ZECO TRAVEL TALK

Perhaps it was the penguin pecking at your boot during your first visit to Antarctica. Or the thrill you felt exploring legendary Pitcairn Island. Whatever your favorite Zegrahm or Eco Expeditions memory, we’d love to hear about it. Please share your story/favorite memory as a comment to this blog post. Read more

Dr. Jack Grove, Zegrahm Expeditions’ cofounder and expedition leader, recently contributed to a report that outlines how climate change, overfishing, and tourism have negatively impacted the Galapagos Islands’ delicate ecosystem. In just a few decades, 45 Galapagos species are thought to have already disappeared or are teetering on the verge of extinction. The report was originally published in the scientific journal, Global Change Biology, and has been picked up by BBC News and circulated by Metropolitan Touring in Quito, Ecuador, among other news sources. Read the full text from the BBC article.

In addition to Jack’s work on this ground-breaking white paper, he also contributed to Tui De Roy’s, Galapagos: Preserving Darwin’s Legacy. This book is an authoritative, up-to-date survey from a variety of authors and researchers on the natural history, ecology and conservation of the Galapagos. Read the book review here. Read more

On November 24, 2009, the Clipper Odyssey anchored off the coast of Niuatoputapu, a remote island in the Kingdom of Tonga. Back in late-September of this year, this regular stop on our Hidden Gems of the South Pacific itinerary was rocked by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake that shook the ocean floor between the island archipelagos of Samoa and Tonga, causing a large tsunami. No one on Tonga had experienced a tsunami before, despite frequently occurring earthquakes. The wall of water not only devastated many of the coastal villages, but also resulted in nine deaths.

Upon hearing the news that the tsunami hit the little-known island of Niuatoputapu, the Zegrahm office immediately started questioning whether to go someplace else, or continue on with this port call as planned. Not only did Zegrahm decide to visit the island, but also provide the villagers who were trying to rebuild their lives with much needed essentials. Read more

Zegrahm Expeditions Program Manager and wildlife enthusiast, Ted Kenefick, recently traveled to Brazil’s Pantanal: read his “report from the field” below.

Pantanal. The rough translation from Portuguese to English is less than romantic— “swampland.” To me, Pantanal means—magic. I had traveled to the region several years ago and as I concluded my trip and passed underneath the sign marking the start of the Transpantaneira Road and the entrance to the Brazilian Pantanal, I vowed to return.

In October of 2009, I made the return trip. As I write on a rainy autumn evening in Seattle, my thoughts drift south, far south to this place of miraculous sunsets, vistas of open space stretching to all horizons, and a myriad of wildlife. Surely a visit to the Pantanal is one of the greatest natural history experiences of the Western Hemisphere, perhaps even on the entire planet, but somehow knowledge of this place seems to have “flown under the radar.” Read more

This recently published book by Rodney Russ & Aleks Terauds is a comprehensive study of the seven oceanic island groups to the south and east of New Zealand. Each chapter features a different island with descriptions of the flora, fauna, geography, geology, human history, and glorious color photographs. More than just a coffee-table book, the authors leave no stone unturned when it comes to describing the wonders of these unique islands. Read more

Dr. Mark Brazil, a regular Zegrahm expedition leader and field staff member, is also a published author and avid wildlife photographer. Mark happily shares some digital photography tips in the October edition of the ‘Wild Watch’ column he writes for The Japan Times.

Mark’s column provides insight into maximizing small-bodied cameras, shooting wildlife close to home, visiting a local zoo to improve your skills, and exploiting smaller subjects for their photogenic qualities. Read the full article at this link: Wildlife on your doorstep.

Mark will be leading several expeditions for us in the near future, including one he designed especially for Zegrahm. Our Snow Monkeys & Cranes Eco-Expedition highlights Japan’s striking beauty and prolific winter wildlife. The peaceful, snow-clad landscape of the rural countryside and soft, winter light create the perfect backdrop for amazing photography. And though Mark designed this expedition with nature-lovers and serious photographers in mind, travelers will also enjoy a unique culinary experience as our gracious hosts serve us gourmet Japanese dishes and share time-honored dining traditions.

At Zegrahm we believe that through travel comes awareness, and that awareness is what ultimately leads to viable solutions, which is why we are thrilled to partner with Harvard Museum of Natural History (HMNH) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on our upcoming Rain Forests & Reefs expedition. Both organizations are recognized for their work in preserving and conserving natural resources and cultural heritage for future generations to enjoy. Read more

Author of the well-known book, 50 Places to See Before you Die, Chris Santella’s new book features Once in a Lifetime Trips. Marine biologist, Dive Master, and professional photographer, Jack Grove, was happy to provide the details for the chapter Melanesia: Swimming with Mantas and Dancing with Fire. Jack, who is also a Zegrahm Expeditions co-founder, has made many trips to this area and can certainly understand why our Faces of Melanesia voyage would stand out as a trip of a lifetime. Amazing diving and snorkeling, energetic traditional dances, gorgeous tropical scenery, and the comforts of our 110-passenger ship, the Clipper Odyssey, make for an experience like no other. Chris Santella’s newest book can be purchased online at Amazon or directly through the publisher.