Wild E-News ! - Wildland Adventures

To view our newsletter online: http://www.wildland.com/wildnews/newsletters/enews_sep2002.html

In this Issue:

  1   Letter from the Director: Authenticity in Travel
  2   Travelers' Talk: Wild Guides Pass '17 Dinner Test'
  3   Travelers Conservation Trust: Maasai Resource Coalition
  4   Reports from the Field: Guides and Staff Updates
  5   New Trips
  6   Wildland Partners with Lindblad Small Ship Expeditions
  7   Wildland Adventures' Seattle Slide Show Schedule

Letter from the Director
AUTHENTICITY IN TRAVEL
Creating a connection between truth, intimacy, and sharing life behind the scenes.

A writer for National Geographic Adventure Magazine recently called to query me about a story she was writing on the newest frontiers of adventure travel. Although we are introducing some new trips featured in this newsletter, we are not so focused on seeking new, untouched destinations in adventure travel. Instead we are looking for new ways to create more enhanced experiences for our travelers; experiences that define the "Wild Style" by creating opportunities for our travelers to have the most authentic, in-depth and meaningful life enhancing experiences during their Wildland Adventure.

Guides and Staff Updates
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

We are constantly receiving new Reports from the Field from our guides, travelers and our own reconnaissance trips. Check out some of the most recent updates:

SOUTHERN AFRICA
"There were tracks everywhere in camp the next morning! If we had to walk out of our tents to use 'the loo' at night we were instructed to shine our flashlights to see if we saw any reflective eyes in the night. As our guide, Pilatwe, simply said, "If you see the eyes, do not go out. If you do not see the eyes, then you are O.K."
Nicole Harrison's exploratory trip through Botswana,
Zimbabwe and South Africa.

ALASKA
"In over seven years of guiding in Alaska, I've never had such an amazing combination of sun, good companionship, opportunities to meet so many different Alaskans, and incredible wildlife encounters in Denali and Prince William Sound, including a super-pod of 60 orcas cavorting and spy-hopping all around the Babkin."
Report from Todd Smith, Alaska Program Director

ZIMBABWE
"This year we have witnessed hippos mating - a rather noisy and sloshy affair, but fascinating to watch nonetheless..."
Report from Mana Pools from Wildland guide Daryl Marytn

PERU
Report from Tambopata rain forest by Wildland guide
Phil Wadge

Going Wild NEW TRIPS WILD NEW ZEALAND No wonder New Zealand's native forests, majestic mountains and stunning scenery were chosen as the setting for the trilogy film Lord of the Rings. Wandering through a moss covered beech forest or a towering tree fern filled gully, one half expects to run into some ancient creature of Middle Earth on our Wildland Adventures in New Zealand. Detailed Itinerary

PANAMA: WILD ISTHMUS Still an undiscovered Central American jewel, we'll traverse the wild Isthmus of Panama from Pacific to the Caribbean by land, air and sea on this new 9-day nature and culture exploration. Hike in the Punta Patino Nature Reserve, visit Embera native communities in the lush rain forests of the Darien coast and enjoy the Afro-Caribbean culture on the island of Bocas del Toro where we snorkel in Bastimentos Marine Park. Detailed Itinerary

ARGENTINA: BEST OF PATAGONIA Although this is not a new itinerary, the devaluation of the peso has so drastically reduced the price of our natural history Best of Patagonia it's like a new trip! This 10-day, lodge-based natural history exploration is $500 less than last year, now just $2325 all-inclusive from Buenos Aires. Detailed Itinerary

CHILE AND ARGENTINA: IN THE WAKE OF MAGELLAN Immerse yourself in the wilds of Patagonia by land and sea. Arriving in Santiago, Chile and departing from Buenos Aires, Argentina, our circumnavigation of Patagonia combines a 5-day voyage aboard the Mare Australis through Tierra del Fuego with overland explorations led by naturalist guides in Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks. Detailed Itinerary

SPIRIT BEAR VOYAGE Join us next summer on our first exploratory 6-day Spirit Bear Voyages along the Central British Columbia coast out of Bella Bella, BC, Canada, north of Vancouver. Based from the mother ship M/V Rolano, a cozy, converted 80' northern sea trawler, we will hike and explore by kayak and zodiac in search of whales, dolphins, grizzly bears, wolves, bald eagles and the rare Kermode 'Spirit Bear'. A feast in a Kitasoo Xai' Xais native village is a fun opportunity to learn the rich history of the First Nations culture of this lush Pacific coastal marine wilderness. Itinerary and dates forthcoming.
View the British Columbia Photogallery Contact Todd Smith for further details.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: NEW ACTIVE TRIPS AND LUNAR ECLIPSE Active families and adults now have the option of selecting a new, more active trip to Galapagos on board M/S Lammer Law & M/V Mistral offering longer hikes, more snorkeling, lots of kayaking and swimming, and recreational scuba dive opportunities. On the night of Friday May 16, 2003, there will be a full lunar eclipse visible in the Galapagos Islands. The May 8-18, 2003 departure aboard the M/V Eclipse will feature an astronomer from the Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale Florida.
Contact Ivan Hoyos for further details.

*Wildland Partners with Lindblad* NEW SMALL SHIP EXPEDITIONS In addition to our small yacht charters in Galapagos, Turkey, Alaska's Prince William Sound, and our Spirit Bear Voyages on the central British Columbia coast, this year we have partnered with Lindblad Expeditions to offer a select series of small ship expedition voyages to Costa Rica and Panama, Belize, SE Alaska (Glacier Bay) and Antarctica. Why Lindblad?
	Read more ...

COSTA RICA AND PANAMA BY SEA This ship based exploration takes you to remote and undisturbed parks, rain forests, beaches and islands in casual comfort and ease. Detailed Itinerary

BELIZE REEFS AND RIVERS Explore the Bay Islands in Honduras, Livingston, Quiriguá & Rio Dulce in Guatemala, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Half Moon Caye National Monument and the coastal rivers of Belize. Detailed Itinerary

ANTARCTIC VOYAGES Our journeys to the “White Continent” offer 6-14 days of exploration on the incomparably beautiful Antarctic Peninsula and the surrounding islands and waterways. Detailed Itineraries

SOUTHEAST ALASKA VOYAGE Explore Glacier Bay and the magnificent Inside Passage on a small expedition ship in the company of naturalists. Walk forest trails to cascading waterfalls, identifying birds and wildflowers as you go. Detailed Itinerary

Fall and Winter Schedule
WILDLAND ADVENTURES' SLIDE SHOW SCHEDULE

Local residents of the Seattle region are invited to join us this Fall and Winter at The Savvy Traveler store on selected Saturday mornings at 10am in downtown Edmonds (north of Seattle).