Newsletter & Latest Projects
Natural Selection Newsletter
No 2: October 2010
Having now spent more than 15 years guiding clients to some of the most interesting wildlife locations in the world, I felt it time to keep friends and clients (and hopefully their friends) updated with news from my new program of Natural Selection tours. These tours will be tailored for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Drawing on my extensive knowledge and experience, the emphasis being on locations offering outstanding wildlife watching/photographic experiences. As prices continue to rise, it is important to offer value and maximise quality ‘wildlife watching time’ per pound or dollar spent. If there are any wildlife locations not mentioned in this newsletter or on my website which you may wish to visit, then please let me know and I could work out an itinerary and costing.
I would specifically like to draw your attention to two exciting trips, one to breath-taking areas in British Columbia to see Spirit, Black and Grizzly Bears (September 2011) and the other to remote rainforests in Congo and CAR to see Lowland Gorillas and Forest Elephants. These tours are to locations very few other operators offer and promise to be memorable. Both tours will be operated in association with World Safaris.
In September I visited the Pantanal for the first time and expactations were certainly high beforehand. Even so the wildlife sightings in general surpassed my expectations, and included several sensational encounters with Jaguars (see Latest Images). I am now finalising an itinerary for a trip in August 2012, which will include prolonged stays in renowned Jaguar viewing areas.
Earlier this year I visited South Georgia and Antarctica for the first time. It was an unforgettable experience and the wildlife viewing around South Georgia in particular was breath taking. But there was a recurring frustration – the trip didn’t allow me enough time in the best places, nor be able to visit these locations when conditions were ideal. I am now planning a 3-week trip concentrating in the best areas around South Georgia (12 days) and the remoter islands of the Falklands. Unlike other trips, the daily program will be flexible allowing all-day shore visits or targeting early mornings and late afternoons, when the light is best for photography. For photographers in particular, this will be a dream trip. More information will be forthcoming in due course.
I am also pleased to say that in 2011 and beyond I will be continuing my associations with Wildlife Worldwide and Papyrus Tours. I have again been asked by Wildlife Worldwide to run a series of photography workshop tours to Borneo, Kenya and Zambia. Whilst my long association with Papyrus Tours continues with established trips such as Madagascar, plus a new trips to Sri Lanka and British Columbia.
Below is an outline of the tours I currently have planned for 2011 and 2012. More information and details are available on the tours pages of this site, including extensive photo galleries illustrating some of the amazing wildlife you may be able to see, or if you prefer please contact me directly with any questions.
Trips in 2011
Tanzania: Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
24th March – 7th April 2011 From £4895 Flights £600 approx
5 nights Ngorongoro Crater, 9 nights southern Serengeti
Availability: 2 places remain
Timed to coincide with the annual gathering of wildebeest, zebra and other game on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti, this trip provides unrivalled photo opportunities, with lions, cheetahs and other predators featuring prominently. Witness and enjoy one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth. I have been visiting these areas for over 15 years; every trip is different, but each memorable.
Scotland: Mull & Treshnish Isles
11th - 18th June 2011 From £975
7 nights Isle of Mull
Availability: 4 places remain
Mull is arguably the UK’s finest wildlife location and this week-long photography workshop, suitable for both beginners and experienced photographers, offers the chance to hone and develop your photographic skills and techniques with tuition from highly experienced professional photographers. There is potential to photograph puffins, other sea bird, sea eagles, orchids and other flora. Small group size and two (or three) tutors guarantees personal attention for everyone.
British Columbia: Great Bear Rainforest
8th - 17th September 2011 From £5725 Flights £750 approx
2 nights Vancouver, 7 nights Klemtu Bear Lodge
Availability: 5 places remain
The pristine wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest provides a stunning backdrop to a week of superb bear watching and photography. Targeting remote locations within ancient forests where close encounters with Spirit Bears, Black Bears and Grizzly Bears are commonplace. I have been to this region twice and rate it as one of the most extraordinary places I have ever visited.
