Tag: "Wildlife"

Visit Borneo, A Nature Lovers Dream

Thank you to Kate Kuchnowska of Western & Oriental for writing this wonderful blog about her once in a life time experience in Borneo.

Borneo holidays are all about nature.  I love nature of course, but North Downs in Surrey are wild enough for me. However my travel companion had a very different idea. She did treks in Columbia and Ethiopia, she travelled Zanzibar on her own, she wanted to see real jungle with undiscovered tribes and leaches 5 inches long.

River Lodge beside The Kinabatangan River

“No way” – I protested – “I’m not trekking for a week, I’m not sleeping outdoors  and I’m definitely not discovering monster leeches!”

As a result of a compromise we booked an overnight tour to the jungle lodge at Kinabatangan River. We were picked from Sepilok and after about 3 hours of comfortable journey we arrived at our accommodation. We hardly had time to drop our bags and enjoy a cup of tea before we were taken to the boat and rushed up the river.

15 minutes later we came face to face with a family of pigmy elephants playing at the river bank. Seeing elephants in the wild was one of my life-long dreams and here they were, jumping, dancing, pulling each other’s tails and generally having fun only 10 meters from our boat!

My friend looked at me: “Are you crying?” “Yes” I mumbled, embarrassed. They were so beautiful, so funny and I waited for them more than 20 years!

Finally the animals disappeared in the forest and we proceeded with our tour up the river to see proboscis monkeys, monitor lizards, birds and crocodiles. My friend was particularly excited about the crocodiles, but they were obviously not hungry this day or went hunting somewhere else.  We have met local people rowing slowly through mangrove forest instead.

Dusk started falling slowly. “I think the elephants may be in the village” – announced our guide – “Shall we check?”

The village was spread on both banks of the river. The elephants were rather noisily enjoying their dinner of bamboo shoots. We joined 2 boats with local families, kids excited about seeing elephants and parents not sure if they should watch the animals or their children.

It was getting dark. In front of us the sun was setting over the rain forest, on the left we could make out shades of the elephants, on the right fog started rising from the jungle and spreading to the river. Everything went quiet, waiting. Suddenly from the village mosque the muezzin started calling for the evening prayer, his melodic voice ringing above the river, the village and the ancient forest. “Magic” whispered my friend, and magic it was indeed.

The special moment didn’t last long. By the time we arrived back for dinner the air was full of mysterious noises. We were given a pair of wellies and a torch each and we went for a night jungle walk – the adventure I dreaded even to think about. The mud was ankle-deep, vines and branches were hanging everywhere and you had a feeling that unknown, but terrible danger was waiting to happen. I glanced at my friend, she looked ecstatic!

“Oh God” – I thought – “if I survive this walk I will give my ex-boyfriend second chance. He was always removing tree creepers from my way, I hate them!”

My friend must have seen how pale I was, as she put a hand on my shoulder and whispered “You will be fine. I will hold the vines for you, ok?” So she did and off we went, me holding my breath and trying not to see anything around me and her obviously having one of the happiest moments of her life! The forest was dense, dark, humid, noisy and believe me I didn’t want to know what is hiding in it, but I survived!

After a good nights sleep and another boat ride at 5am there was a time to decide where our Borneo holidays would take us to next. Well… we went to Brunei for 2-night jungle trip with the ex-headhunters tribe.

Meet Olivia the Turtle, Marine Researcher in the Maldives

Meet Olivia the turtle, Four Seasons Resort Landaa Giraavaru’s latest marine researcher in the Maldives. Olivia is a rare Olive Ridley turtle and a pioneer for her species. She spent some 12 months of her long life being nurtured and cared for at the island’s successful Landaa Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and as the longest-staying resident to date, she has been fitted with a satellite tracking device and released back into the wild.

Her adventures so far have already taken her into the middle of the Indian Ocean, a distance of 510 miles from the resort, and with the satellite tracking device anyone is able to follow her whereabouts via the regularly updated ‘Olivia-link’ run by the rehab centre here. This geo tagging technology has allowed marine biologists exclusive access to the life of Olivia. With such little information known about the world’s smallest sea turtles, this project is an excellent opportunity to find out more about these fascinating creatures.

