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

Namibia Safaris: Special Offer on Outpost Camps for Children

Namibia: Children under 12 years enjoy a complimentary stay at Outposts camps in 2011 and 2012.
Some of the camps include:

Damaraland Camp

Kulala Desert Lodge in Sossusvlei and Namib-Naukluft

Ongava Lodge close to Sossusvlei

Contact our expert consultants to tailor make the perfect Namibia safari for your family to take advantage of this offer.

Gorilla Safaris in Uganda: Save £100 on Gorilla Permits

The Uganda Wildlife Authority have reduced the gorilla permit fee by £100 for all visits in the low season months of May, October, November and March/ April. So, there has never been a better time to go to Uganda !!!

Whether you can just spare a few days and go with our 'Weekend with the Apes' holiday or you can stretch to our full blown safari holiday - Gorillas, Wildlife & Chimps we have the best choice of group or tailor made wildlife holidays.

Kenya Safari Holidays: Save on selected accommodation

There are great savings to be made on accommodation when you stay at Outposts camps. Contact our expert wildlife consultants who will incorporate these offers when they tailormake your trip.

Some of the Outposts Camps we deal with are:

Governer's Camps in the Masai Mara

Loisaba on the Laikipia Plateau

Saruni Samburu

Please contact us to find out more.

Late Availability for Big Cat Volunteering in Namibia (Snippet)

Fancy spending a fortnight helping big cats back on their feet at the rehabiliation centre near Windhoek, Namibia? We have late availability on the 04 June departure. Contact our wildlife experts now if you can get away at such short notice! Call us on 0845 130 6982 or find out more here: Big Cat Volunteering in Namibia

Private Safaris in your own 'Safari House' in Africa

The private safari house, private villa or camp is the great way to enjoy Africa at your own pace. Perfect for small groups of friends and families looking for something different - it is a fantastic wilderness experience that allows you the freedom of your own secluded luxury retreat. This personal and relaxed alternative to the traditional safari holiday gives you the chance to enjoy private safaris with your own vehicles and guide, and unlimited flexibility over game viewing times - perfect for families and small groups!

Black Rhino - The Conservancy Equation

Happy animals = happy tourists = happy locals

Much has been written on the complex issue of wildlife conservation in Africa. Seen from afar, the issues are hard to understand, and it’s easy to become precious. However conservation is meaningless unless accompanied by development, and due to the relationship between habitat and species, any initiative must be holistic i.e. involve the entire ecosystem rather than individual species – including human.

Despite Africa’s national park systems and the best efforts of authorities to eradicate it, poaching is on the rise in some countries. One notable exception to this is Namibia; mainly as a result of the development of conservancy areas being developed in partnership with local communities.

Local people have always hunted animals for food. But increased human populations conspire with more efficient means of hunting to create massive pressure on wildlife. One result of establishing a national park is that wildlife becomes state property, and those who depend on wildlife as a source of food are driven to poach in order to survive.

In 1998 there were four conservancy areas in Namibia, but in 2011 there are now 64, with another 25 planned. 51,000 km2, some 6% of the country, is given over to conservation. Since this visionary initiative began in 1996 animal populations have increased and the statistics speak for themselves. The number of springboks has grown from 2,000 to an estimated 70,000, and the lion population, which had been almost eradicated, to 120!

Community-based tourism is on the increase, with many projects linked directly to conservation initiatives. Save the Rhino Trust, based in Kunene Conservancy Area in northern Namibia, monitors the rhino population to build up a valuable information database. However, equal importance is given to community outreach and training about the contribution that properly planned tourism can make.

The essential message is: unhappy rhinos = unhappy visitors = unhappy communities. If communities fail to safeguard the natural resource that attracts visitors, whose presence creates employment and injects funds into the local economy, those communities will suffer and miss opportunities for development. This may be simplistic but is, at least, easily understandable.
As part of the balancing act, to minimise the disturbance from humans the Kunene Conservancy has introduced strict limits on the time visitors can watch rhino and the distance to be maintained between vehicles and animals. This plays a part in fostering the rhino’s natural environment and contributes to its ongoing success.

To see the positive effects of well thought through conservation initiatives in action visit Namibia. Contact us for a tailor-made itinerary or join us on a group tour.

