Real Africa, a safari specialist with conservation at the heart of its ethos, is delighted to announce that ex military dog trainer Darryl Pleasants will be joining them on their stand at the Conde Nast Luxury Travel Fair which runs 3-6 November 2016 at London's Olympia West.

Pleasants now trains and deploys Belgian Malinois and Bloodhound dogs to Africa where they work within anti-poaching squads to protect the region's precious last rhino populations. Pleasants has trained dogs which work on conservancies in Kenya, namely Ol Jogi, Lewa, Borana and Ol Pejeta. He is now working in the Save Valley region of Zimbabwe and has recently returned from a trip to deploy the area's very first anti-poaching dog squad. Pleasants says that once a rhino crosses the border between South Africa and Mozambique, a hard hit area, the life expectancy of the rhino is just 12 hours. Anti-poaching dog squads if deployed to this zone could make a dramtic difference. 

In Kenya, the dogs are proving to be the rhino's new best friends - their incredible stamina and unrivalled track and scent skills have been very effective in the battle against poachers. Not only do they track and attack the poachers but they also help rangers detect caches of arms and horn. 

The work is incredibly hazardous and the training of the dogs is complex. Pleasants will be attending Real Africa's stand in full kit with night vision googles and will have exhibits seized from poachers in Africa including snares.  Guests to the show can get a real insight into the work of the anti-poaching squads. 

The nominated charity for this year's Luxury Travel Fair is Save the Rhino International who will also be at this year's show delivering informative presentations in the theatre. Real Africa's #RealRhinos campaign aims to raise awareness and vital funds for Save the Rhino International. As well as being able to chat to Pleasants on the opening day of the show, guests can purchase a raffle ticket to win a safari to Kenya, staying at the wonderful Emakoko in Nairobi National Park and the luxurious Borana Lodge in Laikipia. Tickets are £1 and the all expenses paid safari to Kenya includes a visit to the anti-poaching dog squad working on neighbouring Lewa. 

Real Africa is also offering a series of rhino safari modules, tailored specially to see rhino in the wild and experience first hand some of the conservation work going on inthe field to protect these mighty giants who are at risk of being wiped out within the next decade at the current rate of decline. As part of their commitment to conservation, Real Africa will make a £50 per person donation on behalf of anyone booking one of these special modules.

In addition the team, along with special guest, Jennie Camm, Head of Operations East Africa,  will be on hand to talk about all things Africa with brochures available to pick up on a number of different safari destantions as varied as Rwanda and South Africa. They will have a number of show specials including an exclusive 3 for 2 offer at Borana in Laikipia.