Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris

Today we catch up with Fredrik from Aurora Safari Camp in Swedish Lapland where the seasons are changing rapidly from winter 2 weeks ago to summer now, almost by-passing spring. Nature is thriving there at the moment.

Also we introduce Kate from Kwando Safaris who talks about sightings in and around the Okavango Delta and Nxai Pan in Botswana. The water levels in the Okavango are at record levels and interesting wildlife sightings have been reported including denning wild dogs, a large coalition of lions and a tree-climbing cheetah.

Welcome to the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism. This show’s for everyone interested in eco-tourism, travel in the natural world and adventures to our planet’s wild places.

I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing high quality holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years.

For this month we have split the roundup into two parts, this being the second, for reasons explained in the first park. When we started thinking about podcasting for Wildlife & Wilderness we never ever thought that we would not be travelling. These are unusual times and we have taken the decision to reduce the frequency to twice monthly for the future. Of course when we do travel on research trips for wildlife holidays this will add a whole new aspect to the podcast show.

Please listen, like and subscribe to our podcast and you can contact us at [email protected] or visit our website at https://wildlifewilderness.com

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For this month we have split the roundup into two parts. These are unusual times and rather than the expected 5 or 10 minute briefing from colleagues, small lodge owners and managers around the world, we have entered into some deeper conversations. In this episode we explore conservation in Indian National Parks with Jehan from Shergarh Tented Camp and catch up with developments in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil with Guiliano from Aymara Lodge.

We’ll release the second part of the monthly roundup tomorrow to keep some consistency. You may have noticed that we skipped a week last week after 3 months of weekly episodes. Coronavirus has allowed us to gain a good foothold of podcasts but each episode is of course considerable work and we now plan to continue twice monthly.

Welcome to the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism. This show’s for everyone interested in eco-tourism, travel in the natural world and adventures to our planet’s wild places.

I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing high quality holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years.

In this episode we discuss the ongoing problems of poaching for bush meat in Kanha National Park, India. This tiger reserve is popular for tiger safaris but the pandemic has meant increased pressure on the park. We discuss tolerance and conflicts and how the conservation model in India is organised. We also find out about the two tusker elephants that arrived last month in the national park.

In the northern Pantanal of Brazil camera traps are throwing more light on the wildlife of this region. Here another giant armadillo has been discovered, there are numerous tapir and almost certainly more jaguars than giant anteaters. Four different ocelots have also been identified. We talk of other elusive cats too plus some mysterious camera trap captures of possible hunters on the land, perhaps a reflection of similar happenings to those in India.

In the second part we will catch up with Fredrik in Swedish Lapland and take a look into Okavango Delta and other regions of Botswana.

You can contact us at [email protected] or visit our website at https://wildlifewilderness.com

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Welcome to Part 2 of our talk with Calum and Sophie from Lewa House in northern Kenya. In this episode we look at their safaris operations. They offer a wide range of safari activities and we discuss these and how Lewa House fits into a safari itinerary, either at the beginning of a safari in Kenya or at the end.

However, this episode's our main focus is on Lewa as a Wildlife Conservancy, protecting endangered black rhinos and Grevy’s zebras, among the other wildlife.

Welcome to the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first podcast on sustainable tourism and wildlife safaris worldwide. This show’s for everyone interested in travel in the natural world, eco-tourism, conservation and adventures in our planet’s wild places.

I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing outstanding holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years. If you are planning a safari or want to get in touch then drop us an email to [email protected] or visit our website at www.wildlifewilderness.com.

We pick up the story in this podcast episode with the history of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, how it came about to protect the black rhinos of Kenya. David Attenborough is also mentioned as he stayed on Lewa when the BBC were filming 'Africa' and he was required to be seen in different habitats.

We also discover the research that is ongoing on Lewa conservancy and new findings on different animal and plant species. That leads us on to learning about animal movements, so over large distances through wildlife corridors from Samburu in the north to Mt. Kenya.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is IUCN Green listed which is awarded to wildlife areas that are managed exceptionally well. It has also been awarded a UN Biosphere protection award.

We also discuss the future of safaris and wildlife in Kenya and the future looks very bright with the intention to expand further wildlife corridors and for there to be more low impact tourism. This is perhaps the time to adjust tourism for the future and this is recognised by the Kenya government. The future for Kenya safaris and in particular for Lewa House and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy looks very bright.

