Expeditions
Expeditions
Travel began with adventurous explorers setting out to discover new lands. Although the world has become a lot smaller today, there still remains unexplored regions where a wide array of treasures await to be discovered.
Our Expeditions Page showcases the world’s epic adventures and unique exploration travel experiences. Expeditions chronicles the adventurous travels of Michael Jerrard. Join him as he explores the uncovering of ancient artifacts, discovery of new or rare species, digging up of fossils, hunting for treasures, epic treks, and unforgettable safaris.
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Mike Jerrard
A wildlife photojournalist who has been recording and documenting animal behaviour since the age of 10, Michael Jerrard now has accumulated over 25 years of experience in the wild. He looks to share his knowledge of the natural world along with his passion of exploration to encourage others to experience the magic and wonder that exists in the world.
Jerrard has set foot on every continent including the arctic tundra of Alaska and Iceland, rain forests of South America, deserts of the American Southwest, the Red Center of Australia, jungles of Southeast Asia, Africa’s Serengeti, the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Antarctic Peninsula. Be inspired by his firsthand accounts of incredible wild adventures, which thanks to modern day advancements and technology, anyone can experience for themselves.
Jerrard grew up in the United States where he has done a thorough documentation of North American Wildlife which has included such projects as radio collaring Florida Panthers in the Everglades, tracking Grizzlies in Alaska, and handling American’s most dangerous snakes. He has gone on to study and document wildlife across the globe.
In addition to wildlife, Jerrard has a sense of adventure which pushes him to search for long lost treasures, uncovering the past and breathing life back into it. He has uncovered artefacts from lost civilizations, fossils from beasts like mammoths, and buried gold & silver.
Posted by Meg Jerrard on 11:58 am in Adventure Travel, Blog, Equipment Reviews, Expeditions, Technology | 0 comments
A team of outdoor lovers have invented an incredible power station which can work in minus 40 degree weather, and is completely waterproof. This is the world’s first portable power station which can break through severe outdoor conditions, working in rain, snow, wind, or dust storms. It works in both extremely cold and hot temperatures (- 40 °C to 50 °C / – 40 ° F – 122 ° F), and over 5,000 meters above sea level.
Can you imagine being able to charge your phone on top of Kilimanjaro, or boil a cup of coffee while camping in Antarctica, out on the ice?! The DynaYak N35 is the first ever power station of its kind.
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Posted by Michael Jerrard on 7:44 am in Adventure Travel, Blog, Equipment Reviews, Expeditions, Fashion, Technology, Travel Tips | 0 comments
More important than what you pack for travel is what you pack your travel gear in. Of course, what travel pack you choose largely depends on what type of traveller you are…or does it?
What if there was a travel backpack for everyone, from the wilderness trekker to the urban backpacker and everyone in-between?
From the company that revolutionized the travel shoe with their all terrain sneaker line, comes the new Shell travel backpack that caters to all types of travellers. It’s a backpack and wardrobe system with unmatched versatility, easy access, and organization to pack up to 20% more; a multipurpose travel backpack every traveler will love to use.
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Posted by Meg Jerrard on 9:45 am in Adventure Travel, Blog, Botswana, Eco Tourism, Expeditions | 6 comments
Have you ever considered camping without fences on a safari in the most remote areas of Botswana, sharing the same space with wild animals like lions, hippos and hyenas?
Does it sound like an adventure of a lifetime, or is it a little too much of an adventure?
Over 10 days I went on a self-drive remote camping safari in Botswana, driving my 4×4 deep in the bush, carrying everything I needed in my truck – a portable kitchen, 2 spare tires, a toolbox, a tent on top, my camera and tons of excitement. Here’s how you can do it too!
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Posted by Meg Jerrard on 8:12 pm in Adventure Travel, Blog, Expeditions, Oman, Road Trips | 6 comments
Oman is a country of contrasts, from the steep mountains of Jebel Shams to the clear waters of the Arabian Peninsula, from the dunes of the Wahiba Sands Desert to the azure blue wadis.
The untouched beauty of Oman is only just starting to be recognised by world travellers, and the best way to immerse yourself in this amazing country and its culture is by wild camping on a self drive, cross country adventure.
With savagely beautiful landscapes that are untouched by both modern development and tourism, and laws that mean wild camping is entirely legal anywhere (with a few exceptions), you will likely have these amazing spots to yourself!
The following is everything you need to know about wild camping across Oman, complete with a full 7 day itinerary for a self guided roadtrip, 4WD adventure.
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Posted by Meg Jerrard on 8:02 pm in Adventure Travel, Blog, China, Expeditions, Road Trips, Stories, Writers | 4 comments
Beyond Kyrgyzstan and the 3,752 metre high Torugart Pass is China, a country where everything – and I do mean everything – is completely different from what most travellers are accustomed.
Laura and I are so-called “permanent overlanders”. We’ve been non-stop on the road now for many decades; our most recent venture a six-year motorcycle journey from Europe to Australia. And like so many other road-warriors who cross Asia with their own vehicle, we encountered a couple of hurdles along the way.
