Spirit of Adventure

Dr Graham Robertson, a seabird ecologist, has jointly won an award for a new long-line fishing device designed to reduce by-catch of seabirds. The Underwater Bait Launcher, invented by Dr Robertson and Amerro engineering, was awarded the $45,000 WWF Smart Gear Competition in Spain. Over the years, Peregrine has, with your help, raised almost A$600,000 towards projects aimed at saving the albatross, with particular focus on the Bait Setting Launcher.

The machine is designed for use on surface long-line fishing vessels such as tuna and swordfish boats. It uses a capsule which carries baited hooks six metres underwater, out of reach of seabirds. Each year more than 300,000 seabirds including albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters drown on long-lines when they dive after baited hooks. Dr Robertson said many species of seabirds are threatened with extinction because of long-line fishing practices: “Hundreds of millions of hooks are set off tuna boats each year, so if a new system to stop seabird mortality is not widely used soon; it may be too late for some bird species”.

The machine cost almost half a million dollars to develop, but it is hoped that it will retail for around $25,000. “While the machine may seem expensive, you have to remember that a single tuna can fetch up to $2,000 at the fish markets, so it’s not really that much of an investment for the fisherman,” Dr Robertson said. The Launcher is currently being trialled in the waters off Queensland in Australia, and will undergo further tests in long-lining hot spots off South America next year.

As many of you are aware, Peregrine has donated a significant amount of funds raised to this project and we continue to assist Dr Robertson with this fantastic initiative, through many planned fundraising events and onboard donations for the 2009-2010 Antarctic season and beyond. 2010 will be the most important, as the testing phase will be finished and it is intended that at least one device will be fitted onto a Uruguayan fishing vessel. Finally we’ll start saving the albatross. A big thank you to all of you who have donated over the last eight years.

To learn more about this initiative please visit our website or to donate click here.

The Antarctic 2009-2010 season is here with the first voyage, 6 November, departing tomorrow. Most of the voyages are now full – but the good news is that there are two exceptions – our 20 night Antarctica, the Falkland Islands & South Georgia voyage departing 20 January 2010 and our 18 night Antarctica, the Falkland Islands & South Georgia voyage departing 22 February 2010. Even on these voyages there are only a handful of cabins left, so if you were looking to join us in Antarctica next year, contact us soon not to miss the boat!

These two voyages offer the ‘ultimate’ wildlife experiences, contrasting the fascinating history and overwhelming wildlife populations of the sub-Antarctic, with the awesome beauty of Antarctica. The 20 January voyage also has particular focus on the needs of the artist and photographer, with photographer Nick Garbutt and artist and conservationist Mandy Shepherd joining us onboard.

Our expedition ship the Akademik Sergey Vavilov will operate for the Antarctic 2009-2010 season. The Akademik Sergey Vavilov has a solid reputation for being the ideal ship in terms of size, speed, safety and stability. She is the perfect ‘home base’ for exploring the wilderness areas of Antarctica, moving quickly and providing a warm and comfortable homecoming at the end of the day’s exploration, to allow you to rest-up and get the most out of each day.

Contact us for further information or to make a booking, our consultants have expert knowledge on the polar regions and can arrange all your travel needs.

Standing in quiet awe as you meet the gaze of one of the world’s few remaining mountain gorillas has got to be one of the most amazing encounters with the animal kingdom one can have! Due to the importance of protecting these amazing creatures, trekking permits to see the gorillas are limited. So if you want to book yourself onto a trip that is guaranteed to depart, without the stress of worrying whether you will be able to secure a gorilla permit, the 2 January 2010 departure of the 8-day Uganda’s Gorillas & Chimps or 19 February 2010 departure of the 11-day Preserving Primates, are safe bets as we have guaranteed permits for these two trips.

