Steppes Travel Wildlife Tours Brochure 2018

Wildlife Encounters Don’t follow the herd

Wildlife Encounters B E YO N D TH E O R D I N A RY

B E Y O Nfollow D T H E Othe R D I Nherd ARY Don’t

Seeing wildlife in its natural habitat is an inspiring and uplifting experience. Our Wildlife Group tours have three key goals: to give you privileged insight and access, to give something back and in so doing to give you an exceptional experience.

We do this through the quality of our guides and leaders and also through our relationships and contacts on the ground – travel is about who you know.

The breadth and range of our wildlife holidays is impressive from snow leopards in the Himalayas to cetaceans in Baja, California to elephants in Kenya.

I hope you will join us this year on one of our wildlife tours and in doing so, support wildlife conservation.

Justin Wateridge Managing Director P2

2018 Wildlife Encounters Calendar & Contents MONTH AND TOUR

PAGE

JANUARY

Kenya Elephants of Samburu with Saba Douglas-Hamilton 04-05 Baja Whale watching with Art Taylor & Jo Ruxton 06-07 FEBRUARY India On the Trail of the Snow Leopards MARCH

08

Mozambique Freediving, Yoga & Dolphins

09

APRIL Galapagos Darwin’s Galapagos with Jonathan Green

11

MAY Scotland Wildlife & Wilderness Galapagos Photographic Cruise with Sue Flood

10 12-13

JUNE

Indonesia Borneo Orangutan Conservation Malaysian Borneo Maliau Basin Expedition Namibia Predator Conservation with AfriCat

14 15 16

MONTH AND TOUR

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JULY South Africa Rhino Conservation Project Arctic Expedition Cruise with Monty Halls & Sue Flood

CONTENTS CULTURAL TOURS

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17 Expert-led Cultural tours New for 2018 18-19

PIONEERING TOURS Gabon Wildlife & Culture of Africa’s Eden 20-21 Angola Desert Tribes & Hidden Landscapes 22-23 Cameroon Nguon Festival & Lowland Gorillas Eitrea Inside Africa’s Forgotten Kingdom

34-35 34-35 34-35 34-35

Canada Grizzly Bear Photography Tour with Sue Flood Madagascar Land of the Lemur Tonga Swimming with Humpbacks with Doug Allen

24 25 26

36 37

OCTOBER Brazil Pantanal, Jaguar & Armadillo Conservation Ethiopia Wolves, Primates & Rock-Cut Churches Papua New Guinea Birds of Paradise

27 28 29

NOVEMBER Indonesia Whale Sharks with Doug Allen

30-31

AUGUST Ecuador Amazon with Benedict Allen Madagascar Photography Tour with Sue Flood SEPTEMBER

The Steppes Difference Beyond the Ordinary Bespoke holidays Tailor-made travel

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Meet the Save the Elephants team

Kenya: Elephants of Samburu WITH SABA DOUGLAS-HAMILTON

Saba Douglas-Hamilton is an awardwinning wildlife filmmaker, TV host and conservationist. She is a key member of the Save the Elephants team in Kenya, where she helped set up a research station in Samburu that now monitors a population of over 900 elephants.

She is an accomplished TV presenter and her best known work is Secret Life of Elephants and Big Cat Diary.

In the company of BBC presenter Saba Douglas-Hamilton

Elephant safaris with researchers from Save The Elephants.

Stay at the renowned Elephant Watch Camp.

The contribution made to elephant conservation by the Douglas-Hamiltons is legendary and so to spend a week in their company, on their home soil of Samburu and Naivasha, is the opportunity of a lifetime. Take walks and game drives in Samburu escorted

by Saba Douglas-Hamilton and Elephant Watch’s Samburu guides. Meet with researchers from Save The Elephants who will introduce you to the resident elephant herd.

DEPARTURE: 17th February - 24th January 2018 8 days from ÂŁ7,295 PP excluding flights

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In partnership with New Scientist

Baja California Whale Watching Cruise WITH JO RUXTON & ART TAYLOR

Voyage with Art Taylor, who has been sailing the seas of Baja for over thirty years.

Sail the rich waters of the Sea of Cortez where whales and wildlife are in abundance.