I thoroughly enjoyed talking with both Sophie and Calum from Lewa House and again it has been a truly informative experience across many aspects of safaris and conservation initiatives. A theme we aim to continue with interviews from around the world.

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In East Africa, Mt. Kenya almost straddles the Equator with its eternal snows. A little to the north is an upland wilderness area and this is where both Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Lewa House are located. Surrounded by majestic scenery, Lewa House sits in the middle of the conservancy and is home to fourth generation Kenyan, Sophie and her husband Calum MacFarlane.

Inevitably we immediately got chatting about the weather thanks to a video Calum had sent to me a short time before we spoke. So we jump right on in and catch up with the rains down in Africa.

We continue to talk about the history of Lewa, what the wildlife might have been like 100 years ago and how the house was built, plus how Sophie and Calum turned it into a welcoming and homely safari lodge. We share the wide range of safari activities available from Lewa House.

Of course we talk about endangered black rhinos and Grevy's zebras but also about what it is like to be out on safari and the effect that has on visitors. Walking safaris are a specialty of Calum and we learn a little about how they work in the quieter areas of Lewa.

We also discuss bird watching and how birds add so much more to the landscape and wild-scape of the place.

Lewa House has extremely strong ties with the local community and we talk through some of the projects they are involved with and how these ultimately help conservation of the wildlife. You will get a clear indication that wildlife tourism of this nature is highly important to the conservation of species.

In Part 2 next week we talk more about Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

Given that we are still enduring coronavirus and resources in Africa are really stretched, if you would like to help support wildlife conservation at Lewa then you can find more information at https://www.lewa.org/lifeline/

If you are active then Lewa has a virtual marathon, the real one was cancelled this year; it is in conjunction with Tusk Trust and details can be found here: https://www.lewasafarimarathon.com/ .

Listening to this field recording of sounds you could be mistaken for being on a tropical island with waves lapping the shore. The waves that were rolling in on the day these ambient sounds were recorded were quite benign; but Tasmania, Australia’s island state lies in the path of the Southern Hemisphere’s Roaring Forties and is often blasted by strong, wild winds. Fortunately, this recording was made on the reasonably sheltered and beautiful Maria Island that provides a stunning walk through nature and history just off the main coast of Tasmania.

Welcome to the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism. This show’s for everyone interested in eco-tourism, travel in the natural world and adventures to our planet’s wild places.

I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing high quality holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years.

If you are planning your future travels do check out our website at www.wildlifewilderness.com or contact us by email [email protected]

Tasmania is a delightful island and one of great contrasts too. In the wild west are the forests of the Tarkine but Tasmania also has numerous mountains and deep cut valleys and spectacular beaches. Scenically it is a delight and we’d love to take you there. Nature abounds with the iconic Tasmanian devil, there are pademelons – a small wallaby, kangaroos and it is a great place for finding platypus; then wombats, spotted quolls and other marsupials make up a fine mix of terrestrial animals. Offshore dolphins, southern right whales, seals, albatross and little, or blue penguins can be found.

Tassie is also known for its birds, attracting over 200 species with 12 endemic species including some high endangered such as the forty-spotted pardalote and the orange-bellied parrot. It is a superb destination for bird watching and wildlife holidays, made more so by great guiding and wonderful local food and wine.

I hope that this podcast will take you to a different place in your imagination, something we perhaps need to do in this current pandemic. In the meantime If you’ve enjoyed our podcasts so far do subscribe and share with friends interested in wildlife & wilderness.

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Welcome to Wild Diaries, the monthly roundup of wildlife sightings and happenings in the natural world from around the globe.

Stop and think for a moment, just what is happening right now out there in those wild places you would love to visit?

Welcome the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism. This show’s for everyone interested in eco-tourism, travel in the natural world and adventures to our planet’s wild places.

I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing high quality holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years.

For our second monthly news I’m delighted to again host some of the owners of small camps and lodges, just a few of the many that we work with to provide you unique experiences. As I’ve said before our tailor made holidays are always guided by what interests you.

If you are planning your future travels do check out our website at www.wildlifewilderness.com or contact us by email [email protected]

First off, we hear from Fredrik at Aurora Safari Camp in Swedish Lapland.

