CELEBRATE DARWIN’S 200th - ECUADOR & GALAPAGOS

To celebrate the anniversary of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday on the 12th February 2009, Wildlife Worldwide offers an action-packed 18-day tailor-made holiday combining the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle and Cotopaxi Volcano, with a 7-night Galápagos Island voyage. Tours depart Heathrow daily.

After an initial 2 nights in Quito, a domestic flight takes travellers to the town of Coca where guests transfer to their jungle lodge, situated deep in the Amazon jungle, by motorised canoe and Indian dugout. Here, 3 nights are spent exploring this remarkable region, host to one of the highest densities of plant and mammal species on Earth. 15% of all bird species are represented, including Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Cobalt-winged Parakeet and Harpy Eagle. Over 100 species of mammal are also present including Three-toed Sloth, Black-mantled Tamarin and Jaguar. The Amazon’s rivers, streams and lakes are home to two species of freshwater dolphin, four species of caiman and over 300 species of fish. Head back to Quito for a couple more nights’ exploration in this high altitude capital. The colonial centre is rich with churches, baroque monasteries and museums. Just 75kms outside of the city lies the permanently snow-covered peak of Cotopaxi, the world's highest active volcano (5,897m). Here, guests are accommodated overnight at one of Ecuador’s most stunning haciendas, San Agustin de Callo. At 3,000m, this magnificent hacienda, built on top of a former Inca temple, has superb views of Cotopaxi. The final focus of the holiday is a 7-night Galápagos Island voyage. Experience fascinating wildlife under the guidance of an experienced naturalist leader, whilst sailing around the 13 major islands, six minor islands and 42 islets that make up the Galápagos archipelago. Observe giant Galápagos Tortoise, colourful Land Iguana and large groups of sea faring Marine Iguana. However, it is the bird colonies that are most conspicuous, with Red and Blue-footed Booby, Galápagos Hawk, Flightless Cormorant and Galápagos Penguins, all present. The holiday concludes in Guayaquil where guests have a final 2 nights to explore the area - visit a banana or cocoa plantation or go birdwatching in a mangrove forest before catching the return flight home.

The holiday costs from £3,625 p/p including scheduled flights, transfers, boat, hotel and jungle lodge accommodation, most meals, services of an expert naturalist guide. Galapagos Park fee of US$100 is payable locally.

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GREY WHALE MIGRATION - MEXICO’S MAGDALENA BAY

Having made their annual migratory journey of almost 6,000 miles from summer feeding grounds off the coast of Alaska, up to 500 Grey Whales arrive in the lagoons of Mexico’s Magdalena Bay - providing the perfect winter home to court, breed, give birth and simply frolic in the warm, calm waters. Wildlife Worldwide offer 9-day holidays coinciding with this spectacle, next departing London 2nd, 3rd and 7th February 09.

The Grey Whale has the longest migration of any mammal, between their summer Arctic feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas and their nurseries in the peaceful lagoons of Magdalena Bay, Baja California. Daily zodiac excursions allow for prime viewing of both courting couples and females with calves and newborns - a staggering 15 feet long. Whales often display peculiar curiosity towards the boats, providing excellent photographic opportunities - along with Spy-Hopping (raising their huge heads vertically out of the water) and occasionally breaching out of the calm Magdalena waters for that extra splash! Travellers are based at the ecvironmentally sympathetic Whalewatch Camp, similar in style to a tented safari lodge. Twin walk-in tents with solar showers combine with excellent camp cuisine to provide comfortable waterfront accommodation. Other activities on offer include hiking amongst sand dunes and desert flora, birdwatching, and sea-kayaking through the mangroves and peaceful waters of the bay.

The holiday costs from £1,975 p/p including scheduled flights, pre-paid taxes, hotel and tented Whalewatch Camp accommodation, most meals and expertly guided activities.

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NEW - BORNEO’S WILDLIFE SPECTACULAR

Tailor-made natural history specialists Wildlife Worldwide offer a NEW 14-day holiday in the Malaysian provinces of Sarawak and Sabah on the island of Borneo, focusing on flora and fauna of the world’s oldest rainforests. Explore Bako National Park, Mount Kinabalu, Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley, then get hands-on at Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary and Turtle Islands Marine Park - Sabah Wildlife Special departs London daily – available NOW!

From Kuala Lumpur an initial night is spent in Kuching before transferring to Bako National Park. Explore the park’s spectacular coastal scenery and teeming rainforests - host to abundant wildlife including Proboscis Monkey, Long-tailed Macaques and Silver Langurs. Continue to Kinabalu National Park and spectacular Mount Kinabalu - Borneo’s highest point (4,101m). Staying in the moist evergreen forests on its high slopes, guests have a unique opportunity to search for numerous plant, bird and mammal species. Up to 6,000 plant species occur on the mountain including over 1,000 orchid species, along with over 600 species of butterfly and some 320 bird species. At higher altitudes, look out for endemic Kinabalu Friendly Warbler and Mountain Blackbird, as well as Blue Earthworms or Giant Kinabalu Red Leech - and after dark, keep watch for endemic Kinabalu Forest Gecko. Next, enjoy close encounters with orphaned Orang-utans during twice-daily feeding sessions at Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary, internationally renowned for its rehabilitation work in Sepilok Forest. As well as charismatic apes, the reserve’s 43km² of primary lowland rainforest also offers excellent forest boardwalks – great for birdwatching and keeping an eye out for various snakes and frogs. From the coast, a short boat ride to Selingan Island allows an opportunity to swim and snorkel by day and to watch egg-laying Green turtles on the beach by night – also the chance to assist the release of baby turtles into the sea. At Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, situated on the Kinabatangan River, explore the mosaic of riparian forest, oxbow lakes, nipah swamp and mangroves by boat and on foot. The area is home to a diverse concentration of wildlife including Orang-utan, Proboscis Monkey and Bornean Pygmy Elephant, a vast array of bird species including hornbills, along with numerous reptiles and amphibians. Later, search for Sabah's ten species of primate (including Orang-utan), Asian Elephant, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Clouded Leopard and Malay Sun Bear during guided walks amongst some of Danum Valley’s 438km² lowland rainforest, before returning to Kuala Lumpur for homeward flights.

The tour costs from £3,095 p/p including scheduled international and domestic flights (MH), transfers, hotel, chalet and jungle lodge accommodation, most meals and guided activities.

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MEXICAN WAVES! - WHALES IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ

In the first episode of the BBC's latest wildlife series, Oceans, the team explored the depths of the Sea of Cortez – home to the world’s greatest variety of whales and dolphins. To see Mexico’s whales join Wildlife Worldwide on its epic 10-day ‘Simply Whales!’ tour incorporating a 5-night live-aboard whale watching voyage through the Sea of Cortez in search of Fin, Minke, Humpback and hundreds of courting Grey Whales. The tour next departs London 1st and 22nd February 2009.

