Dear Friends,

Welcome to the November edition of the Naturetrek e-news

For great ideas and inspiration read on!

TOUR REPORTS
EIA Borneo's Orang-utans
Gibraltar & Tarifa

NATURETREK FORTHCOMING EVENT
Join us at a Naturetrek Slide Evening

NEW ZSL PARTNERSHIP

CHRISTMAS PRESENT IDEAS
Naturetrek Gift Vouchers available!

LATE AVAILABILITY

Tour Reports

EIA Borneo’s Orang-utans

One of the most depressing and alarming of all conservation forecasts is the gloomy prediction that all the planet's great apes may become extinct in the wild within the next ten years. For anyone with a love of wildlife it is unbelievable that mankind should so carelessly exterminate our closest living relatives but relentless destruction of habitats and persecution of the animals seems almost unstoppable. 'Almost' is the key word and fortunately there are many dedicated individuals and organisations fighting to prevent this downward spiral into oblivion and provide a glimmer of hope for the future survival of such magnificent creatures as the Orang-utan in Asia. Naturetrek has collaborated for a number of years with the Environmental Investigation Agency raising funds to help finance conservation projects around the world. One such project is the battle to save the dwindling population of Orang-utans in Sabah and the 2005 Naturetrek tour generated over £2,000 to assist in this vital work. Although the Naturetrek donation is a positive example of Responsible Tourism, the tour was much more than just a fund-raising exercise and the participants enjoyed a breathtaking selection of tropical wildlife including hornbills, pittas, broadbills, comical Proboscis Monkeys and the never to be forgotten experience of watching Orang-utans in the wild. An account of the birds and beasts seen during our 2005 tour is contained in Chris Kehoe's excellent report, which may be viewed when you click here.

2006 Date: Friday, 8th September – Monday, 18th September £2,195

Gibraltar & Tarifa

Long-finned Pilot Whales (copyright Paul Marshall)

In September the two Naturetrek tours to southern Spain recorded an impressive combined total of 23 species of birds of prey. Highlights included Spanish Imperial and Bonelli’s Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard and Black-shouldered Kite amongst thousands of migrating birds. Taking to the water both groups enjoyed superb views of Common and Striped Dolphins whilst one group was lucky enough to spend an hour with a pod of Long-finned Pilot Whales in the Straits of Gibraltar. The unpredictable strong winds did not detract from some great birding and within a short drive of our hotel some very special birds were seen including migrating Black Storks against a blue sky, a flock of Little Bustards, Audouin’s Gull (one of the world’s rarest gulls), migrant Roller and Red-backed Shrike and an amazing flock of over 1000 Calandra Larks. To read the Gibraltar’s & Tarifa Tour Report click here.

Naturetrek Forthcoming Event

Join us at a Naturetrek Slide Evening

Monarch butterflies (copyright Paul Stanbury)

Next month, we will again be holding Naturetrek Slide Evenings around the UK. This year our speakers will include Paul Stanbury (on our birding, mammal and butterfly holidays in Central America, Africa and Madagascar), Peter Dunn (on Europe, Belize and Trinidad and Tobago), Andy Tucker (on South America), and David Tattersfield (on our botany holidays in the Himalaya, Kazakhstan, South Africa and Europe). In order to chat and answer your questions, we will be present 30 minutes before each show and, also, during a 20-minute coffee break at half-time. Entry is by (free) ticket only. To register, please email abby@naturetrek.co.uk (or phone Abby on 01962 733051) to advise us of the number of tickets you require, your address, phone number and of course which venue which, this year, include:

York – Best Western Dean Court Hotel
Saturday, 3rd December (7pm – 9.30pm)

Chester – MacDonald Blossom Hotel
Sunday, 4th December (7pm – 9.30pm)

Edinburgh – The Braid Hills Hotel
Monday, 5th December (7pm – 9.30pm)

London Zoo
Tuesday, 6th December (7pm – 9.30pm)

Cambridge – Girton College
Wednesday, 7th December (7pm – 9.30pm)

Colchester, Garrison Officers Club
Thursday, 8th December (7pm – 9.30pm)

Winchester – The Royal Hotel
Friday, 9th December (7pm – 9.30pm)

Slimbridge – Wildfowl & Wetland Trust
Saturday, 10th December (4.30pm – 7pm)

Arundel – Wildfowl & Wetland Trust
Sunday, 11th December (4.30pm – 7pm)

New ZSL Partnership

Cheetahs (copyright ZSL)

Naturetrek has recently teamed up with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to offer a series of tours for Naturetrek clients and ZSL members focusing on the overseas conservation projects being run by ZSL. These include work on Cheetah conservation in the Serengeti, Black Rhinos in Kenya, the preservation of endangered vulture species in India, and the re-introduction of Corncrakes to the Cambridgeshire Fens. Tours for 2006 are:

Tanzania – Cheetahs of the Serengeti
(Wednesday, 1st February – Sunday, 12th February) Cost: £2,795

India – Saving the Vultures!
(Wednesday, 8th February – Sunday, 19th February) Cost: £1,895

Nepal – Wildlife & Conservation
(Thursday, 16th February – Monday, 27th February) Cost: £1,995

Cambridgeshire’s Fens – Corncrakes
(Friday, 2nd June – Sunday, 4th June) Cost: £250

Kenya’s Wildlife
(Wednesday, 2nd August – Sunday, 13th August) Cost: £2,595

Tanzania – Cheetahs of the Serengeti
(Wednesday, 2nd August – Sunday, 13th August) Cost: £2,795

Ethiopian Wolves
(Friday, 24th November – Monday, 4th December) Cost: £1,495

For further details, please call 01962 733051 or email: info@naturetrek.co.uk.

Christmas Present Ideas

Naturetrek Gift Vouchers available!

Tysfjord, Norway (copyright Frode Jenssen)

Christmas is looming fast. Start your Christmas shopping early, miss the busy shops and be confident that you have the perfect present idea! Naturetrek gift vouchers could not be simpler.

This ideal gift (or you may choose to buy a complete holiday) can be subsequently redeemed against any Naturetrek holiday, making Christmas shopping and choosing a holiday, much easier.

Please call us on 01962 733051 or email info@naturetrek.co.uk for further details.

Late Availability

To view a list of the late availability for Naturetrek tours departing over the next couple of months, please click here. However, as things are constantly changing, we advise you to call our Cheriton Mill office on 01962 733051 to check for any amendments.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this edition of the Naturetrek e-news. If you would like some help planning a future wildlife holiday, please call or e-mail us on info@naturetrek.co.uk and we will be happy to assist you.

We are continually striving to improve our e-newsletter – any comments and feedback would be gratefully appreciated!

Best wishes from us all,

The Naturetrek Team