Coast-to-coast expedition to summit Madagascar’s highest mountain

BRISTOL, U.K. - Jan. 7, 2015 - PRLog -- UK-based expedition company Secret Compass was founded by Levison Wood (Walking the Nile/ Channel 4) and former army colleague Tom Bodkin. Like Wood’s epic attempt to walk the Nile, its expeditions aim to achieve the extraordinary in the world’s wildest places.

Tom Bodkin, director of Secret Compass, said, “Levison Wood led an epic, 370km expedition to cross Madagascar coast to coast on foot in 2012, becoming the first team to do so.

“In 2014 we introduced a whitewater-rafting section to add diversity and adrenaline to the experience. We now seek would-be explorers to complete our 2015 expedition team.”

Highlights of the ‘Madagascar’s Mountains and Rivers’ expedition

·      Climb Madagascar’s highest peak, Maromokotro (2,876m)
·      Glimpse rare or endemic species (including 150+ species of lemur)
·      Trek through mountainous grasslands and spectacular river valleys
·      Explore uninhabited and pristine rainforest
·      Whitewater raft a 125km section of the wild Bemarivo river
·      90% of Madagascar’s wildlife is found nowhere else on earth
·      Cross ‘the 8^th continent’ coast to coast on foot and by raft

Kerry O’Neill from Secret Compass, said, “Madagascar is referred to as ‘the 8^th continent’ for the richness and endemism of its flora and fauna, yet much of this is threatened by encroaching deforestation.

“Our teams often use their expeditions to fundraise for organisations like ‘Greenpop: Trekking for Trees’, and we always promote their efforts to raise awareness of the threats Madagascar faces.”

Noah, the expedition team’s Malagasy interpreter, said, “If we can encourage tourism in this magical place there’ll be less need to destroy what cannot be replaced.”

In 2015 Secret Compass will run 14 exploratory expeditions. New destinations include Burma, Iran, Siberia, Sinai, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan (MTB) and Namibia. Expeditions will also run in Afghanistan, Kamchatka, Ethiopia (MTB), Iraqi Kurdistan and Panama’s Darien Gap.

For further press information, imagery or to arrange interviews with Secret Compass staff or team members, contact marketing director Kerry O’Neill on Kerry@secretcompass.com

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Secret Compass is a pioneering expedition company creating world-first experiences for teams of like-minded adventurers. Through group and bespoke adventures, Secret Compass helps each team member achieve the extraordinary in the world’s wildest places. Founded by ex-British Army Parachute Regiment officers, its expeditions reach the planet’s most remote regions in the spirit of exploration’s earliest pioneers. Secret Compass is passionate about returning tourism to post-conflict zones and emerging economies to stimulate local development and challenge preconceptions.

Specialist Film and TV services

Secret Compass also takes film crews, journalists and photographers to remote and previously inaccessible areas thanks to its unrivalled location management expertise. Clients to date include the BBC, National Geographic, Animal Planet and Channel 4, in countries from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan.

  www.secretcompass.com
info@secretcompass.com
Press enquiries: Kerry on UK Mobile +44 (0)7815 896 533
or UK: +44 (0)207 096 8428