wildlife worldwide newsletter: autumn 2014

We have recently won a number of accolades including ‘Small Business of the Year’ in both the South Coast Business Awards

and also the Winchester Business Excellence Awards which makes us feel very proud and, more than anything, is a tribute to the extraordinarily talented team who put together the trips that keep you coming back for more.

My own recent trip with a small group to Botswana’s Central Kalahari Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta was great fun; we saw a whole range of bird and mammal species though it was a little lighter on wildlife numbers than we would have liked!

For the first time ever we are chartering two very special vessels for two unique Wildlife Worldwide voyages. The first of these visits the Khutzeymateen in British Columbia, a land and marine protected area dedicated to grizzly bears. In fact, it was the first dedicated grizzly reserve in Canada (see page 26 for more details).

The second voyage is to Alaska at the optimum time to see humpback whales bubble-net feeding. A spectacular wildlife event which you can read more about on page 9.

I am about to explore the wilder bits of Quebec (en-famille) - an area which has long interested me, and about which I’ve heard only good things. It should be full of wildlife including humpback whales, belugas, moose, caribou and other things I have yet to discover. When I get back you will be able to read about it on our blog, and you might like to follow me on Twitter (chrisb_wildlife).

Meanwhile other members of the team are heading off – or have just returned from – Spitsbergen, Uganda, Canada, Costa Rica, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago and Scotland.

The dates, locations and registration details for our next series of Discover Wildlife evenings is on the back cover. We will be travelling throughout the country, so please do come along and meet us.

As always, we have plenty more in the pipeline, so keep an eye on our website and your email in-boxes!

Very best wishes

Chris Breen Founder, Wildlife Worldwide

Autumn | 2014

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Our website features over 20 locations and 7 suggested itineraries in Madagascar that we can use to tailor-make your own Madagascar itinerary

EXPERTS IN TAILOR-MADE

wildlifeworldwide.com

wildlifeworldwide.com 0845 130 6982 You can also visit our Winchester office to plan your trip in person

Madagascar Lemurs

Travel to Madagascar to witness a spectacular array of unique species, including lemurs, geckos and chameleons.

Tailor-made, Jan – Dec 15 days, from £4,095

Southern Highlights

Take in the must-see, must-do locations in the southern half of this remarkable island, with its unique wildlife.


Best of Both Worlds

The ideal trip if you yearn for a short but memorable getaway to experience the varied contrasts of north and south Madagascar.

Tailor-made, Mar – Dec 12 days, from £4,495

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Madagascar

Madagascar is a country like no other. Millions of years of isolation have led to the evolution of an array of species found nowhere else. Add to this an extraordinary range of habitats, and the result is a destination brimming with intrigue and excitement. What’s more, much of the wildlife is accessible and approachable – making the island one of the world’s

most compelling destinations.

The most famous inhabitants are the lemurs – charming offshoots of the primate family tree that have lifestyles as diverse as the forests in which they live. Elegant white Verreaux’s sifakas and charismatic ring-tailed lemurs make their home in the arid regions of the south, cuddly teddy-bear like indris and gorgeous diademed sifakas live in the lush rainforests, and only after dark do tiny mouse lemurs and dwarf lemurs emerge from their tree-holes to become active. The current scientific register lists over 100 species of lemur, and on most two to three week itineraries there’s a reasonable chance of seeing more than 20 of these.

Several families of birds are unique to the island: vangas display a variety of beak shapes; sunbird asities buzz like hummingbirds and feed on nectar; couas peck through leaf-litter like pheasants and colourful ground rollers haunt the darkest recesses of the forest.

Reptiles abound too: over 60% of chameleons live nowhere else, including both the largest and the smallest in the world, and the amazing leaf-tailed geckos have near-perfect camouflage, some resembling tree bark, others shrivelled leaves. Add to this a myriad of colourful tree frogs and multitude of peculiar insects (what could be more bizarre than the giraffe-necked weevil?) and there is always something to grab your attention.

Any trip to Madagascar begins in Antananarivo, commonly known – for obvious reasons – as Tana. This capital city, full of contrasts and variety, is set amidst a series of hills. Colourful houses encrust the hillsides and glow in the late evening sun; ox carts manoeuvre in the streets between cars and hopelessly crowded buses; a patchwork of city centre rice

paddies adds a mosaic of emerald to the valley floors; vendors display old bottles, fresh fruit and toy cars made from drinks cans, adding vibrant splashes of colour to the roadside, while the daily markets bustle with a sea of humanity that changes constantly.

But away from urban areas it is the national parks and reserves that provide the island’s real riches and greatest interest. Largely dotted around the periphery of the island where native forest remains, they offer enormous variety, and different species of lemur and other wildlife are seen at each.

The best rainforest reserves in the east are Andasibe-Mantadia (home of the iconic indri), Ranomafana, Masoala and, for the more adventurous, Marojejy. On the dry western side of the island, Ankarafantsika and Kirindy are the premier locations, while both Ankarana and Daraina in the far north offer something different and the chance to see some very rare species such as golden-crowned sifaka (and sometimes even aye-aye).

The southern areas are extremely arid yet fascinating, not least because of the bizarre spiny forest – full of strange plants – that is endemic to the region. Famous reserves like Berenty serve up some of the most memorable experiences, but alternative locations such as Ifaty and Tsimanampetsotsa are home to some of the island’s enigmatic avian rarities such as long-tailed ground roller, sub-desert mesite and Grandidier’s vontsira.

Without doubt Madagascar is intoxicating – a strange and incongruous mixture of wildlife and culture combine to produce a country quite unlike any other. Memories of its friendly people and unique wildlife will linger and create the over-riding experience of an island lost in time.

Mon to Fri 9am – 6pm (all year) and Sat 9am – 1pm (Jan, Feb, Mar) 0845 130 6982 wildlifeworldwide.com

The magic of

by wildlife photographer, Nick Garbutt

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GuyanaTrinidad & Tobago

Most Wednesdays are quite normal, but this particular one was anything but the usual middle of the week. I was about to board an early morning flight to Guyana – a seemingly forgotten country filled with unbroken rainforest, secluded jungle streams and sun-drenched savannahs.

First, I spent a week in Trinidad & Tobago, where I found myself peering into the mouth of the Tamana Caves, waiting with anticipation for a flood of bats as dusk descended. Things started slowly at first, with one bat at a time emerging into the night air; one quickly became ten, then hundreds at a time. No-one really knows how many bats live in these caves, but estimates range from 500,000 to over one and a half million.

The following day I drifted through the mysterious mangroves of the Caroni Swamp. After an hour or so of pushing into a tangled web of aerial roots, the tunnel-like channel we had been following opened out into a spacious lagoon. Here it was impossible to miss the scarlet ibis as they returned to roost – their crimson plumage iridescent against the deep green vegetation on which they perched.

Little, though, had prepared me for the scale of the landscapes in Guyana, nor the sheer emptiness of its forested interior; the country’s wilderness experience goes to a whole new level.

Travelling around Guyana is an experience in itself with each journey providing unforgettable wildlife encounters; on one in particular my guide pointed out a three-toed sloth in a nearby tree and on another, a black caiman lurking under a bridge.

One morning, in particular though, will remain with me for the rest of my life: I woke before sunrise to the sound of the dawn chorus at Karanambu, and made my way to the main benab (dining area) to enjoy an energising cup of tea under the palm-thatched roof.

I was then driven across the radiant savannah with the agenda of seeing giant anteater. And, sure enough, our guide soon spotted one bustling through the grass, heading straight towards us.

By now we were walking slowly across the savannah, and the anteater lolloped along on its front knuckles in order to keep its claws out of the way. Its long nose was just above the height of the grass and its wild, bushy tail bounced along behind.


