SELECTED ARTICLE FROM OUR SPECIALISTS

The popularity of African safaris goes from strength to strength, thanks to the many outstanding television documentaries which showcase the colour and vibrant nature of African wildlife so spectacularly as well as the ‘word of mouth’ from returning guests blown away by the holiday of a lifetime. For most guests their exciting, first safari is rarely their last, Africa is addictive and no two safaris are the same.
Exciting New website

Special Offers
*Look out for our special offers e-mail in a couple of weeks *
‘A Week on the Wild Side’ is an early booking offer which has been extended to 31st May 2016.  Now is a great time to visit the Maasai Mara when the crowds are fewer!   
Familiarisation trips
Our consultants travel to Africa regularly to review new and existing camps and ensure standards are being maintained or improved.
Read our brief overview or call us if you would like to chat more about a specific country or interest on:  01664 464 228 / 0845 0545 889

Zambia
For me this is perhaps the best destination for the more adventurous traveller with superb night drives, exciting guided walks, overnight “sleep outs”, and boat and canoe safaris. For “big cat” fans, this is the top place for leopard sightings and lions are also numerous.  For more information, read my blogs Thrill of the Wild & South Luangwa Trail
Paul Downhill June 2015

Zimbabwe
A safe and fun place to visit a real eye opener for me, Zimbabwe is also a great place for adventure with similar activities to neighbouring Zambia. Hwange National Park is the place for close up elephant sightings whilst Mana Pools is wild and beautiful. The most spectacular views of Victoria Falls are from Zimbabwe. Read more on Return to Hwange. & Victoria Falls up and down
 Paul Downhill August 2015

South Africa
We visited a number of superb lodges and Safari camps in the Timbavati and Sabi Sand areas of Kruger. The standards are inevitably very high and Kruger always delivers on the wildlife front with the widest diversity of large animals of any African park.  I was amazed to come across cheetah, lions and abundant leopards within the same area, guests are truly spoilt.  The beneficial slide in the value of the South African Rand continues to make South Africa superb value for money.

Kenya
Kenya always delivers effortlessly in every aspect. Friendly people and abundant wildlife at any time of year and is perfect for first timers. A variety of different wildlife areas cater to all tastes and standards of guiding and accommodation are superb. Culture, wildlife, scenery and picture postcard beaches Kenya has it all.

Read Beths blog Abundant Kenya

Death of a King
Whilst we personally cannot understand the thrill that hunters get from killing a large to buy aciclovir wild animal and certainly do not condone it, there is no doubt that in many ways, legal big game hunting does contribute towards conservation of African wildlife. In particular by providing a buffer zone between National Parks and local communities and because hunters have a vested interest in protecting their livelihood.
I visited the home range of Cecil the Lion whilst in Zimbabwe just a few weeks after the widely publicised, illegal shooting of this magnificent beast. Talking to the local game rangers and camp owners, some of whom are quite sympathetic to the hunting lobby, brought home to me the dichotomy faced by African conservationists. On hunting concessions throughout Africa some species flourish in these protected zones. However the prime specimens, animals with the largest horns, manes or tusks that are the big game hunters quarry were largely shot out in the hunting concessions many years ago. In an industry where money talks and corruption is endemic, it is inevitable that greed will lead to incidents where the last of the “specimen” animals are lured from the safety of the National Parks to areas where they can be legally shot, diluting the gene pool for eternity.
Kenya and Botswana have lead the way in banning the hunting of big game, we do hope others will soon follow suit after all a magnificent lion can be shot many times over with a camera but just once with a gun.
It’s wonderful to know that your safari holidays help contribute towards the conservation of this wonderful wilderness and its wildlife.

Painted Wolves return to Serengeti
The African wild dog became locally extinct in the Serengeti in the late 90’s as a victim of persecution by humans who considered them vermin and canine diseases transmitted by domestic dogs. A few dogs survived in the Loliondo Game Management area adjacent to the reserve and an ongoing breeding and re-introduction programme just completed the successful release of a sixth pack into the Serengeti. The recently reintroduced animals bring numbers to 125 now thriving in this former range.
Tanzania is one of only seven countries where these magnificent predators can still be seen roaming Africa’s wild places.

India Wildlife Holidays
Our Indian division continues to flourish with returning clients providing very positive feedback, if you would like to see a real wild tiger, a sloth bear or a one horned rhino please take a look at the flexible itineraries on our India wildlife holidays website.

Costa Rica
Paul is visiting Costa Rica in May to explore the possibilities for wildlife tourism. If you are interested in visiting Costa Rica and would like to know anything, please drop me a line or give me a call for a chat.