Scott’s Last Expedition exhibition

A new exhibition has opened at the Natural History Museum, marking the centenary of Scott reaching the South Pole and his tragic death. 

The exhibition opened on 20th January and will last until September, exploring the captivating story of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s last expedition to Antarctica in 1910-1913.

The exhibition features rare artefacts used by Scott’s team and scientific specimans, appearing together for the first time, alongside a life-sized representation of Scott’s hut that survives in Antarctica. The exhibition’s focus is on the everyday stories and activities of the people who took part, their scientific work and the unforgettable human endurance.

Discover more about the exhibition on the Natural History Museum’s website where you can view videos and slideshows and find out more about Antarctic heritage and conservation.

To plan your very own Antarctic adventure call our specialists on 01993 838 615 or view our Antarctica travel guide.

A project set up by Hotel de la Paix in Siem Reap saw our Responsible Travel rep, Hannah, lead the way in collecting T-shirts for a ‘share your shirt’ campaign. The humidity of Cambodia’s rainy season makes short work of once good clothing, so the shirts and T-shirts we send to the hotel will be distributed to the neediest rural communities in Cambodia.

In the end we managed to fill two large boxes with shirts and T-shirts. The Hotel de la Paix in Cambodia called to say they will shortly be taking the boxes to a school that desperately needs them. They will also be uploading photos to their Facebook page after that so people might be able to spot T-shirts that they donated!

Well done Hannah!

Celebrating Chinese New Year with fireworks

Today is the start of the main Chinese festival, the Chinese New Year - also known as the Spring Festival. The Chinese calendar is made up of a cycle of twelve years, with each year representing a different animal. This year marks the start of the year of the Dragon, the only mythical creature in the Chinese calendar, and is looked upon as one of the luckiest of all the animals.

As the Chinese calendar is lunisolar, New Year’s Day can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February in the Gregorian calendar. Festivities begin with the new moon and last for 15 days, ending on the date of the full moon with the Lantern festival.

New Year customs and traditions vary widely throughout China and around the world, but one of the overriding themes is to remember the family and wish everyone peace and prosperity in the coming year. 

Take a look at other festivals and holiday ideas for January  

To book a tailor-made trip to China, call one of our specialists on 01993 838 220 or contact us online.

The Sphinx at Giza, Egypt

Our new North Africa & the Middle East brochure, which replaces the North Africa & Arabia brochure, is now available. Written by our North African and Middle East specialists it features a selection of popular itineraries, along with information on the best places to visit, favourite accommodation options and practical advice on planning a trip to this region.

Also featured are travel guides for cruises on the Nile in Egypt, Jordan’s beautiful nature reserves and archaeological sites in Tunisia, as well as information on walking in the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains, camping at the heart of the desert dunes in Morocco, Jordan and Oman and diving on Egypt’s Red Sea coast.

For the new 2012 brochure we have also discovered a range of new hotels and excursions, and for the first time we also feature Jerusalem, and showcase self drive holidays in Oman.

Take a look at the brochure:

• View the online version (you will need Adobe Flash Player). 
• If you would like to download any of our brochures as a PDF, view online versions of them, or request a free physical copy, simply go to our brochures page.

To book a tailor-made trip to North Africa & the Middle East, call one of our specialists on 01993 838 400 or contact us online.

Uluru/Ayers Rock in the heart of Australia’s Red Centre

In the heart of Australia’s Red Centre lies the rock formation of Uluru/Ayers Rock, on the sacred lands of the Anangu people.

If you’re planning a trip to Australia, you might want to add a hot air balloon ride to see this iconic landmark in a whole new light. With support and assistance of the Uluru family, the traditional owners of the land, ‘Outback Ballooning’ will be offering this new experience in March of this year.

The balloon flights will depart at dawn over the natural desert and bush land of the Patji region, and last around 30 minutes. Flights will take place between 10 and 25 km to the south of Uluru/Ayers Rock and not enter the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, but will still offer the traveller new and unique views of this incredible landmark and its surrounding landscape at sunrise.

Visit the Outlook Ballooning website to find out more.

To book a tailor-made trip to Australia, call one of our specialists on 01993 838 810 or contact us online.

Phu Tho is located about 50 miles north-west of Hanoi in Vietnam. It’s a small, unremarkable region except for one unique aspect – its singing.

It originated as a homage to the Hung kings, the ancestral kings of the Viet people who ruled the country from 2879 to 258 BC. Nowadays, during springtime village festivals each year, Xoan singing (pronounced “zwan”) is performed in front of communal houses throughout Phu Tho.

