Bellingham Safaris

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Bellingham Safaris

Taking you on the world's finest safaris in support of conservation and restoration. Thank you for visiting our page. Simon and Jen Bellingham

Having started off as marine and safari guides before progressing into travel design and tour operations, we have over 30 years combined experience in the luxury wildlife safari business. Between us we have travelled to all 7 continents in search of ultimate wildlife experiences in the most remote and pristine areas on our planet. We pride ourselves in exceeding expectations and providing our gues

ts with life-changing wildlife experiences and exceptional service. We look forward to hosting you on the wildlife journey of your dreams.

25/12/2024

Whether you're cozying up at home, or out on an adventure, we wish you WILDLY HAPPY HOLIDAYS. 🐾🎁🎄🦁🌿🐘

Thank you for being part of our safari family - cheers to cherished memories, and a year full of magic! 🥂

Wishing you a truly joyful season!

With love from Jen, Simon and the Bellingham Safaris team xx

📷 Jaguar by Simon Bellingham

24/12/2024

As they say in Brazil “Todo Carnaval Tem seu Fim (all carnivals must come to an end)”. We spent our final days in Brazil on the “black waters” of the Rio Negro which feeds directly into the Amazon River, the vein of the earth itself. Here we swam daily in the silky warm waters of the Anavilhanas archipelago, kayaked with pink and grey river dolphins, hiked the botanically rich rain-forest, spotted sloths, boas, caiman and other wildlife while boating along the river banks, and generally just enjoyed the warm Brazilian hospitality along with ice-cold Caipirinhas. Huge thanks to Ruy and the team for hosting us at your architectural masterpiece of a lodge (slide 4,5,6) as well as the lovely (slide 7,8,9) - both offering absolutely excellent accommodation on the river. Tchau, Brazil, until next time 💚💛💙

🌎 Brazil
📍Anavilhanas Archipelago

16/12/2024

Guianan Cock-of the rock and Harpy Eagle! We had a sensational time with these exquisite birds in the forests around Presidente Figueiredo (about 100km north of Manaus). Not only did we enjoy several male Cock-of-the-rock in spectacular orange plumage, but we also witnessed fascinating interactions with the (drabber brown) females. The males were each very protective of their display “patch” and became quite noisy and querulous with any competition. The next morning was spent staking out a Harpy Eagle nest! Huge thanks to our friend - photographer, economist, environmentalist and director of WCS Brazil - for this great suggestion and accompanying us with his old (and our new) friend Mario Cohn-Haft. Mario, the legendary Manaus ornithologist, kept us captivated by his deep knowledge of the birds in this enchanting biome while Marcos shared insights into exciting plans for protecting the Amazon Rainforest and its indigenous communities. We were gracefully hosted by the lovely Vanessa Marino at her nearby, delightfully authentic Amazon Emotions homestead set in 300 hectares of lush primary rainforest 🧡🧡🧡

🌎 Brazil
📍 Presidente Figueiredo
📷 Cock-of-the-Rock and Harpy Eagle pics by

12/12/2024

A clarion call to action!!! While the Amazon and Pantanal have long been “must-see” destinations for wildlife lovers visiting Brazil, the lesser known Cerrado needs our attention and support!!! Simply by visiting this incredibly beautiful and biodiverse savannah, you will help in its protection (severely threatened by vast soya monocultures). During our stay we experienced a host of faunal celebrities including maned wolf, tapir, jaguar, three-banded armadillo (tatu-bola) and the rarely seen grisson!!! is a gorgeous little lodge with outstanding guides, food and services. Be sure to book some time with the “wolf ladies” whose knowledge and passion of this highly sought after, endangered canid is world-class (Isabela and her team featured on BBC Planet Earth III)*. And for bird lovers a shout-out must go to both Vini and Alan!!!

* Sadly since BBC filming ended, the maned wolf mother and two puppies fell into irrigation ditches used for the crops of neighbouring farmland. Unable to escape, the wolves drowned.

