Our first post of the New Year gives a rare look inside a private zoo owned by a senior member of Dubai’s ruling family. Gulf Arabs love big cats and other exotic animals, and many rich sheikhs have vast menageries containing many species. Normally these place are strictly out of bounds, but Afaranwide was invited to take a look inside. READ MORE

Zoos are, of course, controversial. Damian Aspinall, who runs the Howletts (above) and Port Lympne animal parks in Kent, UK, says they should all – including his own – be phased out. He cites concerns about disease and inbreeding at many zoos, and the inherent cruelty of keeping animals in captivity. Few animal parks have done more demonstrable good than Aspinall’s. They are world leaders in breeding the likes of western lowland gorillas and black rhino, and have returned several endangered species to the wild. There is a remarkable video of Aspinall and his daughter Tansy being reunited in Gabon with two gorillas that they had raised at Howletts and then released. If someone like that speaks out against zoos then we should all listen.

Like everyone else, we’ve been shocked by the impact of the bushfires that are devastating parts of Australia. We have had some memorable trips there, and Sue lived in Sydney in her twenties. Tourism Australia is providing frequently updated information on the situation to help those due to visit the country – check it out here. The agency says on its website: “We encourage all travellers visiting Australia to seek the most up-to-date information for their planned itinerary prior to departure, and remain informed about changing conditions while in Australia.”

Afaranwide found out about the longest unbroken walk on earth this week, and we have no intention of doing it, nor would we advise that you do either! It’s from L’Agulhas (above), South Africa’s southernmost tourist village, to Magadan, Russia (below).

If we tell you Magadan has the Scott Polar Research Institute and was a transit centre for prisoners on their way to Stalin’s Gulag labour camps, you’ll get the picture. At 22,530 kilometres (14,000 miles), it would take about three years and you’d go through war zones, malaria-ridden jungle, and arctic conditions. Mapped by Interesting Engineering as the longest theoretically walkable route, no ferries or flights are needed. For a look at the route, go here. By the way, if walking by foot is too easy-peasy, Brit Sarah Chapman walked 5 km (16,404 ft) on her hands in eight hours on June 3, 2002.

Da Nang in Vietnam is the number one choice for people around the world who are planning to take a vacation this year, according to Google hotel search data. The online giant has published a list of the top ten destinations people are interested in visiting. São Paulo is second, and Seoul is third. Next comes Tokyo, hardly surprising given that Japan will be hosting the Olympics in July and August. Tel Aviv, Marseille, Vienna, Bangkok, Dubai and Perth round off the list.

Please remember to vote for us in the contest for travel bloggers run by the Terra Incognita ecotourism company. Entrants had to submit a story on the subject “my favourite place on Earth”. Sue has taken a very individual approach to this topic, and her piece can be read on Terra Incognita’s website – click here to see it. We’re in the running for two prizes – one awarded by a panel of expert judges, and one that readers vote for. It would be great if you could support us in the latter– just click the link to view the story, then vote for it in the box at the foot of the page. Thanks!

FOR A DIRECTORY OF ALL OUR POSTS, ARRANGED BY COUNTRY AND CATEGORY, CLICK HERE.

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