Last year on 5th November I waved goodbye to Ushuaia aboard the Ocean Endeavour. For the first time in my life I was Antarctica bound as a trainee guide with the Quark Academy, Quark Expeditions. I am fortunate to be working aboard the Ocean Endeavour again this year and the 5th of November will mark the first departure of the season for this vessel. As I think back to that first voyage I can clearly remember the buzz and excitement that filled the air on board. I'm not sure

I’ve always thought Disney’s portrayal of Pumba in “The Lion King” is the epitome of a warthog. Working as a field guide I am fortunate enough to see these funny characters on a daily basis. To me they are quite possibly the most comical of Africa’s mammals. Inquisitive in nature, warthogs typically stare at you curiously as you approach them. This is usually followed by a short loud snort as they turn on their heels and run away with their tails pointing straight up. Forget

There are few countries that will overload your senses and pull at your heartstrings in quite the way India does. The colours, the food, the people, the architecture, the wildlife, the list is endless. A visit certainly teaches you a few life lessons, tests your patience and, for most, has you leaving lighter than when you arrived. I spent six weeks in India, travelling with a friend. We visited Assam, Kolkata, Nagpur and the infamous 'Golden Triangle' of Jaipur, Agra and Del

Nepal, home to the world's highest mountain, offers endless trekking opportunities. On my first visit to Nepal I trekked to Everest Basecamp with my family. On my second visit I explored the Annapurna region with a friend. With limited time on our hands, we chose to trek to Poon Hill. At 3210 metres this trek is ideal for those concerned about altitude sickness, and is convenient as it can be completed in 4 days if you have time constraints. We left from Pokhara in a taxi wit

Famous throughout South America for it's skiing in the winter, Bariloche is a hiker's paradise for the rest of the year. Surrounded by the dramatic Patagonian landscapes found on the cover of a National Geographic magazine, with a myriad of lakes and imposing mountains, Bariloche is everything it's promised to be and more. The main street of the town is lined with chocolatiers; good luck to anyone who tries to walk down this street without indulging! My top pick is the dark c

Lake Titicaca sits at an altitude of 3800 meters between Bolivia and Peru. It has the largest surface area of any lake in South America and is well known for it's deep blue colour. Lake Titicaca has 48 sacred islands, the largest and most notable of which is Isla del Sol, as it is believed to be the birthplace of the Inca's sun god and of the first two Incas. The infamous Inca's ancient ties to the lake and islands is what draws people from all over the world. It is a mysteri

Say the word 'Bolivia' and my mind immediately conjures up images of pristine salt flats and sparkling lagoons full of pink flamingos. A recent three day tour with Ker and Downey, starting at the Hito Cajon Bolivian border and finishing in Uyuni was far beyond any expectations I had. The varied landscape in this area completely took my breath away. Day 1 Our first stop was Laguna Blanca (White Lagoon). During the winter months this lagoon is frozen but this doesn't stop a var

Nestled in the heart of Chile's lake district lies Pucon. The town sits on the shore of lake Lago Villarrica and is dwarfed by the snow capped Vilarrica volcano. The town has a definite 'ski resort' feel to it. Cafes, bars, ice cream and chocolate shops line the streets; you won't go hungry here! Nature lovers will not be disappointed by Huerquehue National Park. There are plenty of hikes, two being particularly popular. One to Los Lagos, a 4-5 hour return journey to four la

As a child I watched a documentary of an orca propelling itself onto a beach in order to catch a seal pup. After this epic feat the orca then elegantly wriggled down the shingle beach and back into the sea with it's prize. From that moment it has been a dream of mine to see this happen. Valdes Peninsula, Patagonia, Argentina is the place where this extraordinary behaviour occurs. This protected UNESCO semi arid area is home not only to these specialised orcas but to a whole h

Kaziranga, Assam India, is home to two thirds of the world's Greater One-horned rhinos. This fact alone had us travelling on a train for 9 hours followed by a five hour bus ride. Kaziranga is split into four zones: The Eastern range, the Western range, the Central range and the Burapahar Range We did three game drives at Kaziranga. Two in the Eastern range and one in the Central range. The Central and Western ranges tend to be more crowded with vehicles as they are closer to

Perched on a mountain side overlooking Khangchendzonga (8598m), Darjeeling is neatly tucked between Nepal and Bhutan. Darjeeling is world famous for it’s tea and plantations cover every mountain slope. The Happy Valley Tea Estate is India’s highest tea plantation at an altitude of 2100m . The tea from this plantation produces black, green and white tea and is sold to Harrods, UK. A recent tour of the tea factory gave me a new appreciation for the hard work that goes into prod

Top things to do in Kathmandu in a couple of days.

The Augrabies Falls National Park or “place of the Great Noise” is a 55,000 hectare protected area surrounding the Orange River. The river divides itself into a number of channels before thundering down a 56m high waterfall and then continuing down an 18km gorge. As well as magnificent scenery the park boasts a variety of flora and fauna. One of the best ways to explore this area is on foot. There are several hiking trails ranging from a few hours to three days. The Klipsprin

Elephants are by far my favourite animal. They are the reason I left England and my family behind and moved to the African bush to work as a ranger. These magnificent creatures are highly intelligent and emotional. The bonds between herd members are very strong and I have yet to meet a person that didn't coo over an elephant calf. Yesterday morning I was driving in a very thick area close to the mountains in the Marataba section of the Marakele National Park. Several trees ha

African rock pythons can reach a length of five to six metres. Although they are not venomous they can deliver a nasty bite and hold their victim in a vice like grip whilst they begin to coil around it. They kill by constricting their prey. Larger specimens eat antelope and there have been several recordings of them eating humans. Pythons are well camouflaged so can be difficult to spot in the African bush. Impala alarm calling close to the river in the early morning signalle

Thanks to some recent rain the Waterberg is lush, green, the rivers full and the dams overflowing. Last week the Marataba section of the Marakele National Park received over 160mm of rain in three days. The day after the big rains I made my way along the Matlabas River in the late morning. It was nine o’clock and already over thirty degrees. On the road ahead I saw a large elephant cow cross the road towards the river. I approached slowly and parked where the road was close t

Baboons are often over looked by the experienced safari goer. Their antics and stealing ways around human habitation have given them a bad reputation and many people regard them as pests. However, if you take the time to observe baboons in their natural environment you might just see another side to them. I enjoy watching baboons; their social interactions are interesting, their hierarchy complex and watching the youngsters play is nothing short of adorable. The social struct

The Wild Coast of South Africa boasts incredible scenery, solitude and the villages along the way give an insight into the lives of the Khosa people. One of the best ways of exploring this part of the world and meeting it’s inhabitants is on foot. The hike is a total of 61km and at a leisurely pace takes five days. For the most part the trail hugs the coast, occasionally skipping inland to find over night village accommodation. The terrain is undulating so be prepared for a b

It was late afternoon and I had been catching glimpses of a mother leopard and her three cubs in the long reeds for about 20 minutes. My patience paid off and I was rewarded with a beautiful sighting of four leopards in a clearing. Slowly they made their way into the tree line and began to play. I watched in awe as they tumbled over one another. Suddenly the mother began to stalk. A herd of impala made their way through the clearing towards the tree line. I watched as the cub

As we near the end of the dry season in the Waterberg many of the watering holes have dried up. Consequently animals are forced along the river system and major watering holes which can make for fantastic sightings. During the night an unaware impala coming to the water for a drink fell victim to a lion and lioness at KD watering hole. After the lions had had a good feed they lay up in the shade on the other side of the main road into Marataba Safari Lodge. Visitors to Marata