So you fancy taking the family on a safari adventure, but have neither the time, nor the money nor a taste for anti-malarial drugs. And what about the added ethical concerns about all those air miles damaging the planet?
BBC Wales is offering viewers an alternative this summer - a home-grown safari with wildlife action man Iolo Williams as guide. Despite being well-travelled himself, some of Iolo's best adventures happen right here in Wales, and he's about to share his secrets.
Returning to screen with Iolo's Welsh Safari (Wednesday, May 3, BBC One Wales), the man who's rarely without a pair of binoculars around his neck is busy discovering the unlikely places where Wales' animals, birds and insects hide.
As well as seeking out the safari to be found on viewers' own doorsteps, each week Iolo - who grew up in Llanwddyn and now lives near Newtown - will be showing the stories of nature as they unfold across the country's diverse habitats using up-to-the-minute filming and some of TV's most advanced camera technology.
The show is also an interactive wildlife feast, with each week's programme inviting viewers to help build a map of animal and bird activity by emailing reports and pictures via a special website bbc.co.uk/walesnature. As well as featuring viewers' sightings, the website is also the place to post any wildlife questions or queries which Iolo will do his best to find answers.
"In each programme we'll be asking viewers to look out for specific bird and animal species, to add to what we already know about wildlife," explains series producer Steve Freer. "We'd like people to email us about any sightings, and we'll report back to viewers in the following week's programme."
With the first programme broadcast from a former open cast coal mine, Parc Slip near Bridgend, Iolo will be exploring the reclaimed sites of wetland, woodland and grassland habitats. The local wildlife residents include a mind-boggling array of insects such as rare blue-tailed damselflies, butterflies, dragonflies, bees and hornets as well as lizards, slow worms, a wide range of birds - including skylarks - and beautiful wild orchids.
Through the series, Iolo will also be on safari at the riverside nature reserve of Dolydd Hafren near Newtown; Llandovery's Crychan Forest; Skomer Island off the Pembrokeshire coast; and Conwy RSPB which lies on the banks of the Conwy Estruary.
Each week, Iolo will also be keeping viewers up-to-date with developments in nests at secret locations across Wales, from blue tits and tawny owls to otters and ospreys. The miniature 'nest cams' - which are the size of a pen top - promise an unparalleled insight into the private life of these species.
And that's not all. There are also ambitious plans to tag and track via satellite three honey buzzards from Africa which will be making a summer stop-off in Wales en route to Guinea, West Africa.
On a practical note, Iolo will be sharing tips on how to encourage wildlife to flourish in your own back garden. With an early evening slot in the TV schedules and the promise of plain-English explanations, advanced knowledge of zoology is the last thing you'll need to enjoy the programme.
"Unlike Iolo, I'm not a wildlife expert," admits producer Steve Freer. "But I've got a young family and I'm just the kind of person who the programme is aimed at. It'd be great if kids and parents watched the programme, and then went out on weekends to explore the nature that's right before our eyes."
Iolo also returns to BBC Radio Cymru this week with a brand new series of Natur Wyllt (Sunday, April 30, BBC Radio Cymru). In the first of four programmes Iolo takes a look at the place natures holds in Welsh life folklore.
Iolo's Welsh Safari, Wednesday, May 3, BBC One Wales, 7pm.
Iolo's Welsh Safari website...
your comments
Sue Herapath, Ellesmere
Where can I see Pine Martins in Wales?
Mon Nov 26 08:15:38 2007
Richard Pring from Bristol
I spotted a hare today, while walking in hill country near Devil's Bridge. Not sure which species it was, but never seen them around that particular location before. The hillside was a former sitka spruce plantation (now cleared).
Mon Nov 12 08:02:10 2007
Mike Jenkins from Tenby
Working in Monmouth on Friday I saw eight cygnets all following the male and female on the river Wye in a straight line it was truly a wonderful sight. Unfortunately the photo was too murky to send. Well done with the programme l look forward to the next show.
Mon Oct 8 08:10:25 2007
Bob Owen, Dyserth.
Great tits had nested in our bird box near the kitchen window and were busy feeding the young when a Wren appeard and assisted with the feeding. Apparently the Wren had a nest nearby and was waiting for her eggs to hatch so lent a hand to the Great tits.
