Faran Travel

03/09/2024

📷: Vintage Camp on the banks of the Khwai River in the Okavango Delta and where this family finished their trip, to truly disconnect before coming back to the real world.

29/08/2024

We’re seeing more and more desire for adventurous, diverse, and meaningful safari experiences, such as , which we've just included as part of a 2025 honeymoon.

The canvas built camp in the stunning Lolldaiga Hills used no cement in its construction, hired 90% of their staff locally, is completely solar powered and has pledged to reinvest their profits into a variety of conservation and community projects throughout Lolldaiga.

As well as being good for the conscience, the area is blessed with high concentrations of wildlife, a variety of landscapes and a host of activities to choose from, including game drives, night drives, fly-camping, hikes, community visits, walking safaris, cave visits and even horse-riding. Not to mention the camp's iconic collection of repurposed antique Land Rovers.

21/08/2024

The southern carmine bee-eaters are starting to return!

☀️ They are summer migrants to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana visiting from around August to December.

🦅 They are experts in ‘hawking’ - a hunting technique that involves launching from a perch and catching insects in mid-air. They’ve been known to use antelopes or large birds, like bustards, as roving perches and even circle above bush-fires to catch fleeing insects.

🪺 Catch them nesting in the sandy riverbanks of Zambia's Luangwa Valley, ideally from one of the lodges that erects a dedicated hide each year. Allowing for incredible photographic opportunities. 

Drop me a DM if you fancy a trip to Zambia.

11/08/2024

What other wildlife might you encounter on a trip to Komodo National Park and this corner of Indonesia?

🌊 Seeing the largest living lizard is at the top of most people's wishlist, but there are also some beasts beneath the waves. Whether diving or snorkelling, you can encounter manta rays, sharks (including whale sharks), and a wealth of tropical fish.

🤿 Nov-Mar is best for mature manta rays who love the fast currents to filter feed or to 'hover' above cleaning stations.

🦈 While whale sharks are present throughout the year in the famous Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua, they can also be seen around Komodo, particularly when the diving conditions are best from May to August.

🦇 On land, keep a look out for giant fruit bats or 'flying foxes' as they are known, because of their canine appearance as well as the diminutive Wallace's scops owl or endemic Flores scops owl 🦉.

📷 credit: and

06/08/2024

A switch from Africa but wild nonetheless.

🔦 This week, we are shedding some light on the epic beasties that are Komodo dragons and how to see them.

🛥 You have to pinch yourself to believe you are seeing these almost mythical lizards in the wild, roaming Indonesian beaches. Specialist small-ship expedition cruises and liveaboard boats, complete with an expert guiding team, offer the best way to explore the region and really get off the beaten track.

🐲 Did you know Komodo dragons have a thin iron coating to their teeth, helping to maintain the serrated edges vital for their puncture-pull feeding method?

📷 credit:

31/07/2024

is a chance to honour the brave guardians of the world’s increasingly endangered wildlife and wild spaces.

Rangers often work in the gap between conservation and tourism. It is physically demanding work that requires extended time away from their families while placing themselves in harms’ way everyday to protect wildlife.

Africa has lost two-thirds of its wildlife since 1970, but a safari is the reason most people want to visit the continent. The crucial work of rangers enables travellers to still see incredible wildlife and also fosters greater engagement and cohesion between tourism and local communities.

Lion Rangers in Namibia diligently monitor free-ranging desert lions in some of Namibia’s harshest environments to establish their movements and, if necessary, warn farmers and communities. Human-wildlife conflict remains one of the biggest dangers to this fragile population of uniquely adapted lions.

We work with partners who help to fund these rangers. By staying at their properties, your stay in Namibia directly supports the preservation of desert lions.

📷 credit: and

26/07/2024

White rhinos disappeared from southern Hwange in the early 2000s and it wasn't until Community Rhino Conservation Initiative successfully relocated two individuals in 2022, that they returned.

In a world first, Thuza and Kusasa were reintroduced onto communal land to the benefit of local people through increased employment opportunities, education, direct revenue and reduced human-wildlife conflict. They are protected by the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts, all of whom are recruited from local villages.

It's been such a success that a second sanctuary is expecting rhinos later this year and a third sanctuary in the planning thereafter. More Cobras have been trained, a new scouts base equipped, more boreholes drilled and more communities engaged as custodians of wildlife and their land resources.

