Love Wildlife | Wildlife Safari
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LOVE WILDLIFE
 

Need some inspiration before booking your next travel experience? Well, look no further. From tailor-made luxury journeys, polar cruises expeditions, jaw dropping safari itineraries to offbeat wildlife destinations – our exhibitors have it all.


Past show schedule to give you a flavour of what’s on offer


11:00 – 11:30 The Big Cats of South America. Edward Paine, Last Frontiers

An overview of South America’s big cats, how, when and where best to see them. Edward Paine, founder of Last Frontiers, has been travelling to South America for over 30 years. He will trace the history of big cats such as ocelots, pumas and jaguars in the continent, and discuss the status and threats to their current population.

Ed will describe their habitats, which range from steamy jungle to Andean valleys, and will suggest where best to go to catch a glimpse of these elusive and majestic felines.

11:40 – 12:10 The Wildlife of Spain – Julian Sykes, Speyside Wildlife

Who knew that Spain hosted such an incredible array of wildlife, just a short hop from the UK. From wolves and bears in the north west, to rare genet and lynx in the south, plus over 600 species of birds recorded in between.

Having lived and worked in Spain for a number of years, Julian can take you on a journey to the hidden corners of this incredible country and give you a tantalising glimpse of what there is to see. A native Yorkshireman, Julian now divides his time between Yorkshire and Spain, so is the perfect guide to take you on our Andujar, Extremadura and Pyrenees holidays.

12:20 – 12:50  How to Find Your Perfect Polar Expedition Cruise. Martin Johnson, Polar Routes

For many, spotting polar bears in the Arctic or walking amongst the penguin colonies of Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime dream. However, for some, an expedition cruise to the polar regions can spark a lifetimes obsession and for director of Polar Routes, Martin Johnson, the latter has very much been the case! For over 10 years, Martin has been involved in the sale of expedition cruises and has been fortunate enough to experience multiple polar expedition cruises, in a variety of different styles. He has a wealth of first-hand knowledge and in this presentation, he will help you decipher the huge choice of polar operators, ships and hundreds of itineraries, to help find your perfect polar expedition cruise. Whether the Arctic and/or Antarctica is sitting on your bucket list, or perhaps you are ready to make that dream a reality, make sure you don’t miss this insightful and inspirational presentation.

13:00 – 13:30  Think You Know African Safari Wildlife? Tim Henshall, Kamageo 

A lively talk appealing to all ages about wildlife you’re likely to experience on an African safari. Learn about animal behaviour with interesting anecdotes and factoids. Not to be missed! A lively talk appealing to all ages about wildlife you’re likely to experience on an African safari.

Learn about animal behaviour with interesting anecdotes and factoids. Not to be missed! Tim describes himself as a serial safari-er having first visited Africa over 20 years ago and has returned 60+ times since.

13:40 – 14:10  Botswana: A Journey Through Unspoilt Wilderness. Nick Acheson,Wildlife Worldwide

The unspoilt wilderness of Botswana is one of Africa’s greatest safari destinations. The population is tiny: just over two million people inhabit this beautiful land that is the size of France, leaving most of it in the hands of nature. Fresh from his travels, Nick Acheson takes us on a journey through three of northern Botswana’s foremost wildlife reserves, recounting tales of the incredible wildlife he encountered and providing an invaluable insight into what can be expected from a visit to this remarkable destination.

14:20 – 14:50 The Magic of Madagascar. Kerrie Porteous, Naturetrek

 Madagascar has been isolated from mainland Africa for 165 million years, allowing evolution to take its own unique course. Today over 80% of all Malagasy wildlife is endemic, occurring nowhere else on Earth, meaning it truly is an island of the “weird and wonderful”! During this talk we will describe all corners of Madagascar – from the lush eastern rainforest, over the dry deciduous forests to the spiny deserts of the south-west and up to the lesser visited north. Visitors to Madagascar are assured of spotting an incredible range of wildlife during their explorations, and will find the Malagasy people to be unfailingly helpful and welcoming.

15:00 to 15:30 Walking with Bears: On Foot Adventures with Polar and Grizzly Bears. Andy Skillen, Andy Skillen Photography

Andy has spent much of his career flat on his face in the mud, snow, water and, well anything else that happens to be there, to bring the world unique images of grizzly and polar bears…on foot. As one of just 4 photographers worldwide to take people to see arctic giants on their terms, as well as frequenting a whole host of ‘off the beaten track’ brown bear locations, Andy has a unique take on what it is to work with and photograph these icons of the wilderness. Join this talk to hear of some of the more hair-raising encounters that Andy has gone through in his pursuit of recording ursine behaviour…

15:40 to 16:10 How My Love for Nature Inspired My Interest in Conservation. Jane Keogh, The Zambian Connection

Jane ran a lodge with her husband in the lower Zambezi for a couple of years in 2011 and 2012. In September 2015 she was inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and was compelled to act in aid of conservation of threatened and endangered species such as elephants, lion, pangolins and wild dogs. She supports Conservation Lower Zambezi, leading small groups of people down the Zambezi river in canoes to raise funds to support the amazing work on the ground in this vast and remote area of Zambia.