Jo Ruxton, formerly of the BBC Blue Planet team, has over eighteen years experience of underwater filming and recently produced a documentary feature ‘A Plastic Ocean’.

A wonderful opportunity to explore this rich marine world with some of the best naturalist guides available. oceans Art Taylor, owner and captain of the Searcher has been navigating these waters for over thirty years and is hugely passionate about the wildlife and sharing it with his passengers. His knowledge is unrivalled.

The Searcher is one of the smallest expedition vessels for just 24 passengers, boasting three pangas of its own so guests can be sure the very best will be made of every sighting opportunity.

You will experience one of the most complete itineraries of the west coast of the peninsula, travelling south from San Diego to the tip of Baja at Cabo San Lucas and extending into the Sea of Cortez for further breathtaking wildlife opportunities.

DEPARTURE: 22nd January - 4th February 2018 14 days from £4,895pp

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Snow Leopard Conservancy

India: On the Trail of the Snow Leopards WITH DAVID SONAM

Unparalleled insight into the realm of the snow leopard from David Sonam of the Snow Leopard Conservancy.

The best region in the Himalaya for snow leopard sightings.

Traditional and cosy homestay accommodation for an authentic experience.

Ulley is in the centre of three interlocking valleys that support between eight and ten snow leopards according to the last census.

Sightings of ‘The Ghost of the Himalaya’ are not unusual here, especially when tracking is handled by Tchewang Norbu and overseen

by David Sonam from the Snow Leopard Conservancy.

Explore this less frequented corner of Ladakh, looking for snow leopards, blue sheep, ibex and Ladakhi urial by vehicle and on foot and then return to the warmth of a traditional homestay.

DEPARTURE: 3rd - 14th February 2018 12 days from £4,495 PP excluding flights

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I AM WATER Foundation

Mozambique: Freediving, Yoga and Dolphins WITH HANLI PRINSLOO & PETER MARSHALL

Learn the basics of freediving, under the expert tutelage of champion freediver Hanli Prinsloo and underwater photographer Peter Marshall

Swim beside the wild dolphins of the Ponta D’Ouro coast.

Practice yoga and breathing techniques in view of the ocean.

Join the I AM WATER team for a week of freediving and yoga off the Mozambican coast. Learn the basics amidst idyllic tropical surroundings. Spend mornings swimming beside the region’s playful dolphins, before returning ashore for relaxing yoga, looking out over the beautiful Mozambican waters.

Hanli is an 11-time South African freediving record holder who has taught freediving to over 500 students. The freediving instructors she leads have taught freediving around the world, working with top athletes, celebrities, and individuals with aquatic phobias. She is the founder of the I AM WATER Foundation, which focuses on ocean conservation through human experience and is also a film-maker and certified yoga instructor.

DEPARTURES: 10th - 17th March 2018 / 19 th - 26th March 2018 8 days from £4,595 PP excluding flights

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The Wildlife of the Highlands

Scotland Wildlife & Wilderness WITH FERGUS BEELEY

Join Fergus Beeley and RSPB’s David Sexton on this adventure into the north-west Highlands of Scotland. From undisclosed locations, view sea otters, enormous golden eagles on Mull, elusive pine martens of the ancient forests and the black-throated divers of the enchanted islets of Loch Maree.

Fergus Beeley has spent the last 25 years making wildlife films with Sir David Attenborough, including famous titles for the BBC such as the ‘Life Of Birds’, ‘Planet Earth – the future’ and ‘The Natural World.’

DEPARTURE: 3rd - 10th May 2018 8 days from £3,995 PP excluding flights

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Galapagos Cruise WITH JONATHAN GREEN

Jonathan is a keen wildlife photographer, qualified naturalist guide and dive master, who has been working in the Galapagos for over 25 years.

He set up the Galapagos Whale Shark Research Project and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London and an elected Member International of the Explorer’s Club of New York.

Natural Paradise is a 34m elegant motor vessel which provides plenty of space for just 16 passengers. Relax on the spacious sundeck with loungers, jacuzzi and covered alfresco dining area. Snorkelling equipment and sea kayak use are complimentary on this trip.

