Conservation-focused safari company Singita has launched Sounds of Singita’, an hour-long audio track that captures the sounds of nature and transports listeners to the heart of the African bush. Led by general manager of conservation Inge Kotze, the calming sounds of birdsong and wildlife are a refreshing escape for those of us cooped up at home and aims to draw attention to the ongoing conservation work being carried across Singita’s portfolio of luxury lodges and reserves. The company’s resident photographer Ross Couper is also live-streaming daily game drives at reserves across Africa via Instagram.
“Now is a time to stay at home. A time to reflect on travels of past. A Time to dream of travels to come.” That is the advice from Awasi Iguazu, one of the three luxury lodges that make up the Awasi collection in South America. Two years ago, the company invited blind birding expert Juan Pablo Culasso to visit the rainforest around Awasi Iguazu and record the sounds of the natural environment. Today, his hypnotic recordings bring the soundtrack of the rainforest into our homes. Viewers can also play with an interactive soundboard featuring the songs of local bird species to make their own dawn chorus or view an award-winning documentary about Culasso: The Blind Birdwatcher.
House of Lapland has released an album of natural and ambient sounds entitled Scapes, which transports the listener to the heart of Finnish Lapland. Each of the eight tracks captures unique local experiences such as the sound of boots crunching through snow, a herd of reindeer grazing in the wilderness and the sounds of a warm fire crackling inside a log cabin. Visitors can also download the Lapland Sound Collection, which includes 50 short samples that can be incorporated into creative projects such as digital photo albums and videos.
Listen out for these online conversations: Mandarin Oriental’s new Fantastic Stories podcast series features stories written and read by writers, including novelist Marcel Theroux. www.mandarinoriental.com. Four Seasons has also launched a three-part podcast series entitled Take The Leap, in which writers, influencers and entrepreneurs talk to like-minded individuals about life-changing travels. www.fourseasons.com. The Arts Club, London’s literati private member’s space, has launched a podcast featuring highlights from the club’s programme of panel discussions, talks and events, including stories about sustainability in the art world and hotel design at home.