Wildlife adventureWildlife Consultant, Chris Smith, travelled on a research trip in May 2014 to Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago. Here, he describes his experiences in both countries, where he encountered pristine wilderness and wildlife…

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Our website features over 70 locations in Latin America across 8 countries that we can use to tailor make your own Guyana itinerary




Guyana, Lost Land of the Jaguar

Travelling by light aircraft, canoe and 4-wheel drive, this adventure penetrates the country’s densely forested interior, the land of many waters, in search of its unusual mammals and birds.

Tailor-made, Sep – Apr 13 days, from £3,895

Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean Wilderness

Combine the wildness of the forests and savannah of Guyana’s interior with the vibrant colours of Trinidad’s birdlife, and the sun-drenched beaches of tiny Tobago.

Tailor-made, Sep – Apr 19 days, from £5,195

Trinidad & Tobago, Wildlife Carnival

Visit the lesser known parts of Trinidad & Tobago, and witness the diversity of its wildlife – the iconic scarlet ibis, the cave-dwelling oilbird, the mysterious Tamana bat colony and the world’s largest brain coral.

Tailor-made, Sep - Apr 10 days, from £2,195

I’ve been lucky enough to see a lot of wildlife, but have never seen anything quite like it before – this extraordinary creature is a testament to just how weird and wonderful evolution can be, and today’s early morning rise was definitely worth the effort; what a remarkable start to the day!

The best way to see Guyana is by boat. A maze of meandering rivers provides access to some of the most remote areas of rainforest – none more so than around the small

Amerindian village of Rewa.

Heading up the Rewa River in late afternoon felt like a relaxing boat trip that would be the perfect way to round off another exhilarating day, but the anticipation of what might be waiting round the next bend heightened my

senses: black caiman or maybe giant river otter?

All of sudden, wildlife started to appear from every angle. Our first sighting was a three-toed sloth hanging from a vine-covered branch, then several white-throated toucans appeared

through a gap in the forest. Successive pairs of blue-and-yellow macaws followed as they flew over the river in the golden light of the setting sun, and then (to round off a crazy half hour), two brown-bearded saki leapt between the trees on the opposite bank. There was wildlife everywhere!

It was a privilege to see such beautiful rainforest and savannah, both of which have so far been left largely untouched by human development – with the result that wildlife continues to flourish. So,

if you’re looking for a journey of a lifetime and an enthralling experience, few places in the world can beat Guyana.

Any trip to the country can be complemented with a stay on Trinidad & Tobago. There’s a lot more to these Caribbean Islands than first appears, and they offer opportunities to see an array of intriguing wildlife that includes scarlet ibis, oilbirds, amazing marine life,

leatherback turtles and bats galore.

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Great Whale Love-in

Forgiveness is in the air at the

You aren’t allowed to approach closer than 30 metres. The rules of the lagoon are strict on this matter and the boatmen keep to them. Quite right too. The only problem is that the whales have their own agenda.

Which is how I ended up patting them.

I was in San Ignacio Lagoon, a deep inlet into the Pacific in Baja California, Mexico, taking part in the Festival of Whales as a guest of the travel company Wildlife Worldwide. The lagoon also contained 243 grey whales – 73 mothers with 73 calves and 97 males.

That’s an awful lot for a modest lagoon, but it can hold them because there is no competition for food. The whales do their eating up in the Arctic and come fasting to this balmy lagoon – a place free of orcas and sharks – for a great annual party, mating, socialising, giving birth and nurturing the very young.

So when you are out there in your little boat you are often surrounded by whales, the sound of their breath dinning in your ears and the sight of it making brief rainbows against the sun. And although you don’t approach any closer than 30 metres, the whales approach you.

Again and again. Mothers nudge their calves towards the boats and the calves raise their heads above the surface so they can be petted and scratched and even kissed. If you don’t they swim off to find a boatload that will.

And there I was, hanging over the bows while a mother, weighing as much as 60 horses, with her 15ft babe alongside, played a little crisscross game, passing under the boat again and again, scraping the bottom of the boat as they shadowed us for 15 minutes, doing so for the pure sport of it, occasionally giving the boat a playful bump.


Simon Barnes writes for The Times, where this article first appeared in March 2014

Photo © David Bebber

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I was moved beyond speech and beyond tears, utterly whalestruck – oh brave old world that has such creatures in it!

I came to the conclusion that whaleblow contains LSD. As the whales’ wet fish-stinky exhalation was blown across a boatload, so its passengers would lose all sense of reality. The loud were silenced, the quiet became garrulous, many wept without shame.

As the whales approached boatloads of sane and sensible grownups would whoop and cheer: “Here whaley, whaley, whaley!” Some tried song: “Whales just wanna have fun!” they sang and the whales came up to them and raised their huge heads, perplexed. The noise, the certainty, the proximity, the fact that the quarry seeks out the seeker – this is not wildlife as I have known it before.

Afterwards, on shore, everyone was walking about with the same fatuous smiles on their faces, me too, that I remember from the peak of the hippy era. Wow, man. Far out. Only the language of excess could cover the situation.

Stoned blind, we were, every one of us, stoned blind on biophilia, which is the human attraction to non-human life. If you have ever smelt a rose or patted a dog you understand the term. Smell and pat a whale and you experience the same thing in a life-threatening dosage. Biophilia, it’s there in all of us, needing only a small excuse to come pouring out. Make that a large excuse and you’re coping with an emotional gusher. San Ignacio Lagoon is one of planet’s greatest experiences.

For me the most powerful part of it all was history. In the 19th century this same lagoon was a killing ground. The whales fought back; whalers called the grey whales devilfish because they would seek out and attack whaling boats – things much the same size as the craft that I rode.

The world population, from an estimated high of 100,000, plummeted to a couple of hundred. Since the worldwide whaling ban in 1966, it has built up again, and is now about 20,000. San Ignacio Lagoon is no longer about death, but life. It’s a place where people come to seek out the great beasts and be sought out by them. For 30 years now, tourism has brought love-and-peace whaleseekers to the lagoon.

We humans have to trust the whales. After all, these whales, cetaceans formerly known as devilfish, could flip any boat in the lagoon any time they chose.

The more amazing thing is that whales now trust the boats. How did they work out that much of humanity has undergone a cultural shift and that whales are now recipients of love? That devilboats are now loveboats? In the early days, some of the whales that came up to the boats for a bit of slap and tickle bore unmistakable harpoon scars. The word “forgiveness” is far too anthropomorphic. Ridiculous, sentimental, nonsensical. But I’m not sure there’s a lesser word that covers the facts.


San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja, Mexico 20 February 2015 from £4,490

1 April 2016 from £4,995

THE FESTIVAL OF WHALES


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Whale watching


Sperm whales in the Azores, humpbacks, belugas or fin whales in Canada, the gigantic blue whales in Sri Lanka, or a whole plethora of species in the polar regions; we offer, perhaps, the most comprehensive collection of whale watching trips around the world.

