Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris Dr. Steve Banner Wildlife & Wilderness

Today we catch up with Fredrik from Aurora Safari Camp in Swedish Lapland where the seasons are changing rapidly from winter 2 weeks ago to summer now, almost by-passing spring. Nature is thriving there at the moment.
Also we introduce Kate from Kwando Safaris who talks about sightings in and around the Okavango Delta and Nxai Pan in Botswana. The water levels in the Okavango are at record levels and interesting wildlife sightings have been reported including denning wild dogs, a large coalition of lions and a tree-climbing cheetah.
Welcome to the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism. This show’s for everyone interested in eco-tourism, travel in the natural world and adventures to our planet’s wild places.
I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing high quality holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years.
For this month we have split the roundup into two parts, this being the second, for reasons explained in the first park. When we started thinking about podcasting for Wildlife & Wilderness we never ever thought that we would not be travelling. These are unusual times and we have taken the decision to reduce the frequency to twice monthly for the future. Of course when we do travel on research trips for wildlife holidays this will add a whole new aspect to the podcast show.
Please listen, like and subscribe to our podcast and you can contact us at podcasts@wildlifewilderness.com or visit our website at https://wildlifewilderness.com
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For this month we have split the roundup into two parts. These are unusual times and rather than the expected 5 or 10 minute briefing from colleagues, small lodge owners and managers around the world, we have entered into some deeper conversations. In this episode we explore conservation in Indian National Parks with Jehan from Shergarh Tented Camp and catch up with developments in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil with Guiliano from Aymara Lodge.
We’ll release the second part of the monthly roundup tomorrow to keep some consistency. You may have noticed that we skipped a week last week after 3 months of weekly episodes. Coronavirus has allowed us to gain a good foothold of podcasts but each episode is of course considerable work and we now plan to continue twice monthly.
Welcome to the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism. This show’s for everyone interested in eco-tourism, travel in the natural world and adventures to our planet’s wild places.
I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing high quality holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years.
In this episode we discuss the ongoing problems of poaching for bush meat in Kanha National Park, India. This tiger reserve is popular for tiger safaris but the pandemic has meant increased pressure on the park. We discuss tolerance and conflicts and how the conservation model in India is organised. We also find out about the two tusker elephants that arrived last month in the national park.
In the northern Pantanal of Brazil camera traps are throwing more light on the wildlife of this region. Here another giant armadillo has been discovered, there are numerous tapir and almost certainly more jaguars than giant anteaters. Four different ocelots have also been identified. We talk of other elusive cats too plus some mysterious camera trap captures of possible hunters on the land, perhaps a reflection of similar happenings to those in India.
In the second part we will catch up with Fredrik in Swedish Lapland and take a look into Okavango Delta and other regions of Botswana.
You can contact us at podcasts@wildlifewilderness.com or visit our website at https://wildlifewilderness.com
Wildlife & Wilderness is ATOL Protected

Welcome to Part 2 of our talk with Calum and Sophie from Lewa House in northern Kenya. In this episode we look at their safaris operations. They offer a wide range of safari activities and we discuss these and how Lewa House fits into a safari itinerary, either at the beginning of a safari in Kenya or at the end.
However, this episode's our main focus is on Lewa as a Wildlife Conservancy, protecting endangered black rhinos and Grevy’s zebras, among the other wildlife.
Welcome to the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first podcast on sustainable tourism and wildlife safaris worldwide. This show’s for everyone interested in travel in the natural world, eco-tourism, conservation and adventures in our planet’s wild places.
I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing outstanding holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years. If you are planning a safari or want to get in touch then drop us an email to podcasts@wildlifewilderness.com or visit our website at www.wildlifewilderness.com.
We pick up the story in this podcast episode with the history of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, how it came about to protect the black rhinos of Kenya. David Attenborough is also mentioned as he stayed on Lewa when the BBC were filming 'Africa' and he was required to be seen in different habitats.
We also discover the research that is ongoing on Lewa conservancy and new findings on different animal and plant species. That leads us on to learning about animal movements, so over large distances through wildlife corridors from Samburu in the north to Mt. Kenya.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is IUCN Green listed which is awarded to wildlife areas that are managed exceptionally well. It has also been awarded a UN Biosphere protection award.
We also discuss the future of safaris and wildlife in Kenya and the future looks very bright with the intention to expand further wildlife corridors and for there to be more low impact tourism. This is perhaps the time to adjust tourism for the future and this is recognised by the Kenya government. The future for Kenya safaris and in particular for Lewa House and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy looks very bright.
I thoroughly enjoyed talking with both Sophie and Calum from Lewa House and again it has been a truly informative experience across many aspects of safaris and conservation initiatives. A theme we aim to continue with interviews from around the world.
Wildlife & Wilderness is ATOL protected.

