This is our whole Facebook garden safari trip in one blog with a few extras added that didn't make Facebook. :)
Day 1 - Africa
The tour began on the African Plains. Antelope, Zebra, Cheetah, Leopard, Rhinos and African Painted Dogs were all seen our on drive out.
That evening we were also treated to a night-time drive.The Lions were more active and Hippos were grazing away from the river under the cover of darkness. A lone Red River Hog was also spotted.
Bonus Trip (not seen on Facebook) ;) Before leaving the African mainland we trekked up to the Virunga Mountains in hope of seeing Mountain Gorillas.We were very fortunate ;)
Day 2 - Madagascar
Travelling East from Africa we headed for the island of Madagascar with all of it's wonderful endemic wildlife.
It was fantastic to watch the Lemurs but the highlight was being able to dive with Green Turtles.
We spent the evening on a walk through the Madagascan forest and found one of the most extraordinary creatures on the planet, the Aye-Aye.A nocturnal primate that finds it's food through echo-location by tapping the tree and listening for larvae under the bark before fishing them out with it's elongated middle finger.
Bonus Trip (not seen on Facebook) - On our journey across the Indian Ocean we had a quick stop over in Mauritius and was astonished to find a previously thought extinct bird, the Dodo ;)
Day 3 - Asia
An incredible journey from South Asia all the way North to the Himalayas produced some amazing and endangered wildlife.A increasingly rare sighting (due to the deforestation for Palm Oil plantations) of a male Orangutan on his nest.A Giant Panda and a Moon Bear, another mammal struggling due to Human poaching for horrendous bile farms.
In the snowy foothills of the Himalayas I searched for the elusive Snow Leopard.
Back South in India I looked for Bengal Tigers and found one stalking a Chital.
We set up a few trail cameras in the area to see if we could get any closer footage and caught a Mother and her cub on film.The Cub calling and then the Mother then scent marking our camera.
Day 4 - Australia
We didn't have a lot of time in Australia but still managed to see two of the most iconic species there.The Koala and a Kangaroo with her joey.
Despite the swarms of flies we were able to do some local bird watching and found this Rainbow Lorikeet.
Day 5 - The Americas
Starting in the South American Jungles we found a couple of Three-toed Sloths in the same tree.The upper one is obviously cold and needed the jumper ;) and then as we headed in to North America a Nine-banded Armadillo crossed our path.
A quick detour East to the Everglades saw us come face to face with one of the most destructive invasive Species, a Python.
Continuing our trip North we searched for awesome Grey Wolves and was lucky enough to spot one before getting interrupted by this Black Bear looking for toilet roll. ;)
Bonus Trip (not seen on Facebook) - While in the South American Jungle we spotted Squirrel Monkeys and in Central America a Vampire Bat was seen sneaking up on it's unsuspecting food source.
Day 6 - Canada
Moving North out of the USA and into Canada we were able to explore an area just North of the stunning Hudson Bay.Caribou were on their immense migration across the tundra and two Polar Bears were seen.
We also a saw Moose crossing 😏
Before leaving Canada I had an encounter with an Arctic Wolf and her cub.
Day 7 - UK
After our long around the world tour it was back to the UK where we have some amazing wildlife.We got the chance to find some before heading home.
Badgers, Puffin and a Chough.
Back home and a pond is a fantastic way to encourage wildlife into your garden and it works ;) Two Spoonbills, a Mallard and an Otter frequent our pond.
Bonus Trip (not seen on Facebook) Our Fox statue has found a new friend.
Behind the scenes ;)
Top of the range technology was used to bring the garden safari to life 😂
Thank you to everyone who had already followed this adventure on my Facebook timeline each day and to those who are seeing it for the first time and trying to imagine just how crazy we have gone in our first 2 weeks of self-isolation.
Just a few photos of proof that we do see living wildlife too in our garden :)
Kindest Regards
Stuart
#staysafe