🌎 Brazil
📍Cerrado
📷 Jen and Simon Bellingham

10/12/2024

Tucked away in the lush, riverine forest along the sandy, wildlife-trodden banks of the Timbavati River, the newly transformed &Beyond Ngala Tented Camp welcomes guests back to the same cherished safari escape—now reimagined, with a captivating and enchanting feel that stirs the senses.
After months of refining this Kruger National Park haven, it comes as no surprise that it's been voted as South Africa's Leading Tented Safari Camp in this year's World Travel Awards!

🌍 South Africa
📍 Ngala Tented Camp

08/12/2024

We are inside the green lungs of the Earth at and the beauty is simply overwhelming. Cristalino is located between the Teles Pires, Madeira and Xingu Rivers, making it a mega hotspot for biodiversity! This richness is under threat and that’s why we are here - stringent conservation measures are vital - and one of the best ways to ensure this is through giving value to the ecosystem. Come visit Cristalino and play your part in conserving the Amazon Rainforest 💚💚💚 - plus the warm hospitality, delicious Brazilian cuisine, excellent guiding (with guide Raphael Ferraz .ferraz_bio and boatman Sebastian) and top notch lodging is the cherry (or should we say Brazilian nut?) on top!!! We’ve been hiking the trails, swimming and boating in the river and had sunrises and sunsets up the canopy towers during our 4 night stay. Beleza Pura 🇧🇷

🌎 Brazil
📍Southern Amazon
📷 Simon Bellingham

02/12/2024

Loved seeing all the changes at “Casa Caiman”, the owner (conservationist Roberto Klabin’s) old residence which has been converted into a spectacular lodge. It’s fresh and lovely with a wonderful sense of place complemented by excellent Brazilian art from Roberto’s private collection. This is where we first stayed back in the day when Simon and Mario were trying desperately to make the dream of easily viewable jaguars a possibility - when jaguars were known as “ghosts of the forest” and you were exceptionally lucky to catch a glimpse! The project has been an incredible success and indeed for those guests staying 3 nights you’re virtually guaranteed a sighting (2023 had a 100% success rate!). On this stay we’ve had several exhilarating sightings which we would rate as 10/10 - these cats were completely unperturbed by our presence! Casa Caiman is in Brazil’s Southern Pantanal and while all guests will have excellent guides and activities we highly recommend a more immersive conservation based experience by booking time with the team!

🌎 Brazil
📍Pantanal
📷 Jen and Simon Bellingham

02/12/2024

Since Oncafari started working at Caiman Ecological Refuge, it has become one of the best places to see big cats (cats in the genus panthera - tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard and snow leopard) and unquestionably THE BEST PLACE on earth to see jaguar! 🌎 Brazil
📍Pantanal
📷 Jen and Simon Bellingham with

01/12/2024

SUNDAY REVIEW:
"From the beginning, Bellingham Safaris took the time to listen to our desires and then responded with an exceptional itinerary. As experienced travelers, we found their attention to detail remarkable, starting with being expedited through immigration & customs in a fraction of the usual time. Step by step, each of the arrangements were timely and organized to deliver the best experiences possible. The selection of local guides, locations & lodges, all demonstrated Bellingham's deep roots within the travel community. Very apparent during this trip was the care of keeping the animals and environment intact for others to enjoy. We endorse Bellingham Safaris for exceptional service & sightings and look forward to our next tour." ~ Trustpilot review by Berkey and Chaney (United States)

📍 Sustainable Lodge Partners:
Anjajavy Le Lodge
Masoala Forest Lodge
Londolozi Tree Camp
🌍 Madagascar and South Africa
📷 Anjajavy

-Mantadia

29/11/2024

Debbie from our team has just returned from an exciting educational trip to Botswana, where she explored Beagle Expeditions' Mobile Safari Camp and Wild Expeditions' Karangoma Camp in the Okavango Delta. Her mission was to experience the camps and reserves firsthand, ensuring that we can continue to provide you, our valued guests, with expert and well-informed recommendations.

