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May 2013Posted by Samantha Kirton / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts /
Ever in search of new and exciting adventures to add on to gorilla trekking trips in Uganda, Mark shares some insights from Cameron Mcleay, Nile explorer and African Queen aficionado.
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May 2013Posted by adminweb / in Featured Posts /
Conquer the highest peak in North Africa in 2 days.
The Mt Toubkal trek is an extended mountain walk that lasts for 2 days. This trek, whilst strenuous at times, is suitable for anyone in good health and with a reasonable level of fitness.
Book Bus and CHICKS are organising a trekking challenge to Mount Toubkal in Morocco. On the 27th Sept a team of 10 trekkers will set out from London to fly to Marrakech. We will spend Saturday and Sunday climbing Toubkal (4,165 m above sea level) and a final day in Marrakech at a traditional hammam (Moroccan steam bath) to recover!
The trek (including flights) cost £746 and we ask each trekker to raise an additional £750 as a donation to the Book Bus. It runs from Friday afternoon to Monday, so you only need to take 2 days off!
The objective of this mountain challenge is to raise funds for your chosen charity. In addition to the cost of the trek we ask you to pledge a minimum of £750 which will be donated directly to the charity. Fundraising advice and suggestions are available from Book Bus or Chicks. For the Book Bus the raised funds are needed for the capital cost of a new Book Bus and to support our “Teaching the teachers” programme.
For more information on our partner charities
Included in the price is a Build-up Weekend in Devon where you can meet your leaders, fellow trekkers and the organisers. No previous trekking experience is required, but you do need to be prepared to get fit for the mountains.
For More information: Download the Toubkal Challenge Dossier (PDF 584kb).
Reservation: Download the Toubkal Challenge Booking Form (PDF 3.3mb).
Any questions please call us on 01822 616 191 or contact us via e-mail.
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May 2013Posted by Samantha Kirton / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts /
Gorilla trekking tips. From mountain gorilla safaris in Rwanda to close encounters with chimps in Uganda. Here Mark shares his top gorilla trekking tips.
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Feb 2013Posted by adminweb / in Blog, Featured Posts, South America /
Please join us to get Galapagos on the right path.
Conservation methods evolve just like the wildlife. In order to succeed, projects need to link everything from species management to habitat restoration and tackling the human issues.
*Ecosystem restoration
*Tackling invasive species
*Species specific projects
*Supporting cutting edge research
*Promoting Galapagos as a model for the world
As an island archipelago located where several currents meet, Galapagos is at particular risk from the impacts of climate change. Endemic species such as the Galapagos penguin could become extinct. Yet 50 years of research in the Islands could also provide vital insights into the nature of these changes and ways to manage and reduce their impact not just in Galapagos but for the world.
*Monitoring indicator species
*Marine management
*Waste and resource management issues
*Building a first class data bank & knowledge resource
*Minimising GCT’s own environmental impact
People are an established species within Galapagos and hold the key to its future. We need to ensure that the systems are in place to guarantee a sustainable future for the Islands and to find ways for people and nature to live and work in harmony.
*Regulating development
*Engaging the Local Community
*Sustainable employment
*Responsible tourism
*Education in the UK about Galapagos
Help save the Galapagos and join our conservation project on the Galapagos island of San Cristobal.
If you are unable to reach these enchanted islands then please make a donation to the Galapagos Conservation Trust www.savegalapagos.org
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Mar 2012Posted by adminweb / in Featured Posts, The Book Bus /
Holiday time at school and the first week saw us at the rural village of Sinde, where we visit Twabuka School every Wednesday in term time. We told the children the last week of term that we would be coming but when we rolled into the village, where we wanted to park up, some of the volunteers looked concerned as we could only see a handful of children. However, true to form, within 5 minutes of arriving there were more than 50 and with 30 minutes we were almost up to 90! The turnout was around 100 each day with about 30 grade 5 to 7 and 70 grade 4 and below!
We had a very special week, getting to know the children and some of the parents. Driving through the villages on the way there we are always greeted with smiles and waves from everyone. We are always also followed by a band of children that grows steadily with each homestead we pass. The favourite chant is “one book, one book!” The shouts got more adventurous as the week went on “one book of colouring” “one book of lions”, “one atlas book!” and at the end of the week we gave all the children their own book to take home. They were thrilled. I met the head teacher of the neighbouring village school so hopefully we can begin to work with his pupils, in the near future, so they don’t just have to watch the bus pass through their village but can partake and benefit from the resources we have.
There were also some visitors to the village from another well known international charity and they were really impressed with what we were doing and how engaged the children were. They said it was so unusual to see the children being educated in a fun and proactive way, especially out in the villages. I’ve not met a Zambian child yet who prefers the holidays to term time. They have nothing to do in the 4 weeks so providing them with a week of fun educational activities is certainly a highlight of their break.
The volunteers went on a tour of the village, guided by one of the parents and really got to see where the children are living and to understand some of the challenges facing rural societies. Every day we did something fun and exciting and educational but everybody’s favourite day was when we made kites and windmills! It was fantastic to see the comprehension and joy on the children’s faces when they saw the square of paper turn into a working windmill or “fan” as they called them. From the smallest toddler to the 16 year olds everyone was walking around with their windmills. Lots of the kids were running laps of the village square to make them spin! It was a really memorable day.
It was sad to wave goodbye on Friday as all the kids were saying “see you tomorrow!” “Are you coming next week?” and we had to say no but the Bookbus will roll into another school in Livingstone for the second holiday week and bring our books and volunteers to another group of enthusiastic Zambian children!
