Tailor-Made Holidays and Expert-Led Small Group Tours
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Winter/Spring | 2021 Tailor-made holidays and expert-led small group tours Welcome t seems as though we are finally emerging from the Covid-19 era with the advent of vaccines and the gradual opening up of countries around the world. It feels to me as Ithough we are rubbing our eyes and looking at a new world, one that has been closed down for the best part of a year, but that we are now finally able to raise our gaze above the horizon, look at the blue sky and think about some of the wonderful places in the world we can travel to – cautiously, responsibly, and even more respectfully than before. We are delighted to welcome you to our latest Seasonal Brochure – packed with new and exciting holiday ideas for you. During the past months we have been active and creative, and have developed some wonderful new tours which you will find adorning the following pages. A unique expert-led self-drive holiday in Namibia for example, exploring all the wonders of this magnificent desert country, a wild and exclusive safari to the wilderness of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the ultimate safari in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley and even a visit to Zambia’s Bangweulu Swamps to see endemic black lechwe and the extraordinary-looking shoebill. Closer to home we introduce the first ever ‘Festival of British Wildlife’ in the Scottish Highlands with an amazing expert line-up, as well as a range of new trips to Mull and the Shetland Islands. If the wildlife of Europe is more appealing, then read about Dan Free’s adventures to Slovenia and his quest for Eurasian lynx in Estonia. There is also an exciting new option for bear watching in Finland’s taiga forests. Further afield we have some exciting special offers to Antarctica for departures in late 2022, and of course, we would love you to join us in Svalbard for our 2021 Festival of Wildlife. Finally, we have two new concepts for you – expert-led Sketchbook Safaris for those of you with an inclination to record your wildlife with paints and pencil sketches, and for the very first time, the opportunity to enjoy privately-guided, tailor-made photographic holidays. We think this is more than enough to keep you reading, and would love to chat to you about your next wildlife holiday! Chris Breen, Founder 2 Over 25 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays Contents Zambia: The Heart of Luangwa & Bangweulu NEW 4/5 Namibia: Guided Self-driving in Africa’s Wilderness NEW 6/7 Botswana: Wild Okavango Delta NEW 8/9 Safari Slowly – Reconnect with Nature NEW 10/11 Sketchbook Safaris NEW 12/13 Tailor-made Wildlife Photography NEW 14/15 Our Photography Tour Leaders 16 Expert-led Small Group Photography Tours 17 Meet the Photographer: Sean Weekly 18/19 Scotland: Festival of British Wildlife NEW 20/21 Scotland: Isle of Mull NEW 22/23 Shetland Isles: Seabird Spectacular with Mike Dilger NEW 24/25 Slovenia: Brown Bears & Picture Perfect Lake Bled NEW 26/27 Lynx Quest: News from the Field NEW 28/29 Finland: Europe’s Most Exclusive Bear Watching NEW 30/31 India: Tigers, Snow Leopards & Red Pandas NEW 32/33 Polar Wildlife Voyages 34/35 Group Tours Calendar 2021/2022 36-38 Festival of Wildlife Spitsbergen 39 Online Wildlife Presentations & Photography Competition 40 Tailor-made Holidays We excel at tailoring holidays which allow you the freedom and flexibility to travel how, when and where you want to go. You may want to see a certain species, visit specific locations, or need to travel at a certain time of year. To guide you through the options, we provide ‘trip ideas’, designed by our expert team to give you an idea of the possibilities and prices, and we can create a holiday to meet your exact requirements. For the first time we are also offering tailor-made photography holidays – see pages 14/15 for more details. Small Group Tours Our collection of small group tours has rapidly expanded and we now offer a wide range of over 230 trips to some of the wildest places on Earth. Travelling as part of a small group can be hugely rewarding, allowing you to meet like-minded wildlife enthusiasts and benefit from the expertise of a naturalist tour leader. If you prefer to travel independently, or with your friends and family, a large number of our group tours can be adapted and organised on a private basis. Book with Confidence In these uncertain times our ‘Book with Confidence Promise’ (details on our website) and the full Covid-19 cover now available from a number of travel insurance companies, mean you can plan and book your wildlife holiday with complete peace of