Shortly we hope to launch Arctic safari holidays for general wildlife enthusiasts. However, professional wildlife phototgrapher, Andy Rouse, has just completed the first of 3 trips this summer with Wildlife & Wilderness leading small groups in search of polar bears and other Arctic wildlife around Spitsbergen and the Svalbard archipelago in the high Arctic. On board a small ice-strengthened vessel that can reach locations no other ship can get to ensured the group got some spectacular wildlife encounters both with polar bears, walrus and other wildlife. None of more usual larger ships offer this type of initmate experience but unfortunately all of Andy’s trips for this summer are fully booked, not suprising given that these are probably the best Arctic safari holidays you can find. Some of his initial stunning images can be seen at www.andyrouse.co.uk/blog.

The International Whaling Commission is meeting in Madeira this week and one of its priorities among the 85 member countries is to find ways to break through the deadlock of polarised views with regards to hunting of whales. Reports commissioned by various interest groups now show that whale watching has doubled in the past decade and as a consequence is of considerable worth to local economies worldwide whilst hunting can be a cost burden on those governments still allowing whaling. Of particular note is Iceland where the outgoing government set a quota of 150 fin whales, none of which would end up in Iceland but would be sold to the East. However whale watching holidays in Iceland continue to be worth more to the economy and the season there is being extended. In Reykjavik the season will to run throughout the year for the first time this year. Clearly whale watching holidays offer a more responsible and sustainable role in a countries economy as well as helping protect whales and oceanic ecosystems.

In a paper published today in Proceedings B of the Royal Society, Australian scientists have determined that dingoes are beneficial to ecosystems in which they are the top predator. Nothing unusual there perhaps, except that dingoes were an introduced species coming with settlers some 5000 years ago from Indonesia and usually alien species are detrimental to their environment. In some areas of Australia where fencing has removed dingoes, kangaroos have increased and destroyed much of the arid grasslands thereby reducing numbers of smaller mammals and other wildlife dependent on that ecosystem. The red fox was also seen to increase in numbers. However, in those areas of the outback beyond the dingo fences the wild dog retained its role as the top predator and more importantly retained a more diverse cascade of wildlife in the pyramid beneath it and the grasslands remained more intact. Therefore a role for dingoes in the conservation of outback wildlife and increased farming productivity is suggested.

2009 is the Year of the Gorilla, a multi-agency initiative backed by the UN among other parties. It aims to increase awareness of the extreme vulnerabilty of these endangered great apes of Africa and to gain funds to increase conservation and education efforts, particularly in those countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo where the species is most under threat. As you know we work closely with wildlife photographer Andy Rouse who last week spoke at a conference on the Year of the Gorilla and today has launched a signed limited edition print with all profits going to this initiative. The print entitled ‘Generations’  is of three generations of one family of mountain gorillas. To show your support for the gorillas you can purchase this superb print at http://www.printsforprimates.co.uk/.

The central Okavango Delta in Botswana reached its high point for flood waters last month and the waters now continue to flow south into drier lands and also down the Selinda Spillway and the Savute Channel. For those that do not know these latter two features to the northeast of the main delta are important ancient watercourses that rarely flow and usually offer rich grasslands and migratory routes to many species, for instance we have previously seen wild dogs out hunting along the Savute Channel. Along with the Okavango Delta they are key areas for safari holidays in Botswana and by all accounts some amazing sights are being encountered with cheetahs and lions taking to swimming and a wealth of wildlife moving alongside the channels.

During the recent research trip to Australia we were privileged to visit Oenpelli in Arnhem Land. This is an aboriginal tribal area in the east of the Northern Territories ‘Top End’, beyond the famous Kakadu National Park. Here a local guide took us on a tour to Injalak Hill and told us stories from the Dreamtime. This was also featured on BBC TV last weekend with Dr. Alice Roberts exploring The Incredible Human Journey. The hill has a tremendous history which is seen through its outstanding rock art as pictured above.