Undoubtedly the ultimate highlight of the 8-day Uganda’s Gorillas & Chimps journey occurs the moment we enter the realm of the majestic mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. To be able to witness the strong bond within the gorilla family and the quiet, regal nature and awesome dignity of the silverback, is a rare privilege. Uganda – a country boasting equatorial rainforests, acacia savannahs, great lakes and soaring mountains, also has a number of national parks that offer some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in Africa. We trek to see the chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park – an outstanding opportunity to enter the world of these cheeky primates, while two nights in Queen Elizabeth National Park and a further night in Lake Mburo National Park, deliver a feast of wildlife viewing opportunities, as well as a glimpse into Ugandan life.

The 11-day Preserving the Primates, which visits both Uganda and Rwanda, is a collection of fascinating primate experiences like no other. Against the backdrop of the spectacular Virunga volcanos in the Parc National des Volcans, we undertake two treks – one to visit families of mountain gorillas and one to seek out the rare Golden Monkeys. In Uganda, we also set out on two primate treks, starting with a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and then undertaking a very special, full day chimpanzee habituation experience. We spend time with the rangers of Kibale Forest National Park and a chimpanzee family, to gradually habituate the apes to the presence of humans.

For more information about these and our other African wildlife experiences, visit our website.

Lou Day, our resident trekking expert, shares one of her tales from the trail.

When reflecting on what has been my favourite trek to date I must admit I was torn as to what to choose. Having been lucky enough to work at Peregrine for over 10 years now, I have had the fortune to be able to pursue my passion for trekking in some of the most spectacular places across the globe.

My travels have taken me through the Annapurna’s and the high trails of the Everest region in Nepal, to the moonscapes of Ladakh, the trenches along the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea and recently to the top of Kilimanjaro! Not to mention the feeling of remoteness and untouched beauty I experienced when trekking through the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia. To experience the unique culture and learn more of the proud heritage of the Ethiopian people was a privilege.

However whilst it pains me to choose a ‘favourite’ I cannot go past Nepal, it is my favourite place in the world! I love everything about it - the nervous laughter that fills your small aircraft as you land on what I believe is the most dramatic airstrip in the world - Lukla , the gateway into the Everest Region. It is from where you commence trekking to Everest Base Camp, and if you have time branch off to visit the Goykyo and Khumbu Valleys. Our group was a mixture of Australian, British and Canadian travellers, all with that common goal of reaching Base Camp. Part of the appeal of the trek to Base Camp I believe is that you have a genuine feeling of being on an expedition and the camaraderie we felt, helping each other to achieve our own personal goals, was a special one. Our group still remains in touch some five years later as the experiences you share on the track are hard to replicate once you return home. Perhaps that’s why I get back to Nepal every year I can.

The new 16-day Mythical China cultural journey will take you from a remote section of the Great Wall to the medieval town of Pingyao, which was designed in the shape of a tortoise – a traditional Chinese symbol for longevity and where we will spend a night in a traditional style Chinese inn.

The Hanging Monastery of Datong, which appears to be glued to the side of a cliff, will also be a highlight, as will unravelling the myths of Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple and exploring Wuzen – where rivers and canals crisscross the town and ancient docks, waterside pavilions and corridors that stretch out for miles, create a romantic atmosphere.

Everyone at Peregrine is very proud of our local tour leaders. Time and time again they are mentioned in feedback that we receive from travellers and the theme is always the same – they made the trip what it was, and were a vital part of the overall holiday experience. We’re not surprised, as after all, who better to show you around than someone born and raised in the region. Each year we pick the best of the best, so listed below are our 2009 Tour Leader Award winners. Congratulations to them all, we’re very proud of you!

Australia - Adam Slade
Central Asia - Aminov Davlat
China and Tibet - Annie Li
East Africa - James Phillip Urio
Egypt - Mostafa Gamal
Ethiopia and West Africa - Solomon Girmay
Europe - Antonia Maricic
India - Shaliendra Singh
Jordan, Syria and Turkey - Samer Younes
Latin America - Dennis Berk
Morocco - Said Baadoud
Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet - Passang Sherpa
South East Asia - Khamla
Southern Africa - Tracker Spokes

As part of celebrating all of our leader’s tireless passion for their homeland and their diligent approach to their role, we thought we’d feature a short profile of three of the worthy winners:

Southern Africa - Tracker Spokes
Tracker Spokes has a deep-seated intimate love for the bush. It’s his life! When he is not on safari he often sets up a tent in his own backyard, longing to be ‘closer to nature’. What Spokes wants most is to be immersed in the wilderness and share his passion for the bush with his guests. Exploring the wildlife with Spokes is an experience, but wait until you hear his animated camp fire stories. Ask him for his uncle’s honey badger encounter and you will truly laugh your heart out. He needs to write a book! There were quite a few tears shed when we parted at the end of our two-week adventure.
Yes, Spokes had given us exhilarating insights into the wonderful nature of Botswana and its people,
but we all had grown to love him as a friend.

C.M. who travelled with Spokes in August 2008

Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet - Passang Sherpa
On 19 May 2006 Passang fulfilled his lifelong ambition of summitting Everest. Passang mainly leads our climbing and exploratory trips. He comes from the Solu region of the Everest area, but has travelled widely having lived in Bhutan and India as well as Nepal. He has worked for Peregrine for many years and has an excellent knowledge of the Himalayan peoples, their customs and folklore. ‘Passang Sherpa is a truly remarkable man. Diligent and 100 percent professional, he is the most inspirational person I have met. Trekking with him was truly a privilege. Thank you Passang. ’

MH, Melbourne who trekked with Passang in October 2008

Europe - Antonia Maricic
Antonia Maricic has been a tour guide in Croatia for many years and we have been lucky to have her lead our Peregrine trips over the past couple of years. Antonia is proud and passionate about her homeland and has a vast knowledge on the history, culture and traditions of Croatia. She loves nothing more than sharing this knowledge with visitors from around the world. She particularly enjoys leading groups from Australia and New Zealand, as she feels a real connection with these cultures after having spent time here in her youth. Antonia’s enthusiasm, her professionalism and her ability to make people feel like guests in her country make her an exceptional tour leader.

Central Asia is also fast approaching the top of travellers’ wish lists, with its rugged remoteness and sense of mystery created from visions of the Silk Road and the timelessness of nomadic tribes. On the new 16-day Mongolian Explorer Naadam we will travel with the nomadic descendants of a people whose empire once dominated most of Asia! We will stay in gers (local style tents), and join our Mongolian friends, and their camels, on a short desert trek. Back in Ulaanbaatar, the adventure will end with an unforgettable experience at the Naadam Festival – Mongolia’s biggest festival featuring traditional sports, foods, and folk dancing.

As you might expect of a people who produced Genghis Khan, the festival is dominated by warrior-type activities, including the Eryn Gurvan Nadom, or ‘Three Manly Sports’ – wrestling, archery, and horse racing. The wrestling is quite different from western versions of the sport, with contestants clad in tight briefs and a vest that covers the shoulders and upper arms leaving the chest bare. This outfit is worn to make it clear that both contestants are indeed men, a tradition dating back to the discovery, many centuries ago, that a champion wrestler was in fact a woman (to the great embarrassment of the men she had defeated!). The wrestlers first swoop into the ring in imitation of the Garuda bird of Buddhist lore. When the referee signals the start, each tries to topple the other; the first to touch the ground with anything more than the soles of his feet loses. The loser must then kneel while the winner makes a victory sign over his head.

Both women and men compete in the archery events, using short compound bows (which may have been invented by the Mongolians). Dell-clad competitors shoot at traditional leather targets stacked in piles. Points are scored for each target knocked down by a direct hit (no deflections!). The judges stand incredibly close to the targets, seemingly without ever the slightest concern for their own safety.

Mongolian horse racing is similar to a western steeplechase, conducted over a cross-country course at least 20 kilometres or 12 miles long. There are races for all riders and both sexes, but the crowd-pleaser is the children’s division. In rural Mongolia, most children begin to ride in infancy, and their almost instinctive skill in horsemanship is clearly apparent. The children’s race features boys and girls aged seven to 12 years of age, wearing colourful traditional costumes.

See our website for more information.