@ 01:58 Fredrik talks a little about his background and introduces us to his small glamping location in the heart of northern Sweden. He is a keen photographer and regularly sees the northern lights in Winter. Now is a change of season and they have been testing a new product for next winter – the only hot air ballooning in Lapland. Ballooning over Lapland by day and the northern lights at night. Incredible!

@14:05 Tyrone talks from Musekese safari camp about their latest sightings including new lion cubs to strengthen the local pride, the return of the elephants as the African bush of Kafue National Park dries out and the bird life still present on the lagoon in from of camp.

Tyrone and his business partner Phil have also launched their own podcast, inspired by the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show they now host The Elephant’s in the Room! Check it out on your favourite podcast app.

@19:25 Jehan has some very unusual visitors to Kanha National Park in India. We had a few issues with power cuts so we pick up his story again but you do not miss anything. Hopefully we’ll pick up on the elephants in Kanha next time before the national park closes for the monsoon.

On the other side of the world is Tim McGrady from Farewell Harbour Lodge who was with us on the last Episode talking about Bears & Whales in Canada. He’s back with us with another recent story.

@25:48 he tells of a mischievous bear that they catch and unusually move and release back into the wild. However, it does not have a happy ending although the lessons learnt will be valuable in the future for bear conservation in the Great Bear Rainforest of Canada’s west coast.

@35:16 Finally, we join Giuliano back in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil where at Aymara Lodge a mother caiman is moving her babies, the jaguar still seems to like the road and Giuliano is planning The Big Sit 24h bird watching.

We look forward to bringing you further updates from around the world next month.

If you’ve enjoyed our podcasts so far do subscribe and share with friends interested in wildlife & wilderness.

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In this episode of the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism, we are putting the pod in podcast.

The first sounds you hear are from killer whales, orcas, off the west coast of Canada. In fact, what is very cool is that from just that short clip they were identified by Megan at Orca Lab as members of the northern resident A5 pod in the Broughton Archipelago off Vancouver Island.

And that group of islands is where we take you in this episode, to explore Farewell Harbour Lodge and the wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest.

In the meantime just a reminder that if you want to get in touch then drop us an email to [email protected] or visit our website at https://www.wildlifewilderness.com.

In this episode I’m delighted to be talking with Tim McGrady. Tim has paddled kayaks around the islands and fjords of the Pacific West Coast of Canada for many years and also worked at a number of wildlife-watching lodges and has a great knowledge of bears, whales and the nature of the region. Today he is part owner, manager and guide at Farewell Harbour Lodge.

Tim talks about how the lodge came about by combining the old Farewell Harbour with Bones Bay Lodge; the activities possible from the lodge and the terrific biodiversity of wildlife to be found in this wild land. How bear watching is different to other lodges and the close proximity they achieve to humpback whales, orcas and dolphins that pass through these islands. We discuss conservation, scientific research including that by nearby Orca Lab and also about the First Nations peoples of the region. Heli-hiking and green initiatives are mentioned and of course we look to the future to the protection and importance of this reserve in Canada’s British Columbia.

Here are some useful links.

https://www.farewellharbour.com/

http://www.orca-live.net/community/

Wildlife & Wilderness is ATOL protected.

We take you to an early morning in the rainforests of Brazil, bird watching and making field recordings of ambient sound from a tower above the canopy of the forest. The tower is a short walk from Cristalino Lodge in the depths of the southern part of the Amazon in Mato Grosso state. Here there is an exceptionally well preserved habitat of pristine rainforest.

As your host Dr. Steve Banner I also explain a little more about our nature travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness as we have been specialising in tailor made holidays for almost 25 years.

We listen to clients’ dreams and using our extensive knowledge and professional skills marry those dreams to experiences that inspire. As specialists we are totally independent, not contracted to any other party, we work with those lodges, guides and services that fit your requirements at the time. Ours truly are tailor made holidays. We love designing trips that excite us and allow you to be enthralled by the natural world.

It goes without saying that all that has stopped just now but we are resilient and when international travel picks up again we will be here to help you realise your dreams. There is an appropriate hashtag at the moment #dreamnowtravellater.

It really is time to start planning your wish list of destinations, check out our website at https://www.wildlifewilderness.com or contact us via [email protected].

The sounds we have recorded here can be heard rom Guyana, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. They occur every day right across the greatest rainforest in the world, even now whilst we are in lockdown. Unrelenting nature.

Of particular note you’ll hear the dull grey bird that is infrequently seen but aptly named Screaming Piha. You will not mistake it!