With plenty of time for photography in the Top End it became fun creating art in such a beautiful wilderness environment, nothing to compare with the aboriginal art over 40 000 years old, but enjoyable for its creativity “in camera”…Paperbark Trees in the Wetlands…

Steve writes “Having been back from Australia for a week or so now it is possible to reflect on a superb trip and on some tremendouos wildlife encounters in northern Australia.” Besides the phenomenal birdlife in the Top End of Northern Territories we also encounted 5m long crocodiles, dingoes, possums and plenty of agile wallabies. Little corellas regularly came to camp in good numbers and over in Queensland we encountered many thousands of egrets coming to roost on the Daintree River of an evening. The rainforest experience here is quiet unlike anywhere else and is special for being so primeaval.

However, the highlight of the trip was the incredible encounters snorkelling with whale sharks on the beautiful Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. The myriad of fish here is magnificent and we also snorkelled with manta rays, sharks and encountered dugongs and turtles. For April through to July when the whale sharks are on Ningaloo Reef it is a world class destination for a wildlife holiday and tourism here is helping the research on these mystical leviathans of the oceans.
This has been an excellent grounding for launching our Australia holidays and we are busy designing some very interesting trips to Australia which we hope to launch soon and which will be completely unique.

100sqkm of wetlands and over 1 million magpie geese. The honking is incredible as you go amongst them in the early mornings and it must be one of the great experiences of an Australian safari holiday. Here in the Northern Territories of Australia this is the land of big skies, woolly butt and paperbark trees, where the wallabies are calm and the saltie crocs almost invisible in the waters. Other bird life is impressive here too from blue-winged kookaburras, red-tailed cockatoos to the brolgas and white-bellied sea eagles. Birdwatching in Australia could become addictive, indeed we spent a good while with sacred kingfishers and  bar-breasted honeyeaters feeding young at a nest of entwined gum leaves hanging over snow-flake lilies in the flooded woodlands. Considering outback holidays in Australia? Then ensure you continue to read as we explore the great diversity of this continent nation and be sure to talk with us on our return!

Steve has just heard that the numbers of whale sharks swimming on Ningaloo Reef this year are some of the highest on record so he is about to head off to find out what the excitement is about! Australia is often forgotten as a safari destination but the diversity of both habitats and of the wildlife should encourage any nature enthusiast to visit. And with an increasing number of wilderness camps it is now easier to experience. At this time of the year, May-June, it is the best time to be in the north in places like Kakadu which is Australia’s largest National Park, the rainforests of Queensland and of course on the pristine reef of Ningaloo in Western Australia where besides whale sharks and myriads of fish, dugong and manta rays can be seen. Other posts from Australia are likely to be forthcoming at the Waterhole here over the next few weeks and you can discuss a wildlife holiday or a safari through Australia with Steve on his return.

The name Masai Mara is synonomous with the great African savannah and a wealth of wildlife. Featured in the Big Cat Diaries and a major draw for many tourists on safari holidays the Mara remains one of Africa’s best destinations for wildlife holidays . However, detailed research reported this month and supported by the WWF has indicated a marked decline in 7 ungulate prey species over the a 15 year period up until 2003. For example giraffe species have shown a decline in monthly counts since 1989 by up to 95%, with warthogs suffering a reduction of 80%, hartebeest 76% and impalas 67%, topi and waterbuck were also in decline. These dramatic declines had previously been reported in wildebeest, zebra and gazelles which make up the majority of the great Serengeti-Mara migration. Concommitant with the decline in prey species there has been a noted reduction in lion cheetah numbers. The reason behind this is the equally dramatic rise in Masai settlements close to the Mara ecosystem. The once pastoralist and nomadic Masai have settled in rapidly increasing numbers and effectively disrupted the flow of wildlife through the region. Having recognised this efforts are underway to ensure that the pastoralist lifestyle can contine on the borders of the Masai Mara. Hopefully based on this fundamental research and the implementation of initiatives the wildlife of the Mara can recover to ensure an ever-lasting legacy and enable future generations to enjoy the experience of Kenya safari holidays.