Mexico - Monarch Butterfly Migration

Summer gardens in the UK will be a little less colourful this year as the British butterfly population has been depleted. This is due to the really horrible wet summer we had last year which prevented the poor things from getting out and about and mating. However, if you fancy an interim treat then how about visiting the Amazing Butterflies exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London - well worth a look; take a camera for all those beautiful colours.

If you fancy a more engulfing butterfly encounter then how about heading over to Mexico for the annual Monarch Butterfly migration. Every November up to 300 million butterflies fly on a remarkable 4,000 kilometre journey from north-east USA to their wintering grounds in the volcanic mountains of central Mexico.

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Polar Bears - Threatened Species

The US has now officially recognised the plight of the Polar Bear by giving the species threatened status due the effect of climate change on the bears melting Arctic habitat. US government scientists predict that two-thirds of the polar bear population of 25,000 could disappear by 2050. However, this new status has done little to move the US government to review their strategy against global warming.

Learning about the majestic white bear in its own environment is a step closer to understanding the migration difficulties of such a huge and powerful animal, and relaying these important facts to other keen environmentalists for the ultimate protection of such an iconic animal.

Our polar bear trips are hugely popular and get booked up quickly so it is wise to plan ahead. We offer a number of different options.....

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Magical Madagascar

Madagascar - what a destination! We have just returned from our 5th Annual Festival of Wildlife and have been totally mesmerised by this most magical of islands. With a mix of cultures incorporating African, Indian, Indonesian and European, the visual and sensory stimulation was overwhelming and that was before even getting close to the flora and fauna! Most of the wildlife can be experienced no where else on this earth and as we walked in small groups to discover it for ourselves, the whole experience became more intimate and adventurous.

Working with local Madagascan conservation groups was informative and inspiring and we are really proud to announce that this years Festival auction raised a total sum of £13,391, most of which will be heading to these local initiatives, for key work in protecting the wildlife with the aid of the local communities. The groups we worked with whilst there were Association Mitsinjo and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. We will be placing a full Festival visual blog here very soon but if you are interested to learn about next years event then please read on...

Steam Locomotive Fantasy

A pretty good reason to start or finish your safari trip to Zambia at Victoria Falls would be inclusion of a romantic and very nostalgic dining experience aboard the Royal Livingstone Express. This beautiful locomotive used to pull logging carriages from the forests in Mulobezi before being rescued and partially renovated to previous grandeur by wildlife artist and steam locomotive enthusiast David Shepherd. The artist then generously donated the train to the National Heritage Conservation Commission who, in collaboration with Bushtracks Africa and Sun International Zambia have brought the train to fully restored and working order.

This luxurious dining experience will allow guests to view Zambian flora and fauna, including the possibility of white rhino, buffalo and elephant from the comfort of their carriage alongside the mighty Zambezi.

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Roger Slade Antarctica Exhibition

Antarctica is a 'must see' destination for a significant number of us. Roger Slade is fortunate enough to travel there every Antarctic summer as a lecturer and photographer for one of our key suppliers.

If you have a chance and live in the Cambridgeshire area, then please come and experience some of the wonders of Antarctica through Roger's photographs at an exhibition of his work taking place at the Museum of Zoology in Cambridge. Rogers work will display the results of 11 expeditions spread over a five year period. The exhibition runs from 22nd May - 28th June and there will be a private view on the 21st May from 6-8pm. Please just turn up - Wildlife Worldwide will be there to answer your travel queries. We have a large selection of different trips incorporating not only Antarctica but also South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

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Responsible Tourism nominations

We think we do a pretty good job in terms of our Responsible Tourism practices and general ethos, but there is always room for improvement and we constantly strive to keep focused and on top of these key issues.

Our annual Festival of Wildlife event allows us to work with conservation groups at the grass roots level and understand key issues associated with particular countries. This sparks initiatives in many different other areas of our work and across different countries.

If you think we earn a mention in the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism awards 2008 then please take the time to go to www.responsibletourismawards.com/nominations/

If you think there are areas which we could improve on then please let us know and contact Mel at mel.kinder@wildlifeworldwide.com

If you would like to read our Responsible Tourism policy then please click here.

Maggie's visit to the UK

Our blog is filled by the impressions we have about the wild and wonderful world out there. For something a bit different, we thought you may be interested to read a report about a recent trip to London and the UK by one of the staff at Kapani Lodge in the Luangwa Valley in Zambia. Sometimes travel is something that can remind us all to look at the world we live in through fresh eyes!

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