After arriving into La Paz, guests embark on a 5-night voyage aboard the 24m Don Jose. Along with above-deck air-conditioned cabins, dining and lounge area, the vessel offers a library, video system and an onboard naturalist. Beginning in the Sea of Cortez, search for Fin and Minke Whale, before heading towards the tip of the Baja Peninsula - a Humpback Whale hotspot. Sightings of Common, and Bottle-nosed Dolphins, Green Turtles, Thresher Sharks, Blue Marlin and even Whale Sharks are all possible. Later, a major highlight of the trip is the passage through the northern portion of Magdelena Bay, on the west coast of the Baja Peninsula. Here, the waters are sheltered by low barrier islands, providing a perfect winter home to hundreds of migratory Grey Whales, who travel 5,000 miles from their Arctic feeding grounds to overwinter in these waters. Opportunities to observe, at close range, Grey Whales courting, rolling, breaching and tending to their young, are an exhilarating and humbling experience. Other activities on offer include snorkelling, hiking, beach combing and birdwatching. The voyage concludes at Magdelena Bay where passengers disembark and return by road to La Paz for a final night before homeward flights next day.

The tour costs from £2,295 p/p including scheduled flights, hotel and expedition vessel (standard cabin) accommodation, most meals and expertly guided activities.

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NEW WILDLIFE WORLDWIDE 2009 BROCHURE

It’s been a busy year at Wildlife Worldwide’s headquarters in Hampshire because in addition to arranging inspiring tailor-made wildlife holidays, staff have been researching new destinations and designing more, imaginative suggested itineraries in some of their favourite wildlife hotspots. With the finishing touches now complete, Wildlife Worldwide’s most comprehensive brochure to date is OUT NOW!

Notable highlights for 2009 include a huge new section on Madagascar, the rising star of the Indian Ocean, and thanks to an exciting collaboration with the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), a new portfolio of Out of the Blue whale-watching holidays. Elsewhere in the brochure, Chile lovers will relish the inclusion of the wild and remote Lauca National Park in the country’s far north, where Chungara Lake, one of the world’s highest, creates a remarkable habitat, plus Robinson Crusoe Island off the coast of Valparaiso, sure to intrigue birders, botanists and Daniel Defoe devotees alike!

Leafing through the brochure, travellers will benefit from more in-depth information about the parks and wilderness areas visited. Of course, back at base camp, Wildlife Worldwide’s dedicated team, who have between them travelled the world, is on hand to discuss ideas and concepts to help clients realise their perfect wildlife holiday.

New for 2009

Madagascar:
Wildlife in Comfort & Style: 19 days departing London daily, year-round – from £5,695 p/p.
An ideal itinerary for those wishing to combine superb wildlife viewing in a selection of stunning locations, with stays in beautifully appointed accommodation, including Mandare River Camp, offering African-style safari camping - a new innovation in Madagascar.

Out of the Blue:
Wildlife Worldwide in conjunction with the WDCS, offer the most comprehensive collection of expertly-led whale and dolphin watching tours available, including…

Short Breaks to the Moray Firth in Scotland: 4 days departing Inverness - selected dates in May, Jun, Jul & Aug – from £450 p/p.
Enjoy boat and shore-based dolphin watching, visit the WDCS centre at Spey Bay and stay in a delightfully converted 18th century brewery in the historic coastal town of Cromarty.

Ligurian Sea, Italy: 7-days departing London 30th June 09 – from £1,050 p/p.
Join the whale and dolphin experts onboard Pelagos, a specially chartered motor vessel, in Italy’s beautiful Ligurian Sea. See Fin, Sperm and Cuvier’s Beaked Whales, plus Bottlenose, Risso’s and Striped Dolphins.

Chile:
The Atacama Desert & Northern Chile: 13 days departing London daily, year-round – from £5,050 p/p.
Visit the desert town of San Pedro de Atacama, the coastal oasis of Arica - Chile’s northernmost city and Lauca NP in the heart of the Altiplano, renowned for its volcanoes, clear blue lakes and unique variety of wildlife, including Vicuna, Puma, Vizcachas and Armadillo.

Robinson Crusoe Island Extensions: 4 days departing Santiago daily, year-round - £850 p/p.
In 1704, Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, became the real-life Robinson Crusoe when he was castaway on the uninhabited island of Más a Tierra (now known as Robinson Crusoe Island), part of the Juan Fernández archipelago situated off the coast of Valparaiso. His adventures were later fictionalised by Daniel Defoe in his now famous novel, Robinson Crusoe. The island has around 120 endemic plants and some rare species of bird, including several endemics and Pterodroma petrels.

Click here to see the full range of wildlife holidays.

NEW TOUR - SPOT WHALES, RHINOS & LIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA’S EASTERN CAPE

Forget their ferocious fangs, sabretooth ‘tigers’ weren’t skulking but social animals who lived in family prides like lions today, according to recent research by UK and US experts. Heading to South Africa, Wildlife Worldwide’s new ‘bitesize’ 7-day holiday seeks out the lion families of Shamwari Game Reserve, but not before hitting the coast for whale watching and rhino-viewing at Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve. Daily departures are available from London between now and April 09.

On arrival in Port Elizabeth, transfer to Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve for the next two nights. Located on a long stretch of private beach, this exclusive sanctuary offers the unique opportunity to spot whales at the same time as rhino! Bush or beach, the reserve offers both, and plenty of game to go with it! Next, award-winning Shamwari Game Reserve, where classic ‘Big Five’ safaris are the order of the day. Here. Wildlife Worldwide’s guests stay for two nights at either Eagles Crag or Lobengula Lodge, both luxurious, tranquil and exclusive.

The holiday costs from £2,125 p/p including scheduled flights, transfers, luxury resort and safari lodge accommodation, some meals, complimentary spa treatment at Ocean Beach and Wildlife Reserve and expertly guided game viewing activities at Shamwari Game Reserve.

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CHOBE’S WATERWAYS & BIG GAME

The first officially sanctioned auction of ivory last week, has sparked a major controversy, worldwide. Although the proceeds of the auction will be ploughed back into elephant conservation schemes, many fear that it will ultimately encourage ivory poaching. Chobe National Park in Botswana has the biggest concentration of elephant in Africa, largely escaping the massive illegal poaching that decimated other African elephant populations in the 1970s and 80s. Chobe is one of the main highlights of Wildlife Worldwide’s small, but adventurous 11-day circuit through Zambia and Botswana. Tours depart London daily from December 2008 to 31st March 2009.