Where: Namibian Desert & Wildlife Adventure
When: May – August
How much: From £3,995

Where: Dunes, Pelicans & Rhinos
When: Daily, year round
How much: From £2,065

For more black rhino spotting try:

Kenya Safari Holidays

Tailormade: A Weekend in the Mara
When: Thursdays, year round
How much: £1,575

Small Group tour: Kenya Highlights
When: June, July, October
How much: £1,735

Tanzania Safari Holidays
Tailormade: The Spirit of Tanzania
When: Daily, year round
How much: £2,830
Tailormade: Wings over Tanzania
When: June to March
How much: £5,295

Zambia Safaris: A Walk on the Wild Side

What’s so amazing about the Luangwa Valley, in comparison with everywhere else in Africa, is the sheer volume of wildlife and the fact that you can enjoy it at eye level…. on foot. It is without doubt the jewel in Africa’s crown.

It is a safari destination without equal and a location in which to enjoy driving safaris during the day and night drives with spotlights under the cover of darkness.

For our 2011 summer season we are offering a special opportunity to enjoy an extended zambia walking safari with a top guide. 

From June onwards the Valley of the Luangwa gets hotter and drier and the grass level drops as it is trampled by the big mammals - elephant, hippo and buffalo. 

This is the perfect time for walking. Warm during the day and cool at night, you will be able to fill your wildlife aspirations and then sit around the campfire after eating a beautifully prepared dinner to chat about the highlights of the day. Lions are plentiful in this part of The Valley, as are giraffe, leopard, roan antelope, greater kudu and sometimes wild dog.

A walking safari is not just about the mammals though, this is your opportunity to learn about the tracks, the trails, the insects, grasses, trees and birds… this is a complete immersion into African wildlife led by one of Africa’s top guides.

The 10 night Robin Pope Safari begins with a night at Nkwali set on the Luangwa River just outside the park where you will get your first taste of the wonders of The Valley, before taking a long drive north through the park right up to the northern river border of the Mupamadzi. Here you will spend five nights in an area unvisited by any
of the other safari operators in the Luangwa.

Each night you will stay at a different location, in large walk-in tents with comfortable beds, en-suite facilities and everything you might wish for in an African camp. The camp is mobile, and when you disappear off in the bush on your walking safari in the morning, the crew will dismantle it and ensure that it magically re-appears in time for your next overnight stop at a new location. 

This traditional walking safari, in the company of an armed scout and top naturalist, takes a maximum of six people and offers one of the best walking safari experiences in Africa. The final night of the safari is spent at their beautiful Tena Tena camp, before returning to the airport for your homeward flight or perhaps completing your stay with a beachside stop at Lake Malawi or Mozambique, another safari in the Lower Zambezi, or maybe a visit to Victoria Falls.

To book your ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ contact our specialist wildlife team now for further details on our featured safari or choose a walking safari to suit you from our wide selection including:

Zambian Luxury Escape
Small group tour: June & October
How much: From £3,995
Leopards of Luangwa
Tailor-made: Daily, May to November
How much: From £2,995
Luangwa Walking Adventure
Tailor-made: Daily, June to September
How much: From £2,895

This featured 13 day trip departs on the following dates:
June: 17 and 26
July: 1, 6, 11, 26 and 31
August: 9, 14, 24
September: 3, 8
Price from: £4,995 (£3,995 Land Only)
10 Nights: Nkwali 2 nights, Walking (mobile camps) 5 nights, Tena Tena
or Nsefu 3 nights.
Includes £500 off usual price

Starry Starry Nights, Our guide to camping without compromise

Mchenja, Zambia

People often tell us when they are enquiring about going on safari that they only want the very best, that they don’t want to camp, and that holidaying under canvas is something that they left behind as teenagers. The thing is that some of the very best safari lodges in Africa and elsewhere in the world are now tented.

Of course there is no longer a need to get down on your hands and knees to scramble into the tent, you are unlikely to have to crawl in to a sleeping bag in order to sleep and you certainly won’t be cooking your own food over a wobbly gas stove!

Eco-Camp, Chile

Take Mchenja for example, in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley. This beautiful tented camp can sleep up
to ten people, each of them in stunning luxury. Each room has an outdoor shower and a  free-standing indoor bath and the camp itself has a spacious lounge and dining area and cool plunge pool overlooking the Luangwa River for added relaxing pleasure.

