Episode 42: The South Shetland Islands

Is Mala Mala South Africa’s best wildlife viewing destination? This week we talk about our visit to this iconic lodge and property. The game viewing stats speak for themselves but will the reality of our time there match the incredible reputation of the area? Find out by listening.

In this week's episode we talk about leopards, leopards, leopards and why Londolozi is such a phenomenal destination to view these magnificent cats

We visited the Mababe Depression last year after the highly anticipated opening of Mokete Camp. The area completely blew us away and as a wildlife destination now ranks amongst our favourite in all of Botswana. Listen hereto find out why!

We head back out to the Dinaka lion pride that same afternoon, this time watching them come to the camp waterhole for a drink before the youngsters decide to play in the lodge and then confront the resident honey badger

We're in the Central Kalahari this week, at the fabulous Dinaka Camp, where we chat about a truly insane morning spent with a pride of lions.

After a bit of a summer hiatus we conclude the Antarctic part of this season with an episode about the crown jewels of the Southern Ocean, South Georgia, a marine wildlife mecca.

This week, we plunge into the frigid waters off the Antarctic Peninsula and recount some epic sightings, including watching humpback whales feed (from a nearby zodiac), a large pod of killer whales bow-riding the ship, and leopard seals hunting penguins.

Land ho! After crossing the Drake Passage, we finally reach the South Shetland Islands and all the amazing wildlife that calls it home. Jomi shares what it’s like going out on your first excursion (a zodiac cruise or landing) and some of the most memorable sightings he has had there. Think: playful seals, newborn gentoo penguin chicks, and some gnarly interactions between nesting penguins and predatory skuas.

How does one get to Antarctica? What’s it like to cross the Drake Passage? This week, we talk about what traveling down to Antarctica entails, from getting to Ushuaia, to heading out through the Beagle Channel, and into the famously turbulent Drake Passage. We also introduce some of the wildlife you might encounter at the start of an expedition to the southern-most continent. Wandering albatrosses, humpback whales, and…you guessed it…penguins!

In the second part of ‘Exploring Antarctica,’ we discuss Scott and Amundsen’s race to the South Pole and Shackleton’s Transantarctic Expedition saga…the famous story of the Endurance.