Experience a huge variety of animals and habitats, from the lush waterways to the fabulous big game experience of Chobe National Park, and unmissable Victoria Falls. The holiday commences with a stay at Tongabezi Lodge, an award-winning hideaway on the banks of the Zambezi River, just upstream from Victoria Falls. From the lodge, guests can take a short boat ride to Livingstone Island, the place where David Livingstone first glimpsed the falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders). Next, Impalila Lodge, a small luxury lodge sitting on its own island at the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers where four countries meet. The area is unique, comprising an amazing mosaic of waterways, floodplains and woodland, with exceptional birdlife and game viewing. Secluded and remote, the lodge offers guests game viewing by boat and mokoro, along the quiet backwaters. Transfer by boat and road to Muchenje Safari Lodge, situated on the western side of Chobe National Park, for a final three nights. Chobe is home to the largest concentration of elephant in Africa, together with huge herds of buffalo. This is thrilling big game country and during the dry season the enormous herds congregate along the fertile flood plains of the Chobe River, stalked by waiting predators. Other major species include Lion, Wild Dog, Puku, Red Lechwe, Sable and Roan Antelope and a multitude of Hippopotamus. Game viewing is by 4-wheel drive vehicles inside the park and boat rides along the Chobe River.

The safari costs from £2,995 p/p including scheduled flights (SAA), transfers, hotel and safari lodge accommodation, most meals and expertly guided game viewing activities.

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INDIA'S TOP ACT - KERALA BACKWATERS

After the success of Paul Merton’s adventures in China, his latest exploration takes him through the highways and byways of India. Having left the chaos of Delhi, this week’s episode saw Merton eventually arrive amongst the laid-back countryside of Kerala, in the south. Whether you’d like to upgrade your comical credentials or simply escape British TV entertainment, discover another side to India’s stage during Wildlife Worldwide’s 9-day Kerala Backwaters & Wildlife tour - bypassing the bustle of Delhi and heading straight for peaceful lush hill stations, wildlife parks and an unforgettable backwaters cruise through the ‘Venice of the East’. The tour departs London daily – best time to go – November to January.

From Cochin, transfer by road to the sleepy town of Kumarakom, in the heart of Kerala's backwaters, and spend an initial night at the Coconut Lagoon Hotel. Next day, board a private traditional houseboat (known as 'Kettuvallam') and begin an overnight cruise. Kerala's Backwaters are a vast network of lakes, canals, estuaries and deltas connecting 44 rivers that together provide a self-supporting ecosystem teeming with aquatic life. Pass pretty villages surrounded by lush bright green paddy fields and coconut trees keeping watch for kingfishers, cormorants, woodpeckers, ducks, bee-eaters and raptors. Next morning, drive to Periyar for a 2-night stay at the Lake Palace Hotel, former summer palace built by Maharana Jagat Singh II in the 18th century. Located high in the Cardamom Hills area of the Western Ghats, Periyar is one of the world’s most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries, habitat for a diverse range of flowering plants, reptiles, butterflies and mammals including Elephant, four species of primate (Bonnet Macaque, endemic Lion-Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur and Slender Loris), Sloth Bear, Leopard, Common and Clawless Otter and Tiger. Here, bird species include Malabar Trogon, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Loten's Sunbird and Ceylon Frogmouth. On to Munnar, where 2-nights are spent at Windermere Hotel, a base from which to visit Windermere Cardamom and Tea Estate and Eravikulam National Park, both situated in the higher altitudes of the Western Ghats. Finally, return to Cochin for a tour of the historic fort followed by an evening of traditional Kathakali dance before homewards flights next day.

The holiday costs from £2,025 p/p including international flights, hotel, lodge and houseboat accommodation, most meals, transfers and expertly guided activities.

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Wolf and Deer Tracking in Romania

What better way to spend the festive season making new tracks amongst the snow-covered Carpathian Mountains, searching out wildlife on foot or by cross-country skis? The combination of freshly fallen snow and the heightened boldness (due to hunger) of animals makes winter the best time to spot wildlife. Track wolf and deer in Piatra Craiului Mountains, Chamoix in the Zarnesti Gorge and lynx and wild boar in the Ursilor Valley, during Wildlife Worldwide’s energetic 5-day Romanian Wolf & Deer Tracking tour with daily London departures from November 2008 till March 2009.

On arrival in Bucharest, transfer deep into the Carpathian Mountains to the traditional village of Zarnesti and Guesthouse Elena, base for the holiday. On certain days, guests have the option to don cross-country skis, enabling a greater area to be explored at ease. Expertly guided groups step out into the snow-covered Romanian landscape and into Zarnesti Gorge, for hopeful sightings of Chamoix. Explore the virgin forests of Tamas on the slopes of the Piatra Craiului Mountains, regarded as one of the most beautiful areas in the Carpathians. This mountain range is one of Europe’s last strongholds for wolf and bear and other highlights may include lynx and wild boar. Walk in Ursilor Valley to observe and explore animal tracks in the mixed coniferous and beech forest, before returning in the evening for a traditional Romanian meal. Next day, stop off at the medieval village of Bran, home to the castle that inspired Bram Stoker’s classic work 'Dracula', before homeward flights.

The tour costs from £895 p/p including flights, transfers, guesthouse and hide accommodation, most meals and expertly guided wildlife tracking.

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SAVE £100 P/P - BIG CAT WEEKEND - KENYA

Big cats are back on our TV screens, and fascinating viewing they make. However, delightful though Kate Silverton’s interpretation of the natural world, nothing can beat the reality of seeing with your own eyes. Wildlife Worldwide offer a 6-day Big Cat Weekend staying at the Big Cat team’s HQ, Governors’ Camp in the Masaai Mara AND if booked before the end of October, comes with a saving of £100 p/p! Safaris depart London daily – BOOK NOW!

'Mara' wildlife is abundant year round and gentle rolling grasslands ensure that animals are never out of sight. Here, the enormous wildlife population includes the ‘Big Five’, cheetah, Burchell's Zebra, Masaai Giraffe and Hippopotamus, and avifauna such as Usambiro Barbet and Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, along with Wildebeest before they begin to head south beginning of November. From Nairobi, transfer by light aircraft to the magical Masaai Mara for 3-nights at Governors’ Camp – appropriately named after it was reserved exclusively for Kenya's colonial Governors and their royal visitors almost a century ago. Nestled in forest along the winding banks of the Mara River, teeming with hippo and crocodile, luxury tents line the riverbank, offering uninterrupted views over the river, while others have views across the sweeping plains. Spectacular and expertly guided game viewing is on offer 3 times a day, both on foot and by vehicle. Alternatively, choose the ultimate vantage point during an optional hot air balloon flight.