mind. We are working closely with our overseas partners to ensure that the operation of all our holidays is fully compliant with the new protocols in place for safe travel. All holiday prices in this brochure are based on two people sharing a room/cabin, and include Opening Hours flights from the UK, wildlife activities, accommodation and transfers (except where specified). We are open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and also on Prices are correct at time of going to print. For full details contact our expert wildlife team. Saturdays from 9am to 1pm in January, February and March. [email protected] 01962 302055 www.wildlifeworldwide.com 3 Zambia The Heart of Luangwa & Bangweulu There is no doubt that 2020 was an unusual year – I think it is only the second time since the mid-1980s that I have not managed to get to Africa, and particularly to Zambia – I really miss it. s you walk off the plane the many other highlights. in Lusaka, I highly recommend keeping an From here, a low-level flight across eye out for the charming the Luangwa Valley takes you to the littleA swifts that nest on the terminal Nsefu sector. On the eastern side of the building. If you are particularly lucky, river sits Tafika, one of the oldest and you may even see a raptor or two most established lodges in the valley. overhead. Breathing in the warm It is simply wonderful, blending in with African air is hard to describe, but its natural surroundings and providing NEW Bangweulu Wetlands & South I cannot wait to experience it once everything you could wish for, including Luangwa National Park more. It is even better when arriving a river view like no other in Africa. On This exciting new 12-day trip combines in Mfuwe, situated in the heart of my first morning at Tafika a year or so two of Zambia’s most prized natural the Luangwa Valley. It is like arriving ago, we watched a pack of wild dogs assets, the Bangweulu Wetlands and home, for me at least – with carmine on the other side of the river whilst we South Luangwa National Park. With and white-fronted bee-eaters, enjoyed our pre game-drive cuppa – not exclusive use of two remote camps lilac-breasted rollers and possibly a a bad start! we go in search of the bizarre shoebill, fly-past from a magnificent bateleur huge herds of endemic black lechwe eagle – all before you have even Wild dog and lion are amongst the major and the big cats and elephants of the collected your bags predators in the park, but for many the Luangwa Valley. real prize is leopard. The opportunities A scenic drive in an open vehicle, takes to see these usually elusive big cats are 26 May 2022 us through busy villages and across exceptional in South Luangwa, either 12 days, from £6,895 the bridge which spans the Luangwa during the day or on exciting night-time Group size: 8 River. The bridge marks the entrance excursions. And for me, visiting the to the national park and is the first Valley is not just about 4-wheel drive wildlife stop. With stunning views up and safaris, it is being out on foot and at down the river, it provides the perfect eye-level with the wildlife. Learning opportunity to see large numbers of about the tracks and trails, grasses, hippos and enormous crocodiles, as well trees and birds, and letting the sights, as egrets, herons, storks and possibly sounds and smells of the wilderness fill a fish eagle (if you do not hear them your senses. first). Broadly following the course of the Luangwa River, we head south to a Most will visit Zambia during the dry remote, wild and rarely visited part of season (June to October), but the NEW Ultimate South Luangwa the park where our ‘camp’ awaits. The country is a world-class wildlife and Combining two of the finest camps wildlife is simply sublime. It is possible birding destination throughout the in the South Luangwa National Park, to see impala, zebra, bushbuck, buffalo year. A visit to the Bangweulu Swamps Kuyenda and Tafika, this exclusive and puku (an antelope endemic to this is a must for a green season safari. small group tour will provide one of the part of Africa) before even arriving in Bangweulu is untouched, rarely visited best wildlife experiences that Zambia camp. Situated in the shade of trees and bursting with life. Tens of thousands has to offer. Travelling at the perfect along the Manzi River, a beautiful of endemic black lechwe (a magnificent time of year to optimise sightings, we collection of traditional thatched water-loving antelope), harriers, ducks, should encounter wild dog, Thornicroft’s rondavels, each with a large verandah, geese and the piece-de-resistance … giraffe, lion, African fish eagle, leopard will be home for the next few nights.