Ulva island, land of birds
Ulva island is one of New Zealand’s only open island sanctuaries. The moment you step off the boat (15min water taxi from Golden Bay in Oban) you’re greeted by birds. The songs carry… Continue reading
Tag Archive: Animals
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Wildlife adventures in the Catlins, New Zealand
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted about my travels, but my latest trip was just too good not to share. After completing the Milford Track Great Walk (hopefully if I get into the… Continue reading
Travel moments that sparked joy
When you close your eyes and think of your travels, those happy moments, those places that sparked joy, the smile that the memories create… where are you? Here’s where those moments take me:… Continue reading
The impact of travel
If it wasn’t for travel where would I be? I can’t even imagine the sort of person I’d be if I hadn’t studied in Austria, become close friends with other international students, one… Continue reading
The Borneo Adventure Roundup
From leeches in the jungle to island delights. From rivers with monkeys to sanctuaries with orangutans and sun bears. Borneo was a mixed bag with definite highs and a few lows. It was… Continue reading
Sun Bear and Sepilok Orangutan Wildlife Sanctuaries, Borneo
WARNING: CUTE PHOTOS AHEAD! Wild and free animals (or lack of) behind me, it was onwards to cute wildlife cared for in the popular sanctuaries of Borneo. Sun Bear Conservation Centre My first… Continue reading
Kinabatangan River Wildlife Spotting, Borneo
I was excited. This was it. This was the chance to see wildlife in the wild. It was going to be great. Note: This post contains Proboscis monkeys with no shame and due… Continue reading
Making a difference while travelling
Whether it’s smiling at a stranger, helping someone with their bags, giving food to the homeless or just complimenting someone on a piece of clothing, it all goes a long way to making… Continue reading
WARNING: Cute animals! A day at Wildlife Habitat, Port Douglas
Disclaimer: I cannot be held accountable for a few too many ‘awww’s’ or mentions of cuteness in this post. Read (and smile) at your own peril. I’m always wary about wildlife sanctuaries and… Continue reading
Kuranda: Queensland’s village in the Rainforest
Watching out the window as the forest passes me by, I notice openings of stunning scenery below as the scenic train to Kuranda climbs through the mountains to reach 327 metres above sea… Continue reading
That place that Inspired me…
How can a travel destination be inspiring? Is it a place that changed your perspectives in life? A place that encourages you to do something more in life? Is it simply a destination… Continue reading
Wandering through Zealandia, Wellington, NZ
Just a short 10min drive from central Wellington (or with the free Zealandia shuttle) nestled amongst the bushland, is a nature sanctuary to delight any nature lover — whether you grew up in… Continue reading
Wildlife volunteering: Top Travel Experience(s)
Getting down and dirty, deciding there’s no point in washing your shorts because you’re on enclosure cleaning yet again or it’s just so wet and humid, why bother? These are the joys of… Continue reading
Unexpected Places
Consider for a moment a place you’ve never thought you’d visit. Is it dangerous? Is there some strange noises that you can’t quite comprehend? Do you find yourself holding a baby baboon in… Continue reading
A Greatest Adventure: Cruising around the Galapagos
Picture this: Waking up in the morning in a king size bed, strolling out to a balcony, gazing out over warm clear blue water, watching the odd turtle or stingray swimming by… that’s… Continue reading
10 Things I love about travel
This month’s travel linkup is all about love… here’s 10 things that I love about travel: 1. Waking up in the middle of nowhere and pinching myself that I’m actually there 2. Being surprised… Continue reading
One Year. 20 Locations. A year of memories
On this day last year I left my home of almost 5 years, London, to begin a world adventure and return to my homeland of New Zealand. It’s hard to believe it’s been… Continue reading
Travel Personality – Travel Linkup
In an effort to back involved with the blogging community this month’s travel linkup topic is all about travel personalities, so here’s my take on my own travel personality. Young and nervous traveller… Continue reading
Getting back to nature at Yosemite National Park
Sun, snow, birds, deer, squirrels, elusive black beers and an abundance of pure nature, all part of Yosemite National Park in California, USA. For years I’ve wanted to go to Yosemite National Park,… Continue reading
Seeking wildlife in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Sloths, check. Monkeys, check. Racoons, check. Iguanas, check. Birds, check. Beaches, check. After a bit of a disappointing trip to La Fortuna/Arenal (was super expensive to do tours and not much else there),… Continue reading
Monteverde and Santa Elena: Cloud Forest of Costa Rica
Green trees and birds all around, this area of Costa Rica is a great starting point for any adventure in Costa Rica. Monteverde and Santa Elena are cloud forest reserves with a town in… Continue reading
The end of my time in Ecuador
Ecuador was a tricky country for me. The moment I arrived I was surrounded by lots of green banana trees for miles. I had hope of a fantastic time in the countryside. I… Continue reading
Cruising Around the Galapagos: Part 4 – Rabida, Santiago and Baltra Islands
Santiago Island Walking on moon-like rocks to creep up on the playful Galapagos fur sea lions you feel like you’re a long way from home… or at least I did. The fur sea… Continue reading
Cruising Around the Galapagos: Part 3 – Fernandina and Isabela Island
The Western Galapagos Islands continued to excite me, despite the incident with the sea urchin… Fernandina Island on day 5 was incredible. Definitely a highlight for many people on the tour. Back… Continue reading
Cruising Around the Galapagos: Part 2 – Western Isabela Island
