Spirit of Adventure

2009 marks 200 years since the birth of Charles Darwin, and 150 years since the publication of On the Origin of Species. In celebration of the anniversary, Bush Heritage Australia - a national non-profit organisation that protects Australia’s unique animals, plants and their habitats, has teamed with Peregrine and LAN Airlines to give you an amazing opportunity to do as Charles did 174 years ago – visit the Galapagos Islands!

You could win Peregrine’s 10-day Galapagos in Depth voyage for two, with flights thanks to LAN Airlines. All you have to do is sign up to the Bush Heritage and Peregrine e-newsletters, so you’re already half way there. Plus, introduce some friends and get more entries! Enter now.

Bush Heritage is a national non-profit organisation that protects Australia’s unique animals, plants and their habitats. They do so by acquiring and managing land of outstanding conservation value, or by working in partnership with other landowners.

Bush Heritage currently own and manage 31 reserves throughout Australia, covering over 946 000 hectares. Their vision for 2025 is to protect more than 7 million hectares of Australia’s land, water and wildlife.

Founded in 1991 by Bob Brown, Bush Heritage is a major player in the conservation arena. It is a down-to-earth, pragmatic organization that delivers measurable and tangible results.

Read more about their conservation achievements on the Bush Heritage  website.

Peregrine client Jennifer Sanders recently returned from Thailand and recalls her close encounter with the elephants with us.

I had always wanted to see the elephants in Thailand, as we had ridden horses in Australia for many years. However, I felt that at 42, I was too old to ride horses anymore and when my husband suggested that we go on the 14-day Highlights of Siam trip, I was very enthusiastic, as I was keen to see some elephants while I was in Thailand.

Our itinerary took us for a visit to the Lampang Elephant Conservation Centre. We were due to get up early to meet the Mahouts so we could go with them on their daily trek up the mountain in search of their elephants. On the morning of the trek, I awoke at around 4am in the morning. It was raining and cool but I couldn’t sleep (just in case I missed my chance to see them). I was dressed and ready at 4.10am and had to lie in bed waiting for everyone else in our group to get up. Finally we got together at 6am and the Mahouts gave us all sugar cane treats for the elephants. As we started walking, the rain started bucketing down. The others in the group put on their rain coats but I didn’t as I was so keen to keep on walking.

Finally, with rain dripping from my hair into my eyes, I looked up and there, right in front of me, within 4 metres was an elephant!

Wow! I couldn’t believe it. The Mahout said “uh oh” and made a funny gesture. His elephant was covered in mud, inches thick. He laughed and made a command. The elephant lay down on the ground. The Mahout climbed on and with his machete, he wiped the mud off. While I had been to zoos in Australia, I had never touched an elephant until that day! I marvelled at the feel of her skin and the trunk. She took the sugar cane out of my hand and munched away happily. I became a bit bolder, reached out and rubbed the elephant under the eye and on her big head. I loved this! In fact, the elephant seemed to be quite happy to let me give her some attention. The Mahout asked the elephant to pull up her chain in preparation for the trip down to the waterhole for a bath. She was very dirty.

As we got to the water, he took pity on me. He asked the elephant to stop and bend down… and up I went. I jumped up on her so quickly and my heart was racing. I WAS REALLY ON AN ELEPHANT! The Mahout got up behind me and into the water we went. It felt like a truck hitting the water with force. I don’t know who had more fun, the elephant or me. We splashed around and the elephant ducked right under the water with only her trunk above the waterline. I laughed and scrubbed. The other elephants and Mahouts all enjoyed themselves.

Finally, we were all thoroughly wet and clean, so we had to get out. I rode the elephant out of the water where she patiently stopped and waited for me to get down. I was surprised of the power I felt in her and the speed with which she could move.

I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I said “thank you” to the Mahout and the elephant, and off they went. I suddenly realised I was with my group and they were all staring at me in amazement. I was so happy and excited that I didn’t realise how soaked I was. Back in Australia, I now tell everyone about my wonderful experience in Thailand. It is something I will remember forever.

