Earlier in September I was honored to support the Australia’s Children’s Cancer Institute by donating a safari for their live auction at the Diamond Ball in Sydney.
As with so many of us, I’ve had friends deeply impacted by children’s cancer, so it felt especially meaningful for me to support the cause. Watching it raise $30,000 AUD on the night, making it the second highest bid, was absolutely incredible.
Together, we helped contribute to the event’s impressive $2 million AUD raised for the cutting edge work the Institute is leading. Supporting biomedical research alongside doctors and nurses who work daily to save lives and develop new treatment is critical. Having seen this firsthand I’m so grateful to be able to play a small part in this cause, and know I’ll be stay involved in this space.
Christened by Winston Churchill as ‘Africa’sPearl‘, Uganda remains one of my favorite destinations.
Hiking into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest offers magical insights into the wild lives of the great apes who call it home. Invigorating treks into the forest give visitors an incredible sense of how mountain gorillas have adapted to their lush environment which highlights the importance of protecting it.
Bwindi is home to over half the 1,000 mountain gorillas (up from 300 in 1997). It’s worth noting, and celebrating, how successful our conservation efforts within tourism supports this region. Our vibrant industry has facilitated enormous opportunities for the Ugandan people at the camps and lodges, which spins off for local markets and health centres.
During our June safari, we visited the impressive Bwindi Community Hospital, a vital and inspiring presence in the region. We saw firsthand the commitment and expertise of highly skilled local guides, researchers and park rangers, who embody the spirit of Ugandan achievement. Having guided safaris in Bwindi since the late ‘90s, I’m continually impressed by the area’s extraordinary biodiversity and the ingenuity of its people.
Through the great work of Ugandan and international vets, not only gorillas, but the many primate species found there have thrived under the protection of the national park. The evocative nature of this place is so memorable with dinosaur like bird calls from the Great Blue Turaco among others, who’ve adapted to these central African forests.
The Greater Amboseli ecosystem has long been known for its abundance of elephant.
Cythnia Moss began researching this population in 1972 and we’ve learnt so much over that time. Just this year Cythnia’s project has revealed fascinating insights into elephant communication, including the discovery that elephants may use sounds to akin ‘names’ when addressing each other. Please click here to read the National Geographic article.
With its majestic backdrop of Killimanjaro, Amboseli is indeed one of the most iconic safari destinations in Africa.
Pairing this with a stay at Ol Donyo Lodge in the Chyulu Hills can be a fantastic way to include luxury in the bush.
In the Chyulu Hills, some of the last big tuskers regularly come to the drinking hole, and Ol Donyo Lodge’s ‘hide’ (pictured below) allows for some of the most incredible close-up viewings of these giants.
The lodge itself is divine, with exceptional views across the vast plains towards Kilimanjaro’s snowcaps. Quality cuisine, fine wines, plunge pools and top notch activities including hikes, horse rides, mountain biking and night game-drives make this stop an ever increasing highlight on any safari.
On recent safaris we have witnessed some incredible sightings, including the elusive striped hyena, a cheetah and an extraordinary scene of a brave lioness brought down a giraffe to feed her pride.