The safari now costs from £1,395 pp (was £1,495 p/p) including flights (Kenya Airways), taxes, light aircraft transfers, 3-nights full board accommodation at Governors' Camp and expert guiding. Extend the holiday to 5-nights or more and buy 2 for the price of 1 on balloon flights - if travelling before 20th December 08. Park fees are not included.

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INDIA - NEW AIR SERVICE - KANHA & BANDHAVGARH

Good news! Wildlife Worldwide has slashed the transfer time on its popular 16-day Tiger Tiger safari by utilising a brand new air service (commencing 15th November 08) connecting two of India’s most famous tiger hotspots, Kanha and Bandhavgarh national parks. Tours depart London daily, November to May 09.

Wildlife Worldwide visits 3 national parks on this tour: Pench - the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, Kanha – the daddy of India’s tiger reserves and Bandhavgarh – home to the world’s highest density of big cats. Named after the nearby river, Pench was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1983 and it covers some 760 km². Cheetal, Sambar and Nilgai are common sightings, Gaur, Sloth Bears and Dhole (Indian Wild Dog) are frequently seen, but the park is most famous for Tigers. Situated in central India in the Satpura Hill ranges, Kanha is next, offering without doubt, India's finest Tiger-viewing. Explore the grasslands and deciduous forests during Elephant-back and jeep safaris, with likely sightings of Barasingha, Chital, Muntjac, Sambar, Common Langur, and Rhesus Monkeys, Asiatic Jackal, three of India's four lowland antelopes (Nilgai, Four-horned Antelope and Blackbuck), and occasionally Leopard, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Wolf and Dhole. Bird species present include Painted Partridge, Shaheen Falcon, Golden Oriole and the omnipresent Red Jungle Fowl. From Kanha, Wildlife Worldwide heads for Bandhavgarh, taking advantage of the new air service which replaces a lengthy and rather bumpy 5-hour road transfer with much more stylish and comfortable travel aboard a 4-seater twin engine aircraft (flight time around 55-minutes). Mammals in Bandhavgarh include Muntjac, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chowsingha, Wild Boar and of course Tiger. Over 275 bird species can also be found including hornbills, orioles, parakeets, peacocks and eagles. Guests are accommodated throughout in a selection of beautifully appointed luxury safari lodges. The holiday also includes sightseeing in Delhi, plus a tour of Agra and the Taj Mahal.

The holiday costs from £3,395 p/p including international flights, new light aircraft service, transfers, hotel and lodge accommodation, most meals and guided activities.

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ZAMBIA’S ‘GREEN SEASON’ IN LUANGWA VALLEY

A jaundiced foam leopard called Zakumi, complete with green wig (camouflage against the green of the football pitch…), plenty of attitude and his own biography, has been unveiled as the mascot for South Africa’s 2010 World Cup. From ‘football season’ to ‘green season’ and the opportunity to see wig-free, non-footballing Leopards in the wild, Wildlife Worldwide offers a programme of 7-night Rivers & Rainbows of Luangwa safaris. Tours are based at Kapani Lodge and the new Kakuli Camp in South Luangwa NP, site of Africa’s highest naturally occurring Leopard population. Safaris depart London from 19th January to 31st March 2009.

The 'green season' between mid-January and early April, is a spectacular time of the year to visit the Luangwa Valley. Colourful flowering plants bloom, spectacular sunsets and dramatic electrical storms light up the night sky, migrant birds arrive to breed, big cats are easily viewed and the clearer air allows for great photography. In the 1950s, the late Norman Carr pioneered the concept of walking safaris in the Zambian bush and built the exclusive Kapani Lodge (meaning ‘place of mopane trees’) in the Luangwa Valley. Spend 3-nights at Kapani, exploring the central Mfuwe section of the South Luangwa NP during walking safaris, morning and afternoon game drives and night-time safaris with spotlights. Other than Leopards, 60 other resident mammal species recorded include Lion, Elephant, Giraffe, Hippo, Cookson’s Wildebeest and Nile Crocodile, together with an array of over 420 birds, including some of southern Africa’s most colourful species. Later, travel up the Luangwa River to remote Kakuli Camp at its confluence with the Luwi River. Here, incredible boating experiences from the river into the lagoon systems allow for further game viewing activities. Return to Kapani Lodge for a final night before homeward flights.

Safaris cost from £2,795 p/p including scheduled international flights via Johannesburg (South African Airways), transfers, 4-nights at Kapani Lodge and 3-nights Kakuli Camp, with all meals and expertly guided game viewing activities.

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Kenya - Save £550 p/p

Morrison’s is the smallest of the UK’s Big Four supermarkets but the leader in BOGOF deals, recently published credit-crunch-busting figures backing up its business model. However it doesn’t have exclusive rights on special offers and for those more interested in a different Big Five, Wildlife Worldwide is currently saving travellers £550 p/p on selected 9-night safari holidays exploring Kenya’s rich natural history, valid ONLY for October 2008 departures from London.

Time on safari is split equally between diverse areas of wildlife-rich natural wilderness, with three nights each at the Mara Camp, Meru Camp and Sosian Lodge. Transfers between camps and lodges are effected by privately chartered light aircraft and 4wds.
Mara Camp is located on the Olare Orok River within Koyiaki Group Ranch, tucked away in a prime wildlife area – Lion, Elephant, Buffalo and even Leopard are all regular sightings. The camp caters for a maximum of 12-guests in luxury tented accommodation with classic safari-style hot bucket showers and en suite bathrooms.
Meru Camp is located on the edge of Meru National Park in the Bisanadi National Reserve. Once subjected to heavy poaching, the recent re-introduction of Rhino sees all the Big Five back in residence, together with Grevy's Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk and Lesser Kudu. Again accommodation is in tune with the environment with six en suite tents accommodating a maximum of 12 guests.
Sosian Lodge is a privately owned game ranch, located on the Laikipia Plateau, an area historically known for wildlife and ranching. Originally built in the 1940s the lodge has recently been restored and renovated, with the addition of seven cottages providing luxury accommodating up to 14 guests. Lion and Leopard are seen or heard regularly around Sosian. Even endangered wild dogs, once thought extinct in Laikipia, have returned in healthy numbers. Bisecting the southern portion of Sosian’s land is the Ewaso Narok River providing a perfect habitat for Hippo and otter, together with prolific birdlife.

Safaris cost £2,995 p/p (normally £3,545 – saving £550) including international scheduled flights from Heathrow (KQ), light aircraft and 4wd transfers, safari lodge and luxury tented camp accommodation with all meals, walking safaris with armed guards and other expertly guided game viewing activities.

