Across Land and Sea: In Search of Africa’s Giants

Home Africa Experiences Across Land and Sea: In Search of Africa’s Giants

Discover Africa’s most magnificent megafauna, from the Super Tuskers of Tsavo to Madagascar’s marine migration, on this ambitious two-week expedition with Pelorus. Led by a specialist team of conservationists and researchers, giving you exclusive access to each species and landscape, go in search of some of the continent's most extraordinary giants on this world-first adventure.

When to go: Jul-Sep

From Price: $128,000 PP*; (excl international flights)

Ideal Length: 14 Nights

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Experience Highlights

Go in search of Africa’s giants by land, sea and air, tracking Super Tuskers on foot and by helicopter in Kenya before following Madagascar’s humpback whale migration by private yacht and light aircraft
Join leading conservationists and marine biologists in the field, assisting with whale identification, underwater filming and data collection in Madagascar, and working alongside specialist teams protecting Kenya’s remaining Super Tuskers.
Access remote wilderness beyond conventional safari routes, staying in a private tented camp deep in Kenya before continuing aboard a private chartered vessel along Madagascar’s remote northwest coast, positioning you closer to the wildlife
Encounter some of Africa’s rarest wildlife, including the critically endangered eastern black rhino and the indri indri, the largest lemur on earth

TUSKERS AND TRAILS IN TSAVO EAST

Your journey begins in Kenya, as you fly deep into the heart of Tsavo East National Park – venturing to one of the country’s most remote regions. It is here that you will go in search of a Super Tusker, a rare kind of African elephant with tusks that weigh over 45 kg (100 lbs) each. It is estimated that there are fewer than 30 of these magnificent bulls left alive, and over the next three days you will have the rare privilege of tracking them in the wild, staying in a private tented camp set up exclusively for you.

Working with the specialist conservation team dedicated to the elephant’s protection and employing a range of aerial assets – including multiple helicopters and a two-seat, single-engine monoplane - take to the skies each day to fly high over the reserve as you attempt to locate these animals by air. On foot, stake out nearby waterholes or walk to selected lookout points, keeping watch for the signs of elephants, before returning to your camp each evening, falling asleep under canvas to the sounds of the African bushveld.

GIANT ENCOUNTERS

Travel onward through Tsavo to your next destination, where you will be introduced to the work of one of Kenya’s pioneering conservation initiatives - the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Here your lodge is specially located nearby to a release site for rehabilitated young elephants, where you will have the opportunity to encounter these incredible animals at close quarters. Spend time learning about what it takes to keep the next generation of elephants alive, listening to the heart-warming stories shared by their keepers, including how they have witnessed new mothers come back to present their wild-born babies after forming their own herds.

Set out on safari to explore more of the park, keeping watch for both predator and prey as night begins to fall. Under the cover of darkness, another exceptional encounter awaits, with the opportunity to visit a uniquely designed viewing platform overlooking a waterhole. Watch carefully as wildlife begins to approach for an evening drink, before using thermal imaging scopes to hone in on one particular species, the critically endangered eastern black rhino. Listen out for the grunting and snorting below as they communicate with each other, relying on your night vision to catch a glimpse of these captivating creatures, before returning to your private camp for the evening.

AMBOSELI’S NEXT GENERATION

Traveling by helicopter, arrive in style at your luxury lodge on a private concession in the foothills of the Chyulu Hills, nearby to the iconic Amboseli National Park. The Amboseli eco-system is home to approximately ten Super Tuskers, including a young male who is touted to become the next largest of them all. Spend a day in the national park as you search for these growing bull elephants, before escaping the summer crowds as you return to your lodge, where off-road and night driving is allowed. Here, accompanied by your expert guide, you will be able to explore by vehicle or on foot, setting out on a guided walking or horse riding safari across the plains, with the breath-taking backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. As night falls, prepare for a spectacular open air cinema set up under the stars, or witness a dynamic theatre production unfold across the grassland as a troupe of performers bring conservation stories to life through puppetry, music, movement, and community traditions.

MADAGASCAR’S GREAT MIGRATION

Flying from Kenya to Madagascar, the next part of your expedition begins. Each year, migrating whales make their way from Antarctica to Madagascar, swimming north in search of warmer waters. Both sides of the island offer exceptional viewing opportunities, with the more protected northwest coast providing calmer ocean conditions for a week spent aboard your privately chartered vessel ASTERIA (49.5M). Arriving just before sunset, settle in and enjoy your first evening and welcome dinner onboard, anchoring just off Nosy Be for the night.

Waking up to the striking blue waters that surround the island, your adventure begins. Today you will be joined by Dr. Anjara Saloma, PhD, a marine biologist widely recognized for her pioneering research on humpback whales. Working together with a team of researchers from Cétamada, a Malagasy association that works to protect marine mammals, wildlife, and habitats in Madagascar and the Indian Ocean, you will have ample opportunity to gain unmatched insights into the behaviours and relationships of humpback whales during their breeding and calving season in these waters, as you assist with data collection, underwater filming and whale identification.

Beyond the whale migration, ample opportunities exist for island exploration – from the Mitsios Archipelago all the way to the Radama Islands, this spectacular marine environment is teeming with life. From kayaking through mangrove forests, snorkelling alongside massive green turtles as they feed on seagrass within three metres of the water’s surface and looking out for other animals species, from the smallest chameleon in the world, the brookesia minima, all the way to the indri indri, the largest lemur on earth and the most endangered primate in the world, spend your days soaking in the wonders of nature as you reflect on this truly once-in-a-lifetime expedition.

Accommodation and Yachts

Ol Donyo Lodge

Tucked away beneath the volcanic Chyulu Hills, at the confluence of the Amboseli and Tsavo eco-systems, ol Donyo Lodge is one of Kenya’s most iconic safari lodges.

Asteria

Flawlessly balancing expedition capabilities with refined comfort and luxury, ASTERIA is a world-class yacht designed for exploring the world’s most remote corners.

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