Departure Country Tour Name Whale Species Duration Group size Price From

Jan – Mar Iceland Orcas & Northern Lightsorca, white-beaked dolphin

5 days 25 £1,157

Feb – Mar MexicoMonarch Butterflies & Grey Whale Migration

grey, bottlenose dolphin 10 days Tailor-made £3,945

20 Feb 2015 1 Apr 2016

Mexico The Festival of Whales grey, bottlenose dolphin 10 days 24 £4,490

Mar – Apr Mexico Voyage in the Sea of Cortez Bryde's, blue, minke 10 days 8 £2,795

7 Mar 201528 Nov 20155 Mar 2016

Sri Lanka Blue Whales & Dolphins* blue, spinner dolphin 14 days 12 £2,595

May – Aug Canada Whales & Dolphins of the Haida Gwaii* orca, humpback 11 days 16 £4,595

May – Jun Greenland Disko Bay Whale Safari narwhal, beluga, fin 8 days 12 £1,656 (voyage only)

May – Jul Scotland The Shetland Islands* harbour porpoise 8 days 10 £995 (excl. flights)

May – Sep Canada Whales & Mountains orca, humpback 14 days n/a £2,645

Jun – Aug Canada Newfoundland Adventure humpback, fin, minke 9 days 20 £3,145

Jun – Aug Canada Northern Right Whales of New Brunswick northern right 5 days n/a £1,495

*Trips include a donation to WDC. All prices are per person, include flights (unless otherwise stated) and are based on two people sharing a twin room.

9Mon to Fri 9am – 6pm (all year) and Sat 9am – 1pm (Jan, Feb, Mar) 0845 130 6982 wildlifeworldwide.com

There can be no greater thrill when it comes to wildlife watching than seeing a humpback whale, grey whale or even an orca launching itself out of the water, breaching. No one knows why they do it, but it is easy to think they just do it for the sheer joy of being able to. Humpbacks never fail to amaze us and so we have privately chartered a 12 berth vessel specifically to venture into the deep sounds of Alaska, at the perfect time to witness their most remarkable behaviour…

Bubble-net BonanzaSailing from Sitka on Baranof Island, opposite Tongass National Forest, we voyage into Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait where humpbacks pass on their annual migration from the warm waters off Mexico to their Arctic feeding grounds.

Here the itinerary will focus its attentions, and you will witness their remarkable bubble-net feeding habits; working collectively, the whales encircle a shoal of fish by creating a net of bubbles, and then drive powerfully to the surface taking huge gulps of water in their gaping jaws and straining out the fish through their baleen. A remarkable sight!

Of course, you’ll also see plenty of other marine life too, plus grizzly bears, First Nations totems, glaciers and icebergs, and all from the comfort of Snow Goose, a 20-metre, steel-hulled motor yacht, with capacity for

12 passengers in six private twin cabins with upper and lower berths.

You will be accompanied by a local naturalist who will bring specialist knowledge to the itinerary, and enrich your experience by

providing a fascinating insight into the habitat and wildlife of this most beautiful of areas.

14 Aug 2015, 11 days, from £6,295

Departure Country Tour Name Whale Species Duration Group size Price From

Jun – Aug Canada Humpback Whales in Newfoundland humpback 5 days Tailor-made £2,145

Jun – Sep Azores Sperm Whales & Bottlenose Dolphins* sperm, sei, pilot 6 days 12 £1,425

Jun – Sep Canada Quebec, Bears, Whales & Moose beluga, minke, fin, blue 9 days Tailor-made £2,195

Jun – Sep Canada Blue Whale Research in Mingan Island Regionblue, white-beaked dolphin

9 days 6 £2,995

Jul Alaska Humpback Whales in South East Alaska* humpback 15 days 12 £6,195

Jul – Aug Canada Whale Study Week pilot, fin, humpback 9 days 20 £3,995

Jul – Aug Canada Beluga Whales & Polar Bears beluga 9 days 12 £7,895

Jul – Aug Canada Orcas, Bears, and Totems* orca, Dall's porpoise 10 days 13 £4,495

4 Aug 2015 Canada Canada’s Big Five beluga 9 days 18 £5,395

14 Aug 2015 Alaska Bubble-net Bonanza humpback, grey, blue, orca 11 days 12 £6,295

Oct – Nov Argentina Patagonia’s Marine Life northern right 13 days Tailor-made £3,195

Nov – Mar Antarctica Classic Antarctica humpback, blue, minke 10 days 23 to 84 £3,430 (voyage only)

Nov – Apr Sri Lanka Elephants, Blue Whales & Leopards blue, spinner dolphin 10 days Tailor-made £2,195

*Trips include a donation to WDC. All prices are per person, include flights (unless otherwise stated) and are based on two people sharing a twin room.

10 wildlifeworldwide.com 0845 130 6982 You can also visit our Winchester office to plan your trip in person

Our website features 11 countries and over 100 locations throughout the Americas that we can use to tailor-make your own wildlife holiday



Predators catch and kill other animals for food, using a variety of techniques to maximise their chance of catching prey, and balance the energy they expend in catching it with the energy they gain from eating it. Some execute long chases and outrun their prey, while others ambush or even hunt in groups. Some construct elaborate traps and yet others

have subtle mechanisms for stunning or poisoning their victims. Predators fascinate us…

The mystery and excitement of the Americas and the fascination of the raw power of a large predator is a ‘killer’ combination when it comes to a wildlife experience.

The Americas are populated by some of the biggest and best of them all – polar bears, brown (or grizzly) bears, wolves, jaguars and pumas. The image of each conjures up a picture of fearsome beauty – nature in its raw, unadulterated state – an image of wildlife that can only survive by stealth and opportunism. To be a seal in the shadow of a polar bear, or a capybara in the shadow of a jaguar is to be a lesser being dominated by a king.

In most cases in the Americas predators are ‘working their patch’ as solitary animals, but wolves are a notable exception. They are the ultimate pack animal, collaborating in social units (generally a mating pair plus juveniles) to pursue and bring down a bison, moose or deer many times their size and weight.

Jaguars, the largest cats in the Americas, are solitary, stalking their prey in the dappled gloom of the rainforest, using a mixture of camouflage and stealth to pounce on unsuspecting victims. They are just as happy stalking and killing deer as they are tracking capybara or caiman along the riverside, launching themselves on an unsuspecting victim from above and cracking the skull of their prey with their huge powerful jaws.

Native to the Americas, and with the largest range of any land animal are pumas (a.k.a. cougars or mountain lions). Their range extends from Canada’s Yukon Territory in the north to the southern reaches of the Andes Mountains in Chile. They are larger than jaguars but prey on much smaller mammals.

Lone polar bears wander vast tracts of frozen ice, relying on their phenomenal sense of smell to hunt seals and walruses on the ice floes during winter, putting on enough weight to get them through summer on the barren mainland, and of course they are masters of the oceans too – occasionally being sighted 70 plus kilometres away from the nearest landfall.

Grizzly bears, a match in size to the huge polar bears, fish for salmon during the spawning season and prey on large mammals when they are available. But in leaner times these mammalian giants can be found foraging for crustaceans, kelp, berries, nuts, eggs, carrion, or whatever else they can lay a claw upon.

The above, of course, offers no more than a foretaste of the remarkable variety of predators large and small that exist within the Americas. To flesh out (possibly a less than apposite choice of expression in this context!) your knowledge and understanding, why not consider a predator-focussed trip to this great continent.

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Americas


Canada, Orcas, Bears & Totems

Enjoy spotting orcas and watching grizzly bears on this exciting boat trip off the coast of British Columbia, in an area of simply outstanding natural beauty.

Small group departures, July – Aug 10 days, from £4,495

Chile, Pumas & Tracking in Torres del Paine

Revel in the breathtaking mountain scenery of the Paine Massif as you walk with an expert naturalist guide on a quest to see the elusive Andean puma.

Small group departures, Oct – Nov & Jan – Apr 11 days, from £3,795

USA, Yellowstone Ultimate Wolf & Wildlife Safari

Enjoy an unforgettable winter safari tracking and photographing iconic wildlife in the harsh but ethereal splendour of the world’s very first national park.