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GALAPAGOS 2009

Few academic texts have had such profound and enduring resonance as Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species, published in November 1859. Initially ridiculed by his peers and damned by religious figures, Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection now lies at the heart of modern understanding of the natural word. However, almost 200 years since Darwin’s birth, the teaching of evolution is still challenged by reactionary religious figures preferring a creationist worldview. In advance of Darwin’s Bicentennial, Wildlife Worldwide is offering 18-day holidays featuring expertly guided wildlife cruises of the Galapagos, including many islands visited by Darwin during his remarkable 1835 voyage aboard HMS Beagle. Departing Heathrow 26th September, 3rd, 10th & 17th October 2008 together with other dates in 2009.

After time on the Ecuadorian mainland travellers join the 24-cabin yacht La Pinta and ply a course through the 13 major islands, 6 minor islands, and 42 islets that make up the Galápagos archipelago. Travellers may observe giant Galápagos Tortoise, colourful Land Iguana and large groups of sea-faring Marine Iguana. However, it is the bird colonies that are most conspicuous, with Red, and Blue-footed Booby, Galápagos Hawk, Flightless Cormorant and even a Galápagos Penguin. The nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands also form an integral part of the national park, and dolphins, turtles and whales may be observed from the boat, as well as large numbers of feeding seabirds. Further highlights include; the sunken volcanic crater of the Devil’s Crown, Santa Cruz – for the Charles Darwin Research Centre and the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre, and Fernandina – the youngest island of the archipelago.

Tours cost from £4,395 p/p including scheduled flights, hotel and shipboard accommodation, transfers, mainland tours, most meals (all on cruise), expert naturalist guiding, lecture programme aboard La Pinta.

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ZAMBIA - BAT SAFARI

They may be environmentally friendly, but a new study reveals that wind farms are proving deadly to bats because changes in air pressure can cause fatal internal injuries. Thankfully for bats, Zambia is reassuringly wind farm-free! Join Wildlife Worldwide on a 7-night bat safari, specially timed to coincide with Zambia’s spectacular bat migration – an ecological phenomenon, departing London 21st November 08.

Every year at the end of October thousands of Straw-coloured Fruit Bats congregate in the trees of the Mushitu swamp forest near the confluence of the Musola and Kasanka rivers in Kasanka National Park. The bats come to feed for just six short weeks, gorging on the abundance of seasonal fruit and by mid November their numbers reach into the millions. To see the bats dispersing at dusk against the setting sun is one of Africa’s wildlife wonders and one that definitely shouldn’t be missed. Apart from bats, Kasanka is at its most beautiful during this time. The forest comes alive with migratory birds and wild flowers, and morning sightings of the rare Sitatunga are guaranteed from the sixty foot high Fibwe Hide. There is also an opportunity to visit the Bangweulu Swamps, a vast watery wilderness best known as the place where Livingstone died in 1873, and as the habitat for the increasingly rare Shoebill, an unusual stork-like bird, now considered to be a distant relative of the pelican. After witnessing the marvels of central Zambia, a light aircraft transfer whisks guests off to Nkwali Camp to experience the miracles of wildlife-rich South Luangwa National Park in the ‘green’ season.

The safari costs from £2,850 p/p including scheduled flights, all transfers, safari lodge accommodation, all meals, national park fees and expert wildlife guiding.

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COSTA RICA - 4WD SELF-DRIVE

With the 2008 Olympics drawing to a grand finale, it seems that Team Costa Rica won’t be returning with extra golden hand luggage – but with a host of record-breaking highlights and top-of-the-league performances back home, why should they worry? Observe an alternative winning combination in the world’s most bio-diverse nation, where 25% of the country’s land is protected - the world’s highest proportion, home to some of the world’s largest (Goliath Beetle) and smallest (Fairyfly) insects, the world's third-largest feline (Jaguar), the world’s most poisonous frog (Blue Poison Arrow Frog), and site of one of the world’s most active volcanoes (Arenal). Wildlife Worldwide offer a 13-day Costa Rican Odyssey tour, going for gold amongst lush rainforests, active volcanoes and unique wildlife, including nesting Atlantic Green Turtles throughout September - departing London daily!

An initial night is spent at San Gildar Hotel located in an historic and picturesque area of San Jose. Next day, travellers are driven to Braulio Carrillo National Park where the Aerial Tram offers a different perspective on to the expanse of rainforest below, home to over 340 bird species, together with Howler and White-faced Monkeys, Tapir, Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot and Paca. Continuing by road and boat to Tortuguero National Park, 2-nights are spent exploring the vast area of untouched tropical rainforest on foot and by boat. Between July and September, night tours allow for observation of nesting Atlantic Green Turtle. Next, after collecting their 4WD, travellers head to Arenal National Park and one of the world's most active volcanoes. On a clear night, observe magnificent views of Arenal Volcano from the hotel – with possible explosions and flowing lava. Continue to the protected Monteverde Cloud Forest, a reserve of some 4,500 hectares. Here, the Resplendent Quetzal, sacred bird of the Mayans, considered by many to be the most beautiful bird in the world, may be seen, together with Emerald Toucanet and both White-faced, and Howler Monkeys. Drive onwards to the Pacific Coast and the Gulf of Nicoya where guided birding tours amongst tropical dry forest and seasonal marshes provide excellent opportunities to see vast concentrations of heron, duck and spoonbill gathering during the dry season. Return to San Jose to drop off the jeep, spending a night at the San Gildar Hotel before homeward flights next day.

The tour costs from £1,595 p/p including scheduled flights, private transfers, lodge and hotel accommodation, most meals, 4WD vehicle hire (days 5 to 11) and expert wildlife guiding.

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SPOT ON VALUE ZAMBIA SAFARI - LEOPARDS OF LUANGWA

For a limited period tailor-made natural history specialist Wildlife Worldwide is offering savings of at least £355 p/p on its 12-day Leopards of Luangwa tour, centred around Kapani Lodge, former home of Zambia’s father of conservation, Norman Carr, and its satellite bush camps, Luwi, Nsolo and Kakuli, departing Heathrow throughout September and October 2008.

The holiday is based in the 9,050 square kilometres of Zambia’s renowned South Luangwa National Park and guests are accommodated for three nights at Kapani Lodge, once home of Zambia’s most famous conservationist, the late Norman Carr. A further two nights is spent at each of Kapani’s satellite bush camps, Luwi, Nsolo, and Kakuli. Kapani’s bush camp experience is particularly unique as each camp is located in a different habitat - the broad banks of the Luangwa River, the edge of open grassland or mopane woodland close to a waterhole – thus offering diverse game viewing opportunities. Included activities feature walking safaris with expert naturalist guides – something for which the Luangwa is renowned, morning and afternoon game drives and night-time safaris with spotlights. Luangwa Valley is rich in wildlife, but in particular is the site of Africa’s highest naturally occuring Leopard population. Of 60 other resident mammal species recorded, Lion, Elephant, Giraffe, Hippo, Cookson’s Wildebeest and Nile Crocodile feature high on the list together with an exciting array of over 420 birds including some of southern Africa’s most colourful species. Complete the holiday with a relaxing night at Pioneer Camp, near Lusaka, a great conclusion to a Zambian wildlife adventure.