The greatest logistical challenge, by far, was obtaining legal permission to ride through China without a guide. Very, very few overlanders have managed to achieve this. We may have even been amongst the first, who knows?
But we certainly weren’t the last. A handful of vagabonds on wheels have transited China independently since our crossing in 2014/2015.
This is the story of how we did it …
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Posted by Meg Jerrard on 10:05 am in Adventure Travel, Blog, Cambodia, Expeditions, Vietnam | 0 comments
I had never taken a river cruise, and, to be fair, this was my first trip to both Vietnam and Cambodia, though I was fairly certain that a river cruise was the best way to see each country. I had a feeling in my gut that traveling independently by land would mean missing out on half the adventure.
One of the world’s longest rivers, covering 4,000 km from its source high on the Tibetan Plateau, the Mekong River is the lifeblood of Southeast Asia. It flows from China to Vietnam through six countries (China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam), and is key to the survival of some 300 million people.
From fishing boats to floating markets, river life along the Mekong is vibrant, and has been for thousands of years. And it captures a diversity that you wouldn’t experience by land; a juxtaposition of ancient temples with modern palaces, of imperial cities with traditional villages.
I didn’t want an incomplete picture of from my trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. I wanted to see the major tourist sites, sure, but I also wanted to see daily life come alive in undeveloped and unexplored parts of the region. I wanted to immerse myself in new languages and lifestyles, to shake hands with locals who had never seen a foreign tourist, and really witness local life as we drifted along the Mekong Delta to Cambodia.
And one company stood out in particular.
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Posted by Meg Jerrard on 12:28 pm in Adventure Travel, Blog, Egypt, Expeditions, Sudan, Uganda, World | 0 comments
The river Nile immediately conjures up images of the Pyramids of Giza, and making the distinct journey across the sands of Egypt towards one of the world’s most revered and respected historical landmarks.
But the world’s longest river stretches far beyond Egypt, meandering through Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda, before finding itself at the beginning of the great Lake Victoria.
This guide will show you that there are plenty of artefacts and architecture to be found beyond the Great Sphinx.
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Posted by Meg Jerrard on 1:53 pm in Adventure Travel, Blog, Expeditions, Peru | 29 comments
Adventure travelers looking for incredible mountain treks will find a wealth of truly off the beaten path locations scattered around Peru.
While Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail receive the majority of attention, Peru offers a number of alternatives if you’re hoping to feel less like a tourist and more like a true explorer.
The Andes form the longest continental mountain range in the world, offering treks of all lengths and degrees of difficulties. Peru is lucky enough to be home to many of the most notable mountain treks along the range, many of which manage to remain under the radar from mass tourism.
There is no denying that Machu Picchu is an incredible Wonder of the World, but those looking for something more unique and less restrictive may want to look into some of Peru’s other incredible mountain treks.
The following treks will not only provide you with equally as impressive scenery, but will also leave you with stories very few other travelers have experienced.
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Posted by Meg Jerrard on 5:52 pm in Adventure Travel, Australia, Blog, Costa Rica, Eco Tourism, Expeditions, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda | 32 comments
Jungles may make up only six percent of the earth’s land surface, but they produce nearly half of all the oxygen we require to survive. And, home to some of the world’s most iconic and endangered wildlife, jungle destinations offer a travel experience unlike any other.
Jungle trekking is a way to transport yourself back to a time of exploration as you come face to face with landscapes and animals few people have seen with their own eyes; from the lush humid jungles of the Amazon, to spotting tigers and sloth bears in the national parks of Nepal.
On June 5th, over 140 nations will participate in celebrating World Environment Day. And what better way to celebrate than by listing the countries that are home some of the world’s greatest rainforests.
We can only hope that through continued conservation efforts and sustainable eco-tourism, we can preserve these great jungles for generations to come. You might think that jungle trekking sounds primitive, but you might be surprised to find that the best hotels for jungle trekking are as much luxury as they are eco-lodge!
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Posted by Meg Jerrard on 4:00 pm in Adventure Travel, Blog, Eco Tourism, Expeditions, Healthy Travel, Japan, Road Trips, Writers | 34 comments
Japan could easily be considered to be among the world’s most desired destinations. I mean, who hasn’t dreamed of watching the sun set over a tori gate, visit the thousands of shrines in Kyoto, or witness dawn from the top of Mt. Fuji?
And in terms of getting around, the country has one of the safest, cleanest, fastest, most efficient, punctual and convenient public transportation networks in the world. But while you might be tempted by the city subways, bullet trains, or even by catching a flight, we opted for an entirely different way of seeing Japan: by bike.
With considerate drivers, great infrastructure, and a well connected network of roads, Japan is a perfect destination for bicycle touring first-timers. We spent 3 months on our bikes exploring Kyushu, Shikoku, and Southern Honsu, but you still can easily cover a wide cross section of Japan in 7 – 10 days.
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