My first encounter with gorillas was seeing this male silverback and his family eating the corn in this field

With the population of most African countries booming the conflict between people and wildlife is becoming a serious problem. I remember crossing into DRC from Uganda on a gorilla trekking trip and seeing a group of these magnificent animals sitting in a farmers field, nonchalantly eating the corn (see the photo I took above).

This type of conflict not only leads to damaged crops (the farmers in my gorilla encounter were apparently compensated on a regular basis) but more seriously, attacks on locals. In retaliation local communities often kill the wildlife involved.

To try to prevent this, the Ugandan government have announced plans to physically fence off some parks. Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, Mr Ephraim Kamuntu, explained that Murchison Falls National Park would be the first affected under this scheme. He said:

“In the short term, to mitigate this human-wildlife conflict, we have started digging trenches to prevent the animals from crossing into the gardens of the communities destroying the lives and crops of the people. But in the long run with the funds available we shall fence off all the major national parks starting with Murchison Park where rampant damage has been encountered.”

The scheme is not unique to Uganda as Kenya was the first country to implement fences, with Mt Kenya National Park being the most recent to benefit just last year.

To book a tailor-made trip to Uganda, call one of our country specialists on 01993 838 575 or contact us online.

Student vets get some hands-on experience in ITV's new wildlife series, Safari Vet School

If you think vets in the UK sometimes have to deal with some demanding situations then meet the trainee UK vets who will be getting hands-on with some of South Africa’s most dangerous wildlife.

Arista, in our Africa Safari team has asked me to let you know about a new ITV1 wildlife series, Safari Vet School.

Presented by Steve Leonard (you might remember him from the hugely successful Vets’ School and Vets In Practice documentaries), it follows the fortunes of 32 UK-based veterinary students in South Africa.

The undergraduates find themselves treating lions, elephants, rhino, in fact all the Big Five, as well as their fair share of domestic animals as well. They’ll be working in locations which are also familiar with many Audley clients who travel to this beautiful country, such as the Amakhala Game Reserve, Shamwari Game Reserve and the Addo National Elephant Park.

The first of the 12 30-minute episodes can be seen this Friday at 8pm on ITV1.

Watch a short video preview of the series here

To book a tailor-made trip to South Africa, call one of our country specialists on 01993 838 550 or contact us online.

The path of totality (the bit in shadow) is 36 km wide as it passes over Uganda and Kenya

On November 3rd, 2013, a total solar eclipse will cross the northern part of both Uganda and Kenya. I’ve produced a map below showing its path as it travels across sub-Saharan Africa.

Why not combine a safari trip to one of these countries (or both) with a once in a lifetime chance to see one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights?

Even though it’s nearly two years away still, accommodation in both countries near the eclipse path is likely to be in short supply so booking early is probably advisable to avoid disappointment.

Contact one of our Uganda or Kenya specialists on 01993 838 500 or contact us online to book your tailor-made safari and eclipse trip.

The ubiquitous smartphone: fast becoming the ideal companion when abroad

Today, there are literally thousands of travel apps (or applications) on the market for smartphones. I’ve picked my top 10, some of which are free to download.

Have a look and see if you agree?

If you have a favourite travel app which isn’t on this list, send it to us via the comments field!

1. Postagram Travel App

Take a photo with your smartphone and with the click of a button, Postagram will mail a physical postcard, along with a 140-character message of your choosing, anywhere in the world. It currently costs the equivalent of 99 US cents per postcard.

2. Off Exploring

There’s no need to lug a heavy laptop around anymore. With the Off Exploring app on your smartphone you can add your locations and photographs. You even get your own free web address so that friends and family can not only see what you’re up to, they can leave comments as well.

3. Google Translate

Often the most daunting aspect for many people when abroad is the language barrier. However, with Goggle’s Translate app things are now a whole lot easier. Type or speak into your phone and let it instantly translate into 17 languages. You’ll need to speak clearly though!  

