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.

Click here to see more South African wildlife holidays.