Small group departures, Jan – Feb 8 days, from £4,145

Brazil, Jaguars of the Pantanal

Endeavour to glimpse one of the world’s most elusive felids in Latin America’s largest and most spectacular wetland, with rich birdlife and plenty more mammals…


Predator noun 1. Zoology: any organism that exists by preying upon other organisms; an animal that lives by predation…

Predators of the

ICE BEARS in the Yukon

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Bear Cave MountainCanada is immense – it’s two hours flying time from Vancouver to Whitehorse, Yukon’s capital, and this is just the first stage of getting to Fishing Branch River and Bear Cave Mountain! An overnight stop in Whitehorse is followed by another flight north to the gold rush town of Dawson City, then lastly a helicopter even further north to reach the amazing wilderness home of the ice bears.

The final flight (almost to the Arctic Circle) takes another two hours, and weather plays a big part. A helicopter carries limited fuel, so pilots need to be sure of getting in and back out again; if they have to fly around bad weather, the round trip may become impossible.

Flying over spectacular country, the tundra unfolds beneath you: endless untouched monochrome wilderness – rivers, creeks and forest – covered with thick snow and lit by a low sun. Landing beside the river in front of camp, you are greeted by local guide Phil Timpany and his Norwegian elkhound, Smokey. A walkway leads into the small, simple camp where a fire roars in the kitchen, and Phil’s first task is to introduce you to the area.

Here it’s the grizzlies who decide how close is too close, and they set the agenda. It’s their home and we just visit. They scratch themselves on the tree outside the kitchen, sleep next to the deck, or walk right into camp. This mutual understanding makes it a very special place. They know we‘re here, but aren’t really bothered – there are more interesting things to eat in the river! Phil hums to them, Smokey gives a subdued ‘woof’ to tell us they’re around, and we watch and take photographs.

It is cold here (expect temperatures of -10° to -20°C), but with the right gear, Phil’s excellent cooking and a warming fire, it’s easy to thaw out. We watched as bears walked up and down the riverbank, got in and out of the water, and fished. Due to the cold, each time they got out of the river their fur froze into icicles, changing their appearance completely. In one memorable encounter we sat on the ground by the river (there are no hides here) and watched as a mother and cub walked past – so close that we could hear their paws crunching the leaves.

The cub was more interested in us than his mother was, and stopped to see what, or who, we were. He turned and faced us, three paces away, smelling the air – there was nothing between us and a 100 kilogramme bear cub. Amazing, wonderful, inspiring, enlightening – and difficult to put into words!

Phil knows the bears as well as the place – Fishing Branch River, the river that never freezes – better than most. In partnership with local First Nations people, he has created a simple but comfortable lodge from where he guides, cooks, organises, cleans and creates this remarkable experience. In 6,500 square kilometres of pristine wilderness, only Phil and four guests are allowed at any time. In 30 plus years of looking at wildlife in the world’s wildest places, this is one of the best I have seen!

A more complete version of this article appears in the Blog section of the Wildlife Worldwide website.


Wildlife Worldwide founder, Chris Breen, visited Bear Cave Mountain on the rim of the Arctic Circle where he witnessed a wildlife phenomenon like no other.

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Canada, Yukon’s Ice Bears

In autumn at Bear Cave Mountain, thermal springs warm Fishing Branch River so it flows long after others have frozen – with spectacular results.

Tailor-made, Sep – Oct 13 days, from £10,950

Canada, The Festival of Bears

Learn all about western Canada’s awesome grizzly bears during a stay at a dedicated bear lodge deep in British Columbia’s scenic coastal rainforest.

Small group departure, 19 Sep 2016 9 days, from £5,795

Canada, Classic Polar Bears

Seeing polar bears in the wild is an awe-inspiring experience, and has to be one of the most intense and unforgettable wildlife encounters.

Small group departures, Oct – Nov 7 days, from £4,695

Our website features 7 countries and over 30 locations throughout the world that we can use to tailor-make your own bear-watching holiday





LocationsGreatest wildlife

Simien Mountains, EthiopiaThe Simiens make my list of favourite places for their unique wildlife and amazing landscapes; the views around Simien Lodge are epic! The endemic wildlife includes gelada baboons and walia ibex, and – if you are lucky – you might get an occasional sighting of Simien wolves.

On the plateau, I had the privilege of sitting among a group of baboons as they fed on the rich grass (geladas are the only grazing primate). They were quite happy picking and foraging while I looked on quietly and took photos. Then one reached out and offered

me a few blades of grass – did this monkey momentarily mistake me for another of its kind, or was this a gesture of kinship between monkey and human? I know what I would like to believe…

Ethiopian Wildlife Extravaganza

See the highlights of this venerable country’s unusual wildlife and a chance to see one of the world’s rarest mammals – the Ethiopian wolf and the endemic gelada baboon.


The Falkland Islands This archipelago in the South Atlantic is very special indeed! Other than the days when an expedition vessel stops, you can find yourself on an island with no more than two or three other people. This is the beauty of the Falklands – amazing wildlife encounters, in splendid isolation.

On Saunders Island a black-browed albatross flew inches over my head. On Carcass Island I witnessed two bull elephant seals fighting violently on the shore, and on Sealion Island I walked down the middle of a gentoo penguin super-highway!

But, particularly memorable was my visit to Volunteer Point, the best place to see king penguins outside

South Georgia. Sitting on the beach, a group moved closer and closer, the curiosity getting the better of them, until they were pecking my shoes and sticking their heads in my bag. Nobody was there to witness this, but somehow that felt perfectly ok.

Highlights of the Falkland Islands

Head to the remote Falkland Islands far out in the South Atlantic for an intriguing overview of the archipelago’s unforgettable wildlife highlights – from sealions to penguins.

Tailor-made, Oct – Mar 19 days, from £5,795

In the first of an on-going series of articles written from our first hand experiences, Senior Wildlife Consultant, Chris Osborn recommends his favourite locations and most memorable wildlife encounters.

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Our website features more than 40 countries and over 250 locations throughout the world that we can use to tailor-make your own wildlife holiday




Kodiak Island, Alaska“Hey bear! Hey bear!”called my local expert guide, as we walked towards the bank of a large river. I had flown to Frazer Falls, one of the best places in the world to see concentrations of wild brown bear fishing for salmon, and as our small group turned a corner we were confronted by a huge bear right in front of us.

He couldn’t have heard us approaching, and for a brief moment there was nothing between us, save for the long-held tradition of mutual

respect that exists only at this particular spot. This amazing moment will live with me forever.

Alaska, Brown Bears of Kodiak

Watch the largest grizzly bears in the world on Kodiak Island, as they gorge themselves on the salmon that make their way up Alaska’s rivers to spawn in the short summer.

Small group departures, Jun – Sep 9 days, from £7,195

The Pantanal, BrazilBeing stranded in the middle of the Cuiabá River in a metal boat during a lightning storm is not everyone’s idea of fun. However, I was on a high after just seeing my first wild jaguar; for 15 minutes I watched this majestic beast patrol its territory in search of its next meal and nothing could wipe the smile off my face.

For the sheer diversity of wildlife, the world’s largest wetland must be one of the most amazing places I’ve visited. The prospect of seeing a jaguar may be the biggest draw, but there is a good chance of seeing giant

anteaters, tapirs, howler monkeys, giant river otters, caimans and coatis – amongst many other species! The birdlife is outstanding too and it is the best place to see the endangered hyacinth macaw.

Just Jaguars

Explore the maze of channels in Talama Reserve, part of Brazil’s famed Pantanal wetland, to seek out jaguars.

Tailor-made, Jun – Nov 9 days, from £4,495

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, MadagascarMadagascar is one of my favourite countries and during a day or night walk in any of the rainforest parks you can discover a wide range of unique flora and fauna.