DEPARTURES: 1st - 11th April 2018 / 8 - 18th April 2018 11 days from ÂŁ5,775 PP excluding flights

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In partnership with New Scientist

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Close-up wildlife encounters

Galapagos Photographic Cruise WITH SUE FLOOD

Our private charter visits nine islands including the more remote Genovesa, so there will be plenty of time for photographic opportunities with Sue’s expert eye to help you take the best footage.

May is the perfect month to see the bizarre courtship displays of blue-footed boobies, sea turtles and marine iguanas hatching and waved albatrosses starting to lay their eggs.

However you don’t have to be a photographer to join this trip, snorkel with playful sealions, and learn from the experienced naturalist guide who will also be accompanying all excursions on land and sea.

Sue Flood Sharpen up your photographic skills with Sue, former Associate Producer on the award-winning BBC series ‘The Blue Planet’ and contributor to ‘Planet Earth.’ Sue is great fun to be with and while you will doubtless hone your photographic skills under her tuition, you are also guaranteed a rewarding time in her company.

DEPARTURE: 20th - 30th May 2018 11 days from £6,195 PP excluding flights

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Visit the renowned Camp Leakey

Indonesian Borneo Orangutan Conservation IN CONJUNCTION WITH ORANGUTAN FOUNDATION UK

River trips on board a ‘klotok’ boat to access more remote areas.

Benefit from the huge knowledge and expertise of Ashley Leiman of the Orangutan Foundation UK.

Access to orangutans at Camp Leakey and exclusive access to orangutan release sites.

Through the expertise of the Orangutan Foundation, understand the importance of the forest and the role of local communities in securing the orangutans’ future. Visit areas in the region which are only accessible through this unique partnership.

Experience these magnificent creatures in the wildest parts of Indonesian Borneo. Come face-to-face with the orangutans in their fragile natural environment and spend time at the three feeding sites, including Dr Galdikas’s famous Camp Leakey.

DEPARTURE: 3rd - 12th June 2018 10 days from £3,395 PP excluding flights

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The Danum Valley

Malaysian Borneo: Maliau Basin Expedition WITH ROBIN HANBURY-TENISON

A rare opportunity to trek into the Maliau Basin - home to many of Asia’s rarest species.

Led with the authority and experience of explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison.

Explore the wildife-rich Danum Valley.

Often termed ‘Sabah’s Lost World’, the Maliau Basin is a land of immense, vine-clad jungles and ancient, giant trees, home to an extraordinary array of wildlife. It is home to over 270 species of birdlife and more than 80 mammal species. This tour is the perfect combination of high expedition-style adventure, expert leadership by Robin Hanbury-Tenison, and an opportunity to see the pristine rainforest of Borneo, following orangutans in their natural habitat.

Robin Hanbury-Tenison OBE, referred to as the ‘greatest explorer’ by the Sunday Times. Conservationist, broadcaster, film maker, author of more than 20 books, lecturer, campaigner, farmer, he is one of the few remaining British explorers to merit the name.

DEPARTURE: 3rd - 14th June 2018 12 days from £4,995 PP excluding flights

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In support of AfriCat

Namibia Predator Conservation

WITH DONNA HANSSEN & TAMMY HOTH-HANSSEN

Hands-on participation in AfriCat’s Annual Big Cat Health Examination at Okonjima.

Explore Etosha National Park and the wildlife of the vast salt pans.

Spend time shadowing the lion research of AfriCat North.

Working exclusively with AfriCat, Steppes offer a unique conservation tour, with hands-on participation at its core. Gain behindthe-scenes access to AfriCat’s work at the Okonjima Reserve and the Hobatere Concession, focussing on both cheetahs and lions. In between, have time to explore Etosha National Park.

The highlight is a day spent with AfriCat’s vets during their Annual Big Cat Health Examination at Okonjima. You will be on hand throughout, helping the vets to ensure all cheetahs are vaccinated and given a thorough examination.

DEPARTURE: 22nd June - 4th July 2018 13 days from £5,295 PP excluding flights

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Hands-on Conservation

South Africa: Rhino Conservation Project WITH DR PETER ROGERS

Exclusive hands-on experience of a rhino darting project.

Guided game drives and walks in the Greater Kruger.

Visit a wildlife rehabilitation centre and a reptile conservation project.

