The Travel & Leisure Magazine Watching Wildlife Feature
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Picture: Gap Year
Picture: Gap Year
From the sinuous grace of an otter, to the playfulness of dolphins, or the rough and tumble of a grizzly squabble, wildlife watching is one of the most exciting holidays around writes Elizabeth Buchanan
here is nothing like your first sight of a wild bear. The hair on the back of your neck literally stands on end. Out in the woods they suddenly seem bigger: much, much bigger. They’re noisy too, lumbering about and casually ripping rotten tree trunks in half in search of insects. Encountering a Brown bear and her cubs in the forest is one of those magical scenes
T
you’ll never forget. It seems incredible that these wild creatures could be so unconcerned by humans, but they ignore us completely: the mother methodically feeding on grubs while the two young cubs roll around growling and cuffing each other in mock fights. It is awe-inspiring: no other description will do. It’s that unparalleled sense of wonder and excitement that makes wildlife watching so compulsive and why it has become an
Picture: Gap Year
The Travel & Leisure Magazine
23
24 The Travel & Leisure Magazine
Picture: GCTC
If you want to get close to some ‘not so wild’ life, why not visit a Llama farm and go trekking with these mildmannered creatures? Llamas are good natured, intelligent and very inquisitive and make elegant travelling companions. Bluecaps Llamas is based near Wadhurst in East Sussex and offers a range of llama-trekking activities from birthday parties to hen parties.You turn up, meet your llama and go walking.The trips can range from a gentle 40 minute stroll, to a 3 hour trek and the farm will also provide extras such as lunch, cheese and wine, or Pimms, strawberries and cake if you wish. A 40 minute trek with your own llama and a tour of the farm costs £15.00 per person, or you can share a llama and walk with a friend for an additional £5.00. A 1 hour trek costs £21.00 per person while the 3 hour trek, including lunch and drinks is £45.00 per person. For further details contact Tina O’Donnell at: Bluecaps Llamas, Bluecaps Farm, Sleepers Stile Road, Cousley Wood, Nr.Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6QX.Tel: 01892 785119 or mobile: 07711 663800 Email: [email protected]. www.bluecapsllamas.co.uk. The Ashdown Forest Llama Park also offers walks with llamas. These last for an hour and cost £30 for one person with a llama and £50 for two people sharing a llama.The park also organises seasonal events including ‘watching the llama-shearing’ in May. If you’re a big llama fan you can volunteer to help with the wildlife during busy periods. For further details or to make a booking contact: Linda Johnson, Ashdown Forest Llama Park,Wych Cross, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5JN,Tel: 01825 712040, Fax: 01825 713698, E-mail: [email protected], www.llamapark.co.uk.
‘There is nothing like your first sight of a wild bear...’
Picture: P Greenhalf
Llama farmers offer trekking
Teri’s Top Tips
Picture: J Plana
Picture: C Robson
Picture: J Plana
When choosing a tour operator, or guide to take you wildlife watching, here are some of the most important things to look for: Go for local guides who will take you into an area on foot.This will cause the minimum amount of stress to the environment. Make sure that your accommodation is locally owned and that food is locally produced.That way your tourist pounds go to benefit local communities. Find out if your tour operator is involved with international charities, such as ‘Project Tiger’ or ‘Friends of Conservation’, which work to highlight how tourism revenue can help preserve habitats, reduce poaching and prevent trade in endangered species. Look for accommodation that is environmentally friendly, solar or wind powered and committed to recycling, especially waste water. Make sure, if your tour operator offers ‘in-water dolphin encounters’, that such activities follow local animal protection regulations. Find out if your tour organiser has an established policy to protect local people, animals and the environment.
The Travel & Leisure Magazine
25
26 The Travel & Leisure Magazine
Your Wildlife Facts Find big cat diaries at: www.bbc.co.uk/nature/programmes/tv/bcd
Tour Operators: There are hundreds out there, all offering wildlife tours, but make sure you check their ‘responsible tourism’ credentials before you book. Then you can be sure you’re helping preserve wildlife habitats instead of damaging them.
