White Desert
White Desert and White Lions
General Overview
For our third trip this coming season, we have come together with the Mantis Group to offer the ultimate adventure safari - Africa and Antarctica in one package (nicknamed 'the hardest trip to pack for'!). Due to an arrangement we have come to with Mantis, the price of the adventure is exactly the same as our regular price.
The adventure starts on the 30th November in Cape Town when we fly into Antarctica and lasts 12 days in total (10 in Antarctic, 2 in Africa). Once you have been taken to Whichaway Camp and met our expert guides, you will experience all the adventure and luxury of our normal White Desert trips. We will fly to the immense Emperor Penguin colony, stay in the unexplored mountains and even venture out to the 200ft ice barrier to see where the mighty Southern Ocean crashes into the ice of Antarctica. Throughout the trip, you will be able to choose from a wide variety of activities each day, from adrenalin fuelled to seriously relaxing.
Then, at the end of your ten day adventure in Antarctica, you will be taken to Mantis's luxury safari lodge called Sanbona, located 3hrs outside of Cape Town. Here, you will have the chance to indulge in all the luxury and splendour of a World class African safari lodge, but also have exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to Sanbona's white lions. These are the only free-roaming white lions on the planet and you will be able to experience how they were reintroduced into their natural habitat.
Day two of the safari is no less exciting as you will be actively involved in rhino tagging. Using helicopters and ground crew, the Sanbona team dart these magnificent animals in order to carry out their research. This activity has never been offered to clients before and will give you the chance to experience cutting edge conservation at its most exciting. (Throughout the process safety for both the animal and the guest is a primary concern.)
After a truly whirlwind tour - switching the cold and surreal beauty of Antarctica for Africa's vibrant warmth - you will be transported back to Cape Town for your flight home.
Itinerary
*This itinerary is entirely subject to weather conditions in Antarctica and is meant as a day by day guide of what you can expect.
5 December
Arrive in Cape Town, South Africa. Overnight at the exclusive Constantia or Bishop's Court hotel.
6 December
Safety briefing at White Desert offices, followed by a cocktail party to get to know the other guests. Overnight at a Mantis boutique hotel, whilst you prepare for the incredible flight south.
7 December
With the official destination registered as "Unknown International Airport" we fly to Antarctica (5.5 hours) crossing the thousands of icebergs spread across the Southern Ocean. Halfway through the flight, we cross into the polar circle and into 24hrs continuous daylight. Landing on the specialist ice runway, you will be amongst the few to ever stand in the interior of the Antarctic continent.
8 December
Settle into White Desert's 'Whichaway' Camp and do as much or as little as you like each day. Activities range from gentle treks to the incredible ice waves, to kite-skiing, ice climbing and abseiling into crevasses.
9 December
We trek up to the high point of the entire Oasis and picnic on the summit, offering unrivalled views of Antarctica's infinite horizons.
10 December
We explore the ice waves beneath our camp, delving into the series of ice tunnels that are as surreal as they are beautiful. The day ends with a sauna at the nearby Russian science base.
11 December
We fly two hours across Antarctica, providing immense views of the high polar plateau before landing at the Emperor Penguin colony. You will be the only people to witness this incredible wildlife spectacle and able to get up close and personal to these real life stars of "March of the Penguins".
12 December
The plane touches down in a largely unexplored mountain range 300km from our camp. Amongst towering formations of rock and guided by our expert team of polar explorers, you can ski where no one has been before and even reach the summit of an explored mountain.
13 December
At camp, our guides will take you for a picnic in a location like nowhere else on earth. We set up tables at 'The Balcony' and have a BBQ overlooking what seems like the whole of Antarctica.
14 December
We fly 90km to the edge of the ice and the beginning of open water. Here at the 200ft ice 'barrier' (as it was named by the early explorers), you will look out over a stunning landscape that no tourists have visited before.
15 December
Today is an easier day with talks from our polar explorer staff about some of the lesser known history of Antarctica and a chance to meet some of the scientists from the nearby base.
16 December
The flight out of Antarctica will be the last of your unforgettable Antarctic memories before you delve back into the noise and heat of Africa. You will transfer up to Mantis's luxury lodge, Sanbona and have a chance to relax with one of their professional spa treatments.
17 December
In the morning, the game rangers will arrive to brief you as to the movement of the white lions, then you get to spend the day in the company of one of the most unique and magnificent animals on earth.
18 December
An early start as the helicopter starts its first rhino tagging of the day. Go behind the scenes as the rangers show you this adrenalin fueled side of conversation! After tranquilizing the rhinos with darts, you will be as close as you can get to these prehistoric animals as the vets measure, ear notch and relocate the rhinos.
19 December After breakfast and time to say goodbye, Sanbona's 4x4s will take you back to Cape Town for your flight home.
For both the White Desert and Sanbona experiences, terms and conditions apply.