Holiday on the Indian subcontinent and take a visit to Pench National Park to see tigers, and you might like to look at Pench Jungle Camp. With 12 spacious safari tents set in eight hectares of beautiful mature forest, Pench offers elegant luxury in the heart of the jungle.

Governor's Camp, Kenya

In Chile we highly recommend the Eco Camp in the rugged and breathtakingly beautiful Torres del Paine. These beautiful and unusual giant dome tents (28 square metres each!) have been specially designed to withstand the climatic extremes of their environment... and of course to
look good and feel comfortable too. 

Each of these holidays makes use of beautiful tented camps:

Zambia: Leopards of Luangwa
When: May to November
How much: From £3,295 (Inclusive of flights)

India: Tiger Tiger
When: November to May
How much: From £2,975 (Inclusive of flights)

Chile: Land of Extremes
When: Year round
How much: From £4,545 (Inclusive of flights)

Botswana: Wings over Botswana - deluxe
When: Daily, year round
How much: From £4,995 (Inclusive of flights)

Madagascar: Madagascan Explorer
When: Daily, year round
How much: From £5,165 (Inclusive of flights)
Other Madagascar Holidays

Kenya: A Weekend in the Mara
When: Thursdays, year round
How much: From £1,575 (Inclusive of flights)

For Wildlife Holidays and Safaris in Luxury Tented Camps - Click here

Top Ten National Parks & Reserves (Snippet)

Our theme for the Summer 2011 edition of The Chameleon is national parks and reserves. It’s difficult to overstate their value because they conserve while also allowing us to experience our planet’s wildlife and ecosystems. Here are our top ten:

01 Corcovado, Costa Rica

Exotic and lush, this National Park is home to thirteen major ecosystems that range from mangrove swamps and jolillo palm groves to montane forests, lagoons, beaches, freshwater herbaceous swamps and primary lowland rainforests. Habitat of the rare harbor squirrel monkey and the harpy eagle, Corcovado National Park is a great place to spot the poison arrow frog, indigenous wild cats, crocodiles, pumas and jaguars and sea turtles.
Our best trip is: Costa Rican Odyssey (self drive)
When: Daily, year round
How much: from £1,845

Other: See all our holidays to Costa Rica

02 Kanha, India

Despite the dispute over whether Khana or neighbouring Pench was Kipling’s inspiration for The Jungle Book, Khana National Park remains the natural habitat of the Royal Bengal tiger. This plateau of open grasslands offers superb tiger viewing opportunities and is part of India’s Project Tiger conservation effort. Khana has also protected the swamp deer from near extinction.
Our best trip is: Tiger Tiger - India Safari Holiday
When: Daily, November to May
How much: from £2,795

03 Galapagos Islands

This volcanic archipelago straddling the equator forms both an Ecuadorian national park and biological marine reserve. UNESCO considers it to be one of the most unique, scientifically important and biologically outstanding areas on earth and it remains home to numerous endemic species crucial to the development of Darwin’s theory of natural selection. View giant tortoises and iguanas among others.
Our best trip is: Amazon & The Galapagos
When: Fortnightly year round
How much: from £4,195

04 Danum Valley, Borneo

Danum Valley is a vast reserve of lush tropical lowland forest rich in Sabah’s unique flora and fauna. The virgin forest has been recognised as one of the world’s most complex ecosystems. The Danum Valley provides visitors with an ecological experience in the wilds and wonders of ancient tropical forests. The hot and humid jungle teems with a variety of towering tropical trees, lingering lianas, exotic orchids and overhanging epiphytes.
Our best trip is: Best of Borneo Wildlife
When: Daily, throughout the year
How much: from £3,825

05 Serengeti, Tanzania

A UNESCO World Heritage Site deserving of every accolade that comes its way, the Serengeti is the place to witness the extraordinary seasonal migration of the wildebeest, zebra and gazelle. At other times the plains quieten but wildlife viewing doesn’t diminish, with buffalo, giraffe, elephant, eland, impala and the mighty lion, leopard and cheetah all to
be seen.
Our best trip is: Tanzanian Adventure Safari
When: Group tours, Saturdays, May–Aug
How much: from £1,895