Find out more:
Don’t forget to take your camera to capture what you see… and just to get you in the mood we have 5 FREE COPIES of the Lonely Planet Guide to Wildlife and Travel Photography by Andy Rouse £10.99. Simply write in to [email protected] with Lonely Planet as the subject. Don’t forget to put your name and address in the body of the email as well.
When travelling:
Remove excess packaging on products before you travel. Badly-disposed of plastic is responsible for countless deaths among wild birds and animals. Obviously… don’t buy souvenirs or artefacts made from endangered species Be conscious of how much water you are using. Lack of water makes an impact on animal populations.
Picture: Gap Year
ni Picture: Raghu Kulkar
Find out more about wildlife by visiting: www.naturetrek.co.uk organises tours to Europe and beyond and offers a huge range of wildlife-based holidays. www.discover-the-world.co.uk runs specialist Arctic and Antarctic holidays and Whale-watching trips. www.scotland4wildlifeholidays.co.uk gives a comprehensive list of tour operators offering wildlife-watching trips, but recommends you check before booking for a responsible tourism code of conduct. www.western-isles-wildlife.co.uk runs year-round wildlife trips to the Western Isles of Scotland. www.highlandwildlifepark.org A wonderful park near Aviemore, dedicated to preserving Britain’s own ancient species, such as the Scottish Wild Cat, the Pine Marten and the Capercaillie. www.wwuk.org Wolf Watch UK is a members-only organisation. It costs £20 per year and £15 for a pre-arranged visit. Guest passes for friends cost £15. www.ptes.org The People’s Trust for Endangered Species organises Wolf watching visits, supporters £25, others £30. www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk offer a huge range of animal conservation volunteering holidays around the globe. www.nature-watch.co.uk for live webcam footage of nest boxes. www.bbc.co.uk/earth/nature/uk for all the latest information on Spring Watch and Autumn Watch and for local schemes where you can get involved in watching nature. www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zoostaff/larg/pages/Rum.html for information on Red Deer projects on the Isle of Rum. www.wwt.org.uk/centre/121/martin_mere.html for the latest updates on Britain’s migratory birds.
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let’s try…
Picture: Gap Year
Picture: Gap Year
From the sinuous grace of an otter, to the playfulness of dolphins, or the rough and tumble of a grizzly squabble, wildlife watching is one of the most exciting holidays around writes Elizabeth Buchanan
here is nothing like your first sight of a wild bear. The hair on the back of your neck literally stands on end. Out in the woods they suddenly seem bigger: much, much bigger. They’re noisy too, lumbering about and casually ripping rotten tree trunks in half in search of insects. Encountering a Brown bear and her cubs in the forest is one of those magical scenes
T
you’ll never forget. It seems incredible that these wild creatures could be so unconcerned by humans, but they ignore us completely: the mother methodically feeding on grubs while the two young cubs roll around growling and cuffing each other in mock fights. It is awe-inspiring: no other description will do. It’s that unparalleled sense of wonder and excitement that makes wildlife watching so compulsive and why it has become an
Picture: Gap Year
The Travel & Leisure Magazine
23
24 The Travel & Leisure Magazine
Picture: GCTC
If you want to get close to some ‘not so wild’ life, why not visit a Llama farm and go trekking with these mildmannered creatures? Llamas are good natured, intelligent and very inquisitive and make elegant travelling companions. Bluecaps Llamas is based near Wadhurst in East Sussex and offers a range of llama-trekking activities from birthday parties to hen parties.You turn up, meet your llama and go walking.The trips can range from a gentle 40 minute stroll, to a 3 hour trek and the farm will also provide extras such as lunch, cheese and wine, or Pimms, strawberries and cake if you wish. A 40 minute trek with your own llama and a tour of the farm costs £15.00 per person, or you can share a llama and walk with a friend for an additional £5.00. A 1 hour trek costs £21.00 per person while the 3 hour trek, including lunch and drinks is £45.00 per person. For further details contact Tina O’Donnell at: Bluecaps Llamas, Bluecaps Farm, Sleepers Stile Road, Cousley Wood, Nr.Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6QX.Tel: 01892 785119 or mobile: 07711 663800 Email: [email protected]. www.bluecapsllamas.co.uk. The Ashdown Forest Llama Park also offers walks with llamas. These last for an hour and cost £30 for one person with a llama and £50 for two people sharing a llama.The park also organises seasonal events including ‘watching the llama-shearing’ in May. If you’re a big llama fan you can volunteer to help with the wildlife during busy periods. For further details or to make a booking contact: Linda Johnson, Ashdown Forest Llama Park,Wych Cross, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5JN,Tel: 01825 712040, Fax: 01825 713698, E-mail: [email protected], www.llamapark.co.uk.