4. GeoTipper
Tipping can be a bit of a minefield when abroad, sometimes leading to embarrassing situations. Geo Tipper works by giving you recommendations on how much you should add to your bill. It currently covers 42 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

5. Photosynth

Reviewing your photos often comes with a tinge of disappointment and the reason is often because you’re only seeing a part of what your eyes originally saw. With Photosynth, however, you can stitch together your photos to create real panoramic images. You can even send 360-degree views to friends and family while you’re abroad. 

6. TuneIn Radio

It’s comforting to take some old favourites with when travelling. With the TuneIn Radio app you can now take with you your favourite radio stations, music artists, sports and many more. It currently offers over 50,000 stations for you to choose from.

 7. Google Sky Map

Some locations in the world are perfect for the Google Sky Map app; if you’re in the middle of the Outback or Atacama Desert, simply point your phone at the night sky and it will show the planets and constellations.

8. Currency Exchange

We all need to know how much our money is worth when abroad. With the Currency Exchange app you can make sure you haven been short-changed, or are getting the best rate. This app is always up-to-date as well as it tracks currency changes around the world in real time.

9. Weather Pro

If you’re British, chances are you’ll be obsessed by the weather, so you’ll definitely want this app. It features seven-day forecasts and reports for over two million locations around the world, which includes Europe, America, Africa and Asia.

10. Trailhead

If your holidays are activity based then the Trailhead app could be for you. It finds walking/hiking trails and bike routes in your location, based on your GPS coordinates. It also tracks your route, distance, speed and elevation in real-time. You can then download this data onto a map to see exactly where you’ve been.

In October 2011 two young lionesses are relocated to Luiwa Plain National Park, Zambia

I wrote a blog back in April 2010 called Lady Liuwa – The Last Lioness, which turned out to be our most commented upon blog ever; it even attracted a response by the film maker himself - Herbert Brauer.

Not too much has happened since I wrote that blog but last week I saw the first significant update to this remarkable story.

In October this year two new lionesses were relocated from Kafue National Park to Liuwa Plain National Park, and are set to be released this December to join the now famous, Lady Liuwa.

The original hope was that Lady Liuwa, and the two lions that were introduced a few years ago to end her isolation, would hopefully also produce cubs. However to date this hasn’t happened and sadly the prospects now look bleak. The hope now is that these two new lionesses will breed with the two existing lions to ensure a viable population once more in Liuwa Plain National Park.

Finally, there is also good news for fans of the original documentary. There are plans for a follow-up which will track the progress of these two newcomers and no doubt, Lady Liuwa herself.

Scott with a cheetah, bred as part of the Cheetah Preservation Foundation, Cango Wildlife Ranch, South Africa

All of our specialists regularly revisit their chosen countries. These ”FAM” trips as we call them (short for “familiarisation”) are crucial though as they enable us to uncover new areas, hotels and excursions as well as making sure that existing ones are up to scratch.

Although these trips might appear like holidays, they are far from it and our specialists have to work hard. Here, Scott summarises his recent trip.

Whale watching in Hermanus was certainly a highlight of my most recent trip to South Africa, however it was only a small part of a fantastic month long adventure back to the country where I grew up.

A journey from Cape Town to Pretoria on the world famous Rovos Rail was an experience I’ll never forget and one I would highly recommend to any visitor to South Africa.

Early morning game drives at the Kruger National Park were coupled with night drives at the magnificent Sabi Sands Game Reserve, the result was an incredible 10 days exploring the many lodges in the area.

After leaving the northern part of the country I travelled back down to the coast and spent a fantastic few days working my way up the Garden Route. Hermanus, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and Mossel Bay were just a few of the wonderful little towns I visited along the way, the friendly people and warm weather reminding me why I was in the greatest country in the world.

After an amazing month of guesthouses, hotels, bed and breakfasts and game lodges I returned to Johannesburg, a quick farewell to the family and boarded my flight back to London.

Find out more about Scott by reading his Audley profile. Note, you can see the profiles of all Audley’s specialists here.