Madagascar
October - November 2011 From 5840 Euros Flights £850 approx
2 nights Kirindy, 3 nights Masoala, 3 nights Andasibe-Mantadia, 3 nights Anjajavy Forest
Availability: 2 places remain
Madagascar is like nowhere else. Millions of years of isolation have created a parallel world where weird and wonderful creatures survive. Combining rainforest and dry forest locations, this trip will maximize the opportunities to see a diversity of lemurs, other mammals, birds, chameleons, frogs and a host of invertebrates. I have over 18 years experience visiting this island and have written several books about its extraordinary wildlife.
Photography Workshops
Launched in 2010, this series of workshop tours builds on the successes of their inaugural year to now offer three destinations in 2011 where wildlife watching and photography go hand-in-hand. All tours are a week in duration and feature tuition in both photographic and digital techniques.
Borneo's Rainforests, early May 2011, £TBA
Kenya: Masai Mara, late June, £TBA
Zambia: Luangwa Valley, early October, £TBA
In the Pipeline: Trips for 2012 and Beyond
Looking ahead to 2012 and beyond, I have a number of trips that are currently being planned. These will feature more strongly in future newsletters, but if you would like to register interest please drop me a line and I will be sure to forward all the necessary information as soon as I can.
Wyoming: Yellowstone in Winter
January - February 2012 From £3495 Flight £650 approx
Availability: 8 places maximum
A fairy-tale landscape of forests, ice and snow, where Wolves, Bobcats, Coyotes, Elk and Bison roam. Staying at different locations around the park and including key locations within Yellowstone, including the central canyon area, this trip will offer terrific photographic potential amidst a breathtaking, eerie landscape.
Borneo: The ‘Lost World’ of Maliau Basin
May 2012 From £TBA Flight £750 approx
Availability: 8 places maximum
Maliau Basin is a pristine ‘Lost World’ in the heart of Borneo’s rainforests. This remarkable area has remained argely undisturbed and supports an extraordinary biodiversity. This trip will spend time trekking through the basin, in combination with a more relaxing stay at another premier rainforest location. The photographic opportunities should be very special.
Congo & Central African Republic: Lowland Gorillas, Forest, Elephants, Birds & Bais
15th June – 1st July 2012 From £4630 Flight £750 approx
Availability: 8 places maximum
If ever a place conjured images of adventure and mystery it’s the Congo: the Heart of the Dark Continent. This tour is centered on Dzanga Ndoki and Nouabale Ndoki National Parks where natural clearing in the forests, known as bais, attract large numbers of elephants and groups of gorillas, together with buffalo and various antelopes. During the tour we will spend days on platforms overlooking different bais in each national park, and have the opportunity to track the world’s only habituated Lowland Gorillas.
Brazil: The Pantanal
August – September 2012 From £TBA Flight £850 approx
Availability: 8 places maximum
This incredible wetland supports the greatest gathering of wildlife in South America. There is incredible diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles and other creatures and also the best chance of seeing a wild Jaguar as well as other spectacular creatures like Giant Otters, Giant Anteaters, Hyacinth Macaws and Anacondas. I have just returned from the Pantanal, and enjoyed sensational Jaguar sightings. I am current finalising this itinerary, which will offer prolonged Jaguar viewing opportunities as well as a diversity of other species in a variety of locations.
South Georgia & The Falklands
October – November 2012 From £TBA Flight £TBA
Availability: 10+ places
This in-depth expedition takes advantage of the vibrant early season on South Georgia when snow cloaks the mountains and vast colonies of King Penguins, Elephant Seals, Wandering, Grey-headed, Light-mantled Sooty and Black-browed Albatross are at the peak of breeding activity. 
The landscape encapsulates rare beauty and is unparalleled for photography. This voyage combines 10-12 days in South Georgia with 3 days around the Falkland Islands, including some rarely visited locations, with vast breeding colonies of albatross and other species. The priority is to give you the maximum of time possible in the field, including early landings for great morning light.
All Natural Selection tours will be run through an established tour operator and so will be covered by the required ATOL and AITO bonds etc.
