Savannah Guides are amazing people with a wealth of knowledge and a desire to protect and interpret the outback and whilst we thrive in our natural habitat of tour guiding, we probably lack a little in the musical talent department.
Still, that didn't stop us from giving it 100% at our farewell dinner for our most recent Savannah Guides Field School.
After a massive week of workshops, exploring, learning and teaching, we let our hair down with a little karaoke.
I'm surprised we had so much energy still left in us🤣
Well done to all who took to the stage!
Wil🤠
#savannahguides #protectorsandinterpreters #saturdaynight #letyourhairdown #karaoke #lookatwhatyoustartedhamish #somuchenergy #100percent #singlikenooneislistening
Gonna need a bigger boat!!!
The wet's not over yet! We had 60mm in 2hrs this afternoon and it's still raining! Our underground water table (Mt Surprise, Nth Qld) is already full, causing localised flooding over the past couple of months. I hope it doesn't happen again.
Cheryl 🤠
The 'Build Up' has broken here in Queensland's Gulf Savannah Country with a brilliant down pour this afternoon in Mt Surprise.
Savannah Guide, Hamish, drew the short straw and had to fuel up The Savannahlander but the rain certainly didn't dampen his optimism!
And that optimism is a key attribute in being a Savannah Guide! Good on ya Hamish!
Wil🤠
Have you ever seen a Gecko blink it's eyes?
Of course you haven't. Geckos don't have eyelids but rather a clear, protective scale covering the eye that they keep clean by licking it with their long, fleshy tongue.
I guess this little Prickly Knob-Tailed Gecko (Nephrurus asper) wanted to see me more clearly.
Wil🤠
Snake Season
Whether you call them snakes, joe blakes or nope ropes, they're out and about! Within a 10m radius in Mt Surprise, I've seen two snakes and a yellow spotted monitor in as many days! I only saw the tail end of one snake as he bolted under my donga (😱), but I busted this common tree snake (Dendrelaphis punctulata), eating one of my resident frogs!
The frog's noise you hear at the end of the video made me curious about this snake, and I discovered they do not have fangs and produces little to no venom. Therefore, it's possible the frog is still alive inside the snake! I'm hoping our guru snake man, Wil Kemp can confirm/correct this?
Their colours vary between regions - blue, blackish, dark green, and brownish. However, the ones found here in Mt Surprise have their own unique appearance, with a very light green top body and bright yellow belly.
Cheryl 🤠
We hope all Dad's had a fantastic Father's Day filled with lots of love, laughter and food. Although, I couldn't spend it with my Dad, this Dad brightened my day 😊
Cheryl 🤠
#fathersday #dadsday
Happy International Friendship Day!
On this day, spend some quality time with your friends or catch up with them via texts or a call. Buddy-watch a movie or TV show, buddy-read a book together, or try a new activity that reminds you of your friends - or even swap favourite activities for the day and see who enjoys each other's favourite activity the most. Try each other's favourite food or drink either by having a barbie or potluck, eating out together, or sharing the recipes and having a go at making them yourself.
Since Savannah Guides operate all over Australia, we don't always get to see our mates in person. So when we get together for a Field School, we make sure to thoroughly enjoy our Saturday Night Jam Session and Comradery!
📸 @trish_sloan_photography
#internationalfriendshipday #internationaldriendshipday2023 #comradery #mateship #friendship #savannahguidesfieldschool
What's one of the highlights of a Savannah Guide Field School? (Other than all of it!)
It's the last night Jam Session! Everyone who participated in the school gets to let loose and sing along, enjoying the comradery of friends old and new 🥰.
Do you know which traditional Australian bush ballard this was, played at the 2022 Winton School?
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🐑
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🥳
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#savannahguides #savannahguidesfieldschool #tourguidelife #clickgotheshears
Did you know that one of Savannah Guides accredited enterprises Red Cat Adventures sister product Wildcat Mackay is representing QLD for New Tourism Business at the 2022 Australian Tourism Awards this Friday
(17/03/23)
🙌🏽
Wildcat Mackay is an Australian owned and family operated tourism business. Owners Asher and Julie Telford met in Airlie Beach in 2004, and both worked on charter boats as a Skipper and Deckhand. They now own and operate five vessels and employ 35 incredible humans in the Whitsundays and Mackay.
During this time, their family has also grown to five and Kai (10), Brody (8) and Tyde (4) are destined to be future tourism ambassadors.
The purpose and pleasure for Asher and Julie is to ensure their tours offer the best experience possible to every customer visiting the Whitsunday and Mackay region. They are both actively involved in the business and over the past 11 years, the business has had many successes and it’s fair share of challenges.
This dynamic couple both agree that the most rewarding part of the business is seeing their staff grow through training and leadership.
So what lies ahead for Wildcat Mackay?
Julie and Asher believe that their heartfelt gratitude towards their team, love of their destination and appreciation of their resilient industry are drivers to deliver truly transformational experiences into the future....
GOOD LUCK WILDCAT 🏆
Ecotourism Australia
Visit Mackay Isaac, Queensland, Australia
Queensland Tourism Industry Council
Visit Queensland, Australia
Master Reef Guides
#qata22 #qta22 #QTIC #lovemackay #thisisqueensland #redordead #seeaustralia #queenslandiscalling #mackay #familybuisness #lovewhatyoudo #greatbarrierreef #ecotourism #savannahguides
Surprise Creek Falls flowing into the Barron River, Far North Queensland. In the very near future I'll be taking a group of Savannah Guides through this rainforest country and giving them a very different perspective of this water fall.
Wil🤠
#savannahguides #savannahguidesfieldschool
#djabugaycountry #waterfall #surprisecreek #wettropics #tourismtropicalnorthqueensland
#ttnq
Hey G'day, Wil here wishing you a wonderful World Wetland Day which has been celebrated on this day since 1971.