Each time I visit, I always go to Andasibe where listening to the haunting call of the indri, the island’s largest lemur, will carry you far, far away. Graceful diademed sifakas climb amongst the trees, and Parson’s chameleons sit patiently on branches waiting to launch their tongues at an unsuspecting fly.

The beauty of Madagascar is that everything – including the wildlife – is so different.

Endangered Sifakas of the North

This unique safari takes in two of the best, but least visited areas of northern Madagascar, where the reward is getting off the beaten track to see a variety of less common species.

Tailor-made, Apr – Dec 15 days, from £3,645

The need to feed…

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Kenya, Migration Special

Witness the phenomenon of immense migrating herds of blue wildebeest and zebras, with attendant predators – an unforgettable experience and a photographer’s dream.

Tailor-made, Jun – Oct 10 days, from £4,865

Zambia, Batty About Kasanka

Each November and December, millions of fruit bats take up residence in Kasanka National Park. Witness this incredible sight while staying in a comfortable tented camp.

Tailor-made, Nov – Dec 12 days, from £4,595

Sri Lanka, Blue Whales and Dolphins

The deep oceanic shelves and balmy waters around Sri Lanka are home to a wealth of cetacean life, and its national parks have elephants and leopard – this trip endeavours to show them all!

Small group departures, Mar & Nov 14 days, from £2,595


As humans, we enjoy the freedom to travel wherever we choose – a trait that we may inherit in part from our animal cousins who also enjoy the freedom to roam. The difference, of course, is that we don’t necessarily need to travel in search of food or a mate, but do it by choice! But what of the birds and mammals that share the world with us? Their movements are driven by a deeper need, a primeval urge.

Why do they migrate, and what are the biggest, best or most significant migrations of all?

The best known…If asked, most people would think of the circular movement of wildebeest across East Africa’s plains between the Masai Mara and the Serengeti – this is the most visible, probably the most documented, and certainly the most photographed and filmed of any migration. Untamed, raw and spectacular, its cast consists of one and a half million wildebeest plus around half a million zebra, with all the drama of river crossings, crocodiles lying in wait, and hungry predators ready to pounce to add into the script.

The biggest…East Africa’s wildebeest migration is not the only massive movement of animals: straw-coloured fruit bats – an estimated 12 million of them to be precise – descend on Zambia’s Kasanka National Park each year in late October, and remain there for around a month, flying out some 60 kilometres every evening to feed on fruit trees, only to return the next morning. The most curious thing about this migration is how little we know about it. What we do know is that the bats that reach Kasanka are made up of sub-groups that come from East Africa, Central Africa and as far afield as Mali in the far north. But why they should all appear in Kasanka at the same time every year – before disappearing as quickly as they arrived (as they have done for millennia!) – is a fascinating mystery that may never be solved.

Migration

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Mexico, Monarch Butterflies & Grey Whale Migration

Witness two iconic annual events: grey whales wintering in the balmy waters of San Ignacio Lagoon, and millions of monarch butterflies hibernating in Michoacan’s sheltered valleys.

Small group departures, Feb – Mar10 days, from £3,945

Canada, Caribou Migration & Great Bear Adventure

Staying in one of the finest Arctic eco lodges close to black and polar bears, this incredible adventure also takes you to the remote Schmok Lake to witness the migration of the Canadian caribou.

Small group departures, Sep only 10 days, from £8,095

Antarctica, Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea

This voyage to the Weddell Sea offers a unique highlight – three days are reserved for a helicopter excursion to an emperor penguin colony, situated south of Snow Hill Island.

Group departures, Nov – Dec, 11 days, from £7,025 (voyage only)


The longest…Of course it’s not just land mammals that migrate, and – staying with the

‘gigantic’ theme – whales do too. Grey whales, which Simon Barnes writes about with such emotion on pages 6 and 7, make the longest migration on

earth. Those of the eastern Pacific travel south from their feeding grounds in the Arctic to a few shallow, salty lagoons in Mexico to breed and calve… and

what a sight this is!

The lightest…The timing of the grey whales’ arrival more or less coincides with the migration

of monarch butterflies, which come to the sheltered valleys of Michoacan state on mainland Mexico. Among the lightest creatures known to man, these insects migrate

in such staggering numbers that the branches of the trees on which they settle bend under their sheer weight.

Arguably the most effective…Staying in the Americas, albeit in more northerly climes, it is the migration of salmon that

probably has the greatest effect ‘per kilo’ on the environment. The movement of salmon upstream during the summer months, their spawning, hatching and eventual death is the

breath, the rhythm, the life-blood of the forests of British Columbia and Alaska. Without this extraordinary cycle of life there would be nothing for the bears to fatten-up on, nothing for the

wolves to feed on, and very possibly no forest at all in this part of the world – as it is the decaying biomass of fish that fertilizes and feeds the forest, enriching it for future generations.

Rarely is wildlife static, and whether you are a travel addict or wildlife enthusiast, amateur or professional, witnessing a migration can be one of the most inspiring and enjoyable experiences on earth.

Our website features more than 50 itineraries and over 20 polar voyages throughout the world where you can witness a wildlife migration



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Thunders


The smoke that

BotswanaImmortalised in wildlife documentaries, Botswana offers some of the planet’s best wildlife viewing. Hemmed in by parched desert, the Okavango Delta is an oasis of waterways and lagoons teeming with wildlife.

Natural Wonders of Namibia & Botswana

Travelling via Etosha through the remote Caprivi strip to Chobe, and ending at the Victoria Falls, you will experience the diversity of these two remarkable countries, visiting the arid north of Namibia and the lush and verdant national parks of Botswana.


Highlights of Northern Botswana

The contrasts encountered on this itinerary range from the open vistas of the Savuti Linyanti ecosystem with its deciduous forests, and meanders through the crystal-clear waterways and fertile islands of the Okavango Delta, to the thundering cascade of the Victoria Falls.

Small group departures, Jan – Dec 13 days, from £4,195

‘Spectacular’ simply doesn’t do the Victoria Falls justice. The ‘crossroads of Africa’ is one of the worlds greatest wonders and sits perfectly at the intersection of four of Africa’s finest wildlife destinations – Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Namibia Renowned for its towering dunes and unforgiving coastline, Namibia’s wildlife hotspots include Etosha and the lush Caprivi Strip. However, the rockscapes of Damaraland are not to be missed and the chance to see desert elephant along the Skeleton Coast provides the ultimate wilderness experience.

Faces of Namibia

Experience all the key areas of this superb country; dunes, desert, plains and wildlife. Staying largely in exclusive accommodation in private reserves, you will visit Sossusvlei’s soaring dunes in the ancient Namib desert, take a boat trip at Swakopmund, explore the desert in Damaraland, and marvel at Etosha’s wildlife.

Small group departures, Jan – Dec 12 days, from £3,445

Land of Contrasts

Best experienced as a self-drive, this is Namibia at its very best, a wilderness destination of outstanding beauty at every turn. The route will take you far north to Etosha, deep into the remote and rugged Kunene and along the Skeleton Coast, before finally arriving deep in the Namib – one of the most ancient and hauntingly beautiful desert landscapes in the world.

Tailor-made, Apr – Jan 18 days, from £3,945

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Our website features 13 countries and almost 115 locations throughout Africa that we can use to tailor-make your own African safari




ZambiaFrom the verdant plains, walking trails and beautiful bush camps of the Luangwa Valley, to Kafue’s tree-climbing lions, or canoeing on the Lower Zambezi, its staggering diversity makes Zambia our No.1 destination.

Luangwa Valley & Lower Zambezi

Home of the walking safari, you will first experience wildlife on foot, and then additional vehicle game drives to fully appreciate the region’s varied animal and birdlife. Then, river safaris on the Lower Zambezi will add another dimension, where you can watch elephant and huge herds of buffalo along the riverbank.

