Discover the Heart of Africa’s Living Conservation Story
South Africa is a land where community innovation, ecological restoration, and wildlife conservation intersect in powerful ways. Conservation in Action is a 12-day, conservation-led journey beginning in the predator-rich Timbavati, continuing through the vibrant cultural landscapes of Cape Town, and culminating in the vast, restored wilderness of Kwandwe. Guided throughout by master private guide Lee Fuller, one of Africa’s most respected safari leaders, the expedition blends immersive wildlife encounters with rare opportunities to meet the people shaping South Africa’s conservation and community futures.
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From mornings tracking lions and white rhinos in the Timbavati to days spent in Cape Town with local changemakers driving social uplift through art, food security, and creative entrepreneurship, the journey reveals South Africa’s human heartbeat as clearly as its natural beauty. It concludes at Kwandwe, where behind-the-scenes access to rhino monitoring teams, anti-poaching units, and conservation leaders offers an intimate look at one of the country’s most ambitious restoration projects. Across wild savannahs, coastal peninsulas, historic vineyards, and protected Eastern Cape landscapes, this expedition offers a deeply textured understanding of South Africa’s conservation story — and the remarkable people bringing it to life.
Signature Qualities of This Journey
Guided by an exceptional field expert
Travel with Lee Fuller, an experienced and widely respected private guide whose deep ecological insight and joyful, enthusiastic spirit make time in nature both meaningful and truly fun. This itinerary is deeply personal to Lee — it reflects the places he believes represent the frontier of conservation and community development done well in South Africa today. His thoughtful interpretation, warmth, and lifelong connection to these landscapes elevate the entire journey.
Behind the Scenes at Kwandwe
Experience conservation in its most authentic form at Kwandwe. Join a rhino monitoring technician on daily rounds, visit the Anti-Poaching Unit HQ, meet the canine teams, and share a meal with Managing Director Angus Sholto-Douglas, whose leadership has shaped one of South Africa’s most important restoration landscapes. This is rare, privileged access that few travellers ever encounter.
Conservation & Research at Tanda Tula
At Tanda Tula, enjoy owner-hosted hospitality with Nina and Don Scott, and engage with on-site researchers studying critically endangered species such as the Southern Ground Hornbill. Through relaxed conversation and time in the field, guests gain insight into long-term conservation initiatives, community partnerships, and the deeper purpose behind Tanda Tula’s work.
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Community Encounters in Cape Town
Spend meaningful time with local community heroes who are uplifting their neighbourhoods through creativity, food security, youth education, and social enterprise. These authentic encounters offer a rare and inspiring perspective on Cape Town’s human landscape — revealing the innovation, resilience, and leadership shaping the city’s future.
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Meet your guide: Lee Fuller
Lee is one of Africa’s most experienced and versatile naturalist guides, with a career spanning several decades across the continent and the Indian Ocean. He has guided in some of the most remote and ecologically rich regions — from Gabon’s equatorial forests to the Seychelles, Madagascar, and the great savanna systems of South Africa and Tanzania. His early years with Singita in both South Africa and Tanzania, where he guided and helped mentor younger guides, shaped him into one of the most respected field professionals in the safari world. Raised on a farm in KwaZulu-Natal, Lee’s connection to the natural world began in childhood and has grown through a lifetime of exploring, studying, and photographing Africa’s wild spaces.
Alongside his deep expertise, Lee brings an infectious enthusiasm and a warm personality that immediately puts guests at ease. He is endlessly curious, kind, and joyful in the way he shares the wilderness — combining rigorous ecological knowledge with a genuine sense of wonder. His passion for Africa is palpable, and he believes wholeheartedly in the ability of nature to reconnect people with themselves and the world around them.
For the Inala Expeditions South Africa 2026 journey, Lee will serve as Lead Naturalist Guide, shaping each day’s explorations and bringing the landscapes to life through his insight, humour, and intuitive understanding of the bush.
Itinerary
Days 1 – 5: Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Your journey begins at Tanda Tula Safari Camp in the heart of Timbavati, a legendary private reserve bordering Kruger National Park. Set in vast, open savannah, this landscape is home to the Big Five, rare birdlife, and the region’s famed white lions. Morning and afternoon game drives bring you into intimate proximity with wildlife, while evenings unfold beneath star-filled skies.