Now usually this would be where a Savannah Guide would tell you the importance of wetlands but I am not going to do that.
Instead, I am going to hand you over to my amazing other half, Mel.
For the last few years, Mel has been studying her bum off as a mature age student at James Cook University. Last year, for an assignment, Mel had to make a short film illustrating the importance of a particular type of wetland, in this case saltmarshes.
Whilst the aim of the assignment was to explain the importance of saltmarsh ecosystems to the public, the video was never actually meant to be seen by the public but I reckon Mel did a brilliant job. Hopefully you may learn a thing or two.
Wil🤠
PS. It was her very first time making a video so please excuse the odd typo and a couple of editing hiccups.
PPS. If you don't hear from me by this time tomorrow, It's because Mel has found out that I posted her video publicly and she has reprimanded me harshly. 😵🤣
Earlier in the week we saw 'Basil' the Antilopine Wallaroo (Osphranter antilopinus) which are a species of Macropod designed for bounding across the open, grassy plains of North Australia's savannah country. (If you missed it, just scroll down a couple of posts. You'll see him.)
But when it comes to scaling near vertical rock walls, Antilopines don't rate very well at all. Their cousin, the Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus), is a lot more designed for acrobatics as they leap and jump across rocky outcrops and hilly country.
This little Common Wallaroo is 'Einy'. You'll notice that Einy has more of a shaggy/scruffy coat when compared to Basil. She is also a lot darker in colouration and as she grows, will have a more stocky and robust build when compared to an Antilopine (hence the scientific name "robustus")
'Einy' was another rescue of mine but she has grown up and these days live outside of Mareeba.
Anyway, that's it from me this week. Next week you'll have the the very knowledgeable and talented, Grace!So enjoy a few seconds of Einy snacking on some grass at Mt Surprise and I'll catch you all in a few weeks.
Wil🤠
#ewamiancountry #savannahguides #protectorsandinterpreters #wallaroo #macropod #skippy #protectorsandinterpretersoftheoutback #FloraAndFauna #australianwildlife #wildliferescue #wildlifewarrior
Being a Savannah Guide means that you are now a "Protector and Interpreter of the Outback" so it is our duty to help the savannah country along with the plants and wildlife that are a part of it when they need us.
Antilopine Wallaroos (Osphranter robustus) are a Macropod (type of roo) that most Aussies have probably never heard of. They live through Northern Australia's savannah country and are one of our most attractive species.
This little boy was found on the Savannah Way just outside of Mt Surprise on Ewamian Country standing next to his lifeless mother who had been hit by a car hours before hand. A Mt Surprise local, Ashley, spotted him, managed to capture him and then brought him into town to see if a local Savannah Guide (me) could help.
I always keep an emergency wildlife first aid kit with me so this little fella was in good hands for the time being. After a few text messages and a 400km train ride, I finally got him to his carer, Erin, who will raise him until he is ready for soft release.
This morning Erin sent me this video of her playing with "Basil" the Antilopine Wallaroo. He was so scared, weak and destined for death not even 2 weeks ago. Now he is confident, strong and back on track learning the skills he will need to fight other males once he is an adult and back in the savannah country.
This really warmed my heart and makes me feel that I have done my duty as a Protector and Interpreter of the Outback. As a Savannah Guide, I will continue to do my duty and I will stand proud doing it.
Wil🤠
It's National Bird Week at the moment and as I was bringing the Savannahlander up from Cairns this morning, I was absolutely gobsmacked to see what may just be the coolest bird in Australia run across the track in front of me.
Whilst I have seen Cassowaries many times in the wet tropics, this was only the second time I have ever seen one while driving the train.
I'll be having a celebratory beer or two tonight!
Wil🤠
P.S. I know it's not the best footage, but I am still very excited!
#djabugaycountry #gunduy #cassowary #endangeredspecies #savannahlander #savannahguides #ttnq #wettropics #wettropicalrainforest #casuariuscasuarius
As a Savannah Guide it's important to be flexible while conducting a tour or else you could look udderly ridiculous.
Yesterday I was very rudely interrupted but instead of having a cow, I just went with it. So here's 2 minutes and 55 seconds of some of the bull that I have to put up with.
Enjoy this quick moovie and I hope you're all having a fantastic Sunday afternoon!
Savannah Guide Wil🤠
In an underwater garden, going with the flow 🐠
Did you know some of our Savannah Guides not only explore and interpret the Outback of Australia, but also dive deep into the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef 🥽
Exploring the best of both worlds, land and sea 😎
📸 Jessanie Johnsen
#savannahguides #masterreefguides #travelqld #greatbarrierreef #GBR #MRG #whitsundays #underthesea #oceanvibes #planetearth #gbrmarinepark #explore #thisisaustralia #thisisqueensland #oceannation #coralreef #coralgardeners #underwatergarden
HAPPY WORLD CROC DAY 🐊🐊🐊🐊
In celebration of these prehistoric giants we’re sharing one of Croc Guide and fellow Savannah Guide Mark Norman amazing encounters he has while on Whitsunday Crocodile Safari
Who said to never smile at a crocodile 🤠
“Lenny all stretched out in the Winter sun. This Crocodile is about four metres long, and over forty years old. He has been that size for a long time. We have been working with him for twenty years, and he was close to this size then. There are many crocs on the Proserpine River that we have worked with during the whole 22 years of operation” - Mark Norman
#crocodile #croccountry #crocguide #nature #wildlife #crocodylusporosus
#savannahguides #professionaldevelopment #protectorsandinterpreters #worldcrocodileday #tourguides #professionaltourguides #salties #ourplanetdaily #saltwatercrocodile #crocsfordays