'Some highlights included an epic doors-off helicopter safari with Beagle Expeditions where we were treated to a pack of 28 wild dogs joining us for breakfast. At Karangoma, we enjoyed swimming in the Selinda Spillway and experienced the tranquility of a silent mokoro trip, gliding through the serene waterways of the Okavango Delta', emphasized Debbie.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Beagle Expeditions and Wild Expeditions for graciously hosting our team during this journey.

24/11/2024

SUNDAY REVIEW:
"Bellingham Safaris organized for me a truly unforgettable trip through Namibia by putting together an ad hoc itinerary that included three dramatically different sites with regard to landscape and wildlife, namely the Ongava tended camp near Etosha National Park, the Hoanib Skeleton coast camp and the Wilderness Little Kulala lodge near the Sossusvlei dunes. These three locations provided visual evidence of the amazing adaptation of wild animals and plants alike to an increasingly harsh terrain as I moved from the semi-arid savanna of Ongava, through the rocky desert of the Hoanib valley , ending at the unique Mars-like landscape of Sossusvlei. An incredible journey in which, thanks to expert and knowledgeable guides, I closely observed all sort of big and small creatures in their natural habitats, in addition to learning about the geological history of this ancient place. It could not have been a better choice of itinerary for me to discover the harsh unique beauty of an Africa that I didn't know existed. Furthermore, I was very much impressed by the high quality of the accommodations throughout the trip and the seamless logistics operating behind it. Last but not least for a solo traveler like me, the staff of Bellingham Safaris followed my journey on a daily basis through a group chat, providing additional commentary to my experience (particularly with regard to the conservation efforts associated with ecotourism) as well as traveling support when needed. Bottom line: a magic trip in a magic land." ~ Trustpilot review by Francesco (United States)

📍 Sustainable Lodge Partners:
Zannier Hotels Omaanda
Ongava Tented Camp
Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
Wilderness Little Kulala
🌍 Namibia
📷 Ongava Private Game Reserve

19/11/2024

Eastern Madagascar

The Madagascan highlands run from north to south dividing the country into a wet eastern side, a dry western side, and the slightly cooler highlands. The eastern side of Madagascar is moist with tropical forests brimming with life, especially the Masoala Peninsula which is home to the largest tract of protected forest in Madagascar!

📷 Simon Bellingham

17/11/2024

SUNDAY REVIEW:
"Bellingham customizes experience and pays attention to detail - Bellingham put together a customized experience that was well-planned, monitored, and extraordinary. The staff is always looking for ways to make individual travelers comfortable and engaged. The entire trip was a delight and a meaningful experience." ~ Trustpilot review by Cynthia Bathurst (United States)

📍 Sustainable Lodge Partners:
Anjajavy Le Lodge
Masoala Forest Lodge
Londolozi Tree Camp
🌍 Madagascar and South Africa
📷 Simon Bellingham

-Mantadia

15/11/2024

It was an absolute treat for Jen and Simon to experience a meal at while at – this is a sensory journey that cannot be experienced anywhere else. Like the deep-rooted boscia tree that stands at the entrance to the restaurant’s 100-year-old Boscia House, everything about Klein JAN is rooted in the Kalahari. Unique, immersive, memorable and truly hyper-local, is a profound celebration of sustainable dining and haute cuisine that pays homage to the place and the people that call the Southern Kalahari home. When Tswalu Kalahari Reserve became a fellow member of , Executive Chef Marnus Scholly doubled down on his already impressive commitment to seeking out seasonal, ethically and sustainably sourced hyper-local ingredients. ⁠
⁠"At Tswalu, we have the luxury and responsibility of designing food around nature and what it yields – this is what inspires us. Each season brings something new and a novel way to tell a story. Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond just supporting local farmers and suppliers. Everything we do has an impact on the community. Being able to curate food that matters with my brilliant team is what inspires me daily," says Marnus.

