The Explorer
December 2003
News from the Bush!
Well, it’s been a busy few months; hence the lack of bush news but with a small window of relative sanity I can bring you all up to speed on what is happening with Wildlife Explorer and our little piece of Heaven.
The Osunyai season has now ended, short rains in the Tarangire eco-system brought the migratory herds through camp and along with the resident herds of elephants created a wonderful finale to an exceptional season.
The only blip of course was the bush fire that took out all of our service area and some of the other tents! but looking on the bright side the camp was free of guests at the time and with the insurance payment we have been able to re-develop a whole satellite of equipment for the coming season.
The fire, which we believe, started as a result of honey poachers to the southeast swept across a huge area of Osunyai as well as a large portion of the National Park causing havoc to many campsites within the park boundaries as well as our own sand river site.
Being a positive sort of a company we quickly re-grouped and turned what could have been a painful experience to our advantage increasing the number of game walks guided by Phillip Ashby as the plains game sought out the re-growth that flushed in certain areas within Osunyai.
Within the next couple of days our season starts at The Ngaroi with a Honeymoon Safari and then moving into full swing with the usual large groups that return year after year.
The Migratory herds of Wildebeest and Zebra have been slow to move south to the short grass plains of the Serengeti and as yet seem to be content with ambling backwards and forwards around the Lobo area and across the border into The Ngaroi which we are happy enough with for the time being however if the short rains do not start in earnest we may be faced with another difficult year for the calving herds.
“Barking Brits”
It is always a pleasure to welcome back old friends on safari especially ones that enjoy my sense of humour! So when Mark and Lois Gilbert and Robin and Pippa Cecil-Wright returned for their third safari along with 4 new friends I knew it would be a fun time!
Marianne came up with the T shirt phrase of “Barking Brits and their unsuspecting friends” which, despite the irreverence, seemed to fit and so, with tongue in cheek, the nine of us embarked on safari to the Selous and Serengeti for 12 days of exquisite game viewing.
Charles Dobie’s camp in the Selous looked after us for that section which proved to be a great choice of location. The service was second to none and the game viewing from Boat, open Land Rover and on foot was the best I have ever had in the Selous. Ian McDonald’s guiding on foot was of particular note as was the attention to detail and management of the camp by Doug and Gabrielle.
I will always remember the first time I watched a herd of elephants crossing the Rufiji River, trunks held high like periscopes for the crossing of the deeper sections watching as the little ones were supported by elder brothers and sisters so when I was privileged to be able to see this again on this safari, not once but three times, my F4 thought it had arrived in heaven!
From the Selous Charles Dobie piloted us himself in a brand new Caravan Cessna 208 for the flight to northern Serengeti where our own camp and crew awaited our arrival.
It is always interesting to see another company owner get excited by what he is doing so when asked to fly over Stieglers Gorge we all enjoyed breathtaking views of the Sand Rivers leading up to Stieglers. Later on in the flight we were also treated to great views of Ngorongoro Crater and Oldonyo Lengai as Charles went out of his way to give us better views of the caldera and volcano.
As usual the welcome glass of bubbly kept the excitement going on arrival into camp and over the following days the excitement was maintained with elephants, lion and serval cat all within metres of our tents. In particular as we headed off for one of the early morning drives a lioness calmly walked towards the kitchen tent intent it seemed on finishing off our fresh croissants and fruit!
As a finale Mark Gilbert showed a collection of his paintings produced during the safari, which given that I had kept the programme very full amazed everyone at how productive he had been! I can feel the possibility of having Mark produce some illustrations of The Ngaroi for the next brochure during the planned 2005 safari!
Horseback Safaris.
We are excited to announce that this coming season we will be able to outfit Horseback Safaris from our Wilderness Camp at The Ngaroi.
Janice Beatty, renowned horsewoman as well as sister in law! will be guiding the horseback adventures, which will include hacks in the early morning, late afternoons and overnight utilising the Non-Traditional Fly Camp, which is always based at The Ngaroi.