‘There is nothing like your first sight of a wild bear...’
Picture: P Greenhalf
Llama farmers offer trekking
Teri’s Top Tips
Picture: J Plana
Picture: C Robson
Picture: J Plana
When choosing a tour operator, or guide to take you wildlife watching, here are some of the most important things to look for: Go for local guides who will take you into an area on foot.This will cause the minimum amount of stress to the environment. Make sure that your accommodation is locally owned and that food is locally produced.That way your tourist pounds go to benefit local communities. Find out if your tour operator is involved with international charities, such as ‘Project Tiger’ or ‘Friends of Conservation’, which work to highlight how tourism revenue can help preserve habitats, reduce poaching and prevent trade in endangered species. Look for accommodation that is environmentally friendly, solar or wind powered and committed to recycling, especially waste water. Make sure, if your tour operator offers ‘in-water dolphin encounters’, that such activities follow local animal protection regulations. Find out if your tour organiser has an established policy to protect local people, animals and the environment.
The Travel & Leisure Magazine
25
26 The Travel & Leisure Magazine
Your Wildlife Facts Find big cat diaries at: www.bbc.co.uk/nature/programmes/tv/bcd
Tour Operators: There are hundreds out there, all offering wildlife tours, but make sure you check their ‘responsible tourism’ credentials before you book. Then you can be sure you’re helping preserve wildlife habitats instead of damaging them.
Find out more:
Don’t forget to take your camera to capture what you see… and just to get you in the mood we have 5 FREE COPIES of the Lonely Planet Guide to Wildlife and Travel Photography by Andy Rouse £10.99. Simply write in to [email protected] with Lonely Planet as the subject. Don’t forget to put your name and address in the body of the email as well.
When travelling:
Remove excess packaging on products before you travel. Badly-disposed of plastic is responsible for countless deaths among wild birds and animals. Obviously… don’t buy souvenirs or artefacts made from endangered species Be conscious of how much water you are using. Lack of water makes an impact on animal populations.
Picture: Gap Year
ni Picture: Raghu Kulkar
Find out more about wildlife by visiting: www.naturetrek.co.uk organises tours to Europe and beyond and offers a huge range of wildlife-based holidays. www.discover-the-world.co.uk runs specialist Arctic and Antarctic holidays and Whale-watching trips. www.scotland4wildlifeholidays.co.uk gives a comprehensive list of tour operators offering wildlife-watching trips, but recommends you check before booking for a responsible tourism code of conduct. www.western-isles-wildlife.co.uk runs year-round wildlife trips to the Western Isles of Scotland. www.highlandwildlifepark.org A wonderful park near Aviemore, dedicated to preserving Britain’s own ancient species, such as the Scottish Wild Cat, the Pine Marten and the Capercaillie. www.wwuk.org Wolf Watch UK is a members-only organisation. It costs £20 per year and £15 for a pre-arranged visit. Guest passes for friends cost £15. www.ptes.org The People’s Trust for Endangered Species organises Wolf watching visits, supporters £25, others £30. www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk offer a huge range of animal conservation volunteering holidays around the globe. www.nature-watch.co.uk for live webcam footage of nest boxes. www.bbc.co.uk/earth/nature/uk for all the latest information on Spring Watch and Autumn Watch and for local schemes where you can get involved in watching nature. www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zoostaff/larg/pages/Rum.html for information on Red Deer projects on the Isle of Rum. www.wwt.org.uk/centre/121/martin_mere.html for the latest updates on Britain’s migratory birds.
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TL The Travel & Leisure Magazine
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