By: Priscilla Plummer
With stunning imagery as the backdrop, Yunn Arthus-Bertrand takes us on a historical journey that celebrates the beauty of nature, the human experience and our interconnectedness.
Continue reading “FILM REVIEW”FILM REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
By: Priscilla Plummer
I so appreciate Don Pinnock and Colin Bell for having the vision for this book and driving it forward and all the experts across who work to protect elephants and generously contributed to it. Substantial in information with many moving photographs and soul stirring quotes, I open it regularly, taking it in bit by bit.
Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW”SOJOURNERS’ STORIES
THE GREAT MIGRATION
As the world is experiencing unusual times, nature continues to unfold and carry through its natural rhythms – the Great Migration is one of these wonderful occurrences that people flock to see!
It is around this time of year August/September when travelers hope to catch a river crossing of the Great Migration as hordes of wildebeest and zebras make their way across. Many of us who have dreamt of coming to Africa have watched documentaries about this event which has inspired travel to see if firsthand. What we don’t realize is that a lot of these documentaries, the film crew had access to private or incredibly remote places to witness these crossings. They (film crews) also tend to spend many weeks in the same area to get this amazing footage.
Continue reading “SOJOURNERS’ STORIES”TOPIC OF THE DAY
LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS
Now that your safari plans have been set, the details begin to emerge and as you re-read your itinerary and your eyes do a double take as they land on the phrase “Note: luggage restrictions … “ and so it begins! THE most popular topic of conversation.
Yes, there is a high probability that if you are going on safari that you will be on a light aircraft flight, which means there will be luggage restrictions! Trust us when we say, we are not implementing these restrictions to torment you. Rather, these are set for safety reasons and due to limited storage space on board the plane. The restrictions vary between the different light aircraft companies as the size of the plane does affect how small the luggage hold is.
Conservation- Great news from Botswana
At a time when news is all too often about shrinking habitats and decreasing wildlife numbers, we are thrilled to share news of areas opening up and providing greater movement for wildlife. In and around the Makgadikgadi National Park in Botswana, fences are coming down and old migration routes are being rejuvenated. This is a gorgeous area and with the wildlife increasing, it’s one to put on your list.
Kuddos to all of those behind this project!
Madagascar Adventuring
Madagascar is remote, rugged and untrodden. It’s like no place else on earth. In fact, it barely qualifies as part of Africa: the two are separated by hundreds of kilometers of sea and 165 million years of evolution – long enough for Madagascar’s plants and animals to evolve into some of the most unusual forms on the planet. Together we visited some of the most interesting and off the beaten path places in this unique destination… Continue reading “Madagascar Adventuring”
Gorilla Trekking…What to bring?
The biggest question for a Gorilla Trekking trip is … What do I bring? While much of what you’ll want to have with you is on our Packing List_2018, there are some special considerations that we have included here when preparing for your gorilla trek. Here’s our list of what to bring and a little bit about what to expect. From there, you’ll be able to determine what is important to you to keep you comfortable. Continue reading “Gorilla Trekking…What to bring?”
Plastic Sucks
This is a picture of elephant dung that I came upon during a recent walk in the bush. Ah, the sad woes of plastic bags in wildlife areas. The damage that plastic can cause is life threatening to animals.
Plastic refuse has become so common around wildlife areas. We are so encouraged by those areas/countries that have taken action to reduce it. Rwanda and Kenya now ban plastic bags from being brought into their countries! It is a step in the right direction.
If you would like to make a difference, please leave the plastic bags at home – pack with durable travel bags that go home with you.
Ecological Art Inspiration
Meet Shorai Matambanadzo – Conserving wildlife and empowering girls through art
I am an ecological artist. My responsibility is to make residents in a cluster of villages where I work outside Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, aware of the connection between art and conservation. One place I do this is Rise and Shine Girls Club sponsored by Global Sojourns Giving Circle.
The 35 girls in the club have grown up seeing their male relatives chop down trees, carve small animals to sell to tourists and ferry the curios to market. This tourism-based art model threatens the once-plentiful hardwood forests of Southern Africa, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Erosion and other impacts of deforestation are made worse by the erratic climate.
Laws of Luggage
The perfect solution to those light aircraft luggage restrictions
If your safari includes traveling between camps in light aircraft, you’ll need to use luggage that works within the airlines’ requirements. The luggage compartments of these planes are limited in space and thus the need to have soft sided luggage. While some of the companies will let us get by with our beloved 22″ bags with 3 soft sides, most require that the bags be soft-sided all around and no wheels. When wheels aren’t allowed, I’ve found Eagle Creek’s Load Hauler to be the perfect solution. It offers the space of a duffel while providing the option of carrying it as backpack which lightens the load while traveling through airports.