The video above was taken by Scott, one of our South Africa specialists on a recent Audley fact-finding trip back to his country of birth. It’s a close encounter with a curious southern right whale.

Apparently whales often mistake boats for other whales which is why this one might have been so inquisitive.

Whale & dolphin spotting holidays with Audley

Our whale and dolphin watching guide, details the best places from around the world to go, which whales or dolphins you are likely to see and most importantly, the best time to go.

The mother and calf are firmly stuck and without human intervention, will surely die.

Kapani Lodge, on the banks of the Luangwa River in Zambia, is one of Audley’s most popular lodges and it was close by that a recent dramatic rescue took place.

An unfortunate elephant and her calf had got themselves well and truly stuck in the thick mud and would have surely perished had it not been for some timely human intervention.

See what happened in pictures…

Normally, the park services don’t intervene in nature but in this case they had to act. So, with the Help of Norman Carr Safaris (with whom we work closely with) as well as the South Luangwa Conservation Society and the Zambia Wildlife Authority, they got work.

(click to enlarge)

If you would like to find out more about a tailor-made trip to South Luangwa National Park, visit the Zambia section of our site or call us on 01993 838 505.

A leopard, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa

It was around this time last year that we launched our updated Africa and the Indian Ocean brochure. However, we also have a dedicated South Africa brochure and we’ve now revised this as well – it’s bigger and better than ever! 

Brochure highlights

Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route offer something for everyone whether it’s culture, beautiful scenery, tasty food and wine or wildlife you are after.  In each of these areas we have chosen a range of fantastic accommodation options including some of our favourite guesthouses and boutique properties. 

Of course no trip to South Africa would be complete without some time spent on safari. Accordingly, in this new brochure all the popular safari destinations make a welcome return and heading that list is of course the world-renowned Kruger National Park, where you can see the ‘Big Five’ (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo). Here again we have a full range of safari accommodation, from simple restcamps to opulent safari lodges.

For those who want to combine wildlife with some culture, we showcase private reserves such as Thanda Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal, offering a combination of Zulu customs and superb game-viewing.

Finally, the brochure also includes a selection of travel guides covering subjects such as self-driving (South Africa being one of the best places in the world for this type of trip), rail journeys on the Rovos Rail and Blue Train, while for history buffs we have a comprehensive guide to the Battlefields, an area made famous by the Anglo Zulu and Boer Wars.

Take a look at the new South Africa brochure now!

• View the digital magazine version (you will need Adobe Flash Player)
• View the PDF version (16.3 MB)

If you want to see online versions of all our brochures, or if you want to request a physical copy of any of them, simply go to our brochures page.

Audley Food Festival 2011

Friday 23rd September 2011 was the date of the first ever Audley Food Festival and, as with anything food related at Audley, the event was tipped to be a merry affair!

With each department given the task of cooking food from their region of the world and decorating their stands accordingly, the pressure was on to outshine the rest. More importantly, the event was being attended by Masterchef runner-up (and brother to Ben Whitaker, one of Audley’s India specialists) Tom Whitaker, whose job it was to taste test all of the food on offer before choosing a winning department.

For those of us who do not cover a specific area of the world, we were able to pick another country or region not covered by our programmes. The Ticketing department chose to represent Italy, while the Upper West Wing, which consists of e-Commerce, Marketing, I.T, Finance, HR, Commercial, Operations and Journey Desk, went with a USA theme, or more specifically, the TV programme, ‘The West Wing’.

With a fine spread on offer, the tasting began and not surprisingly it didn’t take long for the rest of the company to follow suit, tucking into such delights as Hoth’s Khmer curry and a tasty North African tagine.

After Ticketing and Upper West Wing were crowned the overall winners by Tom, it was time for the Masterchef contestant to give a select few employees a lesson in butchery and knife skills before the two winning teams went head-to-head with a Ready, Steady, Cook style omelette making competition. After some more taste testing by Tom, who was faced with some very dodgy-looking omelettes, the Ticketing department finally walked away with the prestigious title of ‘Winning Stand’.

The evening’s festivities continued with a bake sale and more food and drink before the sun went down.

