Preservation through visitation

From Borneo to Belize, Panama to Peru, Reef and Rainforest Tours, the operator who specialises in wildlife and nature-based holidays to some of the world’s most exotic destinations, has expanded its “Tailor-Made” programme to incorporate new and diverse itineraries across Africa, the Indian sub-continent, Indian Ocean, South America and South East Asia.

PRESERVATION THROUGH VISITATION
Championing the concept of “Preservation Through Visitation”, founder and managing director Alan Godwin believes that:

“By travelling to and visiting pristine wilderness areas to see wildlife and staying in small lodges, travellers are helping preserve and conserve habitats and fauna by providing locals with an income. This acts as an incentive to owners to leave forests intact rather than logging them, developing ranching or planting oil palm or soya.

“This income also benefits local guides and villagers rather than outside multinational interests and big businesses. We believe that the rewards provided by this small-scale, environmentally sensitive tourism vastly outweighs the detrimental effects of the carbon emissions from flying to these destinations, and is preferable to many other less sustainable reasons for flying.”

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2008/09

The “Tailor-Made” programme has virtually doubled in size with a greater choice of activities, excursions, accommodation styles and attractions than ever before.

SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

BRAZIL
“On the Trail of the White Uakari, Maned Wolf and Muriqui” is a new 16-day tour offering the chance to see some of the most remarkable and least known mammals in South America. Much of the itinerary is based in the state of Minas Gerais, but it also includes deepest Amazonia and a unique floating lodge where the endemic scarlet-faced white uakari monkey is found.

In Minas Gerais vistors can see nocturnal maned wolves as they roam around the monastery of Caraca National Park, and South America’s largest primate, the muriqui, along with a wide cast of other mammal and bird species. Quite simply, this is a dream tour for the discerning naturalist. This tour is priced from £3,990 per person, twinshare.

PANAMA
Coiba Island, the largest uninhabited forested island in the Americas, makes its debut as part of a new tour called “Wildlife of Panama’s Wonderful Wilderness Regions”. An actively adventurous tour, the itinerary is designed for intrepid travellers keen to experience Panama’s most outstanding wilderness both above and below sea level.

Starting with a stay in the dizzy treetop heights of the Canopy Tower then on to two special, wildlife-rich regions: Darien National Park for great birding and the extraordinary forests and marine environment of Coiba Island National Park. The tour culminates with a stay in a relaxing island resort within the Chiriqui Gulf Marine Park. This tour is priced from £3,182 per person, twinshare.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Occupying the eastern half of New Guinea, the world’s second largest island, Papua New Guinea has over 850 indigenous languages and its cultural diversity is expressed in many ways through art, carvings, music, dance, costume and colourful festivals.

Few venture to the savannah-land of Bensbach with its extraordinary Australasian wildlife but the new 17-day “Savannahs, Island and Highlands of Papua New Guinea” tour takes in this remote region. The itinerary also includes more familiar areas such as Ambua, renowned for its birdlife, and a marine resort on exotic New Britain island where locals live side-by-side with several active volcanoes. This tour is priced from £4,345 per person, twinshare.

“TAILOR-MADE” EXPLAINED

Itineraries in the brochure have been meticulously compiled to provide a diverse and viable mix of locations and attractions. An itinerary can be booked as it stands or merely used as a basis from which to create a customised holiday experience. Departure dates, locations, length of stay and all other aspects of each trip are entirely flexible and can be quoted for on a bespoke basis.

Reef and Rainforest Tours has also improved its accompanying website making it easier to navigate and gather information.

NEW CONSERVATION AFFILIATES FOR 2008/09

Widely recognised for its support of conservation and animal welfare, Reef and Rainforest Tours has forged two new affiliations for 2008. IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and EIA (Environmental Investigation Agency) join the operator’s list of long-standing affiliates which include the Shark Trust, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and Belize Audubon Society.

For more information and bookings, visit reefandrainforest.co.uk.