06 Martinselkonen, Finland

While technically not a national park or reseve, this park is a marvellous spot to see brown bears. The Finnish wilderness is peppered with small lakes, and the swamps and their birdlife benefit from the habitat having been protected. Bear-viewing takes place in nearby hides where you stay while watching and waiting for bears. An excellent wildlife experience, especially if you’re short on time.
Our best trip is: Brown bears in Finland
When: Daily, May to mid-August
How much: from £895

07 Masai Mara, Kenya

Kenya’s Masai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley, East Africa’s 3500-mile long fault line, with expansive savannah and big skies. Home to countless wildlife and the Masai people, this beautiful reserve is the favourite of many. After all, little can beat a dawn balloon flight over an awakening Mara. Wildlife over a long weekend; what could be better?
Our best trip is: Kenya Highlights Safari
When: Group tours, Saturdays, Jan–Oct
How much: from £1,735

08 Pantanal, Brazil

The Pantanal is the world’s largest seasonal wetland, flooded by the Paraguay River which eventually empties into the Atlantic via the River Plate estuary. This breathtaking wetland
can be discovered by boat or on horseback – the choice is yours.
Jaguar, howler monkeys, giant river otter, giant armadillos, anacondas and caiman are all here to be seen. A premier wildlife destination.
Our best trip is: Brazil’s Natural Highlights
When: Saturday (set dates)
How much: from £3,425

09 Yala, Sri Lanka

Sri Lankans venerate their elephants. Yala National Park in the south–east offers regular sightings and is also one of the world’s best places to see leopards, either at early morning or at dusk. Storks, pelicans and sea birds including the lesser flamingo reside in the park’s numerous lagoons, as do many of the island’s crocodiles. Beautiful beaches are close by.
Our best trip is: Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Highlights
When: Daily, throughout the year
How much: from £1,695

10 Chobe, Botswana

Not much can beat a slow river trip along the Chobe River for close-up views of families of elephants washing and drinking, mothers with calves at their side and bulls sometimes fighting over supremacy. Hippos wallow together in extraordinarily large numbers and crocodiles bask in the sun. The birdlife is unbelievably colourful. A must-do trip.

Our best trip is: Botswana Adventure
When: Daily, throughout the year
How much: from £2,925

Wildlife Holidays in Canada - Going Wild in British Columbia

The coastline of Canada’s British Columbia is an immensely rich area for wildlife where, during the benign summer, a spectacular series of natural tableaux unfolds. In early summer (May to July) black and brown (a.k.a. grizzly) bear, including mothers with cubs barely a few months old, can be seen foraging at low tide along the shoreline. This is also prime breeding season where more than one male may catch the female’s scent and this can lead to some potentially violent showdowns between competing males.

As summer wears on, the forest berries ripen and the bears spend increasing amounts of time feeding in the woods. By mid-July the seasonal upwelling of nutrients at the northern end of Vancouver Island attracts prey for large pods of orca (killer whales), which congregate to hunt. Numerous harbour seal, mink and bald eagles are also present at this time, but black bears become wary of the grizzlies and are more difficult to see.

By mid-August the rivers fill with salmon moving upstream to spawn in the headwaters, and the grizzlies gorge themselves on the foreshore to fatten up for hibernation. By late October, things quieten down as shorter days herald the arrival of winter.

To witness these spectacles you can take a float plane out to a remote but comfortable, specialist lodge. In early summer you’ll watch bears from a boat, while later on you’ll view them from purpose-built platforms. One of our favourites is Knight Inlet, as large numbers of grizzlies are seen near the floating lodge, plus whales and dolphins on boat trips in the nearby Johnstone Strait. Another more intimate property, Great Bear Lodge, offers equally good opportunities.

Alternatively on the mainland near Bella Coola, both Coast Mountain and Tweedsmuir Lodges are accessible by road, allowing you the flexibility of self-drive – and both are great spots for bear watching (September to mid October). On Vancouver Island, Tofino and Telegraph Cove make ideal bases for seeing black bears and whales, while in September on Princess Royal Island you can view all-white spirit bears from King Pacific and Spirit Bear Lodges.