Many thanks to Tom for popping along to teach us a thing or two about cooking, as well as judging some appealing (and not so appealing!) dishes! A big pat on the back also to Audley’s social committee for arranging such a successful social event, I certainly hope we will get to indulge again next year!

Uluru or Ayers Rock in Australia has been shotlisted for the new 7 wonders of the natural world

A global campaign organised by a Swiss philanthropist has begun to decide the seven wonders of the natural world, out of 28 that have been shortlisted.

Voting will take place until November on the New 7 Wonders of the World website, so get your vote in soon if you would like to take part.

From the Galapagos Islands to Halong Bay in Vietnam, many of the 28 wonders on the shortlist can be visited on a tailor-made trip with Audley. The finalists include:

• The Amazon
• The Galapagos
• Iguazu Falls
• Komodo National Park, Indonesia
• Milford Sound, New Zealand
• Table Mountain, South Africa
• Angel Falls, Venezuela
• Jeita Grotto, Lebanon
• The Maldives
• Uluru, Australia
• Bay of Fundy, Canada
• Dead Sea, Jordan
• Great Barrier Reef, Australia
• PP Underground river, Philippines
• Halong Bay, Vietnam
• Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

 Don’t miss out on your opportunity to vote now!

Audley's annual charity donation helps buy soccer kit

Here’s a quick update to let you know that our latest charity donation to Uthando South Africa was used to make 45 soccer kits for the children who play in the Greater Commission United, a soccer academy that offers young people a way out of being trapped into the cycle of gangs and drugs.

We hope they enjoy playing in it!

Some of the players sporting their new kit

 Find out more about the charities we support

Does the prospect of the cold, short, grey days in December fill you with dread? If so, why not consider visiting one of the most beautiful towns in South Africa for a little champagne tasting?

Each December Franschhoek, arguably the prettiest town in the Winelands, plays host to the Champagne Festival, which brings together some of the best champagne - both locally and internationally.

In Franschhoek itself restaurants compile special menus and recipes to complement the bubbly. You can also taste the wines of more than 40 different wine cellars. Add to this the sublime location and some great accommodation options and it’s the perfect way to enjoy this part of the Cape.

The Cape Region climate

South Africa’s summer corresponds to our winter and vice versa, with summer running from October to April. In fact the climate is very much like that of the south of France – perfect for grape growing.

Wine tasting itinerary idea

Take a look at our itinerary idea, the Grape Escape, which includes visiting Cape Town, Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned) and of course Franschhoek and its neighbouring valleys.

Remember, however, this is just an example and we can tailor-make any of our South Africa itinerary ideas to suit your personal preferences.

Contact Us

You can contact us either online or by phone on 01993 838 550.

Click here to view the embedded video.

There were two overall prizes up for grabs: the fastest and the best dressed pigs. “Winston Churchpig” took the speed prize while “Thorpedo pig” won the best dressed award.

By the end of the event the Africa Safari team had raised £301.10 for our two charities: one in Kenya and one in South Africa (see below).

Thanks to everyone involved!

The charities
Mara Rianda Trust in Kenya provides clean water to schools in rural communities, as well as other school facilities such as dormitory blocks for children who live too far away to walk to school each day.

Uthando in South Africa is a collection of grassroots projects run by people in the townships outside Cape Town, ranging from day centres for elderly people, to centres to teach people skills to get jobs.

Other charities we support
To find out more about the charities Audley support, see our responsible travel section.

Jimmy on a rickshaw in India

Two years ago one Audley employee and two of his friends drove from Goa to Pokhara – 3000 km right across the heart of India in a ridiculous rickshaw.

Now they have decided to up the ante and buy two rickshaws to drive up and into the Himalayas. The roads in Northern India are some of the highest and toughest in the world and they will cross a series of 5000 metre passes before hopefully bagging the Khardung La at 5361m, the highest road in the world. At the same time they aim to break a record for the highest three wheeler in the world.