Thu May 17 11:23:00 2007
Andy Lewis-Pryce
Spotted a pine martin near Trefeglwys a few months ago.
Tue May 15 10:10:05 2007
Anne Brown Newcastle Emlyn
On Sunday 6 May heard a cuckoo whilst walking up Cader Idris.
Wed May 9 16:41:45 2007
Roger Stephens, Bridgend
Up until recently we have been getting greenfinches/sparrows regularly colliding with our large patio window /doors something has been spooking them off the feeders hanging just a few feet away from them. We discovered how to resolve this problem by hanging see through voile curtains across windows drawn back in the middle to leave a view of birds/garden. When I investigated the cause it appears that on sunny days the windows were reflecting the garden/sky. Recently my wife was at home & heard a bump on the windows, when going out into back garden she came across a sparrowhawk with a green finch in its beak which flew off dropping the finch which unfortunately was dead from the collision. Until then we were unaware of what was spooking the birds, we didn't realise sparrow hawks must patrol back gardens looking for small birds to prey on. Since hanging the curtains up we have not had a single collision/fatality.
Wed May 9 09:48:54 2007
Roger Stephens, Bridgend mid glam
In reply to Brenda Turner, we hang feeders on a rowan tree a matter of feet from our lounge patio doors. The number of birds that turn up to feed is amazing, from bullfinches to wood pigeons approx thirty five species of bird not to mention the grey squirrel that turns up to for the peanuts. We find large black sunflower seeds best for birds.
Wed May 9 09:42:07 2007
Pete Trowman, Fairbourne
Brilliant show. I have about 18 hours of video footage of badgers (up to 8) at a time feeding on peanuts and honey in my back garden.
Tue May 8 09:46:35 2007
Ellen and Carl Jones, Crickhowell
We were up on Eypnt on Sunday 6 May 07 when we heard the cuckoo for the first time this year. We also saw three red kites, and all this while watching the Welsh car rally. By the way, we have also seen red kites as far as Crickhowell and Abergavenny.
Tue May 8 09:32:36 2007
Lyndon Thomas, Llanelli.
Sitting in the garden to-day with my wife, in Dafen, Llanelli. We saw a Red Kite fly over. It was quite a surprise.
Thu May 3 09:17:11 2007
Ellis George from Langain, Caerfyrddin.
Dyma fi wedi treulio tua ugain mlynedd heb glywed y gwcw - tan yr wythnos ddwetha. Roeddwn i'n aros y tu allan i Maribor, Slovenia a dyma'r hen ffrind yn 'i morio hi sawl gwaith y dydd - gret!
Translation - Mid Wales Web Team
Here's me spending about 20 years without hearing the cuckoo - until last week. I was staying outside Maribor, Slovenia and there was the old friend giving it everything several times a day.
Tue Apr 24 09:09:31 2007
Bill Johnson, Pontypridd.
Great programme Iolo, have spotted a red kite flying over Pontypridd, and counted five at one time in the last month flying over Llangeinor/Ogmore Vale. Great to see they're spreading eastward, there is piles of room for them.
Tue Apr 24 09:05:52 2007
Brenda Turner
I would love to attract different birds to my back garden, could you give me a few ideas please. I was facinated with the programme last evening on the tawny owls at the nature reserve Rhydymwyn. Used to live there but had no idea it existed. Where exactly is it located?
Tue Apr 24 09:01:53 2007
Margaret Price from Pennard, Gower
Blackcap seen on seed feeder in garden. End of November
Fri Dec 1 09:18:32 2006
Bridie Luis Fuentes, Newport , Gwent
Love your programme, a wildlife programme just for us here in Wales!Wonderful!
I have some terrestrial leeches in my little pond and I have never seen anything about them on any wildlife programme. I find them fascinating but would like to know more about them, like what they eat and what kind of lifecycle do they have.I feared they might prey on tadpoles but they appear to be safe.
Mon May 22 15:30:12 2006
Andy Turner, Mid Glamorgan
Fantastic site, all the best to the crew.
Thu May 18 09:11:57 2006
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