Tour operator launches ‘Last Chance To See’ itineraries

To coincide with the new series of ‘Last Chance to See’ which hits our screens on Sunday (6 September), tour operator Bales Worldwide has created the ‘Last Chance to See Collection’.

This brings together a series of itineraries that allow travellers to visit the same countries as the presenters and enjoy some of the same wildlife experiences - from spotting mountain gorillas in Uganda to whale watching in Mexico.

The ‘Last Chance to See’ TV series follows Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine as they recreate the original journey made by Mark and author Douglas Adams twenty years ago. The duo travel around the world to see what has become of close to extinction animals two decades later.

The first programme was shown on BBC2 on Sunday 6 September. For more information on Bales Worldwide’s ‘Last Chance to See Collection’ go to balesworldwide.com/lastchancetosee.

Episode One – Brazil and the Manatee – 6 September
Stephen and Mark travel to Brazil to try and spot the shy Amazonian Manatee. The wildlife and complex South American landscape are revealed in this first programme of the series.

Bales’ 15 day Natural Wonders of Brazil itinerary (from £3,070 per person) takes in a wealth of natural attractions and includes three days of Amazonian exploration where you may be lucky enough to spot the very shy manatee. The holiday also includes visits to the thundering Iguassu Falls and the vast natural paradise of the Pantanal.

Episode Two – African White Rhino – 13 September
The two explorers journey to Africa to seek out the White Rhino in Kenya. The pair also travel to Uganda to encounter wild gorillas.

The 8 day Masai Mara Safari (from £2,225 per person) in Kenya includes a raft of opportunities to view Kenya’s prolific wildlife, including rhino, in its natural habitat.

Bales’ 7 day Quest for the Mountain Gorilla itinerary (from £2,795) in Uganda includes an amazing 6 hour trek tracking the magnificent mountain gorillas.

Episode Three – Madagascar and the Aye Aye – 20 September
The presenters venture to Madascar to visit the home land of the near-extinct aye aye - a nocturnal creature that is part of the lemur family. The duo also come face to face with some of Madagascar’s lizard inhabitants.

The fantastic 11 day Land of the Lemurs itinerary (from £3,560 per person), explores the enclosed beauty of this shut off environment with a number of excursions to view the exotic wildlife, including the wonderful lemurs in their natural surroundings.
Episode Four – South East Asian Komodo Dragon – 27 September
Stephen and Mark travel to South East Asia to visit Malaysia and Indonesia in search of the endangered Komodo Dragon - the largest and heaviest living lizard in the whole world. Whilst on their search they also manage to see a variety of snakes and the proboscis monkey breed.

To experience the wildlife of South East Asia at its best, Bales recommends the 10 day Into the Heart of Borneo itinerary (from £1,975 per person). This trip includes an 8 day cruise aboard the RV Orient Pandaw, from Sibu to the Pelagus Rapids and beyond up the Baleh River with jungle walks, visits to remote villages and a chance to spot rare and endangered wildlife.

Episode Five – New Zealand and the Kakapo – 11 October
The duo head to New Zealand looking for the near-extinct Kakapo parrot - an extraordinary nocturnal and flightless parrot. Whilst on their journey Stephen gets up close an personal with another flightless parrot, the Kaka, and the pair also get a chance to view the rare Kiwi.

The Kakapo is no longer able to be viewed in the wild but for those visiting NZ this September and October will be a couple of chances to view this most elusive of birds. Auckland Zoo will be welcoming Sirocco the Kakapo from 13 – 20 September, with nightly tours between 6pm and 9pm. From 26 September – 26 October, the annual ‘Kakapo Encounter’ takes place on Ulva Island including a walk to the enclosure where the kakapo can be observed close-up.

Bales Worldwide’s 17 day APT New Zealand Highlighter itinerary (from £2,995 per person) takes in the country’s premier attractions including Auckland, Milford Sound, Rotorua, Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington with plenty of opportunities to experience the indigenous wildlife.

Episode Six – Blue Whale in Mexico – 18 October
In the last programme Stephen and Mark travel to Mexico to see the endangered blue whale - the largest mammal on earth.

The amazing 12 day Mexico’s Sea of Cortes itinerary (from £3,250 per person) includes a seven day cruise around one of the most diverse marine areas in the world. Home to huge schools of common and bottle-nose dolphins, as well as humpback, minke, fin and blue whales. From early February to mid-March, hundreds of grey whales congregate in the shallow lagoons of Baja’s Pacific shore.

For more information on Bales Woldwide’s ‘Last Chance Collection’ go to balesworldwide.com/lastchancetosee.

For reservations go to balesworldwide.com.