Wildlife Operators

Specialist Reports Special Interest Holidays Wildlife Operators Wildlife Worldwide 

	Wildlife Worldwide
Chameleon House, 162 Selsdon Road, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 6PJ			MAP
tel: (020) 8667 9158

Trips for wildlife and wilderness enthusiasts, largely tailor-made, operating since 1992, the focus is on ‘a safe, enjoyable and educational natural history adventure'. The programme includes Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, the Galapagos, India, Nepal, Borneo, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica but there are also trips in Europe, whale watching, looking for wolves in Romania, or bears in Finland. A useful calendar highlights attractions at different times of the year so July is good for Blue Wildebeest in Kenya, Orca whales in Canada, and turtles in Costa Rica. August is good for brown bears in Canada, and humpback whales off Australia.Awarded 2-star status in the Associate of Independent Tour Operators' Responsible Tourism Scheme in 2003 and campaigns against the development of environmentally sensitive areas.
Poduces a range of brochures plus specialist for example on bears and polar bears.

Recommendations

Feels there is a lot can do for families, planning some trips specifically for them, though these are not yet in the brochure. Suggests self-drive for example South Africa Wilderness Self-Drive visiting the highlights including Kruger National park for wildlife, Swaziland for great scenery and parks of Itala, Mkuze and Hluhluwe for more wildlife and staying in more intimate and well-priced national parks accommodation. There are also options to add stopovers in Cape Town for example or drive along Garden Route. Also good would be the self-drive Fundy Spectacular in Canada, staying in small b&b accommodation with good wildlife viewing and whale watching in a safe country. In Africa suggests tailor-made walking safaris in Zambia, but only for over 12s. Also suggests Mvuu Camp in Malawi for elephants, Club Makokola on Malawi shore for swimming and Kapani Lodge in Luangwa Valley in Zambia for zebras. Also a four day wildlife-weekend holiday discovering the marine inhabitants of the waters off the Azores observing Striped, Bottle-nosed and Common Dolphins on guided boat trips, as well as Sperm, Blue, Fin and Orca Whales, and even turtles and sharks.

Sample Price

Fundy Spectacular around £1,595 per person. The Whales of the Azores tour is £775 per person, including scheduled flights (GB Airways), hotel accommodation with breakfast and guided whale and dolphin-watching trips.