Lava rocks, pink flamingos, iguanas and wildlife all around. This is what I came to the Galapagos for. To be honest, the Galapagos wasn’t as abundant in wildlife as I had expected or… Continue reading
Cruising around the Galapagos: Part 1 – Santa Cruz and Isabela Islands
Put together 16 random people from all over the world on a first class boat for 7 days. It could go one way or the other. In our case it was a fantastic… Continue reading
Visiting San Cristobal island in the Galapagos
Red, Blue and Nazca Boobies – birds that is. Male Red Frigate birds with their bright red chest ballooned out. Green, Grey and Leatherback turtles. All just a few of the amazing wildlife… Continue reading
Volunteering at Yana Cocha in Ecuador
For two weeks I was recently based on the edge of the Amazon jungle in Puyo, Ecuador, volunteering at a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre called Yana Cocha. The centre is home to a… Continue reading
Bolivia, diverse and surprising at every corner
As I left Argentina/Chile a few weeks ago I was a bit down in the dumps for various reasons. I was determined to cheer up and appreciate what was ahead of me. Leaving… Continue reading
The Pampas, Amazon region in Bolivia
The rain started and didn’t finish for over 12 hours. Torrential downpour is an understatement. Trugging out in the mud and rain from my hostel, I walked to the office where the adventure… Continue reading
Wining and dining in Mendoza, Argentina
3 hours. Yes 3 hours. 3 freaking hours at the border crossing from Chile to Mendoza in Argentina. Welcome to summer! Trust me to cross borders a few days after New Years. It… Continue reading
Whales, seals, penguins, all in a day at Peninsula Valdes
Just a few minutes out from shore and we’re surrounded. All around us are families of Southern Right Whales. From babies (that are still massive) to super long mothers. These whales bob up… Continue reading
Victoria Falls to Cape Town Tour: The End
It seems fitting that after such a variety of landscapes that our tour ended in an incredible spot in South Africa called Highlanders – a camp ground surrounded by vineyards in South Africa. I… Continue reading
The Cape Fur Seals of Cape Cross
The moment you hit the Skeleton Coast (part of the Atlantic coast down from Angola) you feel the change in temperature. I’m talking about going from wearing shorts and a sleeveless top and feeling hot,… Continue reading
Etosha National Park, wildlife galore
Elephants bathing in the waterhole, surrounded by giraffes, oryx, kudu and impala. This is Africa. Moreso, this is Etosha National Park, filled with wildlife around waterholes and hiding away in the desert planes.… Continue reading
Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta
Elephants, water buffalo, hippos, giraffes galore – some people even saw lions! This was the subject matter for our scenic flight over the Okavango Delta – a river and lagoons that runs from… Continue reading
Going bush in the Okavango Delta of Botswana
Loading ourselves into a dugout canoe, known as a ‘mokoro’ (or makoro) we set out for a 1-2 hour canoe trip to our bush camp. Bush camp meant a hole in the ground… Continue reading
Camping and Game Drives in Chobe National Park, Botswana
After a few days of relaxation in Zimbabwe and some much needed pool time after volunteering for two weeks, came Botswana. The border crossing took a long time because of 3/4 of our… Continue reading
Walking with Lions in Zimbabwe
Walking with lions was an activity that I wasn’t 100% sure was conservation-friendly. The more I travel the more I want to know more about what is good and what is bad for… Continue reading
Finishing up at N/a’ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary
By now I’ve described many high and low points at my time at the N/a’ankuse wildlife sanctuary in Namibia. Many people come here multiple times and love it. The volunteers range in numbers… Continue reading
Wish Day at N/a’ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary
Friday rolled around and it was my last full day, the weekend would be mainly food prep and less animal related. On your last day you have a ‘wish day’ where you can… Continue reading
Babysitting a baby baboon
They may be cute, they may make you go awwww, but they may also make you cry in pain and frustration…. all in the course of 12 hours of babysitting a little baboon.… Continue reading
N/a’ankuse, week two on the wildlife sanctuary
My second week at the wildlife sanctuary I started to get an understanding of what it’s really like there. Saturday was the social night – sushi making at the lodge, which my group… Continue reading
Where’s the love?
Sometimes we may not have love in our own lives, but when you travel you can find it in the most unexpected of places and it makes you smile. After a month of Photo of… Continue reading
‘Pinch me’ moments to last a lifetime
Imagine this: you’re sitting on some stairs in the center of Prague’s town square. It’s St. Patrick’s Day 2008 and dusk has just kicked in. You are surrounded by Easter market stalls, brightly… Continue reading
Most memorable night’s sleep while travelling
Bang! Bang! That’s the taxi driver thumping on the window as I wake up inside, stranded on a back road in Nairobi. Brushing the sleep from my eyes I see the road covered… Continue reading
Face to face with a silverback (East Africa: Part 3)
Exhausted, stepping through the brush I suddenly became spellbound. Sitting just a few meters away were the most incredible creatures on earth that I’d ever met. There they were, a group of gorillas… Continue reading
Chimps, National Parks and lush landscapes of Uganda (East Africa: Part 2)
Moving onwards from the amazing animals in Kenya I headed to Uganda. Uganda is definitely worth the wait as you cross the border. Keep your head down; get through to see some amazing… Continue reading
Baboons, elephants and game parks in Kenya (East Africa: Part 1)
It’s never ideal to fall asleep in the back of a taxi when the driver has left you stranded on a country road while he goes to get petrol. However, I was jetlagged… Continue reading