For wildlife lovers wanting hands-on experience of an authentic conservation project. Accompany chief vet, Dr Peter Rogers, and rangers from Klaserie Nature Reserve as they locate a rhino and undertake the task of notching and micro-chipping. Expect to be more than just a spectator, with the group assisting in this vital conservation work. With rhino horn fetching more money than gold, the stakes have never been higher.

In addition to running a wildlife veterinary practise in Hoedspruit, Dr Peter Rogers is also a specialist in wild animal capture and translocation. He has previously assisted with the capture and aerial translocation of various species, including white rhino, giraffe, wildebeest, blesbok and cheetah. He is one of South Africa’s leading authorities on rhino conservation.

DEPARTURE: 22nd - 28 July 2018 7 days from ÂŁ2,295 PP excluding flights

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In partnership with Telegraph Tours

Arctic Expedition Cruise WITH MONTY HALLS & SUE FLOOD

Sail on-board the ice-strengthened Akademik Ioffe and access Svalbard’s most spectacular sites.

The best place in the Arctic to see polar bears in their natural habitat.

Cruise in company of marine biologist Monty Halls & wildlife photographer Sue Flood.

Throughout the voyage, you will enjoy private lectures with explorer Monty Halls, who will share tales from his explorations in the Arctic and accompany you on expeditions to discover the geological wonders and native species of the region, including polar bears, beluga whales and the Arctic fox.

You will also be joined by professional photographer Sue Flood, a specialist in the region, who will help you hone your photographic skills so you can capture those precious encounters with the wild as you sail through this astonishing environment.

DEPARTURE: 7th - 18th July 2018 12 days from ÂŁ6,450 PP excluding flights

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In partnership with Telegraph Tours

Ecuadorian Amazon WITH BENEDICT ALLEN

Join explorer Benedict Allen for an indepth insight into the indigenous people of the Amazon.

Meet three indigenous communities Cofan, Siona and Kichwa.

Visit Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve for unique endemic species.

Sail the Napo River, one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon onboard The Anakonda luxury ship.

Cruise along the Napo and Aguarico river deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. Meet three indigenous communities – Cofan, Siona and Kichwa, each with their own language and customs. Explore the UNESCO Yasuni National Park, one of the most biologically diverse spots on Earth, and the remote and little visited Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve. Explore on foot and by kayak looking at the species that live in this area such as birds, monkeys, caiman and pink river dolphin.

Benedict Allen is an explorer, author, filmmaker and motivational speaker. One of the world’s leading adventurers, his expeditions famously achieved not with a phone, GPS or “backup”, but by preparation alone with remote indigenous communities. He is the first person to have crossed the Amazon Basin at its widest, spending seven and a half months doing this and being immersed among the indigenous people.

DEPARTURE: 10th - 19 th August 2018 10 days from £4,850 PP excluding flights

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Madagascar Photographic Journey WITH SUE FLOOD

©SueFlood

See dancing sifakas, colourful chameleons, leaping lemurs, the strange fossa and other endemic wildllife.

Fly by private charter in country to maximise your time spotting wildife and see more remote regions.

Benefit from Sue’s expert eye to maximise all your photo opportunities.

Encounter this island’s incredibly diverse flora and fauna and the various habitats that support a myriad of unique species.

September is the perfect time when spring brings lemur babies and nesting birds and reptiles begin to be more active.

Flying by private charter so that you can maximise your time taking photographs of numerous endemic wildlife including chameleons, dancing sifakas, indris, lemurs, the cat-like fossa.

See the spectacular and iconic Avenue of Baobabs and visit Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Berenty Reserve, the dry forests of Kirindy and the coastal Anjajavy.

DEPARTURE: 20th August - 2nd September 2018 14 days from £9,995 PP excluding flights

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Timed for the Salmon Run

Canada: Grizzly Bear Photography WITH SUE FLOOD

During the salmon run in British Columbia, grizzly bears are drawn to the rivers to feast on spawning salmon. For the best opportunity to photograph one of the world’s most exceptional wildlife spectacles, float along the river in specially designed, nonmotorised boats, with Sue Flood on hand to help with capturing the action.

