster)
* Professional registered guide with professional drivers license

DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 Friday JOHANNESBURG to PILANESBERG GAME RESERVE [camping -LD]
Group will be met by the Sunway Safaris tour leader at address provided by Pen Organisation and after a short tour
briefing, and packing the vehicle, we transfer to Pilanesberg Game Reserve, approximately 3 hours north west of
Johannesburg. On arrival we will show the group how to set up the tents and camp. We will then divide the group
into food teams and create a roster for helping the guide with meal preparation during the next 3 days.
After lunch the tour leader will give a lecture on the importance of tourism in the South African economy and also
some back ground on how he/she got involved in tour guiding.
08:30-09:00 Group meeting, tour briefing and pack vehicle
09:00-11:00 Drive to Pilanesberg Game Reserve
11:00-12:00 Set up camp
12:00-13:30 Prepare lunch and eat
13:30-15:00 Lecture on tour guiding and what a safari is all about, and why international people come to see Africa
15:00-18:00 Game drive in Sunway vehicle
18:00-19:30 Prepare dinner
19:30-20:30 Dinner and briefing for following day
Includes: Transport JNB to Pilanesberg, entrance fees to GR, afternoon game drive, conservation
lecture
Overnight: Camping – 2 people per dome tent, shared ablutions with hot showers.
Distance/time: +/- 200km, +/- 3 hours.

Day 2 Saturday PILANESBERG GAME RESERVE [camping BLD]
Big game country - exciting game drives in the Sunway safari truck provide us with excellent game viewing
opportunities. Spot lion, elephant, rhino and other animals in one of the last African wildernesses. The Pilanesberg has been a major success story in terms that a farming area has been reclaimed and proclaimed a wildlife sanctuary and wildlife reintroduced to the point where the reserve is now one of South Africa’s premier game viewing destinations.
For many this weekend may be their first introduction to a national park and the African wildlife. It can only leave an enormous impression and we hope that this weekend will foster a lifelong appreciation for the natural environment. The interesting geological formations in the park will add another educational aspect to the tour.
06:30-07:00 wake up call and hot chocolate / tea and biscuits
07:00-08:00 Group to assist guide in preparation of breakfast
08:30-11:00 Visit park reception & offices, see what staff are doing & how a lodge/camp runs behind the scenes
11:30-12:30 Lecture on tourism, its growth, its contribution to economic success of South Africa, and its potential
12:30-13:30 Prepare lunch and eat
13:30-14:30 Free time (swimming/Football)
14:30-18:00 Game Drive in Sunway vehicle
18:00-19:30 Prepare dinner
19:30-20:30 Dinner and briefing for following day
Includes: Entrance fees to GR, morning and afternoon game drive, tourism lecture and office visit
Overnight: Camping – 2 people per dome tent, shared ablutions with hot showers.
Distance/time: PM game drive.

Day 3 Sunday PILANESBERG to JOHANNESBURG - TOUR ENDS [N/A BL-]
Having explored a highlight of the Rainbow nation we return to Johannesburg where your tour ends.
05:30-06:00 Wake up call and hot chocolate/ tea
06:00-09:30 Game drive in Pilanesberg GR in Sunway vehicle
09:30-10:30 Group to assist guide in preparation of brunch and then eat brunch
10:30-13:00 Game Drive in Sunway vehicle & eat packed lunch
13:00-14:00 Pack up camp
14:00-17:00 Drive back to Johannesburg
17:00 Tour ends at central drop off point
Includes:
Overnight: n/a
Distance/time: AM game drive and +/- 200km, +/- 3 hours.

This is what Sean had to share... 3 hours later we arrived at Bagatla camp, two guides were tasked with preparing lunch while the two other guides demonstrated putting up tents and setting up the camp. The youth were eager to do their bit and the camp was set up in no time. After eating Boerewors rolls for lunch and a quick tour of Bagatla the youth went on their first game drive.  On these game drives the ecology, geology and history of the park was explained as well as telling them about the animals and birds – impala, gnu, zebra, giraffe, snake eagle etc. Late in the afternoon as the sun was hanging low over the Pilanesberg koppies the youngsters had their first lion sighting from a mere 50 meters. These lions were the famous “Central Pride”, one of the four lion prides in Pilanesberg. There was one large male on the prowl and three juveniles that were playing.  From the lion sighting we spotted a white rhino across Mankwe dam and decided to investigate, we ended up at Mankwe hide, where the youth got their first Black Mamba sighting while being carefully supervised by the guides as the Mamba was only a few meters away in the reeds. After these sighting we knew the day couldn’t get any better, but we were wrong. Making our way to the park gate we encountered a juvenile black rhino on its own. We explained that the parents could have been poached, we talked about black rhinos and there social behaviour and ecology, the rhino even demonstrated its infamous bad mood by mock charging the truck. We took a grid reference on a map to report the single juvenile black rhino to park authorities. The youngsters will never forget that experience or that they were playing a vital role in conservation.  
That night driving back into camp, the youth broke up into teams to help with supper. On the menu for the night was an old classic favourite, Spaghetti Bolognaise and instant pudding for dessert.  After supper the dishes were washed and packed away while the youngsters enjoyed socialising around the camp fire. A few hours later the guides explained what they do, why they love what they do and the role they play in tourism as well as how they got into the industry.  A lot of great questions and debate followed till late in the night.

The next morning started early. Breakfast was ready at 5:00 followed by a game drive with trucks packed full of sleepy youth. After some amazing sightings we made our way back to camp. 

Aubrey the food and beverage manager then spoke to the youth. He talked about his background, where he is currently and his future plans, the importance of studying and working hard. Great insights into the hospitality industry followed and career paths in the industry. Anything can be achieved if you put your mind to it. 

After Aubrey Salomi followed by telling us about her childhood, the local community and how she worked her way up from the bottom. She gave some great career advice.  A lot of questions and interaction took place and I can safely say if these youth are the future of our country we are in safe hands. A short while later we headed back into the park for a meeting with a park legend, Mr Steve Dell. 

He met us at the Boma inside the park. Steve gave us a passionate lecture on conservation career paths, how to get into the industry and the importance of conservation and ecology in the city as well as the global effects it has on us as individuals. Certainly food for thought. We took the opportunity to inform Steve about the juvenile rhino we spotted after he showed us a rhino recovering from a bullet wound. Steve later flew overhead our trucks in a chopper looking for the rhino. It was great for the youth to see.  After all this information it was time to make our way back for lunch. Everyone helped as we made hamburgers with gourmet patties. This was followed by some supervised time in the pool. Later in the afternoon an optional game drive was offered, everyone joined. That night after a long day, everyone was discussing what they learned around the camp fire as supper was slowly braaing over hot coals. We talked about future aspirations, what the youth want do with their lives and the changes they would like to see in our country and also on a global level, the sky is the limit. The youth all thanked us in their own way for the experiences they had over the short few days they spent with us. The one thing that stood out to most of them was the passion the guides have.

After another late night the camp was a hive of activity the next morning as tents were being rolled up, breakfast was being eaten and bags were being packed. True to Sunway values the only thing we left behind were our footsteps. We drove through the park to Manyane gate on our last game drive, said goodbye to our new animal friends and started the journey to the Pen org offices. In good spirit the youth formed a choir and sang all the way back to PTA.  
It was an amazing weekend, it is certainly an honour and a privilege to be able to help, inform and inspire the youth, but in all honesty the youth inspired us. Their futures look bright and I know our nation’s future is in good hands. For youth to spend time with everyday heroes like Steve, Aubrey and Salomi is so special and they made sure we understood that. I look forward to the next social initiative.