16:20 to 17:00 Discover Sri Lanka’s Big Five. Aleem Raheem, The Earth Trip

Sri Lankan expert, Aleem, co-founder of The Earth Trip, will explain why Sri Lanka is one of the finest wildlife watching destinations in the world. The pearl of the Indian Ocean offers wildlife enthusiasts an incredible opportunity to spot the elusive leopards, the rare sloth bears, the sperm whales and the endangered Asian elephants. Sri Lanka is also known as one of the best places in the world to see the magnificent endangered blue whales. Come and hear for yourself about this tropical island which not only offers one of the highest rates of biological endemism in the world but also hundreds of kilometres of sandy beaches, an incredible ancient history and a wealth of culture. As a native Sri Lankan living in the UK, Aleem is passionate about Sri Lanka and is committed to ethical, responsible and sustainable tourism.


past show


11:00 – 11:30  Northwest Argentina: Wildlife & Wine. Luis Segura, Trogon Tours

This lecture is about exploring Northwestern Argentina, enjoying its fantastic fauna and flora, with a touch of its culture and visiting some of its famous wineries. Luis is one of the founders and co-owner of Trogon Tours. His homeland is Patagonia, where he spent most of his life. He started leading birding and wildlife tours in 1982.

11:40 – 12:10  Nagarahole: A Peaceful Park with a Panther. Nick Acheson, Wildlife Worldwide

Nick Acheson explains why Nagarhole has become his favourite park for incredible wildlife in India. Though many of North and Central India’s tiger parks are hectic, Nagarahole, in the southern state of Karnataka, is serene and beautiful. A superb park for tiger, it is also wonderful for leopard, Asian wild dog, Asian elephant and – thrillingly – a confiding melanistic male leopard. Nick Acheson has visited the park over the past two years and explains why it has become his favourite.

12:20 – 12:50  South Africa’s Garden Route explained. Malcolm Peasnall, The Independent Traveller – Destination Southern Africa

One for the bucket list!

The Garden Route has lots of wildlife options including whale watching, safari and meerkats! There are also some great stories in terms of wildlife rehabilitation in this area.

Join us to discuss the options. Hopefully an interactive session with lots of questions and hopefully answers!

13:00 – 13:30 Namibia by Night and Day. Paul Stanbury, Naturetrek

Namibia is a vast, wild place. Over twice the size of Germany, and home to only 2.5 million people, there are few countries on Earth with so much space for nature. It is a land dominated by deserts, from the ancient Namib to the red Kalahari, but these dramatic, harshly beautiful landscapes support a surprising abundance of wildlife. Etosha protects the largest surviving population of Black Rhinoceros; these are easiest to see at night, when they often gather in impressive numbers at floodlit waterholes, sometimes accompanied by secretive species like Brown Hyaena and African Wildcat. These are not the only nocturnal highlights; Namibia’s clear air and lack of light pollution permit truly awesome views into the night sky, often featuring the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds. In this talk we will describe why Namibia is a destination like no other.

13:40 – 14:10  Brazil. Immerse Yourself in the Natural Splendour of the Pantanal Wetlands. Simon Williams, Humboldt Travel

This vast wetland which supports some of the most famous residents of South America, including the giant anteater, capybara and caiman, is also well known as being the best place in the world to spot jaguar. Take a safari by boat, search hidden waterways in canoes or even explore by foot and it won’t be long until you are viewing spectacular birds and wildlife at very close quarters. Situated in the heart of Brazil, this extensive region will delight any wildlife enthusiasts.

 

14:20 – 15:10 Wilderness, Wildlife and Our Wildest Dreams. The Journey of Pinnon Lodges

Lyndon Pinches is a former army officer. In 2014 Lyndon and his wife Ruth left their jobs in the UK to work in conservation. Following an initial stint working in Anti-poaching in Malawi they decided to get on a bus to Zambia to build a safari lodge. After a year of getting permissions and permits they finally completed building in Aug 2016, as filmed by the Channel 4 series Our Wildest Dreams. Three years on, despite fires, floods and numerous other challenges the lodge continues to grow and support conservation in the Kafue National park.

15:20 – 15:50 The Uganda Experience. The Perspectives from Reformed Poachers and Tourism Rangers. Charles Etoru, Ranger Safari Tours

Uganda has been used as a key transit route for wildlife products for many years. Poaching still exists in Uganda both on commercial and subsistence scale. The success story for Uganda wildlife is that, reformed poachers have come out to denounce the practice and this is proving to be the success of conservation. The enhanced knowledge of awareness of poaching, through community relations by rangers plays a key role. In the past, it is was evident that, migratory birds were often killed and many species of wildlife by ex-poachers. The attitude to communities still recognises spring poaching as a way of life and that should be taken or treated as legal part of the local community cultures. The resultant abandonment of poaching strategies by poachers through direct tourism benefits is key to developing alternative ways of conserving wildlife. The Queen Elizabeth Project works as a conduit through seeking alternatives ways of supporting wildlife conservation and community engagement strategies.

previous show scedule