13/11/2024

Madagascan Highlands

The Madagascan highlands run from north to south dividing the country into a wet eastern side, a dry western side and the slightly cooler highlands. Broadly speaking the highlands, eastern and western Madagascar each have their own unique wildlife although habitats and the wildlife contained therein are further divided by other geographical features and the impact of man. Wildlife that occurs in the highlands is the only wildlife that can be easily acessible by road from the capital, Antananarivo and while the roads in Madagascar don’t facilitate easy comfortable transfers, the wildlife can be sensational!

📷 Simon Bellingham

11/11/2024

LODGE NEWS:
A private island utopia lying just off the Zanzibar mainland. After months of careful, light touches, &Beyond Mnemba Island is open once more, and there’s truly no paradise quite like it. Picture pristine powder white beaches, warm aquamarine waters, and gorgeous ocean vistas of dhows sailing by.

Embrace Barefoot Luxury:
🏝 Enlarged seaside Bandas with private beach lounges.
🎼 New Wellness Banda with sunrise yoga, soothing massages, and tranquil sound baths.
🤿 Dive, snorkel, sail, or simply relax—Mnemba has it all.
🐬 First hand experience of conservation in partnership with the Oceans Without Borders team.

Our first guests to enjoy Mnemba's (new) magic will travel in January ✨

10/11/2024

SUNDAY REVIEW:
"Pantanal, Amazon and Cerrado - We had the most wonderful trip to Brazil. The arrangements were carefully organised by Bellingham Safaris and we encountered no issues whilst travelling. The 3 primary lodges we stayed at Casa Caiman, Cristalino Lodge and Pousada Trijuncao were both unique and beautiful. The rooms were spacious and spotlessly clean. The food was plentiful and delicious, and the staff were gracious, kind and professional. The main reason for travelling to Brazil was of course the wildlife which was despite the recent devastating fires diverse and interesting . We were fortunate to have many sightings that wouldn’t have been out of place in a wildlife documentary. For that we must praise our wonderful guides. We met so many guides and researchers who were kind enough to share their knowledge and expertise with us. A special mention must go to the teams at Oncafari both in the Pantanal and the Cerrado , and the researchers at the Hyacinth Macaw project. The dedication of these young people to wildlife and their habitats was inspirational and humbling. If you are thinking of a wildlife trip to Brazil we wholeheartedly recommend this itinerary and Bellingham Safaris. We look forward to planning our next trip with them in the near future." ~ Trustpilot review by Karen and Rab (Australia)

📍 Sustainable Lodge Partners:
Casa Caiman
Cristalino Lodge
Pousada Trijunção
🌍 Brazil
📷 Edu Fragoso .fragoso_ and Onçafari

08/11/2024

Western Madagascar

The Madagascan highlands run from north to south dividing the country into a wet eastern side, a dry western side and the slightly cooler highlands. The dry western side of Madagascar is, for the most part, typified by baobab-filled deciduous forests and some fantastic wildlife that is often easier to spot in the slightly more open forest environment.

📷 Simon Bellingham

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Monday	08:00 - 16:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 16:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 16:00
Thursday	08:00 - 16:00
Friday	08:00 - 16:00

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+27217834380

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http://www.bellinghamsafaris.com/contact-us

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Videos

Jaguar - watch till the end!!! @oncafari - an ambitious project to habituate Jaguars in the Brazilian Pantanal @caimanpantanal has undoubtedly resulted in one of the very best places to view big cats anywhere on earth, and the very best place for quality Jaguar sightings. When Simon started working with his friend, Mario Haberfeld, back in 2011, it was beyond his wildest dreams that he would one day share a sighting like this with his son, Marlin. To make it extra special, this incredible moment was shared with Simon’s wife Jen, and Mario and his family. 🌎 Brazil 📍Pantanal @caimanpantanal 📷 Jen Bellingham with @oncafari #jaguar #pantanal #caimamecologicalrefuge #dreamsdocometrue #brazil