Meanwhile, we have been watching Olivia’s emotional release into the wild and look forward to discovering Olivia’s whereabouts in the world. Other patients at the rehab centre include Sally and Clover, Olive Ridley turtles who were found with multiple lacerations caused by fishing boats in the local area. Landaa’s Turtle Rehabilitation Centre’s successful program means that their release back into the wild is imminent and with the necessary sponsorship of these turtles, the centre would be able to purchase more satellite tags to continue their important research.

CLOSED: Enter Our Family Photo Competition

We are pleased to announce the winners of our photo competition:

Grand Prize-Kenny Mackie

My son building sandcastle on Balmedie Beach, Aberdee. Uploaded by Kenny Mackie

Runner-up – Lorna Garratt

A fun day out with my family visiting the local sights. Uploaded by Lorna Garratt

Runner-up – Krisztina  Lencses

Me and my family enjoyed a few days in a beautiful place in the Easter holidays. Uploaded by Krisztina Lencses

Congratulations our winners and thanks to everyone for your participation!

CLOSED: Win an 8 night family holiday for four to amazing Thailand

Thailand is the ideal location for a fun-filled, active and cultural luxury family holiday with plenty to do for children (and parents!) of all ages, and Western & Oriental have teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Four Seasons Resorts and Thai Airways to bring you an exciting photo competition for your chance to win a first prize of an outstanding family holiday! The prize includes four nights stay at the 5* Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai and four nights at the 5* Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui for two adults and two children, including flights with Thai Airways. Two runners up will each win a special prize from one of our family specialist partners.

How To Enter?

For your chance to win, enter our photo competition by emailing us your best family holiday photos to blog@wandotravel.com  and include your name, address, telephone number and a description of your family photo. You can send us anything from the kids building sand castles, splashing in the pool, to photos of you all trekking through a jungle or even riding on camels. The list is endless! We will then upload your photos here and onto our Facebook page so that you can view your photo along side other pictures in the competition.

Western & Oriental and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will choose the best family holiday photos and announce the winners within seven days of the closing date of the competition. The competition closes at 16:00 GMT on 18th November 2011; open to UK and Eire residents only. Subject to availability. Terms & conditions apply (see below). Good luck!

View our latest competition photos below & good luck!

My son Andrew spots me taking his picture as he watches the ocean.Uploaded by Charlotte Norman

 

My wife and son Christopher swing across the adventure canyon in the hot sun. Uploaded by Michael Mayer

 

My nephew steven enjoys the bouncy ball course on a breezy afternoon. Uploaded by Sarah O'Neill

 

My three kids leading each other to the shoreline for a look at the waves. Uploaded by Edwin Lee.

 

The most spectacular sunset. Mavisehir, Didim. Turkey. Uploaded by Catherine Simms

 

MY TWO LOVELY BOYS ARE JOINED AT THE HIP AND LOVED PLAYING TOGETHER ON OURHOLIDAY TO SHARM IN EGYPT. Uploaded by Hazel Anna Rigazio

 

This was our last family holiday together good times. Uploaded by Wendy Dalby

 

When we went to the wizarding world of harry potter this summer we just had to stop for some butterbeer. It was delicious.Uploaded by Britnee Hager

 

Me and my children infront of the beach on an evening...whilst the sun was setting. Uploaded by Carla Morris.

 

This picture of my daughter, her friend and my son was taken when the fair travelled into our hometown of Bexhill. Uploaded by Carrie Hanrahan

 

Here is me, mum and my 7 year old son Rhys. We had a fantastic time in Euro Disney and this picture proves you are never too old for the magic Disney offers.Uploaded by Lisa Williams

 

Have fun in Florida with the Dolphins. Uploaded by Ryan Turner.

 

This was taken a few weeks back on the Island of Dominica where my sister in now studying medicine at Ross University School of Medicine. It was taken in Portsmouth, Dominica on our last night together as a family.Uploaded by Sumeet Sharma.

 

At Gatorland in Florida. Uploaded by Glenn Hutton

 

Our 1st trip to the beach, he wasnt too keen on the pebbles but loved the sea. Uploaded by Suneil Bhatia

 

My daughter having fun on the beach. Uploaded by Luisa Connor.