Tailor-made, Jun – Sep 13 days, from £5,995

Leopards of Luangwa

This is our single most popular safari – we’ve been selling it for years and it’s just as popular now as it was when we first introduced it! Based in the Luangwa Valley, you’ll take early morning, afternoon and night drives with an expert naturalist guide and experience magnificent walking safaris for which the valley is justifiably famous.

Tailor-made, May – Nov 11 days, from £4,695

ZimbabweThe Garden of Africa remains as photogenic as ever. Magical names evoke images of fantastic scenery and wildlife in Hwange, Mana Pools and the Matobo Hills. Between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, a broad plateau covered with granite kopjes, rugged mountains and verdant forests offers much to see – including the Victoria Falls.

Zimbabwe Highlights

Starting and finishing at Victoria Falls, one of the world’s great natural wonders, you travel to Hwange, renowned for its incredible concentrations of wildlife. Then to Matusadona National Park, on the shores of majestic Lake Kariba, and finally Mana Pools National Park, famed for its scenery and magnificent wildlife viewing.

Tailor-made, May – Nov 10 days, from £4,745

Wild Zimbabwe

This itinerary explores Zimbabwe’s two finest wildlife locations where you will enjoy game drives, walks and canoe safaris. Your first base is a luxury tented camp at the heart of Hwange National Park – often referred as ‘the Land of the Giants’ due to the extraordinary number of elephants, before continuing to explore the network of waterways at Mana Pools by canoe.


The Falls are good to visit throughout the year, although a visit between January and April when they are in full flood is as likely to result in soaking wet clothes as it is in fabulous photographs! If you were to stroll along the river later in the year when the water level is lower you might see buffalo and elephants coming to drink. Kudu, puku, impala and a whole host of birds including peregrine and taita falcon –

augur buzzard, red-winged starling, trumpeter hornbill, black stork and countless other species can also be seen. Not only is it scenically breathtaking, there is plenty here to keep a wildlife enthusiast busy for many a day!


Just ConservationUnderstanding wildlife and protecting habitats (be it oceans, forests, savannah or great plains) is becoming increasingly important, and the work of charities, NGO’s, scientists and local communities is often misunderstood, forgotten or unnoticed.

For many years, we have worked alongside all of these stakeholders to promote their cause, and last year we decided to make more of a statement, by launching our range of Just Conservation trips.

Providing the opportunity to participate in a sustainable conservation project while contributing to specific conservation efforts is a valuable way of raising awareness of the issues involved and offers a unique close-up experience with wildlife as part of a meaningful journey.

The latest addition to our range of conservation trips will take you to Zambia to work with the Zambian Carnivore Programme; a non-profit trust whose aim is to support the research and conservation of large carnivore species, their prey, and additional biodiversity…

Departure Dates Country Tour Name Duration Group size Price From

16 Jan 2015, 20 Mar 2015, 10 Jul 2015, 11 Sep 2015

South Africa Rhino & Leopard Survey in KwaZulu Natal10 days 10 £2,195

16 Jan 2015, 3 Jul 2015, 21 Aug 2015, 25 Sep 2015

Tanzania Elephant Conservation in Saadani9 days 12 £2,895

16 May 2015, 18 Jul 2015, 19 Sep 2015

Namibia Carnivores of Etosha: Human vs wildlife conflict15 days 10 £3,995

Jun – Sep Canada Blue Whale Research in Mingan Island Region 9 days 6 £2,995

8 Jul 2015, 21 Aug 2015, 14 Oct 2015

Madagascar Land of the Lemurs: Conservation in Action11 days 12 £2,295

13 Nov 2015 Zambia Carnivores of South Luangwa 11 days 6 £3,895

All prices are per person, include flights (unless otherwise stated) and are based on two people sharing a twin room.

Zambia, Carnivores of South Luangwa

Working in the Luangwa Valley this is a privileged behind-the-scenes view of conservation in action, where you will participate in the research of the park’s populations of lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. You will collect data on different carnivore species all of which is critical for the development of effective wildlife management strategies. The programme identifies threats, addresses species re-introduction and establishes community awareness programmes.

Small group departure, 13 Nov 2015 11 days, from £3,895


Conservationmatters

Commitment to conservation

Over the years, we have contributed thousands of pounds to both small and large conservation charities; donations we are committed to continuing with other conservation charities long into the future.

We endorse the work of Whale and Dolphin Conservation and on pages 8 and 9 you will see that by travelling on certain whale-watching trips, we will make a donation to support their conservation efforts.

Our Festivals of Wildlife have contributed funds to a variety of charities including Raincoast Conservation, the Galapagos Conservation Trust, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, The Wildlife Conservation Society and Association Mitsinjo.

We also helped Horny@50 raise money to translocate black rhinos to North Luangwa National Park, and protect India’s one-horned rhinos in Kaziranga National Park.

Commitment to communitiesIn Zambia’s Luangwa Valley we helped Yosefe Primary School build a comprehensive library for the school and the surrounding community, and we secured funding for the construction of a new classroom block to cater for a larger number of pupils. At Mkasanga School, we secured funding for desks, chairs, blackboards and even windows.

We continue to send groups of young people to rural parts of Namibia, to help upgrade the classrooms and dormitories of these remote and isolated communities. And throughout the Kunene in particular, our groups have also funded the purchase of poly-tunnels to help the schools grow a variety of foods, to broaden the diet of their ‘learners’.

With the assistance of Helping Children Worldwide, we have also been able to send our first all-female group to Sierra Leone, where they worked at a child rescue centre, before travelling to work at a school in a remote village in the north.

Young minds“Education. Education. Education.” Not the first time we’ve heard this, and if you take a look at the work of any meaningful conservation organisation you will see that the education of local communities, especially of its youngsters, forms a core element of their efforts. It is only by gaining the understanding and support of these young minds, that we will ensure wildlife and their habitats will always have a tomorrow.

And whilst those efforts continue overseas, we too have developed a selection of conservation trips to offer young people the opportunity to work alongside local communities and scientists on sustainable projects; thereby encouraging an interest (and maybe even a career) in conservation…

Canivores of Etosha: Human vs Wildlife Conflict

Take part in the Etosha National Park lion survey and help farmers build a kraal on this physically demanding and highly rewarding adventure into the wilderness of Namibia. Groups will help to address issues in the field by working with animals and farmers on a direct impact conservation project. Your survey of the lions of Namibia will help locate human-wildlife conflict ‘hot-spots’.

Rhino & Leopard Survey in Kwazulu Natal

By studying a founding population of black, and white rhino that were introduced to Somkhanda Game Reserve, you contribute to a continuing survey that monitors their population. Also liaising with Zulu communities over a human-wildlife conflict concerning the leopard, this project endeavours to conserve two of Africa’s most charismatic mammals.

wildlifeworldwide.com 0845 130 6982 You can also visit our Winchester office to plan your trip in person22

VoyagesPolar

North Spitsbergen – Polar Bear SpecialIt doesn’t exactly bode well when the Russian bear of a ship’s captain says “Pack ice very far south – not usual at this time; not possible to go to north coast.” But as it transpired, spending less time sailing meant more time looking for wildlife along Spitsbergen’s west coast, and was a boon. In fact, things couldn’t really have got much better!

Take a Dutch ex-oceanographic research vessel – the Plancius – with 106 passengers of 14 different nationalities aged from 20 months to 80-something, a crew of 46 including guide/lecturers, an 8-day voyage from Longyearbyen in the Svalbard (to give it its Norwegian name) archipelago, and the midnight sun (it really does shine at midnight – I can vouch for that now!) – and you have a powerful cocktail of ingredients.

