Big 5 safaris - What and where to find them on your wildlife holiday?

The Big 5 is historically a hunting term, which is why we don't particularly like it, but it seems to have stuck, and is still used in some African safari guides. The big 5 are the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros. Our holidays obviously involve taking camera shoots, not any other kind...

For more information on Big 5 Safaris - Click here

Ocean Giants, Giant Lives - Whale watching tonight on the BBC

Tune in today at 21:00.

Ground-breaking documentary granting a unique and privileged access into the magical world of whales and dolphins, uncovering the secrets of their intimate lives as never before.

This episode explores the intimate details of the largest animals that have ever lived on our planet- the great whales. From the balmy waters of the Indian Ocean to the freezing seas of the Arctic, two daring underwater cameramen - Doug Allan, Planet Earth's polar specialist, and Didier Noirot, Cousteau's front-line cameraman - come face-to-face with fighting humpback whales and two-hundred-ton feeding blue whales.

Teaming up with top whale scientists, Giant Lives discovers why southern right whales possess a pair of one-ton testicles, why the arctic bowhead can live to over two hundred years old, and why size truly matters in the world of whales.

For your chance to see some of these Oceans Giants in real life, see our whale watching holidays.  

Flying Safaris - View Wildlife from the air!

For a bird's eye look at roaming wildlife with spectacular panoramic views opt for our Wings over Namibia or Wings over Botswana flying safaris. Your aerial vantage point makes for some fantastic photographic opportunities as well as allowing you to maximise your time by covering greater distances with shorter journey times.

We can also offer African flying safaris as part of our Tailor made service in many other destinations, so please contact our specialists for ideas. 

Self Drive Safaris

Why not go at your own pace on a self drive safari? Enjoy fantastic scenery and game-viewing from the comfort and privacy of your own vehicle. Both Namibia's Dunes, Pelicans & Rhinos and South Africa's Cape Town & Garden Route self drive tours are on good roads with easy signposting. Contact us now to tailor make your holiday.

600 new species found in Madagascar!

Madagascar's treasure trove of new species...

WWF report on the staggering 615 new species discovered by scientists in Madagascar in the last 10 years.
For the full report, please follow the following link:
http://www.wwf.org.uk/news_feed.cfm?4980/Madagascar-new-species-discovered-but-already-in-danger

Madagascar Holidays - Click here

Bear Watching in Slovakia - Trip Report by Mark Wright

"We've arrived at the ranger's cottage deep in the Tatras for two days.


Accommodation is ok, an old wood cottage straight out of Red Riding Hood. Although facilities are pretty simple it's a real privilege to be allowed up here in the midst of nature in the park - Projekt Medved (project Bear) works with the national park authorities to allow a select few tourists to stay and visit and see wildlife. There are NO other tourists up here and we have the entire park ourselves.

It's our first day and we have struck lucky. Observing the avalanche slopes between stands of fir trees we spot a solitary brown bear high on the upper slopes. Binoculars and telescope at the ready, we are delighted to see that three young cubs are in hot pursuit of their mother. We watch with fascination for a few minutes until the four figures lumber and toddle away into the dwarf pine and are then lost from view.

We walk through incredible mountain landscapes for the rest of the day, but see no more bears. Plenty of evidence on the trail of bear activity, but no more sightings today.

Tomorrow we'll be out at 5am to look for more."

Bear Watching in Slovakia - Trip Report by Mark Wright

Maths homework in the Tatras

Soon to be added to Wildlife Worldwide's European Bear Watching Holidays, Mark Wright is in the Tatras with his son Joe on a recce trip for Families Worldwide:

"As I get deeper into this trip in Slovakia I realise the importance of Project Bear. Throughout Europe, bear-watching tourists are attracted to sit in hides and wait for sightings. Bears are attracted to the hides by food being regularly placed outside the hides. The ethics and wisdom of this is very questionable; bears that become accustomed to being fed can become dependent upon such food sources and seek out places with people and problems start as bears become more aggressive and are then shot by fearful humans.

This project, where tourism works hand in hand with national parks and a research project, allows bears to be seen in their natural habitat without the need for baiting.

The project is terribly underfunded. It needs help as tourism alone may not be able to provide enough support for this worthwhile cause."

Mark Wright
Families Worldwide