The naturalists at Tweedsmuir Lodge will join the group on all activities, giving insight into the bears’ behaviour and taking guided walks to see black bears, wolves, cougars, mountain goats and an array of birdlife.

©SueFlood

©SueFlood

©Mike Wigle

DEPARTURE: 7th - 14th September 2018 8 days from £8,995 PP excluding flights

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Madagascar: Land of the Lemur

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Great introduction to

WITH LOCAL GUIDES

A great introduction to Madagascar’s unique fauna and flora, away from the crowds. Explore the island’s jungles, searching for the various lemur species for which Madagascar is perhaps most famous.

Start in Andasibe-Mantadia Park, where the cry of the indri echoes through the forest. Continue north-east into the littleexplored Pangalanes region, where lagoons cut through littoral forest. Then head west - via the iconic Avenue of Baobabs - to Kirindy Forest. Here, catch a glimpse of Madagascar’s largest carnivore, the cat-like fossa.

DEPARTURE: 9th - 21st September 2018 13 days from £3, 295 PP excluding flights

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The Ultimate Wildlife encounter

Tonga: Swimming with Humpback Whales WITH DOUG ALLAN

The privilege and thrill of snorkelling alongside humpback whales.

Join Sir David Attenborough’s favourite cameraman, Doug Allan.

Experience the breathtaking island paradise of Tonga.

As wildlife lovers strive for the ultimate encounter with big mammals, the bar is constantly being lifted higher and higher. We would like to think that we’ve raised the bar another notch. This trip gives you the opportunity to swim with humpback whales in the warm, crystal-clear waters of the Tongan Pacific, escorted by a BBC cameraman who is famous for some of the most spectacular underwater footage of humpback whales ever filmed.

Doug Allan is one of the world’s best known and respected wildlife cameramen. He has worked for BBC, Discovery and National Geographic, filming for series like The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Life, Frozen Planet and Ocean Giants. He’s filmed whales in almost all the seas of the world and has twice won the underwater category in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

DEPARTURE: 15th - 26th September 2018 12 days from £5,395 PP excluding flights

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The Pantanal

Brazil: Jaguar & Armadillo Conservation WITH MARIO HABERFELD

Assist researchers as they study giant armadillo, anteater and tapir.

Track jaguars in the wild with the Oncafari Jaguar Project.

Discover the varied wildlife of the Pantanal, the largest wetland on the planet.

Accompany leading conservationists as they track and study endangered armadillo and jaguar in the southern Pantanal. Home to an incredible variety of wildlife the vast floodplains of the Pantanal provide refuge to over 650 species of bird including the scarlet and blue macaw as well as capybara, giant anteater and giant otter.

Having conducted research in the Pantanal since 2002, conservation biologist Arnaud Desbiez set up the giant armadillo project in 2010. Mario Haberfeld is fully committed to preserving the wildlife of his home country and works with the Oncafari Jaguar Project using ground breaking techniques to learn about jaguar behaviour in the wild.

DEPARTURE: 3rd - 11th October 2018 9 days from ÂŁ3,995 PP excluding flights

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The Highlands

Ethiopia: Wolves, Primates & Culture WITH DOUG ALLAN

Spot geladas and other endemic species in the Simien Mountains National Park.

Track rare and endangered Ethiopian wolves in the Bale Mountains with your local expert guide.

Experience Ethiopian culture and visit the rock-cut churches of Lalibela.

Combine Ethiopia’s remarkable landscapes, culture and unusual endemic wildlife with a journey to the highlands of Ethiopia.

In the company of your Ethiopian guide, as well as the local scouts, visit the dramatic Sanetti Plateau, track rare and endangered Ethiopian wolves and take walks through the high-altitude forest. Here, look out for Bale monkeys, as well as unusual birdlife.

Visit the Simien Mountains National Park, which is home to a number of endemic species. Explore on foot, hiking through this spectacular landscape, spotting animal and bird life, and visiting one of the local villages. Within the park, there is a good chance of seeing geladas – Old World monkeys that are only found in the Ethiopian Highlands – and the endangered walia ibex.

DEPARTURE: 5th - 16th October 2018 12 days from £4,595 PP excluding flights

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Remote & Captivating

Papua New Guinea Birds of Paradise WITH PHIL GREGORY

Guided by leading authority on birds Phil Gregory encounter some of the 781 exquisite bird species.