During your stay, enjoy an exclusive hosted meal with owners Nina and Don Scott, joined by long-time GM Dale Jackson, for an inspiring conversation about their work in wildlife protection and community upliftment. You’ll also spend time in the field with a researcher involved in active conservation studies—currently focused on the Critically Endangered Southern Ground Hornbill—offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at scientific monitoring in a living ecosystem
Days 5 – 9: Cape Town & the Cape Peninsula
Arrive in Cape Town in the late afternoon and settle into Kensington Place, your base for four nights. Your first full day begins with an impactful Uthando Philanthropic Tour, offering respectful and deeply insightful visits to community-led initiatives across the Cape Flats. These encounters highlight the resilience, creativity, and social innovation of local changemakers, providing meaningful context to South Africa’s contemporary landscape. After lunch in the vibrant city centre, ascend Table Mountain via fast-track tickets for sweeping 360° views, followed by a gentle guided walk across the fynbos-rich summit—ending with fresh coffee and home-baked treats.
Spend the next two days exploring the coast and Winelands through curated private experiences. A full-day Peninsula Out & About tour reveals bohemian Kalk Bay, a local penguin colony away from the crowds, a coastal Wild Picnic, and powerful visits to social enterprises such as Tari Designs and Mama Yandi’s township upliftment project in Masiphumelele. Your final day in the region is devoted to the Cape Winelands, wandering the historic gardens of Babylonstoren, tasting heritage wines at atmospheric Muratie, enjoying a relaxed farm-to-table lunch, and ending with sustainable, terroir-driven wines in the dramatic mountain setting of Oldenburg.
Days 9 – 13: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Your journey concludes at Kwandwe, a vast 74,000-acre conservation landscape in the Eastern Cape. Known for its privacy and commitment to wildlife restoration, Kwandwe offers exceptional Big Five sightings and peaceful expanses far from crowds. Classic safari activities—game drives, nature walks, and scenic sundowners—anchor your stay.
This is also where you’ll enjoy an extraordinary behind-the-scenes conservation immersion. Join Kwandwe’s monitoring technician on her daily rhino data-collection rounds, gaining insight into the meticulous work protecting endangered species. Visit the Anti-Poaching Unit HQ to learn how rangers and canine teams safeguard the reserve, and share a private meal with Managing Director Angus Shalto-Douglas, whose deep involvement since Kwandwe’s inception offers unparalleled perspective on conservation strategy and long-term impact.
Accommodation
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Tanda Tula is one of the Greater Kruger’s most refined owner-managed camps, offering spacious, elegantly designed tented suites that open directly onto the sweeping Timbavati wilderness. Blending canvas, light, and landscape, the camp embodies a gentle, contemporary luxury that remains deeply connected to nature — from private decks overlooking the riverbed to beautifully crafted interiors that reflect the textures and colours of the bush.
What makes Tanda Tula truly special is its people-centred philosophy. Guided by long-standing owners Nina and Don Scott, the camp is grounded in genuine community partnerships, local empowerment, and a commitment to protecting the wildlife and cultures of the Timbavati. Guests are welcomed into a warm, story-rich environment where conservation, hospitality, and human connection come together — perfectly aligning with the values at the heart of Inala Expeditions.
Kensington Place
Kensington Place is a chic, contemporary boutique hotel tucked on the quiet slopes of Table Mountain, offering an intimate retreat just moments from Cape Town’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. With beautifully styled rooms, lush gardens, and panoramic mountain or city views, the property blends refined urban elegance with a serene, residential atmosphere.
Known for personalised service and thoughtful attention to detail, Kensington Place creates a warm, tailored experience that feels both luxurious and deeply welcoming. It is the ideal base for Inala Expeditions guests — a calm, stylish sanctuary where travellers can unwind after days filled with meaningful cultural encounters, coastal exploration, and the natural beauty of the Mother City.
Great Fish River Lodge
Great Fish River Lodge sits above its namesake river in one of South Africa’s most inspiring conservation landscapes. Airy, contemporary suites open onto sweeping Eastern Cape vistas, each with floor-to-ceiling glass, private decks, and understated interiors that mirror the colours and textures of the surrounding wilderness. The lodge blends elegant comfort with a profound sense of space and quiet — a sanctuary designed for watching wildlife drift across the plains below.
As part of Kwandwe’s long-standing conservation mission, a stay at Great Fish River Lodge supports meaningful ecological restoration and community partnerships across the reserve. Guests enjoy expertly guided safaris alongside opportunities to engage with Kwandwe’s pioneering behind-the-scenes initiatives, from rhino monitoring to anti-poaching work. Warm, attentive hospitality and a deep commitment to protecting this ecosystem make Great Fish River Lodge an ideal fit for Inala Expeditions travellers seeking thoughtful, luxury-focused wilderness experiences.
Contact Valerie directly to secure your place on this small-group, conservation-led expedition.