 

This is me and my family swimming with dolphins in Florida a coupld of years ago. It was amazing, even if it was freezing that day! Uploaded by Samantha Byrne

 

Having time of our life on our California holiday and visit in Universal Studios LA!!. Uploaded by Michaela Williams

 

Alice and Lucy enjoying the sunset in Naples, Florida, and watching the Pelicans fly to roost at the pier.

 

My girlfriend feeding the elephants at a waterfall in Koh Samui.Uploaded by Feargal Norton

Having Fun with the Penguins! Uploaded by Mya Turner

My son meets a dolphin. By Lena Payne.

My little girl is flying a kite on her own for the first time. Uploaded by Lena Payne.

My children are having fun together at the beach. Uploaded by Lena Payne.

Elephant Numbers Grow in Sri Lanka

The first national survey of Sri Lanka’s wild elephants revealed that the elephant population is at 5,879, previously estimated at 5,350. Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandrasena told a press conference that out of these this number, 1,107 were accounted as calves and 122 tuskers.

Wild Elephants in Sri Lanka

The national survey was conducted by using a method known as the “water hole count”. There were approximately 4,000 wildlife workers, villagers and farmers who were deployed for three days at more than 1,500 locations across Sri Lanka to count the elephants as they came to water holes for a drink.

In the early 1900s, there were an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 elephants that roamed Sri Lanka, but since then, poaching and the loss of habitat due to deforestation for agriculture have taken their toll. Locals are often faced with the dangers of wild elephants entering villages and charging through houses in search of food and destroying crops on farms.

Wildlife Department Director General H.D. Ratnayake said, “This statistic shows that Sri Lanka’s elephants are in good health and that their population is growing.”

Elephants bathing in the Maha Oya River at the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka

If you’re planning on visiting Sri Lanka to see some of these stunning mammals up close, a visit to the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is highly recommended. Established in 1975 with seven orphans, and now one of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist sites, the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is also a conservation and educational centre, supported by local and international experts with a scientific captive breeding programme. The nearby Maha Oya River is an important setting and a must-see for the daily bathing and play session before the elephants return to the orphanage with the expert guides.

Source: The Guardian

India’s Tiger Population Increases By 20%

For the first time in over a decade, India has seen a significant rise in its Bengal tiger population, with greater growth projected over the next five years. The current estimated population of 1,706 tigers shows a 20 per cent increase from the last survey, which was taken back in 2006.

According to India’s Environment and Forests Ministry, the largest population shifts occurred in the areas of Corbett and Kaziranga national parks, highly contributed to factors such as greater protection and stability provided for the animals.

Researchers who study the wildlife community have suggested this growth may or may not be accurate based on issues such as climate change. “A 10 per cent increase is good news and very significant, but you can always fudge the figures if you want to, whatever counting method you use” said MK Ranjitsinh, the Chairman of the Wildlife Trust of India.

Ameen Ahmed of the group WWF India which specialises in fighting for conservation of the region’s wildlife was quick to point out that a greater rise in the tiger population means human safety could be at risk. “Where there is an area with good prey, like the area of Sambar, aggression amongst male tigers increases and in some cases this may lead to man-tiger conflict”, said Mr Ahmed.

Belinda Wright, a respected tiger conservationist, suggested that the shrinking of the corridors and boundaries for the tigers will reduce interbreeding and imprison them in fenced sanctuaries. “We need to have free-ranged tigers for their natural growth”, she stated.

As a popular attraction for tourists from around the world, it is hoped that the news of growth in the tiger population will give way to more tourism in India.

Source: The Telegraph

Lioness Steals Video Camera at Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve

Photographer Roger de la Harpe, of Africa Imagery, was recently at Tswalu Kalahari game reserve to shoot some pictures for his book about the majestic African lions in South Africa. Roger was armed with a small digital camera and wanted to get some close up photographs of the lions, so he placed the camera where he knew a pride of lions would soon be passing.

They waited, and as anticipated, the pride of lions came into view. Roger was watching from a distance and to his surprise, one of the lionesses showed an unhealthy interest in the camera. The beautiful lioness walked up to the camera, licked it, gave it a good sniff and then picked it up in her mouth and ran off with it!

Fortunately, the camera was in tact and continued recording from the open mouth of the lioness. Have a look at this video clip which shows all of this action unfold!

