Win an African safari!

There’s only one thing better than going to Africa…. and that’s going to Africa on a trip that you’ve won!  As part of their sponsorship of Animal Works’ first ‘Imagine Africa’ dinner on 22nd February, The Classic Safari Company is offering you the chance to win a 6 night/7 day safari to Zimbabwe worth US$4000!!  This incredible prize also includes a gorgeous set of safari luggage.

We’re offering the opportunity to you to buy tickets online now for $20 each or 3 for $50.  A maximum of 500 tickets will be sold and the draw will be at the ‘Imagine Africa’ dinner on 22nd February.  Just click here to go to our payment page where you can pay securely using paypal.  For other payment methods, contact Tammie at animalworksaustralia@gmail.com

This amazing prize includes:

1 night The Peermont Metcourt at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg

2 nights Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

3 nights Davisons Camp, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Includes:

  • 1 x twin share room in properties as specified (or similar)
  • Return airport transfers in Johannesburg and Victoria Falls
  • Return road transfers Victoria Falls/Hwange National Park / Victoria Falls
  • Breakfast only in Johannesburg and Victoria Falls
  • All meals in Hwange NP
  • All scheduled game viewing activities in Hwange NP

Excludes:

  • ALL International and regional flights and all applicable departure taxes
  • Visas – currently US$50 per person for Australian passport holders to enter Zimbabwe
  • Comprehensive Travel Insurance – mandatory requirement
  • All meals other than specified
  • All drinks
  • All items of a personal nature
  • Departure tax from Zimbabwe
  • Any optional touring
  • Any item not specified

Blackout dates will apply (high season, Christmas, Easter and school holidays) and travel must be undertaken prior to 31 December 2012.  Maximum of 2 people sharing one room.  Minimum age 12 years (could be negotiated).

To those of you who managed to get tickets to the ‘Imagine Africa’ dinner on 22nd February, there will also be an exclusive raffle on the night for one of Nafisa’s magnificent African elephant artworks.  Tickets for the art raffle will be $10 each and only 100 will be sold.

If you missed out on the first ‘Imagine Africa’ dinner with African authors Tony Park, Peter Allison, Sally Henderson and Tammie Matson, never fear, you can come to the next one on 18th April!  Tony Park and Tammie Matson will be there, as well as 7-time African novelist, Frank Coates and co-author of “A Lion Called Christian”, Ace Bourke.  Book quickly to get your tickets as fantastic prizes are again going to be on offer for the second night, most of them exclusive to those who come!  Tickets can be bought by phoning Ripples on 02 99603000.  Don’t forget, it’s all for a good cause – anti-poaching in Zimbabwe.  $50 from your $95 ticket for a 3 course meal and wine goes to Animal Works’ Zimbabwean conservation fund.

Imagine Africa… Again!

We’re delighted to announce that the Animal Works’ ‘Imagine Africa’ dinner on 22nd February with African authors Tony Park, Sally Henderson and Peter Allison is a sell out!  We know some of you are disappointed you missed out on this one, or if you are coming you might want to meet some other brilliant African authors, so we’re doing it again on Wednesday 18th April!

Join Animal Works for a night of African stories and dinner at Ripples, Chowder Bay, with more of your favourite African authors under one roof! Authors on this night include:

TONY PARK

 Australia’s very own Wilbur Smith, author of 8 African novels, now published in the UK

ACE BOURKE

 Co-author of “A Lion Called Christian” and star of the famous youtube video

FRANK COATES

Author of 7 African novels, including “Tears of the Maasai” & “Softly Calls the Serengeti”

TAMMIE MATSON

Author of “Elephant Dance” and “Dry Water”, adventures of a wildlife conservationist

 Dinner tickets are $95 ($50 goes to Animal Works’ Zimbabwean wildlife conservation fund to help fight poaching and include sparkling wine on arrival, red and white wine with entree and dinner.  Join us for drinks at 6.30pm at the bar and dinner begins at 7pm. Contact Ripples (Deck C, Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman) to buy tickets on 99603000.  For more information contact Tammie at tammiekmatson@gmail.com .

Meli meets the orphans

Last month, Meli Souter, who runs Animal Works’ elephant adoption program, went to Assam to see the work being done by the Wildlife Trust of India, our partner organisation there.  Here’s what she had to say about it.

“Two years ago I attended an Elephant Extravaganza fundraiser organised by a group called Animal Works. Tammie and Nafisa introduced me to the world of human elephant conflict and showed photos of little orphaned elephants. That’s how I became involved and how our adoption program was born. After two years of running this, the next step for me was to visit the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Assam.  In early January I flew from from Delhi to Guwahati and after a 5 hour drive amid the swarms of trucks, cars, bikes, dogs, goats, and cows – I arrived. Read More »

Imagine Africa… in Sydney!

Imagine this…  Four of your favourite African writers under one roof sharing their most hilarious and mad stories of Africa over dinner and wine….  Well, good news – this is not a dream!  It really IS happening and right here in Sydney at Ripples Chowder Bay on Wednesday 22nd February.  And it’s for an excellent cause – Animal Works’ Zimbabwean conservation fund to help fight poaching. Read More »

Join us on safari in Zimbabwe

At Animal Works, we’re excited.  REALLY excited.  There’s not that much that can get us this excited this early in the new year but this has.  It’s Africa, of course!

View from Turgwe Camp

In 2012, Animal Works  is working with Barefoot in Africa  in a unique partnership that is giving you the chance to not only go on an amazing safari to one of our favourite parts of Africa – Zimbabwe – but also to give back a little by contributing to our conservation projects while you’re there.  Read More »

Indian odyssey

Animal Works Co-founder, zoologist/author Dr Tammie Matson reports on her recent trip to Assam with artist & co-founder, Nafisa Naomi:

Tammie photographing rhino

“There was a fleeting moment of awareness, when our jeep first entered the jungle in Manas National Park in the north-east state of Assam, India, that made me gasp with pure contentment.  It had been a while since I’d felt it, that fine-tuning of the senses that happens when you’re in the bush.  I felt goosebumps prickle my arms as I looked up at the canopy of dense, old trees, their thick foliage hugging both sides of the dirt track.  Read More »

Old friends and new

In an update from Manas National Park, Tinku and Soni have been seen together over 7 times during the last month. Satellite signals received on the 10th and 11th November confirm Soni is moving around in the Batabari Forest in Ripu-Chirang Elephant Reserve. It is suspected that the pair may be following a wild elephant herd, although there is no confirmation as yet. Read More »

Taronga Conservation Communication course

Want to make a difference in conservation but not sure how?  Animal Works’ co-founder Dr Tammie Matson runs a couple of inspiring two day courses in Conservation Communication at Taronga Zoo, Sydney every year.  If you’d be interested in learning more, check out what Tammie has to say about it at her latest blog or go to the Taronga website.  The next course is on 15th and 16th December.

Good and bad days at the CWRC

In this update, we have good and bad news from Assam.  Firstly, there is sad news of little Ashok, the orphaned calf who was brought to the CWRC on August 1st after his family was chased by villagers and he was left behind.  Despite the best efforts of Wildlife Trust of India staff, not all elephant orphans can be saved. Read More »

Elephant reunion in Manas

Soni

In our last blog on the elephant calves in Manas National Park Sikom had disappeared and it was suspected he had integrated with a wild herd. Tinku and Tikla had then wandered off together leaving Soni alone. After she had wandered into a village the team brought her back to Doimari Camp where she remained alone. Read More »