The holiday now costs from £3,095 p/p (normally £3,450 p/p) including scheduled international and regional flights, lodge or bush-camp accommodation with all meals and drinks, expertly guided game viewing, transfers and all National Park entry fees.

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PRIME-APE WEEKENDS - RWANDA’S PARC DES VOLCANS

A global review of the world's primates says 48% face extinction due to habitat loss, primarily through the burning and clearing of tropical forests. However, a survey of forest and swamp in the northern Congo Republic has revealed the presence of more than 125,000 Western Lowland Gorillas, a rare example of abundance in a world of rapidly vanishing primate populations. Far away in the misty mountains of Rwanda’s Parc des Volcans, Wildlife Worldwide meets real survivors of the primate world, during an extended weekend break tracking majestic Mountain Gorillas. A Weekend with the Apes departs London on selected dates throughout 2008 – next departure 22nd August and 5th and 26th September 2008.

Nearly half the world's wild Mountain Gorilla population live on the slopes of the Virunga Volcano range and it is here at Parc National des Volcans, for some twenty years Dian Fossey carried out pioneering studies of gorilla behaviour. Based at Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, located close to the entrance of the park, guests experience the rare privilege of trekking amongst the misty, forested volcanoes visiting one of five habituated families for a rewarding close-up of these amazing creatures. Other rainforest highlights include the famous Golden Monkey.

The 6-day tour costs from £1,695 p/p including scheduled flights (KQ), transfers, full board accommodation at Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, one Gorilla permit and expertly guided wildlife viewing. Additional Gorilla permits can be purchased on booking – subject to availability.

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COMMITTED UMBRAPHILES OR CURIOUS OBSERVERS? BOOK NOW FOR CHINA SOLAR ECLIPSE 2009

The next total solar eclipse will occur on 22nd July 2009 and will exhibit the longest period of totality ever witnessed in the 21st century, casting a shadow across areas of India, China, Japan, and Indonesia. Wildlife Worldwide offers a unique opportunity to view this remarkable natural phenomenon, from a vantage-point near China’s city of Hangzhou close to the centre line (the point at which the event’s length is greatest). Accompanying the tour is Britain’s top eclipse authority and Professor of Astrophysics, John Parkinson. Wildlife Worldwide’s 13-day tour combines eclipse-viewing with visits to many of China’s other major wildlife and historic attractions. Tour departs London 17th July 2009.

Spend the first two nights in Beijing and experience authentic ‘old Beijing’, with its teahouses and temples. Visit the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall and one of Beijing’s newest structures, the Olympic National Stadium or ‘Bird’s Nest’ as it has been nicknamed. Transfer to Hangzhou, located on the lower reaches of the Qiantang River in the Yangtze Delta. Take a city tour to the museum, Lingyin Temple, and visit a tea plantation. Rising early on 22nd July, Wildlife Worldwide’s guests are transported to the eclipse site, from where they will witness this special event. China has always been regarded as the home of solar eclipses as Chinese astronomers were first to systematically observe, record and predict their occurance. This is just one of many reasons why the 2009 total solar eclipse has been eagerly awaited for years. With good access to the centre line, a maximum period of totality of around 5mins 45secs, the longest available to land-based viewers, is expected. Once experienced, eclipse observers are in danger of becoming umbraphiles (the solar equivalent to trainspotters!) – don’t worry, the next eclipse tour with Wildlife Worldwide is scheduled for July 2010 to Easter Island. Once the excitement of the eclipse is over, further highlights of the tour include Chengdu Panda Research Centre and Jiuzhaigou National Park, plus a full day’s sightseeing in Xian, home of China’s famous Terracotta Warriors.

The tour costs £3,595 p/p (based on twin share), scheduled flights with Air China, transfers, full board accommodation, expertly-guided eclipse viewing and sightseeing excursions as per itinerary.

Click here for full details of the Highlights of China: The Home of Eclipses Holiday.

LARGER THAN LIFE GUYANA - AS SEEN ON TV

Over the years, BBC wildlife documentaries have featured the most incredible footage, allowing armchair travellers a rare glimpse into some of the most remote corners of the globe. The BBC’s latest production is no exception and over the next three Wednesdays viewers will follow a team of explorers, scientists and film-makers as they discover the plants and animals inhabiting the spectacular landscape of Guyana. Lost Land of the Jaguar commences Wednesday 30th July on BBC One. The TV is no substitute however, for real life exploration, so Wildlife Worldwide offers the unique opportunity to see firsthand, the country’s amazing rainforests, stunning waterfalls and wildlife, including Jaguar, Giant River Otter, Tapir and caiman, during its 14-day Journey to Guyana tour, departing London on selected dates throughout the year.

In historic capital, Georgetown, on the banks of the Demarera River, guests are accommodated in 150-year-old Cara Lodge, probably one of Guyana’s finest hotels. There’s time to visit Stabroek Market, famously a very ‘bizarre bazaar’, where it’s possible to find myriad items, all brought to market by river. Leave Georgetown to journey through rainforest, crossing the Essequibo River to spend 2-nights at the Iwokrama Field Station - 1,000,000 acres of rainforest reserved for research, development and conservation purposes. Accommodation here is in timber cabins with thatched roofs, on the banks of the Essequibo River, though there’s an option to venture deeper into the forest and overnight at one of the field station's satellite camps. Jaguar sightings have been very good of late, with up to 25% of visitors to Iwokrama bagging the big cat. Nighttime boat trips may yield up the bright eyes of Spectacled Caiman and later, during an excursion to Kurupukari Falls, Amerindian petroglyphs will be observed. Those with a head for it can climb the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway to observe the mid and upper forest canopy, along a 154m long series of suspension bridges and decks up to 30m high. Continuing to the village of Surama, tribal guides from the Amerindian community (Macushi Tribe) lead walks to discover fantastic vistas, multitudes of birds and other ‘local residents’ including Giant River Otters, Tapir, Tira and Spider Monkeys. A transfer to Rock View Lodge, located where the savannah meets the forest-covered foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains, sees meals taken in the old ranch house or in the garden under enormous mango trees. Later, at Karanambu Ranch, home to Diane McTurk, famed for her work with Giant River Otters, help and even swim, with any otters in residence. Guests may also search out Black Caiman, Arapaima (the world’s largest fish!) and view examples of Victoria Amazonica (the world’s largest water lily!) - so much in Guyana is larger than life! Continuing the theme, next stop is Kaieteur Falls (822 ft – five times the height of Niagara Falls!) and Orinduik Falls. The tour concludes back in Georgetown for homeward flights.