UNESCO already recognises Halong Bay, Hoi An, Hue and My Son as sites of being of such unique interest to the world that they have been afforded special preservation status, but they’ve now also voted to include Xoan singing as an “intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection”.

To book a tailor-made trip to Vietnam, call one of our country specialists on 01993 838 140 or contact us online.

Visitors to Kuala Lumpur are set to enjoy free Wi-Fi access

Malaysia has for some time been one of Audley’s most popular destinations and it’s easy to see why. From its rich culture and recent colonial history, to quiet tea plantations blanketing the cool highland regions as well as stunning national parks, Malaysia packs a lot into a relatively small area.

Kuala Lumpur is often the first sight that greets most visitors to the country. With its amazing food, huge shopping malls and modern, high-rise skyline - dominated by the world-famous Petronas Towers - it’s a spectacular urban web showcasing the very best of modern Asia. Highlights include Chinatown’s busy markets, Little India and the elegant colonial buildings of Merdeka Square. There are also great views from the revolving restaurant at the top of the KL Sky Tower.

If you’re someone who likes to travel with your laptop or other mobile devices you should soon be able to enjoy free Wi-Fi in parts of the city. These places will include tourist attractions, restaurants and eateries, as well as countless other public areas. This isn’t a pipe dream either as the Malaysian government has passed a new law ordering its installation. It might be available to travellers as soon as April this year.

The alien-looking snub-nosed monkey is new to science

Burma has been in the news quite a lot lately, mostly with regard to the ongoing political situation, but news of a recent new wildlife discovery has certainly got the world’s primatologists very excited.

Looking like something from a science-fiction movie, photographs of the newly discovered snub-nosed monkey were taken remotely and at night using camera’s which were activated by infra-red sensors – hence them being black and white. These were placed high up in the remote mountains of Burma’s northern Kachin state, which borders China.

Although it’s very unlikely you will ever see the Burmese snub-nosed monkey in person there is still plenty to see and experience in this delightful country, much of which continues largely untouched by mainstream tourism.

Read Audley’s Policy on Burma

To book a tailor-made trip to Burma, call one of our country specialists on 01993 838 105 or contact us online.

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.

Lake Pukaki, South Island, New Zealand

I have been lucky enough to recently return from a three week holiday in New Zealand. Having first visited as a backpacker in 2003 I was overwhelmed by the unspoilt beauty and varied landscapes of this amazing country and vowed to return.

Once again I was not disappointed, this time hiring a Maui motorhome, intent on trying some more of the adventure sports before tipping over into the wrong side of my thirties.

It is no wonder the quietly imposing, almost ethereal landscapes were chosen for Peter Jackson’s latest movie ‘The Hobbit’ due for release next year. From the jagged snow-capped mountains of the southern alps, to the wild, dramatic coastlines and hillsides carved out by volcanic craters, every bend threw up new and ever-changing scenery.

New Zealand is a country for all ages, if you’re young and looking for adrenaline fuelled sports you’ll be spoilt for choice. Take your pick from skydiving over a glacier to bungy jumping and river rafting – just a few of the options available.

If you prefer a more relaxing holiday New Zealand is famous for its tramping  (walking) particularly through the stunning national parks. Choose from one-day treks through to multi-day walks, staying overnight in hut accommodation (booking advisable).

Here are my top 10 suggestions for seeing the best New Zealand has to offer:

1. Tramping. Whether it’s a one day trek through Tongariro National Park or a four-day trek through Fjordland National Park.
2. Skyline Luge, Queenstown. Great for all ages and not to be missed. Once is never enough.
3. Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula. Stunning coastline, get there early before the crowds.
4. Rotorua. This smelly town is a fascinating place full of geysers, hot springs and bubbling mud pools.
5. Kiwi spotting. Now endangered, visit a wildlife park to see these cute, nocturnal creatures.
6. Kawarau bridge bungy. The first ever commercial bungy. Highly entertaining, even if you’re just a spectator.
7. Milford Sound. The largest of the 14 national parks in New Zealand. Take a wildlife cruise for a chance to spot dolphins, penguins and seals.
8. Wine tour. Famous for its outstanding Sauvignon Blanc, a New Zealand wine tour is a must.
9. Mount Cook. There are plenty of walks with stunning views of Mount Cook and a very informative visitor centre.
10. Kaikoura. Swim with dolphins, take a whale watching trip or look out for seals lazing about along the coastline.

If you have plenty of time on your hands New Zealand can be combined with a city break in many cities such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Sydney and Dubai to break up the long flight, depending on who you fly with. 

 To book a tailor-made trip to New Zealand, call one of our New Zealand specialists on 01993 838 820 or contact us online.

