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Have you ever ever ever dreamed of taking a safari? Of recognizing a distant movement via the binoculars, adopted by the shuddering kickstart of a Land Rover engine as you set collectively to chase an indistinguishable shadow or glimpse of fur all through the grassy panorama… would you think about me if I acknowledged you would probably simply do this? Throughout the UK.
Remaining weekend I lastly purchased to take a long-awaited North Norfolk Safari with Martin Hayward Smith — creator of My Yr With Hares.
I’d first heard regarding the North Norfolk safari excursions a couple of 12 months and a half prior to now, after they featured throughout the Japanese Every day Press newspaper; and I instantly knew that that was how I wanted to spend my 30th birthday weekend – recognizing a couple of of Britain’s most iconic species!
Properly, for certain; with a June birthday, it’s taken a few months and some good timing between UK lockdowns to make that dream a actuality, nevertheless in belated celebration; I packed my baggage and headed to a shepherd’s hut by the river in East Barsham.
Bohemian Blue Hut
What a dreamy weekend! We spent 2 nights staying throughout the Bohemian Blue Hut on the banks of the River Stiffkey, having enjoyable with in all probability essentially the most pretty time full of affection, laughter, vivid colours, vibrant nature, rustling leaves, noisy rain, fire wine, midnight snacks consumed outdoor by the sunshine flowing (and evidently otter-occupied!) river, basking throughout the delicate delicate of too many stars to rely…
Martin Hayward Smith — a cameraman of thirty years, along with an creator and safari info — moreover constructed the breathtaking Bohemian Blue Hut that you would see throughout the photographs proper right here.
Crafted with lovely consideration to aspect; along with re-purposed church pews used for the tip of the Edwardian mattress, real artefacts from far-off lands and a mantle clock that stopped telling the time many moons prior to now: there really was nothing to do nevertheless lose ourselves throughout the romance of all of it.
With the sounds of barn owls emanating from outdoor, the tantalising prospect of catching a glimpse of the resident wild otters from the window; a crackling log fire to heat the inside of the hut and hammering rain on the roof outdoor: I can’t think about wherever additional idyllic to spend a snug October night time time.
And that was solely the beginning. The subsequent morning we stepped outdoor of the serene woody comforts of the riverside hut for an early (and thankfully dry!) start all through the autumnal Norfolk countryside. There was promise of unknown wildlife all through the land and skies and we couldn’t wait to seek out what our safari wanted to provide.
Safari staycation in Norfolk
We had been delighted to be given the chance to see quite a few the hotspots talked about in Martin’s My Yr With Hares e book (printed by Purple Hare Publishing) and as we cherished the real safari experience of bumping alongside mud observe roads and splashing via muddy ravines throughout the Land Rover; we had the pleasure of recognizing pheasants, partridges, kestrel, buzzards — and sooner than too prolonged, hares.
We spent a really distinctive morning recognizing wildlife and talking about Martin’s unimaginable occupation as a wildlife cameraman; along with among the many primary assortment he’d filmed with Ray Mears.
From swapping fond recollections of our separate works with Discovery Channel and Animal Planet to chewing over tales of bygone travelling days spent in Australia’s outback — we had loads of notes to match!
Over a mid-morning cup of tea to temper the nippiness of the brisk October air, I was honoured to be promised the chance to look over Martin’s footage from his time working with the legendary George Adamson, of Born Free fame.
Martin was merely 24 years earlier when he travelled to Kenya to help at George’s camp in Kora, and his tales of the Flying Doctor, Kora the lioness and naturally George himself, had been fascinating.
Norfolk Safari sightings
The latter part of the safari launched with it two separate sightings of roe deer and the shocking view of lots of of pink toes geese gliding in overhead.
Even so, I’d be lying if I acknowledged I that by the purpose we had been heading once more to our place to start, I wasn’t misplaced in concepts of George alongside along with his non-public lion pleasure, marching alongside Kenya’s dusty roads.
A Born Free connection
True to his phrase, on the end of the tour we had the distinctive experience of wanting via Martin’s non-public and beforehand unpublished footage from George’s camp. Merely wow!
What an unimaginable different, to see letters written by George and despatched from Kora, notes from the Royal Geographical Society advising Martin on his deliberate journey (i.e. Take a case of whiskey for George!) and footage of Tony Fitzjohn reprimanding a misbehaving leopard.
It might need been a few months late and re-planned fairly a couple of events, nevertheless this was a belated birthday weekend far previous my expectation.
Due to my family for serving to to make this happen; and to Martin Hayward Smith for being so generous alongside along with his time, expertise and unimaginable tales!
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