Visit key birding locations; Mount Hagen, Fly River and New Britain in search of the 15-20 different birds of paradise.

Discover the diverse nature and culture of Papua New Guinea’s people and wildlife.

All birds are created equal but some birds are more equal than others. Flamboyant in the extreme, the bird of paradise is one such bird. This trip travels from the highlands to the coast in search of Papua New Guinea’s most spectacular birds, in the company of expert birding guides. In Mount. Hagen spot the superb, lesser, blue, twelve wired and king-of-Saxony birds of paradise while in the coastal forests of New Britain, spot blue-eyed cockatoo and red-knobbed imperial pigeon.

Phil Gregory is one of Australia’s leading authorities on birds and has been guiding bird trips in PNG since 1998. He has recently published a book on the subject entitled ‘Birds of New Guinea’ and is an advisor for the International Ornithological Congress World Bird List. His special interests are field identification, vocalisations, taxonomy and bird distributions.

DEPARTURE: 7th - 18th October 2018 12 days from £7,875 PP excluding flights

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Indonesia: Swim with Whale Sharks WITH DOUG ALLAN

Snorkel alongside one of the world’s largest mammals at Cenderawasih Bay.

Explore the largest marine parks of Indonesia onboard a luxury private phinisi.

Hone your underwater photography skills with BBC cameraman Doug Allan.

A rare opportunity to sail with the world renowned marine photographer, Doug Allan. Snorkel with Whale Sharks around the waters of Raja Ampat, often described as one of the most extraordinary environments on the planet. Based from the luxurious Tiare, a newly built Indonesian phinisi kitted out with a fully equipped dive station, large camera workstations, six en suite cabins and a crew, which includes a dive master, chef and dedicated team.

Comfortable – certainly, exploratory - yes, exciting and pioneering – without a doubt.

DEPARTURE: 14th - 24th November 2018 11 days from £6,995 PP excluding flights

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Expert-Led Cultural Tours JOIN ONE OF OUR NEW TOURS FOR 2018

In addition to our wildlife tours, we are recognised as one of the UK’s leading specialists in cultural, historical and archaeological small group tours. Our aim is to offer a beyond the ordinary experience with an enviable pool of tour experts. Please contact us for a copy of our Cultural Tours Brochure or see our website for our full portfolio of tours.

IRAN

GREECE

UZBEKISTAN

LUXURY TRAIN JOURNEY

ANCIENT MACEDONIA & THE KINGDOM OF ALEXANDER

BEYOND THE OXUS

Traverse Iran by rail and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of this wonderful country.

Accompanied by Michael Portillo.

7 th - 21st April 2018 From £10,999 pp*

Discover Alexander the Great’s birthplace, explore ancient sacred cities and visit spectacular Royal tombs.

Accompanied by Carolyn Perry.

28th April - 5th May 2018 From £2,795 pp*

Discover the art, architecture and culture of the fabled Silk Road cities.

Visit Samarkand’s Registan Square, the bustling bazaars of Bukhara and explore Khiva’s citadel.

Accompanied by Chris Aslan Alexander.

28th April - 5th May 2018 From £2,795 pp*

VIEW ALL OF OUR NEW CULTURAL TOURS ONLINE STEPPESTRAVEL.COM/EXPERT-LED-GROUP-TOURS

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PERU

CHINA

ZIMBABWE

PRE-INCA CIVILISATIONS

QINGHAI FESTIVAL & TEXTILES

Explore the fascinating yet little visited preInca archaeological sites of northern Peru combined with the snow-capped mountains of the Cordillera Blanca, accompanied

by Peru expert Hugh Thomson.

An opportunity to get under the skin of Tibetan culture, visiting an area in northwest China on the Tibetan plateau, accompanied by textiles and embroidery expert Gina Corrigan.

GONAREZHOU & THE MAHENYE FESTIVAL Experience the captivating Mahenye Festival, an annual celebration of Shangaan culture. Explore one of Zimbabwe’s greatest national parks, Gonarezhou.

Accompanied by Hugh Thomson.

