Well, forward planning continues to gather pace and spaces disappear quickly on upcoming trips in the next two years. It seems we’re all on a much longer planning schedule these days! With the reduced number of trips that are now being offered as groups, I thought I’d just give a quick precis here of what’s on the agenda and what has spaces for the next 30 months. Rest assured, 2025 still has quite a few! For speed, I won’t include those trips currently full. Click onto the Group Adventures pages to find out more.
2024
Baffin: a cub quest: a cancellation this week means we have ONE single female share space available to join me on this incredible search in some of the most spectacular arctic scenery on Earth.
Botswana: Savute Kings and Delta Queens: currently just 3 spaces left on this incredible adventure, photo-led by our partner in crime, Danny Crous.
In-Depth Zimbabwe: I’ve just finalised the logistics for this new variant of our popular Zimbabwean trips, and whilst the “Magic of Mana” for 2024 is now full, this excellent other option – incorporating the varied landscapes and delights of Mana Pools and Gonarezhou National Parks – is open for booking, with just 4 spaces in total. Both trips will be guided by myself.
Paradise in the Pantanal: Two spaces on one, and three on the other for what has been one of most successful trips. I love the Pantanal, and whilst I thought I wouldn’t be back for a few years, having worked there for many, I’ve been persuaded (it wasn’t too hard!) to accompany some photographers next year. As such, we have opened up the other seats on each trip, making for groups of 6 on each departure. With six days in the jaguar hot spot of the Cuiaba and Pixiam rivers, we can basically guarantee excellent big cat sightings as well as a host of other wildlife on the other four days we are there.
2025
Ethiopia: After the disappointment of delaying (thanks Covid!) our trip to this diverse and spectacular destination in 2021, we are delighted to finally get it back on the schedule in 2025. The country has endured some hard times, but emerged as bright and welcoming as ever, and the wildlife – unique for the continent – is in full voice. Join Danny on this incredible, almost two-week trip to key locations and experience all that Ethiopia has to offer the wildlife photographer.
Central Africa: As readers of these pages will know, I’m very much involved in this whole region right now, as I continue to put together a book for publication by end of 2024. With Congo, the Central African Republic and Gabon firmly in my sights, and after taking two very happy groups through the former this year, I will be available to photo-guide one or two groups there in 2025. As yet, I have not put together the itinerary, but it’s more than likely to develop into a Gabon-based expedition this time around for one, and a Congo/CAR combination for the other. The latter would be around March, the former in July. Logistics in that part of the world can be slow, so for now, you will have to excuse the lack of fine detail. But…if getting to the dark heart of Africa is on your list, and gorillas, mandrills, forest elephants and bongo the kind of animals you dream about, then email me and I’ll put you on the list to ensure you get first refusal.
Yellowstone: I love the place and can’t believe it’s been 4 years since I was last there. Suffice to say, that this is one of my favourite places to work, and also to photo-guide, and it’s with great excitement that we have committed to 2025. Yes, you have to put up with my driving all day, early starts, late finishes, breakfasts in the field and no end of “hilarious” jokes, but the experience is second to none. We will spend all our time in the parks (Teton included) and not waste it commuting in and out. Dates will only be set for definite this time next year, as we are dependent on the release of National Parks’ accommodation opening dates, but expect it to start late May, and run into early June. Get your name down now, and we’ll firm dates as soon as we can.
Zambia: Into the Valley: South Luangwa National Park is one of the icons of Africa, and it’s great to be able to fix up an itinerary there again for 2025 after a few years of absence. Again, this is a park I know well having photographed there for nearly 20 years, and as such the itinerary and locations we choose ensure you maximise both sightings and experience. The trip in ’25 will be led by Danny, and we will have exclusive use of a luxury bush camp for much of our stay….making your trip into this wildlife hotspot one of the most secluded you will ever have. It will be like having the whole park to yourself in fact!
Other options – across 2024 and 2025
Namibia: rather than a group, photo-led trip to the country in 2025, we have decided to put together the itinerary, choose the local guides, and make it available on flexible dates for groups of a minimum of two people. The idea is that with Namibia, the range of dates you could go is vast. Rather than tie to one set departure, I have designed a fluid itinerary that works across most months of the year, and ensures you get to see some of the most spectacular parts of the country. These include the big hitters such as Sossusvlei, but also highly remote and exclusive areas such as the Hoanib river (where desert elephants and lions are to be found, and black rhino tracking can be undertaken), Twyfelfontein, the coast at Swakopmund and the beautiful, unique, Namibrand. Landscapes and wildlife are our key – and we think this strikes the perfect balance using road transfers and flights to move you around. For more info, check out the itinerary as the potential to tweak the odd day here or there is possible (although, we think it’s optimised at present!)
An Alaskan bear Adventure: On the shores of Bristol Bay, there is a fantastic grizzly bear location that offers chances to see bears in all shapes and sizes moving from sedge feeding to salmon fishing and all things in between. There is also the possibility of fly-outs (included) to see a massive walrus haul-out and – depending on the season you choose – Dall sheep and wolves are also high on the possibility list. Contact me for more info on this one….I’ll be there in a few days!