10-Year Anniversary Celebration. A huge shout-out to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve for hosting our team in celebration of our 10-year anniversary. We were thoroughly spoilt, and Grootbos provided the perfect setting for our milestone event!!! We loved learning about their pristine fynbos on a botanical 4x4 tour (including sighting a caracal), walking barefoot through the ancient Milkwood forest, exploring coastal caves where our ancestors once lived, and glorious beaches. We indulged in absolutely scrumptious farm-to-table food, savoured excellent wine, and experienced warm and welcoming hospitality – in short it was “next level”. And we were completely captivated by Africa’s only contemporary florilegium - a breathtaking collection of botanical artworks showcasing some of our most treasured plants. To top it all off, Grootbos is the first lodge in South Africa to be certified as carbon-negative and is recognized as a Long Run certified Global Ecosphere Retreat. Thank you Michael, Sean, Jono and the entire Grootbos team. 🌍 South Africa 📍 Grootbos Private Nature Reserve @grootbos #grootbos #bellinghamsafaris #respectguideprotect #florilegium #initforthelongrun #10yearcelebration #fynbos #floralart #thisissouthafrica #gratitude

One of the joys of observing wildlife is how easy it is to be present, 100 percent immersed in the moment. 🌍 South Africa 📍 Londolozi 📸 Simon Bellingham #bellinghamsafaris #respectguideprotect #init4thelongrun #thisissouthafrica #leopard

GUEST GALLERY - Central African Republic

GUEST GALLERY from the Central African Republic. The CAR conjures up images of deepest, darkest Africa and indeed this destination is not for the first time African traveller but rather for the intrepid few. However the hard work of traveling here is well worth it as you will find yourself in a rainforest where few travellers have been before, with the opportunity to encounter Lowland Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Forest Elephant, Bongo, Sitatunga, Forest Hog and a host of endemic forest wildlife. A highlight for our recent guests was a night at the Dzanga Bai to view a variety of forest animals come in to feed on the rich mineral salts found in the soil (with WWF permission). This was particularly special as they had incredible sightings of Forest Elephant and Bongo, which is the largest forest African antelope but exceptionally difficult to see. 📸 Colin Mostert @cpomostert #GuestGallery #WildlifePhotography #DzangaSanghaReserve #CentralAfricanRepublic #Bongo #ForestElephant #MoustachedMonkey #DeBrazzasMonkey #BosmansPotto #EasternLongTailedHornbill #WhiteThroatedBeeEater #TreeFrog #Cymothoe #RespectGuideProtect #AfricanSafari #LuxurySafaris #BellinghamSafaris

Yesterday Bellingham Safaris turned 10, and nature served up a very special treat for Simon and his guests in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans!!! Vanessa, a talented animal spotter (earlier this week she spotted a Leopard), pointed out an Aardvark to Simon’s delight. Although the Aardvark is the first word in the English dictionary, this near-mythical creature is certainly not the first mammal you are likely to encounter on safari. And indeed this was Giles and Vanessa’s 4th trip to Africa. The Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is widely distributed but rarely seen. Aardvarks locate ants and termites, their primary food source, by listening for subterranean activity. Their acute sense of hearing alerts them to your approach, making them one of the most challenging mammals to spot. This special sighting was a fitting highlight for Bellingham Safaris’ 10th anniversary. 📍San Camp @naturalselectiontravel 📸 Simon Bellingham #bellinghamsafaris #aardvark #respectguideprotect #init4thelongrun #sancamp #botswana

One of the highlights of a visit to the Okavango Delta is a chance to encounter African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus), and our guests had a magnificent sighting of a large pack, the “Golden Pack”, at their den site regurgitating food for their pups from a recent kill. #AfricanWildDog #GoldenPack #SharingIsCaring #OkavangoDelta #Botswana #RespectGuideProtect #AfricanSafari #BellinghamSafaris

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