Peregrine’s 14-day Highlights of Siam also includes the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, rich historical and cultural diversity of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle – which provide a window into the culture of the hill tribe peoples of the area, Ayuthaya and Sukhothai – old capitals of the Siamese Kingdom and the River Kwai, a tranquil region which was the stage for dramatic events in the Second World War. For a shorter Thai adventure, try the 9-day Amazing Thailand.

Beyond the excitement of the football there is so much more to discover in stunning Africa – home to amazing cultural experiences, first-class wildlife reserves and spectacular scenery. Why not combine a small group adventure with your football plans for a complete African experience!

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.

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.

The Galapagos Islands have recently been named a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature list. It’s no wonder that these magnificent and unique islands made the list, the extreme isolation of the islands off the coast of Ecuador has led to a paradise where a quarter of the species are endemic and much of the wildlife have no instinctive fear of man. There is a myriad of fascinating wildlife to be discovered – including blue-footed, red-footed and masked boobies; Galapagos tortoises, marine iguanas and lots more!

If the Galapagos have always been on your travel ‘to do’ list, our ten-day Galapagos In Depth adventure has these islands covered.

Joining us onboard the 20-night Antarctica, the Falkland Islands & South Georgia voyage (departing 20 January 2010) are award-winning wildlife photographer and author Nick Garbutt, and Mandy Shepherd – an accomplished artist and daughter of renowned UK artist and conservationist David Shepherd.  The Antarctica, the Falkland Islands & South Georgia voyage is our most complete and varied Antarctic adventure. Wildlife abounds as we will be on the lookout for huge Macaroni and King Penguin rookeries, colonies of various species of seals, whale species including Blues and Humpbacks, and numerous seabirds such as the albatross, petrels, shearwaters and skuas.

Nick joined us earlier this year on one of our voyages in the Scandinavian High Arctic, and you can view some of his stunning images from the voyage on our website. In the Antarctic, Nick will run a series of presentations during the voyage to help you with your photography, as well as share his own ‘best of’ images from a lifetime of travel.

Mandy is a Trustee for both the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) and for Falklands Conservation. With a deep passion for wildlife and conservation, her early work and exhibitions were dominated by wildlife subjects and she held her first exhibition in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1980. In 1996, it was the wildlife that took her 15,000 kilometres from home in England to the Falkland Islands to write and illustrate her first book “The Falkland Islands an artist’s portfolio”.  Mandy has kindly offered to donate two of her sketches to auction off on the ship to raise funds for our Albatross conservation project.

We hope that you can join Mandy and Nick on this voyage, as it certainly will be a trip of a lifetime!

People will say that travelling to Africa is a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip; but for me (and many others) that first step onto African soil was just the beginning of a life-long fascination with the world’s most exciting, challenging and life-affirming continent.

I’ve often wondered on my many trips to Africa – which animal lives the most carefree life?

Certainly the lion, king of the beasts, does OK with his average of 20 hours of sleep a day and his harem of ladies to ‘cook’ for him. The elephant, travelling along in intimate family groups, leads an enviable existence, but also carries the loss of loved ones in that incredible lifelong memory. Giraffe? Only 2 hours of nervous sleep a night… Cheetah? Has to run like Usain Bolt each time it wants to eat dinner…

No, after much thought I’ve surmised that the most carefree of all of nature’s beasts in Africa is the warthog. Travelling along in small family groups, with his little piglets trailing behind, the warthog leads a happy life. He’s tough, nuggetty and doesn’t show fear, making him an exhausting catch for any lurking cats.

I once watched one of these funny little creatures being stalked by a lion in the Serengeti. For a while he grazed and foraged, oblivious to the pending danger… then, catching the lion’s scent on the breeze, he took off at what could only really be described as a fast trot, tail tapping the air furiously. Comically, warthogs are unable to look backwards, so in order to track the lion’s approach, he had to turn his squat body around a full 180 degrees, look around, then pirouette back and proceed onwards. Even more comical is the warthog’s ridiculously short attention span. Twice I observed as he momentarily forgot that he was being chased by a lion and stopped to forage among some particularly tasty-looking shrubs! Luckily for this guy, he still managed to get away…

Yes, I think any creature that sprints at a trot, never misses the opportunity to eat and can momentarily forget that he is being chased by a lion leads a carefree existence indeed!