This mix of recordings comes from one morning high in the canopy of the Brazilian rainforest. Clouds float just above the trees and there is some rain, which disperses as the morning proceeds. Perhaps because of the weather that morning, there are not quite so many different calls but you will get an impression of the diversity of life in the forest.

Sanne is half of a young Dutch couple that now live with their 33 huskies at a lodge in Lapland, northern Sweden. Her love for the dogs came from a single holiday dog sledding and now, during the winter months she runs private dog sled tours from short half day trips to long multi-day expeditions.

She describes how they got started and learnt guiding before setting up their own business, Yellow Snow Husky Tours, 2 years ago. They grew their kennels from 3 huskies to the complement of dogs they have today.

It is a year-round occupation although they dogs seem to enjoy their lazy time in the summer swimming in the lake and enjoying cuddles. Puppies are trained up and as autumn approaches they get into serious training so that when the snows finally arrive they are fit to run 40km or more each day.

As each tour is for private guests, they carefully plan the trips to your abilities with a variety of routes to wilderness cabins. We talk about life around the cabin and the care of the dogs and the atmosphere of evenings spent with friends in the wilderness. Sanne explains her passion for dog sledding and also recounts tales of just how intelligent the dogs are in finding their way. We hear too of her own trips to the high mountains of Sweden trail finding with teams of 10 dogs and camping out in the vast wilderness.

It is clear that she wants to keep the business small and personal offering unique husky dog sled tours to enthusiast clients. We welcome that approach.

Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show is the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism to our planet’s wild places.

I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing high quality holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years.

Email us at [email protected] with any comments or questions.

Visit our website for dog sled tours and other winter activities: https://wildlifewilderness.com

Welcome to the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism to our planet’s wild places.

I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing high quality holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years.

We are passionate about all things in the world of travel in the natural world. Safaris, wildlife travel, wilderness adventures and more. And what better way to bring this to you than a roundup of what is happening around some of the world’s great destinations.

We plan this to be a monthly update on exciting wildlife sightings or happenings, how the seasons are changing and life in National Parks and wild places across the world all brought to you directly by our colleagues on the ground in these places. First-hand knowledge and news straight to you from Wildlife & Wilderness.

If you are planning your future travels do check out our website at www.wildlifewilderness.com  or contact us via [email protected]

At present we have around 7 guides, lodge owners etc. all people keen to give updates from their own locations in key destinations but given the unusual circumstances with coronavirus some of them cannot make it today, and in any case dependent on seasons not all will be with us all of the time.

First off, we hear from Tyrone of Jeffery & McKeith Safaris on the Kafue, we nicknamed this the Kafue Kronicles!

@ 0:145 Tyrone talks about his safari camps, their location and how they are seeing the wildlife come back to this area in good numbers thanks to their conservation work and anti-poaching measures. Proving that having an African safari camp in the right place really helps wildlife. I know Tyrone is passionate about this area and it really comes across, yet as he points out they still have so much to learn about the elephants, leopards and cheetahs as well as much of the other wildlife. They are in the process of setting up Musekese Camp for the next season which will hopefully be another rewarding year season for them on safari in Zambia.

@08:04 Next up is Jehan who, with his wife Katie, is the owner of Shergarh Tented Camp in Kanha National Park, central India. Jehan talks about his camp, about how coronavirus has affected tourism to the national park and also the livelihoods of those involved and how that may affect the conservation efforts for this park. As tiger safaris are a big draw in India Jehan also talks about those tigers he knows intimately and of events if recent months including fights between two large male tigers over a female. It tells how they are able to keep track of events through social media notes between the guides.

@ 21:25 Finally, for today, Giuliano introduces himself and the Pantanal in Brazil. He is a birding guide and photographer who now owns a lodge in a special area of the Pantanal. Here in his woodland escape he is in lockdown enjoying the surrounding wildlife as he prepares for the coming season. Having only taken on Aymara Lodge last year he talks about the camera traps he has set up to help identify which species are on the property. Coatis were playing outside and macaws flew over just before we started the recording. This is clearly as special area of the Pantanal with giant otters on the river, encounters with tapir and jaguar on the road, ocelots wandering through the lodge day and night and camera traps picking up puma and rarer species such as giant armadillo. They are learning are learning all the time and are looking forward to bringing us future updates on the wildlife of the...