It is one of the most exciting conservation projects in Africa and ultimately a protected area will consolidate the sanctuaries to create a large buffer zone between Hwange National Park and communal lands. This will not only reduce human-wildlife conflict but also accommadate a viable population of black and white rhinos and other wildlife.

1. Rhinos joining for breakfast at Camelthorn Lodge

2. Cobras training with their Belgian Malinois anti-poaching dogs

3. A room at Bomami Tented Camp, one of the places you can stay to visit and learn about the rhinos

4. The main area at Bomani

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24/07/2024

The safari season is in full swing in Zambia. Camps like 's Tafika Camp in the Nsefu Sector of the South Luangwa open from May to mid-November, and aside from the concrete bases, it is built from scratch each season!

Accommodating a maximum of just 14 people, the open fronted reed and thatch chalets on the banks of the Luangwa River might not be for everyone. But if you are looking for a personal experience, in an exclusive, wild area (a favourite of the BBC natural history unit) that's run by a family with a serious safari pedigree, then get in touch.

Check out our 10-night Wild Zambia Safari Holiday (link in bio) for a trip, including Tafika, along with some of our other favourite remote camps in Zambia.

08/07/2024

Spitzkoppen Lodge in Namibia isn't on everyone's radar, but as a base to discover unique rock formations and ancient cave paintings... or simply just to soak up these views, maybe it should be.

24/06/2024

LOVE getting film developed after a trip. You never quite know what is going to come back, but that is half the fun, and the joy of flicking through physical photos is such a rarity these days.

We think creating these memories is so important we include a reusable film camera, a film and even cover the developing costs for every booking.

Feeling the crisp mountain breeze in the outer Himalayas and the bustling streets of Jaipur from these India snaps, taken earlier in the year.

10/06/2024

Revel in the inspirational resurgence of Malawi's Majete Wildlife Reserve from Mkulumadzi Lodge.

Almost devoid of wildlife and any visitors before involvement in 2003, it now boasts the coveted 'Big 5' and even the 'Magnificent 7' as cheetah and wild dogs have been reintroduced in the last few years.

As the price of park fees and quality safari experiences edge up across Africa, Malawi still offers great value and always lives up to its reputation as the 'Warm heart of Africa'.

📷 credit: and

31/05/2024

A weekend spent outdoors breathing in the mountain air at Oasyhotel in the breathtaking Tuscan Apennines. Just an hour from Florence and Pisa the 1000ha former hunting reserve is now working in collaboration with the WWF to rewild the area, paving the way for deer, wild boar, porcupines, wild sheep, birds of prey and wolves. Beyond the wildlife, there are miles of hiking and biking trails to explore and sessions in cheese-making, kayaking, star-gazing, foraging, bushcraft and yoga to name just a few.

25/05/2024

Sundowners to celebrate Africa Day 2024.

Taken at Desert Rhino Camp in Damaraland, Namibia, a few years back.

22/04/2024

Happy Earth Day! The official theme for 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics". Choose a safari destination where it isn't just about reducing plastics - the P word isn't even in their lexicon... such as these fantastic camps in Zambia. Plus one of the best toilet views out there! Check out www.farantravel.com/zambia for more...

1. Time + Tide Africa Kakuli Camp
2. Classic Zambia Kutali Camp
3. Remote Africa Safaris Tafika Camp
4. Remote Africa Safaris Chikoko Tree Camp
5. Classic Zambia Musekese Camp
6. Chiawa Safaris Old Mondoro Camp

15/04/2024

The Okavango Delta by air, whether by light aircraft or helicopter, is the best way to appreciate the variety it has to offer.

So often thought of as just the 'Okavango Delta', it is a landscape in a constant state of flux, with the ebb and flow of the annual flood. The difference in the areas around each camp and how they change through the seasons can be significant, as well as impacting the wildlife viewing and activity options. Talk to an expert to make sure your expectations and interests are matched correctly.

Plus stepping out of a doors-off helicopter is pretty James Bond.

05/04/2024

Enjoying the latest Sunday evening nature series from the BBC - 'Mammals'?

Have a look at our pick of where to see some of the stars of the show and get in touch if it has you feeling inspired to start planning your next trip.

Faran Travel's pick of where to see some of the stars of the BBC's Mammals documentary.

22/03/2024

Our newest blog post details our favourite live wildlife webcams from around the world. Keep a look out for big tusker elephants, toucans, eagles and perhaps the occasional lion or cheetah...

Is it just me who likes to have the noise of twittering birds, drinking elephants or rootling warthogs on in the background?