The tour costs from £3,195 p/p including scheduled flights, transfers, lodges and hotel accommodation, most meals together with expertly guided wildlife viewing.

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TOTTENHAM TO TANZANIA? 10-DAY SAFARIS DEPARTING LONDON YEAR-ROUND

The latest of the BBC’s Tribal Wives to give up her everyday life and spend a month living with one of the world's most remote tribes is Dionne Braham. London teacher, Dionne, headed to Africa to stay with the polygamous Maasai tribe in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Highlands. The Maasai are one of Africa’s largest and most famous tribes, their menfolk having up to 10 wives and women are expected to marry and bear children from the age of 14. Wildlife Worldwide can’t guarantee any proposals of marriage during its 10-day Spirit of Tanzania safari visiting the Maasai heartland, home to Tanzania’s Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, but can promise heart-stopping scenery, superb game-viewing and the start of a love affair with Africa. Tours depart London daily, year-round.

Depart the UK for Arusha and make for Tarangire NP, a grossly underrated park and still one of Africa’s best-kept secrets. The park lies just off the popular ‘northern circuit’ and doesn’t fit conveniently into a week’s safari. However, this is a bonus for wildlife enthusiasts as the game-viewing in this quieter reserve is superb. Often just seen as a stopping off point en route to Ngorongoro Highlands, Lake Manyara NP is a small and interesting park that definitely warrants a visit, if only to see the park’s famous tree-climbing lions and massive baboon population. Next, Ngorongoro Conservation Area including its eponymous crater and huge expanses of highland plains, scrub bush and forest covering approximately 8,300 square kilometres, home to the Maasai tribes. Often referred to as the 'eighth wonder of the world', Ngorongoro Crater contains possibly the largest permanent concentration of wildlife in Africa, with an estimated 30,000 large animals. The final part of the safari focuses on Serengeti NP. Equal in size to Northern Ireland, the park contains an estimated three million large animals, most of which take part in the perpetual migration that is one of nature's greatest wonders.

The tour costs from £2,695 p/p (22 Aug-8 Dec & 25-31 Dec 08) including flights, transfers, safari lodge accommodation, most meals and expertly guided activities.

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NEW LIUWA PLAINS SAFARIS - ZAMBIAN WILDERNESS

Wildlife Worldwide offers an exceptional opportunity to explore one of Africa's most remote and rarely visited wildlife parks with the help of one of its best safari guides - amongst the open grasslands of Zambia’s Liuwa Plains. During December, when the first rains are falling, Robin Pope will be personally leading small-group explorations to experience the wildebeest migration for which the region is renowned, plus spot some of the numerous resident bird species and other mammals in this game-filled national park. New 4 and 5-day Liuwa Plains Safaris depart London 1st (4-nights), 5th and 10th (5-nights) December 2008.

Liuwa Plains is an immense wilderness area, comprising vast, honey-coloured grassy plains covering about 3,660km². Here, the spectacular bird life includes Crowned Crane, Wattled Crane, Denham and White-bellied Bustard, hundreds of Pelican, Egret, Spoonbill, Yellow and Open-billed Stork. Waders run around the shores of these pans and during December the resident birds are joined by many thousands of other bird species passing through. During the Wildebeest migration, up to 35,000 Blue Wildebeest move between the western boundary and the centre of the plains. However, the movement is not en masse but in large herds of up to a 1,000, with Zebra and sometimes Tsessebe amongst them. From Lusaka, transfer to Kalabo Airport then continue by 4WD to Matamanene Camp, set on a small tree island in the heart of Liuwa Plain NP. Located in one of most remote and least-populated areas of the country, the camp is usually base for rangers and conservationists as it is the only permanent camp in the national park. Aside from Wildebeest, other mammal highlights include Zebra, Tsessebe, Red Lechwe, Buffalo and large packs of Wild Dog, Cheetah and a single remaining Lioness that lives near the camp (two males are joining her in 2008). Days are spent exploring on foot and by 4WD, escorted by Robin Pope – on his first guided safari in the area for 10yrs, with evenings back at camp, enjoying meals cooked and eaten under brilliant star-filled Zambian skies.

The safari costs from £2,825 p/p (4-day safari) including scheduled international flights from London (BA) and domestic connections, safari camp accommodation with all meals, all drinks and expertly guided wildlife viewing activities.

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BIG GAME, BIG SAVING - KENYA’S AMBOSELI, SHABA AND MASAI MARA

Tailor-made natural history specialist Wildlife Worldwide offers savings of up to £500 p/p on 9-day safaris, staying in luxury camps amongst the pristine, game-filled, unchanged wilderness of Kenya’s Amboseli NP, Shaba National Reserve and Masai Mara. The Luxury Kenya Safari departs Heathrow daily now until December 2008.

On arrival into Nairobi, guests are transferred by light aircraft to Amboseli NP best known for its magnificent views of Kilimanjaro and home to a large elephant population. Here, 2-nights are spent at Tortilis Camp, situated just outside the park. Explore one of Amboseli's few remaining areas of unspoilt woodland by 4WD before returning to camp for sundowners in the lounge area, whilst enjoying magnificent views of snow-capped Kilimanjaro. Next up, fly to Shaba National Reserve and Joy’s Camp, situated at Joy Adamson’s original campsite. Here, raised luxury tents overlook a large, natural spring attracting numerous game and each offer a private veranda, ideal for viewing opportunities. The final 2-nights are spent in the outstanding Masai Mara, at the exclusive Elephant Pepper Camp. Located on the Koiyaki Community Ranch in the heart of the African bush, the camp offers the ultimate luxury bush safari with day and night game drives plus bush walks all on offer. Return to Nairobi by light aircraft and freshen up at House of Waine before homeward flights.

The holiday NOW costs from £2,450 p/p (WAS £2,950) (based on two sharing) including scheduled international flights from London (KA), internal flights, luxury safari camp and hotel accommodation with all meals, most drinks and expertly guided wildlife viewing activities.

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ARCTIC VOYAGE AROUND SPITSBERGEN - BOOK NOW FOR AUGUST DEPARTURE

Save up to £370 p/p on Wildlife Worldwide’s 11-night voyage aboard the ice-strengthened expedition vessel Antarctic Dream, around the icy northern coastline of Spitsbergen, searching out Walrus, Arctic seabird colonies, whales and the ultimate land carnivore - the mighty Polar Bear. Voyage departs Longyearbyen 18th August 2008.