Tiger and her cub

The proposed expansion of India’s National Highway has sparked outrage amongst conservationists, concerned the new highway will destroy the Indian tiger corridor.

Work to expand the highway in the central state of Maharashtra had already begun, but was halted by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) until the appropriate mitigation processes are in place. 

An 85 km stretch of the highway passes through the corridor, home to one-sixth of the entire tiger population. The corridor consists of two narrow strips of forest running almost parallel, connecting Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary in the north, and Nawegaon National Park in the south, running through nine tiger reserves.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) attempted to appease conservationists by suggesting that a three metre high underpass be built for the tigers to cross under, but this was not approved by the conservationists who are concerned that the corridor would be narrowed down even further, leaving no guarantee that the animals would not attempt to cross the highway.

With the NHAI plan rejected, the WTI has been brought in to develop a new one. It has also emerged that even with the expansion work in progress, NHAI has already violated the Forest Conservation Act (FCA).

Tiger Facts (WWF)

• It is now estimated that there are fewer than 3,200 tigers left in the wild.
• Wild tiger numbers have fallen by about 95% over the last 100 years.
• The biggest threat is the poaching of tigers for skins and body parts used in traditional Asian medicines.
• An in-depth analysis in 2006 concluded that there was 40% less tiger habitat than just a decade ago.

Audley is a member of TOFT (Travel Operators for Tigers) who, in conjunction with Global Tiger Patrol, supports a sustainable approach to tourism in the wildlife reserves. To find out more about wildlife tours in India phone our specialists on 01993 838 350.

Air New Zealand reveals its new all black aircraft

To celebrate their love of rugby and long-time sponsorship of the ‘All Blacks’ rugby team, Air New Zealand have produced the world’s largest commercial aircraft to be painted completely black.

The Boeing 777-300ER, which also incorporates the ‘All Blacks’ silver fern insignia, was revealed on the 16th December and was led out of its hanger by New Zealand World Champion rugby players, Kieran Read and Andy Ellis.

The paintwork took just over a week to complete (two days longer than it normally takes to paint a 777), with 14 painters working in shifts 24 hours a day, and 700 litres of chrome free paint were used.

View a time lapse video of the aircraft being painted on YouTube.

Remember to watch the skies in 2012, when this incredible looking plane will be flying into Heathrow, London.

To book a tailor-made trip to New Zealand, call one of our New Zealand specialists on 01993 838 820 or contact us online.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford recently opened the doors to its new galleries of Ancient Egypt and Nubia. Its old Egyptian galleries have been redesigned and extended with state of the art facilities. This means that more than double the number of mummies and coffins are now on display, along with many of its other artifacts that have been in storage for decades.

The galleries have been designed to take visitors on a chronological tour covering more than 5000 years of human life on the Nile valley, from prehistory to the 7th century AD.

As well as the mummies and coffins on display, you will also be able to see the museums other iconic objects, such as  the wall painting depicting Akhenaten and Nefertiti’s daughters, the Shrine of Taharqa from the temple at Kawa; and the enormous limestone statues of the fertility god Min which date to 3300 BC.

Visit the Ashmolean Museum website to find out more about its new galleries and when to visit.

To book a tailor-made trip to Egypt, call one of our Egypt specialists on 01993 838 410 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 starting point for the new trekking route in New Zealand, Cape Reinga

If you’re looking for inspiration to pull on your hiking boots and head out into the wide open spaces, this may be of interest to you. This month, New Zealand will be opening a new trail, Te Araroa – meaning ‘long pathway’ in the Maori language, which will run the full length of the country.

With the help of hundreds of volunteers, linking up existing routes and building new ones the new trail has taken over a decade to complete, and winds its way through New Zealand’s incredibly diverse landscape of mountains, volcanoes, lakes, valleys, and cities.

Running 3,000km from Cape Reinga in the north, to Bluff in the south, it will be one of the longest walking trails in the world. There are 300 stages along the route to choose from, varying in length from several days to a few hours. The full trek is estimated to take around four months to complete.

Visit the Te Araroa website to find out more about this new walking route in New Zealand.

To book a tailor-made trip to New Zealand, call one of our New Zealand specialists on 01993 838 820 or contact us online.

The instantly recognisable great white shark

Shark fin soup is a delicacy in many parts of Asia but it has also become highly controversial as it’s thought to be the major cause in the dramatic decline in global shark populations. Indeed, estimates for the number of sharks culled annually for the trade, range from a staggering 35-70 million, despite the fact that 30% of shark species are threatened with extinction.

Now, however, the Peninsula Hotels Group (we use their hotels in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bejing and Bangkok) will become the first major chain to stop serving it as of January 2012.