Now you may think that Jimmy, Audley’s East Africa Regional Manager, and his friends are mad, but their journey is not without cause. They will be raising money for the Shuxiong school, cut of from the rest of the world for eight months of the year. Recently the subject of a BBC documentary this school has one of the toughest school runs anywhere with children trekking dozens of miles along ice rivers. Jimmy and his friends aim to raise money to help transport the children, provide heating in their classrooms and also increase the classroom space. This will make a massive difference to the chances of these children getting a decent education.

All money raised will go directly to the school.

Best of luck to all three!

A wildebeest escaping a crocodile while crossing the Mara River

At about this time each year one of nature’s great spectacles begins to unfold on the banks of the Mara River in Kenya.

I’m sure you’ve seen countless wildlife documentaries showing thousands of wildebeest plunge into the Mara River and desperately swim across; it’s their final barrier to the new grasses of the Masai Mara.

Of course it’s all part of the annual wildebeest migration or ‘Great Migration’, which sees approximately 1.5 million wildebeest and numerous zebra and gazelle migrate over 1,800 miles from the Kenyan Masai Mara to the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Book soon!

To have any chance of booking one of the limited camps or lodges near the Mara River, you will need to book about 8-10 months in advance (so around Nov 2011 at the earliest and Jan or Feb 2012 at the latest).

If you want to spend time in one of the more exclusive mobile camps in the Serengeti (max six tents per camp), and which have the advantage of physically following the herds, then you will need to book one year in advance – so anytime now!

Interactive Great Migration map

Our interactive map shows where you can roughly expect the annual migration to be on a month-by-month basis as it moves around Kenya and Tanzania. It also shows details of the lodges and camps you can stay in, as well as short video clips of the wildlife you may encounter.

Contact us to see the Great Migration

If you want to see the Great Migration, one of our Kenya specialists can put together an individual tailor-made trip just for you. Phone us on 01993 838 500 or make an enquiry online.

The prison on Robben Island, near Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned

If you can get down the brilliant Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford right now you can see a photographic exhibition of apartheid photos from South Africa.

The photographs are being displayed for the first time in 50 years and you can see a sneak preview if you go to this link on the BBC website.

Audley itinerary ideas in South Africa

Note, we offer a number of apartheid-related excursions in South Africa as part of an overall itinerary, such as a visit to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, or a boat trip to Robben Island off the coast of Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela spent much of his incarceration.

See our slected itinerary ideas in South Africa

The owners of one of our properties in Mozambique, Nuarro lodge, have just emailed to tell us that the first of the season’s whales have started appearing in the area.

This lodge is ideally located on the north east coast of Mozambique, so much so that you can see them from the breakfast table. In fact if you watch the above video you can see this at 1:10 seconds and then on several subsequent occasions.

As well as whale spotting there are a variety of activities to enjoy at Nuarro. Experienced PADI diving instructors are on hand to take you on dives whilst non-divers can enjoy snorkelling, dhow sailing trips, sea kayaking and fly-fishing.  On land you can enjoy eco-trails by bike or on foot, bird watching, cultural village visits and trips to Ilha de Mocambique.

Other places to see whales & dolphins with Audley

Dont forget to also take a look at our whale and dolphin watching guide as this includes an interactive map showing the best places around the world to see whales and dolphins. It also includes the best times to visit, lists some of the most common species you might encounter plus information on whale behaviour.

'Approaching the Waterhole' by Stella Mays

While I was writing my recent blog about the friendliest rhino in Africa killed by poachers, I added a link to the David Shepherd Foundation website. 

David Shepherd is of course the artist famous for all those wonderful paintings of animals (although he paints a variety of subjects). I think it’s fair to say his paintings of elephants in particular have become iconic around the world.

Anyway, while browsing the site I came across this page on the recent Best of Wildlife Art 2011 competition. As you can see some of the artwork is superb. Personally, I like the drawings and paintings more than the sculptures.

You might like to note that some of the originals are still for sale. They’re not cheap though! The one above by Stella Mays will set you back £2,400.