The Svalbard Archipelago is only a few hours flight from the UK, yet this extraordinary land of rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, ice caps, glaciers and exceptional wildlife is a true High Arctic wilderness. Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago. Ice conditions allowing, the northern-most point of the voyage is likely to be Phippsøya in the Seven Islands, just 870 kilometres from the geographic North Pole. Heading north along the west coast to Krossfjorden, passengers transfer to Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. The next port of call is Ny Ålesund, the world’s most northerly settlement. Once a mining village - served by the world’s most northerly railway, which can still be seen - Ny Ålesund is now a research centre. Heading further north still, the vessel sails into Liefdefjorden, cruising close to the face of the impressive Monaco Glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favourite feeding spot for thousands of Kittiwakes and Polar Bears are occasionally seen on the glacier. Phippsøya in the Seven Islands, the realm of the Polar Bear, is next. Here, time will be spent on the pack ice taking in the spectacular surroundings and watching for sightings of the ‘King of the Arctic’. Turning south, a visit is made to Laagöya, a low island with a big lagoon where a big herd of Walrus tends to congregate. Sabine’s Gulls nest on the island, and during a nature walk, families of Ptarmigan may be encountered. Sailing down through Hinlopen Strait, the waterway between Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet, sightings of Bearded and Ringed Seals, Polar Bears and Ivory Gulls are all possible. Utilising zodiacs to navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya, explorations will be made of the bird cliffs at Alkefjellet, home to thousands of Brunnich’s Guillemots, the polar desert of Nordaustlandet, next to the world’s third largest ice cap, and an old trapper’s hut at Sundneset on Barentsøya. Moving south to Dislobukta on the west side of Edgeøya, beaches are littered with whale bones and tree trunks that have drifted from Siberia. On Ahlstrandhalvøya, piles of Beluga skeletons are evidence of the 19th Century slaughter. Fortunately Belugas were not hunted to extinction and the chances of encountering a pod are good. The voyage concludes back in Longyearbyen.

The voyage now costs from £2,325 p/p including accommodation on board ship, all meals and expertly guided shore and zodiac excursions.

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THE LAW IS AN ASS… INDIA - GUJARAT

The European Commission has announced that from July next year, horses, donkeys and mules in the EU will require passports and be electronically tagged. However, the regulation does not affect imports of equine animals from countries outside the EU, or those left to roam wild. To see Asiatic Wild Ass running wild, tag and bureaucracy-free in their last remaining home at Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary, join Wildlife Worldwide on a 14-day The Wilds of Gujarat holiday in Gandhi's home state. Tours depart London daily from 1st November 08.

On arrival in Mumbai, transfer to Bhavnagar in Gujarat for 3-nights at Nilambagh Palace, originally built in 1859 as the residence of the crown prince. From here, visit Velavadar National Park (Blackbuck NP) comprising 35km² of savannah home to thousands of India's endemic Blackbuck. In the days of the Maharajas of Bhavnagar Blackbuck were protected, the preserve of occasional royal hunting trips. Highlights include the endangered India Wolf, Jungle Cat and Wild Pig, along with extensive birdlife, including the endangered Houbara Bustard, Sarus White Stork and White Pelican. Travel by road to Sansangir NP where 4-nights are spent at Lion Safari Camp, beautifully situated in a private Mango Orchard overlooking the Hiran River. Sansangir (widely known as Gir) is a large park in the Gujarat Peninsula, characterised by an arid, rugged terrain with low hills and mixed vegetation including stands of teak, acacia and dhak trees interspersed with grassy plains. The park's main aim is to preserve the last healthy population of critically endangered Asiatic Lion. As well as approximately 300 Lions, other smaller members of the cat family include Desert Cat and the Rusty Spotted Cat and Leopard. Next, head off to Gondal to enjoy bird-rich lakes and nearby Maharaja's private grasslands to see Guar and Blackbuck. On to the Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary, India's largest at a staggering 4,954km² consisting of desert plains, arid grasslands, rocky and thorny scrublands, lakes and marshes. This is the last remaining home of the Asiatic Wild Ass and represents a conservation success story, as a population of only 800 in the 1960's has grown to over 2,000 currently. Finally, head for Ahmedabad and a flight to Mumbai where a final night is spent at the 5-star Leela Kempinski Hotel before homeward flights next day.

The holiday costs from £2,495 p/p including scheduled flights, transfers, hotel and lodge accommodation, most meals, expertly guided wildlife viewing.

Click here for this Tailor Made Wildlife Holiday in India

BIG BUG WLTM MEGASOMA FEMALE - COSTA RICA – 4WD SELF-DRIVE HOLIDAY

An endangered, Elephant Beetle (Megasoma elephas), the size of a hamster, has been found at a London-based, banana packing factory after surviving the journey from Costa Rica. The fruit-loving male beetle has now been re-housed at Linton Zoo near Cambridge and is currently on the lookout for a mate! Not only is Costa Rica the world’s most bio-diverse country and home to one of the world’s largest insects, it also offers other unique wildlife species including Resplendent Quetzal, sacred bird of the Mayans, Jaguar, Puma and Atlantic Green Turtle. Wildlife Worldwide offer a 13-day Costa Rican Odyssey tour exploring lush rainforests, active volcanoes and unique wildlife, departing London daily throughout 2008.

An initial night is spent at San Gildar Hotel located in an historic and picturesque area of San Jose. Next day, travellers are driven to Braulio Carrillo National Park where the Aerial Tram offers a different perspective on to the expanse of rainforest below, home to over 340 bird species, together with Howler and White-faced Monkeys, Tapir, Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot and Paca. Continuing by road and boat to Tortuguero National Park, 2-nights are spent exploring the vast area of untouched tropical rainforest on foot and by boat. Between July and September, night tours allow for observation of nesting Atlantic Green Turtle. After collecting your 4WD, head to Arenal National Park and the world's most active volcano. On a clear night, observe magnificent views of Arenal Volcano from the hotel – with possible explosions and flowing lava. Continue to the protected Monteverde Cloud Forest, a reserve of some 4,500 hectares. The Resplendent Quetzal, sacred bird of the Mayans, considered by many to be the most beautiful bird in the world, is regularly seen between January and July, together with Emerald Toucanet and both White-faced, and Howler Monkeys. Drive to the Pacific Coast and the Gulf of Nicoya. Here, guided birding tours amongst tropical dry forest and seasonal marshes provide excellent opportunities to see vast concentrations of heron, duck, and spoonbill gathering during the dry season. Return to San Jose to drop off the jeep, spending a night at the San Gildar Hotel before homeward flights next day.

The tour costs from £1,495 p/p including scheduled flights, private transfers, lodge and hotel accommodation, most meals, 4WD vehicle hire (days 5 to 11) and expert wildlife guiding.

Click here for Tailor Made Wildlife Holiday, Costa Rican Odyssey