One effortless way to see both bears and whales is from a comfortable 21-metre yacht, while sailing at the northern end of Vancouver Island, or in the remote Queen Charlotte archipelago. With eight cabins, three shower/toilets, a large saloon and a galley, these vessels are crewed by an experienced skipper, a knowledgeable naturalist and a talented cook.

Both trips offer unparalleled opportunities to explore pristine coastal forests and ancient First Nations villages, and see orcas and other whales, bears and numerous birds. Each day there are a couple of shore excursions, and once at anchor there’s time to unwind in the long summer evenings – take a sea-kayak for a paddle, go for a stroll, or simply marvel at the beauty.

In October, if you time it just right, you can combine seeing the grizzlies in BC before heading to Churchill in Northern Manitoba to see the first polar bears arrive – possibly the best bear extravaganza in existence!

To help select the best option for you, contact our friendly and knowledgeable team for advice. We tailor-make your holiday to suit you but for recommended itineraries – or very useful starting points see:

Orcas, Bears and Forests of BC
When: 2-6 & 21-27 August
From: £4,299

Queen Charlotte Islands
When: early May to late August
From: £5,049

Bears of Knight Inlet
When: May to October
From: £4,190

Whales & Bears of British Columbia - 14 day self drive
When: Daily, May–Oct
From: £2,995

Grizzly & Polar Bear Adventure
When: Daily, early October
From: £6,995

For all our Canada Wildlife Holidays click here or for our guide to Tailor Made Holidays in Canada click here

Our Top 5: Memorable trips and Best Wildlife Safaris

Our specialist team here at Wildlife Worldwide take the opportunity to travel whenever they can, for business or pleasure. It has been difficult to choose but here is a selection of some of our favourite, most memorable trips and best safari holidays.

Botswana Safari - Chris Breen
The Okavango Delta is surely one of the safari-goers iconic ‘marker posts’. Rich with birdlife, centrally located to enable visits to Moremi, Savute, Chobe and of course the wonderful Victoria Falls, the Okavango is a really magnificent safari stop. Our ‘Highlights of Botswana and Victoria Falls’ takes in all of these and a stay on a lovely houseboat too.
Recommended Wildlife Holiday: Highlights of Botswana & Victoria Falls
When: July & October
How much: From £3,090

Finland Wildlife Photography - Sally Jefferis
The observation and photography season of the brown bear and wolverine starts in early April, as the bears start waking up from their hibernation, and lasts until October. During the first three or four weeks, they can be photographed against a snowy background. There is also the possibility to catch a glimpse of the elusive wolf.
I can’t wait to go back!
Recommended Wildlife Holiday: Brown Bears in Finland
When: May to mid August
How much: From £960

Galapagos Holidays - Isabel Ashworth
The Galapagos Islands make a marvellous year round destination and offer fantastic wildlife viewing – whether on land, by boat or in the water, all surrounded by spectacular scenery. What really struck me was the variety of wildlife on the islands we visited, which were all in relative close proximity to each other along with its astounding, nonchalant attitude.
Recommended Wildlife Holiday: Wildlife of Educador & the Galapagos
When: July & October
How much: From £2,540

Madagascar Holidays - Chris Osborn
Visiting Madagascar is like visiting another world. I will never forget the dawn call of the indri or seeing the world’s smallest chameleon. There are vast, spectacular fields of jagged rocks surrounded by endemic baobabs. Together with the culture, a unique mix of African and Asian influences, makes this a place you will never forget.
Recommended Wildlife Holiday: Classic Wildlife Highlights
When: Year round
How much: From £3,185

Mozambique Safaris - Teresa Bennett
With new flights accessing more remote areas, the 45 minute flight into Nampula provided easy access to the old capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilha
de Mozambique. Snorkelling in the lagoon next to our lodge I even saw the very rare African angelfish. What a perfect, relaxing end to
our safari!
Recommended Wildlife Holiday: Safari & Beach
When: April to October
How much: From £3,435

Photo Safari Holidays and Photo Tours

For world-renowned hands-on photography tuition and guidance, join Nick Garbutt, one of the UK's leading wildlife photographers, on safari on dates we have specifically selected to maximise your photographic results and enjoyment. At a time when the birds are plentiful, there are fewer visitors, the skies are more clear and when wildlife and their young abound - the opportunities for stunning photos are endless...

Photo Safari Holidays and Photo Tours with Wildlife Worldwide