Rhino in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

Back in October 2009 we blogged about a new BBC travel series, Last Chance to See, in which Stephen Fry and fellow presenter, Mark Carwardine, globe trotted the world in search of creatures which were on the verge of extinction.

One of the programmes visited the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, to see a white rhino named Max. The highlight came when Fry was tricked into believing by Carwardin that Max was incredibly dangerous, but of course he wasn’t as he had in fact been hand-reared. Sadly, however, I saw in an article this week that Max has been killed by poachers; no doubt their work made much easier by his trust in humans.

Unfortunately, poaching in many parts of Africa is still a huge problem with rhino horn being particularly sought after in China for medicines, although of course it has no medicinal value whatsoever.

If you would like to help fight rhino poaching you can visit the following:

• Save the Rhino (www.savetherhino.org/)
• David Shepherd Foundation (www.davidshepherd.org)
• Ol Pejeta Conservancy (www.olpejetaconservancy.org)

The McCurdie family celebrate Christmas Day in the Masai Mara, Kenya

“Our visit to Malacca was an intriguing end to our visit to Malaysia, a country where numerous traditions, religions, cultures and cuisines meet and blend harmoniously.”
Nigel Wright, Malaysia

“Our heads and hearts are full of the images, sights, sounds, and smells, but perhaps the most lingering image of all is the one of the Cambodian people.”
Valerie and Raymond Gatward, Cambodia

“To have spent the time with the wonderfully friendly people of the Governor’s Camp among the enchanting wildlife of the Masai Mara made it an experience we shall treasure forever.”
Dr Ian McCurdie, Masai Mara in Kenya

These are just some of the comments we have received and which you can read in full in our Client Stories section of the Audley Magazine.

How to send us your Audley travel stories
It’s easy, if you’ve been on a trip with us simply click on this link and upload your text and photos. If you do you’ll also have a chance to win a £50 Bobbooks’ photobook voucher.

Cape Town's famous Table Mountain. The city is the setting for the new James Bond novel

Cape Town is one of the world’s great cities. It has excellent accommodation, is easy to explore and is the gateway to the famous Wine Regions and Garden Route. It’s no wonder is has been voted Africa’s Leading Destination by World Travel Awards and is again a nominee in 2011.

Now, Jeffery Deaver, has chosen it as the setting for part of his latest Bond novel, Carte Blanche. He said:

“I’ve been coming to Cape Town for ten years. I love the country. And true to James Bond novels, Cape Town is exotic and beautiful.”

If you’d like to experience Cape Town, why not take a look at our South Africa itinerary ideas, many of which include this famous city as part of a trip.

The route of the second voyage of HMS Beagle (1831-1836)

On this day 175 years ago HMS Beagle anchored in Simons Bay, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. It was on a momentous five year voyage and on board was a man who would become the world’s most famous naturalist – Charles Darwin.

Following in Darwin’s footsteps (or perhaps wake might be more appropriate) nowadays is a little tricky unless you have lots of money and around five years to spare, but with Audley you can visit many of the places he visited. To this end I have listed some of these and accompanied each with a quote from his journal in which he describes what he finds in these places.

Galapagos Islands
“[of a lizard] A seaman on board sank one, with a heavy weight attached to it, thinking thus to kill it directly; but when, an hour afterwards, he drew up the line, it was quite active. Their limbs and strong claws are admirably adapted for crawling over the rugged and fissured masses of lava which everywhere form the coast. In such situations a group of six or seven of these hideous reptiles may oftentimes be seen on the black rocks, a few feet above the surf, basking in the sun with outstretched legs.”

Salvador, Bahia Coast, Brazil
“Amongst the Batrachian reptiles, I found only one little toad (Phryniscus nigricans), which was most singular from its colour. If we imagine, first, that it had been steeped in the blackest ink, and then, when dry, allowed to crawl over a board, freshly painted with the brightest vermilion, so as to colour the soles of its feet and parts of its stomach, a good idea of its appearance will be gained.”