In East Africa, Mt. Kenya almost straddles the Equator with its eternal snows. A little to the north is an upland wilderness area and this is where both Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Lewa House are located. Surrounded by majestic scenery, Lewa House sits in the middle of the conservancy and is home to fourth generation Kenyan, Sophie and her husband Calum MacFarlane.
Inevitably we immediately got chatting about the weather thanks to a video Calum had sent to me a short time before we spoke. So we jump right on in and catch up with the rains down in Africa.
We continue to talk about the history of Lewa, what the wildlife might have been like 100 years ago and how the house was built, plus how Sophie and Calum turned it into a welcoming and homely safari lodge. We share the wide range of safari activities available from Lewa House.
Of course we talk about endangered black rhinos and Grevy's zebras but also about what it is like to be out on safari and the effect that has on visitors. Walking safaris are a specialty of Calum and we learn a little about how they work in the quieter areas of Lewa.
We also discuss bird watching and how birds add so much more to the landscape and wild-scape of the place.
Lewa House has extremely strong ties with the local community and we talk through some of the projects they are involved with and how these ultimately help conservation of the wildlife. You will get a clear indication that wildlife tourism of this nature is highly important to the conservation of species.
In Part 2 next week we talk more about Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
Given that we are still enduring coronavirus and resources in Africa are really stretched, if you would like to help support wildlife conservation at Lewa then you can find more information at https://www.lewa.org/lifeline/
If you are active then Lewa has a virtual marathon, the real one was cancelled this year; it is in conjunction with Tusk Trust and details can be found here: https://www.lewasafarimarathon.com/ .
 

Listening to this field recording of sounds you could be mistaken for being on a tropical island with waves lapping the shore. The waves that were rolling in on the day these ambient sounds were recorded were quite benign; but Tasmania, Australia’s island state lies in the path of the Southern Hemisphere’s Roaring Forties and is often blasted by strong, wild winds. Fortunately, this recording was made on the reasonably sheltered and beautiful Maria Island that provides a stunning walk through nature and history just off the main coast of Tasmania.
Welcome to the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism. This show’s for everyone interested in eco-tourism, travel in the natural world and adventures to our planet’s wild places.
I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing high quality holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years.
If you are planning your future travels do check out our website at www.wildlifewilderness.com or contact us by email podcasts@wildlifewilderness.com
Tasmania is a delightful island and one of great contrasts too. In the wild west are the forests of the Tarkine but Tasmania also has numerous mountains and deep cut valleys and spectacular beaches. Scenically it is a delight and we’d love to take you there. Nature abounds with the iconic Tasmanian devil, there are pademelons – a small wallaby, kangaroos and it is a great place for finding platypus; then wombats, spotted quolls and other marsupials make up a fine mix of terrestrial animals. Offshore dolphins, southern right whales, seals, albatross and little, or blue penguins can be found.
Tassie is also known for its birds, attracting over 200 species with 12 endemic species including some high endangered such as the forty-spotted pardalote and the orange-bellied parrot. It is a superb destination for bird watching and wildlife holidays, made more so by great guiding and wonderful local food and wine.
I hope that this podcast will take you to a different place in your imagination, something we perhaps need to do in this current pandemic. In the meantime If you’ve enjoyed our podcasts so far do subscribe and share with friends interested in wildlife & wilderness.
Wildlife & Wilderness is ATOL Protected.

Welcome to Wild Diaries, the monthly roundup of wildlife sightings and happenings in the natural world from around the globe.
Stop and think for a moment, just what is happening right now out there in those wild places you would love to visit?
Welcome the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show, the world’s first and only podcast on wildlife safaris worldwide and sustainable tourism. This show’s for everyone interested in eco-tourism, travel in the natural world and adventures to our planet’s wild places.
I’m your host, Dr. Steve Banner, biologist and Director of the travel company, Wildlife & Wilderness, providing high quality holiday experiences to thousands of clients for almost 25 years.
For our second monthly news I’m delighted to again host some of the owners of small camps and lodges, just a few of the many that we work with to provide you unique experiences. As I’ve said before our tailor made holidays are always guided by what interests you.
If you are planning your future travels do check out our website at www.wildlifewilderness.com or contact us by email podcasts@wildlifewilderness.com
First off, we hear from Fredrik at Aurora Safari Camp in Swedish Lapland.
@ 01:58 Fredrik talks a little about his background and introduces us to his small glamping location in the heart of northern Sweden. He is a keen photographer and regularly sees the northern lights in Winter. Now is a change of season and they have been testing a new product for next winter – the only hot air ballooning in Lapland. Ballooning over Lapland by day and the northern lights at night. Incredible!
@14:05 Tyrone talks from Musekese safari camp about their latest sightings including new lion cubs to strengthen the local pride, the return of the elephants as the African bush of Kafue National Park dries out and the bird life still present on the lagoon in from of camp.
Tyrone and his business partner Phil have also launched their own podcast, inspired by the Wildlife & Wilderness Travel & Safaris show they now host The Elephant’s in the Room! Check it out on your favourite podcast app.
@19:25 Jehan has some very unusual visitors to Kanha National Park in India. We had a few issues with power cuts so we pick up his story again but you do not miss anything. Hopefully we’ll pick up on the elephants in Kanha next time before the national park closes for the monsoon.
On the other side of the world is Tim McGrady from Farewell Harbour Lodge who was with us on the last Episode talking about Bears & Whales in Canada. He’s back with us with another recent story.
@25:48 he tells of a mischievous bear that they catch and unusually move and release back into the wild. However, it does not have a happy ending although the lessons learnt will be valuable in the future for bear conservation in the Great Bear Rainforest of Canada’s west coast.
@35:16 Finally, we join Giuliano back in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil where at Aymara Lodge a mother caiman is moving her babies, the jaguar still seems to like the road and Giuliano is planning The Big Sit 24h bird watching.
We look forward to bringing you further updates from around the world next month.
If you’ve enjoyed our podcasts so far do subscribe and share with friends interested in wildlife & wilderness.
Wildlife & Wilderness is ATOL Protected.