Endangered Species and Responsible Travel | Yampu Tours

Custom Travel Experiences Since 1998

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At Yampu Tours, we have always been committed to giving back to the communities within which we travel.  As responsible travelers we must be able to support and sustain these invaluable locations all over the globe.  Many of these destinations are home to endangered species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

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These species are a valuable part of the world we live in and may not be here in future years without your help.   Whether it is helping to maintain rivers, plant trees, or support the communities Yampu will work hand in hand with clients to create a lasting impact.  We offer an array of trips to see these endangered animals in locations such as; Costa Rica, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Belize, Nicaragua, and South Africa.


Ibera Estuary

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The Ibera Estuary, the second largest wetland in the world and the largest in Argentina, is home to several endangered species.  Covering over 15,000 square kilometers (5,800 square miles) this massive wetland provides travelers with a unique experience to anything else in the world.  This trip to Argentina first visits the beautiful city of Buenos Aires before exploring the Iguazu Falls and National Park.

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At the National Park more than 2,000 plant species, over 400 birds, and hundreds of other animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world will be seen.  Among the animals that seen on this trip, there are endangered species such as the giant river otter, hyacinth macaw, and jaguars.  This deep wetlands was greatly unexplored because of its complexity but today all of its beauty can be seen through this trip.  There is so much to do and see that this part takes up to several days!

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Led only by local guides this trip gives the closest look at the beauty of this National Park.  These local guides have unlimited expertise on the area and take great pride in showing travelers this land in the least intrusive way possible.

Arathusa Safari

arathusa_camp_18.jpgThis safari expedition is based with the Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa and offers an unrivaled luxury safari experience.  This land has never been anything besides a wilderness area meaning it offers one of the largest wildlife populations in all of Africa on this 160,618 acre plot.

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This reserve is adjacent to the Kruger National Park which is one of the largest on the continent.  Spanning 19,485 sq. kilometers (7,523 sq. miles) this park allows numerous endangered species to call this home.  The Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Reserve are consistently named as the best places to see the Big Five in their natural habitats, uninterrupted by humans.

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While this trip explores a vast African landscape it is not short on luxuries.  The Arathusa Safari Lodge is a highly sought after destination because of its central location and exceptional services.  The lodge looks out over a waterhole that has a constant stream of animal life from the Big Five down to much smaller creatures.  There is an infinity swimming pool that gives an uninterrupted view of the waterhole and the landscape behind it.  A spa that also overlooks the waterhole offers an unparalleled level of service and satisfaction.  Like all tours offered by Yampu, the itinerary and other details can be customized to fit your every need.
The Big Five

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The Big Five is a name for the five most sought after big game animals in Africa.  While this term was initially used by big game hunters it is now used heavily by conservationists as these beautiful creatures are becoming endangered.  The Big Five includes; the African lion, African elephant, cape buffalo, African leopard, and the white/black rhinoceros.

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These are all considered a “must see” for every traveler in Africa and the chances of seeing them are highest in South Africa.  The African elephant is on the vulnerable list, the white rhino is near threatened, and the black rhino is critically endangered.  The African lion, cape buffalo, and African leopard are not on the endangered list but have seen serious population declines and need your support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orangutan Rehabilitation Sanctuaries

Orangutan kiss resized.jpgOrangutans live and reside in the Southeast Asian rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra.  These two islands have slightly different species of Orangutan; the Bornean and Sumatran.  While they look very similar they have slightly different facial appearances and social behaviors.  Their species has quickly become faced with the possibility of extinction due to their habitat being destroyed for agricultural plantations. The Bornean Orangutan is endangered labeled as endangered with about 41,000 remaining and the Sumatran Orangutan is labeled as critically endangered as there are only 7,500 estimated to still exist.

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Yampu offers several tours that visit Orangutan Rehabilitation Centers and Sanctuaries to support these beautiful creatures.  These rehabilitation centers host dozens of Orangutans that live alongside several other orphaned or injured animals in a natural habitat.  The center provides medical care and raises orphaned young for over 7 years until the young are able to survive on their own in the wild.  These tours can be found here;

Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Batang Ai with Kuching

Bali and Kalimantan

Bali, Sulawesi, and Kalimantan

Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Batang Ai with Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu

 

Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge

SabiSabiView.jpgThe Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge is another lodge located within the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.  The lodge itself is a beautifully designed building that is built into a natural slope.  Designed to be harmonious with nature the lodge becomes almost indistinguishable from the landscape around it.  The inside is nothing short of spectacular either, accommodations include; butler service, indoor/outdoor dining, library, art gallery, meditation gardens, and wine cellar along with morning and evening game drives with expert guides.

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These trips, leaving every morning and afternoon, depending on preference, give unparalleled photography opportunities as guides bring travelers deep into the heart of Africa.

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The Big Five roam free here along with the cape vulture, cheetahs, blue cranes, and wild dogs.  The afternoon drives offer more to see as the animals begin to prepare for their nighttime hunts.  Once the sun goes down the drives continue with powerful spotlights to reveal nocturnal species that would generally be unavailable to the public.

Adopt an Elephant

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A great way to give back is to adopt an orphan elephant in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.  For the small price of $50 per year you can support a young elephant being raised at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.  All trips travelling through the city have the option of including the first year’s adoption fee in their trip price then continuing to pay afterwards.  If you choose to adopt an elephant with your trip to Nairobi you will also get to meet your elephant in person!  This is a great way to give a little bit that goes a long way in the protection of these beautiful animals.

This isn’t just reserved for travelers through the city of Nairobi.  If you want to donate from home you can do so through here

Yampu Contributions

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kahuma_24-8.jpgAll across Africa there is a problem with large cats, such as lions, being attacked by locals in retaliation to killing their livestock.  There is a fund to collect money that will help build impenetrable fences in these villages to protect villagers and livestock while also protecting the lions.  In areas where these fences have been constructed, unnecessary lion deaths have dropped significantly and sometimes all the way down to zero.  We at Yampu donated a portion from our bookings in the month of May to the National Geographic’s fund to build these fences.  You can donate to the cause yourself here.

 

Like all tours through Yampu, these trips are completely customizable to wants, needs, and desires.  To book one of these once in a lifetime experiences contact one of our personal travel consultants for details.

info@yampu.com

1-888-926-7801

 

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