Two days later, a couple of tiny dots on the horizon made a beeline for the ship, heading for more than an hour straight towards us. Captain Evgeny nosed the vessel into the pack ice, and we waited silently – the excitement palpable. As the polar bears approached, it became apparent that the first was a young – possibly sexually immature – female aged around five to six years, pursued doggedly (or should that be bearedly?) by a somewhat older male, whose interest was obviously more in her than in us.

Pausing on an ice floe, she raised her nose to take in the scent of the ship, then continued her approach – leaping between floes where possible, or swimming across intervening leads of water – until she came right up to our ice-bound hull. Circling warily at first, curiosity got the better of her and she stood on hind legs to peer through the lower portholes. It was as if, in the ship, she spied some refuge, some possibility of escape, from the relentless advances of the male – who paid us scant attention.

Product Manager, Brian Wood, recently embarked on a polar voyage to North Spitsbergen. Here, he talks about his remarkable encounters with whales and polar bears…

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Our website features a choice of 9 vessels that operate over 20 polar voyages that visit the Arctic and Antarctic


North Spitsbergen

Spend a week getting to know the stunning coastline, astounding landscapes and spectacular wildlife of Spitsbergen, the largest wilderness area in Europe.

Group departures, Jun – Sep 8 days, from £2,356 (voyage only)

South Spitsbergen – Northern Lights

Watch orca and witness the phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis, when the night skies glow green and red with one of Mother Nature’s finest displays.

Group departures, Sep – Oct 8 days, from £1,529 (voyage only)

Across the Arctic Circle

Follow in the Vikings’ footsteps from Scotland to the land of the midnight sun, seeing spectacular birdlife and migrating whales en route to Spitsbergen.

Group departure, 30 Jun 2015 14 days, from £3,799 (voyage only)

We watched, transfixed, from no more than a few metres above, hanging over the side to get the best camera angle, sprinting along the deck to follow as she – followed closely by him – moved around the ship to the accompaniment of the machine gun-like rattatatat of shutters firing. Even the crew – who must have witnessed polar bears a-plenty over the years – were all out on deck, open-mouthed at these bears’ proximity, let alone their behaviour.

“Wow!” said Rupert, our appropriately named bear-expert, at our briefing that evening, “You guys were so lucky. In 15 years of watching polar bears, I have never ever seen anything like that!”

Oh, I almost forgot the blue whale sighting (so close that I heard it before I saw it!), our walks and Zodiac cruises that revealed one lovely Arctic fox, stocky Svalbard reindeer, recumbent walruses (no

carpenters, though!), and a succession of birds from auks to puffins, snow buntings to Arctic terns, red-throated

divers, ptarmigans, kittiwakes, guillemots, skuas, glaucous gulls, ivory gulls,

eiders and long-tailed ducks.

The same two polar bears even came back to see us the next day, and a couple of days later we chanced upon a polar bear mum with two cubs feeding on a carcass on the shore. Wow, indeed!

Brian travelled aboard m/v Plancius on the North

Spitsbergen – Polar Bear Special, Jun – Aug, 8 days, from £2,356


Wild West Winter Wonderland

The world’s first national park (established in 1872), remains as breathtaking as ever. Its grandeur is unquestionable, as is its capacity for tremendous wildlife watching at any time of year. However, in the depths of winter the park takes on an ethereal yet harsh beauty that provides a magical backdrop for photographing wildlife.

The juxtaposition of fairytale frosts, ice and snow with swirling mists and rising steam from countless hot springs and geysers (the park contains half of the world’s geothermal features) creates a landscape laden with photographic inspiration and opportunity.

The greater Yellowstone ecosystem is also widely considered to be the finest wildlife habitat in the Lower 48 States. In the grip of winter large numbers of bison can be seen around hot springs and in the sheltered valleys it is possible to encounter coyote, red fox, elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep.

The Lamar Valley and surrounding area is also one of the best places to see wolves. Three packs regularly frequent the vicinity and dedicated biologists and teams of fanatical wolf enthusiasts track their whereabouts continuously, so the wolves are now habituated and close views and good photo opportunities are certainly possible.

Entering the park at West Yellowstone, the road follows the course of the Madison River. In the freezing conditions a veil of mist dances continuously across the water’s surface, while trumpeter swans and other waterfowl quarter upstream and downstream. These often attract the attention of wily bobcats hoping to pounce on an opportunistic meal.

Further into the park the road continues along the spectacular Firehole River Valley, where there is the greatest concentration of geothermal features; herds of frost-encrusted bison stand by steaming springs, and numerous geysers – such as “Old Faithful” – erupt with predictable regularity.

Our photographic tour concentrates initially on the northwestern corner of Yellowstone and the Lamar Valley, then moves into the centre of the park where we stay in a yurt camp, the only permanent accommodation in the vicinity. Deep snow means using comfortable over-snow vehicles to visit the most dramatic locations – such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Norris Geyser Basin, the Hayden Valley and Gibbon Meadows.

Led by award-winning wildlife photographer, Nick Garbutt, our dedicated photographic tours will take you to some of the world’s most iconic and photogenic wildlife locations. Open to all abilities these trips will enhance both your technical skills and wildlife knowledge. Here, Nick describes what you can expect from our itinerary to Yellowstone National Park.

FocusWildlife in


Departure Date Country Tour Name Duration Price From

20 Nov 2014 India Central India & Assam 17 days £4,295

30 Jan 2015 USA Wild West Winter Wonderland 16 days £4,995

26 Feb 2015 Sweden Golden Eagles in Winter 4 days £1,395

12 Mar 2015 Tanzania Serengeti Migration 18 days £6,695

9 May 2015 Namibia Namibia in Focus 16 days £6,695

20 Jun 2015 AustriaClose-up on Alpine Nature (also with photographer Alex Hyde)

7 days£1,345 (excl. flights)

17 Aug 2015 Brazil The Pantanal – Brazil’s Wetland Wonder 18 days £7,725

12 Sep 2015 Borneo Rainforests & Rivers 19 days £5,995

13 Oct 2015 Madagascar An Island Apart 21 days £6,595

15 Nov 2015 Zambia Luangwa & a blizzard of bats 11 days £5,195

27 Nov 2015 Zambia South Luangwa Art & Photo Workshop 11 days £4,995

All prices are per person, include flights and are based on two people sharing a twin room.

with Nick GarbuttPhotography Trips

Grizzlies of KhutzeymateenWe have privately chartered a beautiful motor yacht to explore a remote and untouched marine reserve lying 45 kilometres northeast of Prince Rupert.

This exclusive itinerary focuses on viewing brown bears, though it will certainly not be to the exclusion of the abundance of marine mammals such as Steller sealions, Dall’s porpoises and orcas, nor the area’s rich birdlife. There will also be visits to First Nations sites – an important cultural experience when visiting the area.

The sanctuary surrounds the inlet of the same name, and was the first area in Canada to be specifically protected for grizzly bears. The topography is extremely diverse, with rugged peaks towering above the wetlands and its old-growth temperate forests which form the habitat for an abundance of wildlife.

Starting in Vancouver we fly north to Prince Rupert to board the 21-metre, ketch-rigged motor yacht, Island Odyssey, which has capacity for 16 passengers in six private twin cabins

with upper and lower berths, plus two double cabins with a double bed sharing three showers.

The group will be accompanied by a local expert naturalist who will bring specialist knowledge to the itinerary, enriching the experience by giving presentations and providing a valuable insight into the habitat, wildlife and cultural significance of this most beautiful (and rarely visited) area.