29th June - 11th July 2018 From £4,495 pp*

Accompanied by Gina Corrigan.

17th July - 2nd August 2018 From £3,495 pp*

Accompanied by Clive Stockil.

17th - 24th September 2018 From £5,595 pp*

RUSSIA

INDIA

MYANMAR

JEWELS OF ST PETERSBURG

CLASSIC RAJASTHAN

This tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the highlights of St Petersburg and gain a personal insight into the countries fascinating history through the Galitzine family experiences.

Travel from Delhi to Mumbai, encountering all aspects of India’s diverse culture from devotional music, palaces, forts and the local cuisine.

ON THE TRAIL OF THE ANCESTORS

Accompanied by Katya Galitzine.

25th - 30th September 2018 From £2,495 pp*

Accompanied by Arun Pratap Singh.

7th - 18th October 2018 From £5,325 pp*

Follow in the footsteps of Orwell and Kipling, by river, rail, road and on foot.

This tour is designed to reflect and grasp opportunities and go beyond the obvious highlights of this charming country.

Accompanied by Zara Fleming.

24th November - 9th December 2018 From £4,395 pp*

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Intrepid & Adventurous

Pioneering Tours Do you have a spirit of adventure? Are you looking for something different?

Then join one of the Steppes team on one of our pioneering tours.

Experience traditional life with indigenous tribes and explore places few have travelled to accompanied by local guides.

GABON: WILDLIFE & CULTURE OF AFRICA’S EDEN

ANGOLA: DESERT TRIBES & HIDDEN LANDSCAPES

Discover the vast Ivindo National Park, home to Langoue Bai. Explore Loango National Park and encounter forest elephants and trek for lowland gorillas. Experience an iboga-fuelled Bwiti ceremony, deep within Gabon’s interior.

Explore Angola’s remote southern deserts. Meet local tribes, whose customs and lives remain largely unaffected by western influences. Travel in the company of anthropologist Joan Riera.

13th - 25th January 2018 13 days from £4,995 pp excluding flights

13th - 22nd July 2018 10 days from £4,995 pp excluding flights

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PI O NE N W TO EE UR RIN S G

ERITREA: INSIDE AFRICA’S FORGOTTEN KINGDOM

CAMEROON: NGUON FESTIVAL AND LOWLAND GORILLAS

Explore remarkable Asmara, rebuilt as Africa’s “Little Rome”

by Mussolini. Cruise through the Dahlak Archipelago, with its coral reefs , desert islands and marine life. Admire Ottaman buildings, as well as Aksumite ruins, such as Qohaito.

Visit the royal Nguon Festival, which only happens every two years. Trek for newly habituated western lowland gorillas in Campo Ma’an National Park. Explore Cameroon’s highlands, forests and coastline.

18th - 29th October 2018 12 days from £2,995 pp excluding flights

5th - 16th December 2018 12 days from £3,395 pp excluding flights

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The Steppes Difference BEYOND THE ORDINARY

Hand picked Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence.

Often they can facilitate private access to sites not typically open to the public.

Benefit from our small group sizes Our average group size is typically 8-10 people, allowing you to have a more personalised and relaxed experience, a factor which many of our clients appreciate.

Refer friends and get rewarded The biggest compliment you can pay us is to recommend us.

Refer a new client to the same group tour and we will give both you and them a ÂŁ100 discount when they book.

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START YOUR JOURNEY 03331 309 427 // wildlife@steppestravel.com

Bespoke holidays BEYOND THE ORDINARY

Tailor–made travel No two people are the same, each is unique.

Your holiday should be as indiviidual as you.

As well as our wildlife and expert-led cultural tours we create exceptional tailor-made journeys. By listening to your likes and dislikes we help plan a personalised itinerary tailored around you, finessing every detail before, during and after your holiday. Your holiday. Your experience. Your way.

Our objective will always be to show you the highlights of a country, but to also take you off the beaten track to see the lesser known, but equally interesting places not frequented by large numbers of tourists.

Get in touch to see where we can take you.

We hope that you can join those who return to us year after year.

START YOUR JOURNEY 03331 309 427 // wildlife@steppestravel.com

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START YOUR JOURNEY 03331 309 427 // wildlife@steppestravel.com