The open plains, ridges and acacia lined korongos of The Ngaroi are perfect for hacks and open up lots of new opportunities for exploring this wonderful eco-system.
During the recent recce trip we had fabulous sightings on horseback of elephant, buffalo and giraffe so we have high expectations that this programme will prove to be as high profile as our other Wilderness programmes.
Please contact us for more detailed information on Horseback Safaris.
The Rift Valley Experience.
Dave Armon one of Wildlife Explorer’s Professional Walking Guides has created the Rift Valley Experience in response to a growing demand from Wildlife Explorer guests who wish to explore some of the less sedentary ways of enjoying safari here in East Africa.
Dave’s passion for fitness, hiking and his love of mountain biking have enabled us to offer a number of high fitness expeditions into some of the more remote wildlife areas to be found around the mountains, volcanoes and endless plains of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire eco-systems.
We have a specially designed tented camp that services The Rift Valley Experience, something light weight and stylish as befits the image of our more traditional tented camps allowing us to safari into remote and beautiful areas perhaps overlooking Oldonyo Lengai or Mosonik, two beautiful mountains in the rift valley or in the Ngorongoro Highlands with views towards Mounts Meru and Kilimanjaro.
The duration needed for an adventure such as this can be as little as a two-day foray from our main camp or alternatively a full 5-day experience immersing oneself in total freedom.
The Rift Valley Experience is as unique as The Great Rift Valley itself set apart from the normality of a regular safari by its need for health and fitness and pure desire to explore remote and exotic game areas.
Zanzibar-The Spice Isle
After so many years I can’t recall I returned with Jo for a short 3 night-4 day stay in Stone town on the island of Zanzibar.
The last time I had been on the island there were precious few quality hotels to stay in and the general feeling of Stone town itself was a run-down less than clean reflection of an era lost forever.
The contrast when we stepped into our air conditioned Serena Hotel on the edge of the old quarter was not only pleasantly calm and efficient but so far removed from the experience I had on my previous visit that it instantly had me grinning like a fool!
Stone town was pleasant, bustling and clean! The peoples we encountered were gracious and friendly and full of life in a way that only an old Arab town steeped in history can be. The Foradhani gardens on the sea front came to life each afternoon in preparation for the daily ritual of socialising and eating freshly caught lobster, prawns and a variety of exotic fish. People in their hundreds started arriving just before sunset to enjoy the last minutes of daylight as the hurricane lamps glowed and as the minarets called people to prayer.
One evening as we sat enjoying a cocktail in a waterside bar a vast deep water Dhow glided quietly into port momentarily casting a moon shadow across our table, yet another image of Zanzibar that will remain with me forever.
There were many things we should have seen and many places we should have visited but Jo and I we were content to soak up the vibrancy of Stone Town and leave the other experiences for a later date!
News from Olerai
Greetings from a hectic Olerai! The past months have been very busy with re-development of our Wilderness Camp after the fire, Phillip let loose on the United States promoting and Marianne gadding around the United Kingdom with our newly appointed UK rep Mr George Salter increasing awareness of our small, exclusive company which after 19 years in the business one would have hoped that everyone in the travel trade would recognise the name but apparently there were a few that slipped through the net!
As with most small businesses development never stops and Wildlife Explorer is no exception! We have spent the passed couple of months researching and developing the web-site and portfolio to include new destinations and products. Madagascar and Botswana are now featured along with Horse back adventures and Honeymoon specials!
Exciting times!
As a family we are proud of Hannah’s achievement with her acceptance into Ardingly sixth form college in Sussex, UK, where she will be starting a new exciting chapter of here life in September 2004 for the two year International Baccalaureate qualification. Having been schooled entirely in Africa, Hannah is excited beyond words to be offered a place at Ardingly.
And last but not least we would like to thank all of our guests over the past twelve months for the loyal and unfaltering support we continue to enjoy.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy and Healthy New Year!
With warm wishes,
Gary