Top 10 African Birds! Do you agree?

I have been with Rainbow Tours since 26 June 2000 (coincidentally Madagascar’s Independence Day) and have been a keen birder ever since I can remember. Often, birds are my “window” into a new country, and I then study other aspects afterwards. These ten birds are not necessarily the rarest or the most beautiful, but certainly memorable when visitors make that ‘eye-to-brain’ connection with them, even non-birders and especially, for beginner birders.

Shoebill - Uganda

Dinosaur like; even non birders want to see this prehistoric-looking creature. Nationally rare in Uganda but reliably seen there; also present in Akagera (Rwanda) and in west Tanzania. Nothing can prepare you for making that eye-to-brain connection with one of these monsters of the swamps, where they use their massive beaks to pull lungfish out of mud.

Shoebill

Pink pigeon – Mauritius

Saved from the very brink of extinction by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, (and yes it really IS pink), this beautiful pigeon survived extinction centuries earlier probably due to unpalatable flesh, which is believed to be largely thanks to a berry with narcotic properties – upon gorging themselves on these berries, the said pigeons were reported to flop down onto the ground and lie there in a daze for a while…

Pink pigeon - Photo by Rhett Butler

Blue Crane – South Africa & Namibia

South Africa’s iconic national bird, a beautiful, graceful creature; unmistakable with a very catholic diet; also found in Namibia. Inhabits open grasslands. Endangered.

Blue crane

Pittalike ground-roller – Madagascar

Widely regarded as the most beautiful of Madagascar‘s endemic birds, the ground-rollers are an endemic family of shy, forest-dwelling beauties. This one, as its name implies, is strikingly lovely and like its congeners, is best sought during spring and summer when they call.

Pittalike ground-roller - photo by Olivier Langrand

Knysna Turacou – South Africa

Exquisite crested, long-tailed green bird with striking crimson wing panels which show in flight; all the true Turacous contain a unique pigment (turacoverdin, related to copper) which gives the blood-red colour to their flight feathers. Eats fruit; denizen of evergreen forests from the Garden route/ eastern Cape north to KZN.

Knysna turacou - photo by Schristia

Black Paradise Flycatcher – Seychelles

The avian gem of the Seychelles, this beauty is confined to the idyllic island of La Digue where much effort has been made to save the remaining population; critically endangered but commonly seen in the ‘Veuve reserve’, an unofficially protected site in this island’s dense woods.

Seychelles black paradise flycatcher

Lilac-Breasted Roller – Kenya, Botswana

Iconic African savannah bird, almost a ‘junk bird’ in Botswana it is so common there – but beautiful and symbolic of the African bush.

Lilac-breasted roller

Kori Bustard - Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia

The world’s heaviest flying bird, this massive and increasingly rare terrestrial bird is found in much of sub-Saharan Africa – good places to seek it range from Kruger Park to Serengeti.

‘My partner pointed this bird out to me and said it was a Bustard – I told him to mind his language!!!!’, reads one description of the bird, explaining then that ‘bustard’ comes from the French ‘bistarde’ meaning ‘slow bird’. Males can weigh 20kg. And they are anything but slow…

Kori bustard

Bateleur – Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa

Bateleur means acrobat in French, a reference to this short-tailed eagle’s remarkable aerial antics and displays. Almost abundant in Botswana, Zambia, parts of Zimbabwe, South Africa and eastern Africa. Also one of the most attractive of raptors.

Bateleur

Palm-nut Vulture - Uganda, KwaZulu Natal South Africa, Mozambique

Unique among raptors in being a vegetarian vulture which has evolved to live on an extremely specialised diet of oil palm kernels. Common on the Victoria Nile in Uganda, ranges down to KZN – look for it at and near St Lucia.

Palm-nut vulture

Do any of these birds make your Top 10?  Have we left any out?

Africa’s Seven Secret Wild Animals

With the rock star status of Aleksandr the Meerkat, I fondly remember the less known animals of the bushveld that I grew up with in South Africa.

I have been living in London for almost 12 years, but I grew up with mountain views. These were not the views of Table Mountain, but the Magaliesberg – firmly behind the “boerewors curtain” on the northern side of South Africa’s capital Pretoria. In the early 80’s, these suburbs were still growing, with some wild creatures straying into our garden from the bushveld over the fence.