It’s a major breakthrough for campaigners who see the practice as cruel, unnecessary and unsustainable.

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.

Pandas head to Edinburgh Zoo from China

With all the bad news that appears in the press normally, it’s nice to come across a positive, heartwarming story once in a while, and this is exactly what I found when having a look around the BBC news site yesterday.

Two pandas, named Sunshine and Sweetie, are on their way to Edinburgh Zoo from their home in China, in the hope that they will breed. Panda reproduction is notoriously difficult as females are only fertile for one day a year and, as Wei Ming explains in the video, there also needs to be a mutual attraction!

It is costing Edinburgh Zoo a whopping £700,000 a year for each bear, plus another £70,000 to feed their bamboo habit. They will be staying in Scotland’s capital for 10 years and the zoo hopes they will prove so popular that their visitor numbers double.

Visit the BBC website to watch this video and find out more about China’s panda conservation effort.

Spirit bear in British Columbia, Canada

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation is a charity that we as a company support and a recent update from them shows why their work really is so important to the wildlife of Canada.

In 2005 the charity purchased an area of hunting territory three times the size of Yellowstone National Park in Canada’s British Columbia region, along with a 24,700 square kilometres hunting licence. This meant they had exclusive commercial hunting rights over the area and the purchase ended commercial trophy hunting over this huge region. In 2011, the charity purchased another 3,500 square kilometres of hunting territory and this time the area encompassed a vast amount of spirit bear habitat.

In securing these large areas of land, the Raincoast Conservation Foundation has played a major part in the conservation of wildlife in the area, including black bears, wolves and spirit bears. And while the depleting numbers of salmon available in the area is still a worry, the progress made to protect bear habitat and reduce trophy hunting has dramatically increased the chance of future generations being able to enjoy BC’s wildlife for themselves.

If you would like to find out more about the charities we support, please visit our Responsible Travel holiday guide.

To discover more about the Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the work that they do, please visit the Raincoast Conservation Website.

Audley Manager, Kate, with the children of Paya Ngoto

I’ve blogged several times about this small, provincial school in Burma (to see previous blogs just type “Paya Ngoto” into the search).

The first time was when the school was virtually destroyed by Cyclone Nargis back in 2008. Since then Audley have set up numerous fund raising events, not just to repair the school, but to continue to support it long term.

I thought I’d share with you what Kate, one of our Southeast Asia Regional Product Managers, found on a recent visit (includes photos). 

During my trip to Burma last month I paid my first visit to the Paya Ngoto School, which Audley has supported since 2008.

After Cyclone Nargis ripped through the community destroying homes, lives and land in its wake we organised a fundraising initiative to get the school rebuilt. With the help of a huge number of client donations and support from staff, family and friends we raised £11,000.

Today the school is thriving and is an important hub of this rural community near Twante, a two-hour journey from Rangoon. It was wonderful, and rather moving to be able to finally visit the school and meet the dedicated teachers and delightful children who were all eager to show off their alphabet recitals and playground games. We presented the teachers with new longyis and the children were given new exercise books and pencils.

We provide ongoing support to the school and encourage any of our clients travelling to Burma to pay a visit and donate exercise books, pencils, learning materials, new uniforms etc. We can also arrange a sponsored lunch for the whole school prepared by the local monastery, which provides the children with a hot, wholesome meal. Clients are of course invited to join the children and teachers for lunch.

(Click to enlarge)

For more information about Paya Ngoto School and travel to Burma, please contact our Burma specialists on 01993 838105 or contact us online.

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.

Classic car, Cuba

An iconic feature of Cuban roads, the classic cars of Cuba may become a symbol of the past.

Cubans will soon be able to buy and sell cars, ending the ban on trading cars bought after the 1959 revolution. President Raul Castro has decided to relax rules on Cuban car ownership, meaning locals can now buy or sell used vehicles freely for the first time in half a century. The new regulations also mean that Cubans can now own more than one used vehicle and will no longer lose their car if they emigrate.

It is thought that the move, along with new laws permitting home sales, are part of an effort to boost Cuba’s struggling economy, improving the private sector by moving hundreds of thousands of workers off the public payroll.

There are still some tight restrictions in place though, with the right to buy a new car limited to Cubans who earn some foreign currency, such as doctors, artists and musicians.

So will the much-loved, battered Chevrolets and Buicks disappear from the narrow streets and alleyways of Cuba? Probably not for a while, which will please tourists and photographers around the world.

If you would like to visit Cuba and wish to discuss your plans with a specialist you can phone our Cuba team on 01993 838 685 or visit the Cuba section of our website.

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.