9 Jun 2015, 10 days, from £5,295

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SharedExperiences


Although we specialise first and foremost in tailor-making itineraries to fit your precise requirements, we have always operated a limited selection of specialist small group trips which allow us to operate in areas where it would either be impossible or uneconomic to put together trips for individuals. One such area is the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary in Canada…


Jan – Feb USA Ultimate Wolf & Wildlife Safari 8 days 14 £4,145

Jan – Mar Iceland Orcas & Northern Lights 5 days 25 £1,157

Jan – Dec Botswana Highlights of Northern Botswana 13 days 9 £4,195

Jan – Dec Namibia Faces of Namibia 12 days 6 £3,445

Jan – Dec Rwanda A weekend with Apes in Rwanda 6 days 10 £3,145

20 Feb 2015, 1 Apr 2016 Mexico The Festival of Whales 10 days 24 £4,490

Mar – Apr Mexico Voyage in the Sea of Cortez 10 days 8 £2,795

7 Mar 2015, 28 Nov 2015, 5 Mar 2016

Sri Lanka Blue Whales & Dolphins 14 days 12 £2,595

20 Mar 2015, 22 May 2015, 16 Oct 2015

Spain Wild España 9 days 8 £1,395 (excl. flights)


Our small group trips provide the opportunity to travel with like-minded people. Please also take a look at our whale-watching trips on pages 8 and 9, and our conservation trips on pages 20 and 21.



May – Jul Scotland The Shetland Islands 8 days 10 £995 (excl. flights)

May – Aug Canada Whales & Dolphins of the Haida Gwaii 11 days 16 £4,595

31 May 2015, 14 Jun 2015, 19 Jul 2015, 2 Aug 2015

Finland Brown Bear Explorer 8 days 12 £1,695

9 Jun 2015 Canada Grizzlies of Khutzeymateen 10 days 13 £5,295

Jun – Aug Canada Newfoundland Adventure 9 days 20 £3,145

Jun – Sep Alaska Brown Bears of Kodiak 9 days 8 £7,195

Jun – Sep Azores Sperm Whales & Bottlenose Dolphins 6 days 12 £1,425

Jun – Sep Zambia Classic Luangwa Walking 14 days 6 £5,395

Jun – Oct & Dec – Feb Uganda A weekend with Apes in Uganda 7 days 10 £2,795

Jun – Oct & Dec – Feb Uganda Gorillas & Chimps 15 days 10 £6,695

Jul Alaska Humpback Whales in South East Alaska 15 days 12 £6,195

Jul – Aug Canada Orcas, Bears and Totems 10 days 13 £4,495

Jul – Aug Canada Whale Study Week 9 days 20 £3,995

Jul – Aug Canada Beluga Whales & Polar Bears 9 days 12 £7,895

Jul – Oct Canada Great Bear Rainforest 12 days 16 £4,745

4 Aug 2015 Canada Canada's Big Five 9 days 18 £5,395

14 Aug 2015 Alaska Bubble-net Bonanza 11 days 12 £6,295

Aug – Sep Canada Polar Bears – Mothers & Cubs 8 days 12 £7,295

Oct – Nov Canada Tundra Lodge Adventure 8 days 28 £5,695

Oct – Nov Canada Classic Polar Bear 7 days 15 £4,695

Sep Canada Caribou Migration & Great Bear Adventure 10 days 15 £8,095

21 Sep 2015 (Sold out) 19 Sep 2016

Canada The Festival of Bears 9 days 20 £5,795

Oct – Nov & Jan – Apr Chile Pumas tracking in Torres del Paine 11 days 6 £3,795


© Wildlife WorldwideNo portion of this brochure may be reproduced

without the prior written consent of Wildlife Worldwide.brww.i2.2014

Talk to our specialist consultants:

0845 130 6982Calls charged at local rate

Overseas tel: +44 (0) 1962 302 086 Email: [email protected]

Web: wildlifeworldwide.com

Capitol House, 12-13 Bridge Street Winchester SO23 0HL, United Kingdom

Photographs courtesy of: R. Burke, Suzi Eszterhas, Nick Garbutt, Jamie Scarrow, Phil Timpany. With our apologies for any omissions.

Newsletter | Issue 1 | 2014

We create outstanding diving holidays and it’s great to know that more and more of you agree.

As our community grows our itineraries and range of destinations expand to suit your diving demands.

The scuba diving community is strong, coming together in times of need. This was recently evident in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines when local dive centres and liveaboards pulled out all the stops to get provisions to as many people as possible, long before any others got into action. Travelling to these areas is one of the best ways to continue to help support the locals. Read all about the amazing turnaround on pages 6-7, how there are plenty of positive outcomes and that the marine life continues to thrive.

Conservation continues to be close to our hearts and every holiday booked with Dive Worldwide helps contribute a small amount to dive charity Bite-Back. On a larger scale, our Manta Trust trips offer you the opportunity to participate in sustainable conservation projects around the world. Earlier in the year we received fantastic news about the establishment of the worlds largest manta ray sanctuary in Indonesia. With your help the reef mantas in the Maldives may enjoy similar protection. Find out more on page 13.

Divers heading to the Tropical Eastern Pacific have been enjoying a sensational season, especially in Socorro. It’s time you added at least one of the island destinations to your bucket list. We’ve created a map (pages 8-9) to highlight just why they are so wonderful and recommend you travel as soon as possible.

Inside you’ll also find inspirational holiday reports from Antarctica, Indonesia and South Africa, where to plan your holiday to swim with the largest fish in the sea and plenty of feedback from you!

It may seem a long way off, but we are really looking forward to 2015. Something very special is on the horizon…

Happy Diving!

Teresa Bennett Founder, Dive Worldwide

Dive Worldwide

Choose from over 190 locations worldwide, hand picked for the best dive experiences. From the beginner who wants to learn, through to the experienced diver who wishes to explore new areas, we offer expert diving knowledge and an exceptional range diving opportunities.

Tel: 0845 130 6980

Wildlife Worldwide is part of The Natural Travel Collection Ltd, a small independent and privately owned travel company that places a special emphasis on sustainable tailor-made holidays.

thenaturaltravelcollection.com

facebook.com/wildlifeworldwide twitter.com/wildlifeww

Small Business of the Year South Coast Business Awards 2014Winchester Business Excellence Awards 2014

Best Use of TechnologySouth Coast Business Awards 2014Winchester Business Excellence Awards 2013

Featuring presentations from our staff, as well as some guest speakers from around the world, our Discover Wildlife evenings will appeal to anyone who has an interest in wildlife and travel.

Whether you want some inspiration for your next wildlife trip, or want to re-visit some of the places you have been to before, you’ll have an opportunity to meet our team and share your experiences with like minded travellers who share your passion.

From Edinburgh to Plymouth and Dublin to Norwich, we will be visiting all corners of the UK between September 2014 and March 2015. The evenings are completely free of charge and you can register up to four guests a time, so take a look at our schedule of events and register your place(s) by completing our registration form online:

wildlifeworldwide.com/journal/discovery

Swarovski and Paramo will also be joining us for some of the evenings, so you can also talk about the best choices for clothing and viewing equipment for your wildlife holiday.

Discover Dates in 2014 Location

1 September Winchester

3 September London

30 September Plymouth

15 October Winchester

22 October Maidstone

4 November Brighton

6 November London

18 November Cambridge

26 November Nottingham

3 December Birmingham

Dates in 2015 Location

13 January Winchester

15 January Manchester

20 January Swindon

29 January London

3 February Newcastle

4 February Edinburgh

12 February York

18 February Chichester

26 February Winchester

4 March Norwich

11 March Dublin

WILDLIFE

wildlife worldwide newsletter: autumn 2014

Documents

wildlife worldwideautumn

wildlife numbers

spectacular wildlife

south madagascar

small business

array of species

madagascar itineraryexperts

south coast business