They are certainly not as famous as the meerkats, elephants and the big cats, but they are special in their own (secretive) ways.

Painted Reed Frog
Hyperolius Viridiflavus

My little slimy frog friends form the official soundtrack to an African evening. The tiny males compete for female attention in choirs of bell like calls, their aim is to make as many calls as loud as they can, and they are really loud! They have many colours and decorations in variations of bright stripes and dots. The bright colours are mainly for warding off predators because their skin is poisonous. If you are on a holiday in South Africa, you can find frogs sitting on reeds and in grass around freshwater pools, occasionally in my dad’s tiny fish pond. The mucus on their skin dries to form a waterproof barrier to protect them from the summer sun.

Painted Reed Frog - Hyperolius Viridiflavus

Caracal
Caracal Caracal

Not as big or famous as lions, leopards and cheetahs, but a close contender for the feline beauty awards. Caracals are about the size of a large cat, but sadly got a bad reputation for stealing poultry and are often hunted. They prefer semi desert areas and their hairy paws are especially adapted to walk on sand. Their reddish fur and black tuffeled ears blend well into the reddish sand and rocks and make them surprisingly hard to see in the wild.

Caracal

Blue Headed Tree Agama
Acanthocerus Atricollis

At first I was really scared of these pre-historic creatures. They are pretty big at about 40cm and look fierce. They climb trees and buildings, preferring high areas in the sun. In the breeding season, the males’ large heads turn bright blue. But they never hurt me; they just watched from the wall, nodding their big blue heads up and down, as if in agreement to eat the insects while I spent the afternoon in the pool.

Blue Headed Tree Agama - Acanthocerus Atricollis

African Fish Eagle
Haliaeetus Vocifer

The majestic fish eagle has one of the most distinctive calls of the birds that live around freshwater areas in Sub-Sahara Africa. I can only describe it as possibly yelping, similar to a turkey, at a higher pitch, and a seagull, uttered while throwing their heads back like a seagull. But somehow this is more of a welcome call to the African sunset before the painted reed frogs take over the airwaves for the night.  A female’s wingspan can reach 2.4m, and pairs can often been seen at the top of the highest trees close to their twig nests. Seeing one of these swoop down to pluck a fish out of the water is quite amazing!

African Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus Vocifer

Bush Baby
Otolemur Crassicaudatus

Galagos earned their name “bush baby” from the loud cries that sound disturbingly similar to that of a human baby. These ‘primitive primates’ are closer related to Madagascar’s lemurs than monkeys, and their favourite snacks are the creepy crawlies of the bush. It’s a bit hard to spot them in the wild, as they jump fast and far between trees when not hiding from daylight in hollow tree branches, but if you shine a bright light towards the distant trees, their large eyes reflect in countless little pairs. I first encountered a bush baby in a campsite – a precious moment before he jumped away and the huge giraffe around the next tree made me jump almost as high as the bush baby.

Bush Baby - Otolemur Crassicaudatus

Bat-eared Fox
Otocyon Megalotis

The bat-eared fox are nothing like European foxes. They are about cat sized, and their large ears can detect their prey in the ground. They then dig furiously and devour the unlucky insect in seconds. A bat-eared fox will mainly eat termites, grasshoppers, little lizards, eggs, small mammals and even fruit, from the grassy plains and savannahs close to it’s earthy den home. Unfortunately their cousins, the jackal, has landed them in trouble with their taste for farmyard treats and they are often poisoned by farmers. You can sometimes see them in playing in pairs in the moonlight.

Bat-eared Fox - Otocyon Megalotis

Aardvark
Orycteropus Afer

The name ‘aardvark’ translates as ‘earth pig’, but it isn’t related to pigs at all – more to the hyrax, a rabbit sized furry mammal. An aardvark eats mainly termites and ants, the only fruit it will try is the aardvark cucumber. You might see only see the leftovers of this solitary nocturnal animal’s meals in the giant termite mounds of the bush. I have to admit, I have not seen this elusive animal in the wild, but I always wished to see one of these strange ‘living fossils’. London Zoo has a very lovely pair you can see up close when they are sleeping.

Aardvark - Orycteropus Afer

Have you seen any of these whilst on your South African holiday?