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
“Considering the enormous area of Brazil, the proportion of cultivated ground can scarcely be considered as anything compared to that which is left in the state of nature: at some future age, how vast a population it will support! During the second day’s journey we found the road so shut up that it was necessary that a man should go ahead with a sword to cut away the creepers. The forest abounded with beautiful objects; among which the tree ferns, though not large, were, from their bright green foliage, and the elegant curvature of their fronds, most worthy of admiration.”

Maldonado, near Montevideo, Uruguay
“Of lizards there were many kinds, but only one (Proctotretus multimaculatus) remarkable from its habits. It lives on the bare sand near the sea-coast, and from its mottled colour, the brownish scales being speckled with white, yellowish red, and dirty blue, can hardly be distinguished from the surrounding surface. When frightened, it attempts to avoid discovery by feigning death, with outstretched legs, depressed body, and closed eyes: if further molested, it buries itself with great quickness in the loose sand. This lizard, from its flattened body and short legs, cannot run quickly.”

Falkland Islands
“The only quadruped native to the island is a large wolf-like fox (Canis antarcticus), which is common to both East and West Falkland. I have no doubt it is a peculiar species, and confined to this archipelago; because many sealers, Gauchos, and Indians, who have visited these islands, all maintain that no such animal is found in any part of South America. Molina, from a similarity in habits, thought that this was the same with his “culpeu”; but I have seen both, and they are quite distinct.”

Russell, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
“In the morning I went out walking; but I soon found that the country was very impracticable. All the hills are thickly covered with tall fern, together with a low bush which grows like a cypress; and very little ground has been cleared or cultivated. I then tried the sea-beach; but proceeding towards either hand, my walk was soon stopped by salt-water creeks and deep brooks. The communication between the inhabitants of the different parts of the bay is almost entirely kept up by boats.”

Sydney, Australia
“At sunset, a party of a score of the black aborigines passed by, each carrying, in their accustomed manner, a bundle of spears and other weapons. By giving a leading young man a shilling, they were easily detained, and threw their spears for my amusement. They were all partly clothed, and several could speak a little English: their countenances were good-humoured and pleasant, and they appeared far from being such utterly degraded beings as they have usually been represented. In their own arts they are admirable.”

Mauritius
“The brilliancy of the green was the more remarkable because it is a colour which generally is conspicuous only from a very short distance. Towards the centre of the island groups of wooded mountains rose out of this highly cultivated plain; their summits, as so commonly happens with ancient volcanic rocks, being jagged into the sharpest points. Masses of white clouds were collected around these pinnacles, as if for the sake of pleasing the stranger’s eye. The whole island, with its sloping border and central mountains, was adorned with an air of perfect elegance: the scenery, if I may use such an expression, appeared to the sight harmonious.”

Footnote
An international group of scientists hope to recreate this voyage aboard a modern replica of HMS Beagle. They plan to set sail from London in 2014 assuming they raise the necessary $34 million to pay for the build and subsequent five year trip.

We were sorry to hear today that Selsdon Travel / Dreamticket.com has ceased trading, affecting their clients who have booked  a holiday to the Indian Ocean (Seychelles, Mauritius), Middle East, Far East, Africa and the Caribbean.

We have already received a few calls from their customers looking to re-arrange their trips with Audley. Whilst we are unable to help with the Caribbean (it’s not a destination that Audley offers), we are often able to re-arrange the same or a similar itinerary to most of their destinations.

If you are affected and would like to speak with us for advice, with a view to re-booking your trip, then please do give us a call on 01993 838 500 or contact us online and we will see what we can do to help.

For more details on our range of tailor-made holidays visit our website.

Baby mountain gorilla, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Rwanda has more than twice the number of habituated mountain gorilla groups than Uganda, and each year newborns are given new names in a local ceremony called “Kwita Izina”.  Usually, the president, politicians as well as all of the park rangers, attend. The ceremony takes place in Ruhengeri on June 18th this year - and as tourists are also welcome - it’s a spectacle not to miss.

To find out more about seeing mountain gorillas in the wild, visit the Rwanda section of our website.