New luxury expedition ship “Le Champlain” New Luxury Expedition Launch of the new Ponant Ship “Le Champlain”

Tina From Wildfoot Travel

Wildfoot’s Tina Moorcroft took a trip on the new luxury expedition ship “Le Champlain” recently. Here she gives us her thoughts on this groundbreaking new expedition vessel.

I had the great pleasure of experiencing a brand-new Expedition Vessel on behalf of our clients; a short expedition around the Norwegian Fjords.

This trip started in Bergen and Bergen is known as the city of seven mountains with stunning views across the Byfjorden “the city fjord”.  The country has almost 260 days of rain and is very green and lush because of this.  If you know the city, you know it is full of brightly coloured wooden houses with a rich history in trade.  The Hanseatic League set up its offices in 1360 in Bryggen dominating trade for nearly 400 years and this is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Norway protects its fishing, farming and oil which make it one of the biggest Oil producers outside the Middle East.

This new luxury expedition ship “Le Champlain” , named after Samuel de Champlain is the latest in the Ponant fleet which is being expanded from 6 vessels to 12 vessels by the end of 2020.  We have been in partnership with Ponant for many years and know their fleet intimately.

Samuel De Champlain, known as The Father of New France, was a French navigator, cartographer, draftsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He made from 21-29 trips across the Atlantic, and founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608.

With 92 Staterooms and suites this is the new limited- capacity ship, which means fewer cabins and therefore fewer passengers; there is a great selection of cabins available depending on your requirements.  Each cabin has a private balcony or terrace and is furnished with the greatest attention to detail that is expected on board a luxury expedition vessel.

With trips within The Arctic & Iceland & Northern Europe; and beyond this ship has a full compliment of itineraries to suit all travellers who enjoy warm or cold climates.

The ship is presented as follows:

Deck 0  – The bottom desk of the ship has a unique multi-sensorial submarine lounge Blue Eye, with a Glass Window in the shape of an eye, this is the place to be to observe any passing wildlife with surround sound from the underwater microphone.  Prior to our journey they had recorded whales “talking” to each other and it was amazing to hear.

Unfortunately, the Norwegian Fjord was a little green but in clearer seas this “window to the sea” would be stunning.  This is the first of its kind and had to undergo rigorous testing and required 18 layers of glass before Ponant were allowed to cut a hole in the hull.  In the bar, there are no cocktail shakers allowed as they are deemed too noisy; only peace and tranquillity and an array of drinks which are included in the expedition price (apart from the top shelf drinks which are chargeable) to pass the time!

Deck 2 – this is the staff deck

Deck 3 – This is where the Reception and Excursion desks are located with friendly English and French-speaking staff happy to help with any query.  There is a staff shop, medical centre, Theatre and Pool Deck with a plunge pool heated to 30 degrees and a Bar Grill should you wish to eat somewhere a little less formal but still receive the standard expected aboard a 5* ship, along with a selection of Deluxe Suites and Prestige Staterooms.

Deck 4 – This is where the Restaurant “Le Nautilus” is situated, with a selection of Deluxe Suites and Prestige Staterooms

Deck 5 – The Bridge is on deck 5 and again, there are a selection of Suites available on this deck.

Deck 6 – This is where the Owners suite is located with its spacious lounge area and private hot tub with a view out over the fjord (or wherever you may be in the world).  There are also a selection of Privilege, Prestige and Grand Deluxe suites available along with a panoramic lounge with an outdoor seating area and books and games available to pass the time.

Deck 7 – This is where the spa, hairdressers and fitness area are where you can be pampered to your hearts content.

 

Le Champlain

  • Overall Length: 131m
  • Molded Breadth: 18m
  • Draft: 4,7m
  • Gross Tonnage: 9976 tonnes
  • Main Engines: 2 x 2000 kW
  • Electric Power: 6400 kW
  • Speed (KNOTS): 12.5 Knots
  • Stabilizers: 2
  • Passenger Capacity: 184
  • Crew: 112

The ship also has the capacity to be able to avoid use of the anchor by using positional navigation; which protects the more vulnerable locations it will visit.

Dining is free seating, so you can sit where you choose, and the staff are more than happy to discuss your requirements to ensure all your needs are met.

For Polar Expeditions there are a full team of experts who will accompany passengers on landings up to twice a day.

This ship offers 5 star luxury without the compromise of losing the sense of adventure.

Wildfoot feature all of these amazing itineraries and we look forward to hearing from you.

Bon Voyage!

Find out more about Le Champlain here

 

 

diving in the galapagos The Ultimate Galapagos Islands Travel Guide

 

Charles Darwin once described the Galapagos Islands as ‘a little world within itself’, and it only takes a five-minute visit to realise how right he was. The islands are home to a bizarre and varied selection of wildlife and animals, such as rare tortoises, brightly coloured marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies. Also, thanks to its volcanic activity, the lavascape contrasts dramatically with the blue waters, making it perfect for photographs.

Unsurprisingly, the Galapagos Islands are the top of pretty much every travellers bucket list because of its eclectic mix of plush white sands, exotic birds, and deep lava tunnels. The unofficial animal kingdom of South America, the Islands feel like something from another world, a lost world, the likes of which won’t have been seen anywhere else in the world for hundreds of years.

Quite obviously a tourist haunt, to make the most of your trip you really need to know all the best places to go – there is so much to see, it’s too easy to miss something spectacular. So, we put together a guide of how to visit the Galapagos Islands correctly, including things to do, where to see, what wildlife to look out for and more. Enjoy.

Things to Do

There’s more to the Galapagos islands than just the giant tortoises made famous by Charles Darwin, although experiencing the incredible biodiversity should be number one on anyone’s bucket list of things to do – it’s just not the only thing to do. The Galapagos Islands are also world-famous for their coffee and chocolate, which are made differently here than anywhere else in the world. Coffee producers hand select only the best beans for each batch of coffee, which are all slow-roasted on local farms, and there’s homemade chocolate available to buy all over the islands.

The Islands are also home to the Sierra Negra volcano, which can be found on Isla Isabela: the six hour, 17km trek up the mountain includes the world’s second largest volcanic caldera, which last erupted in 2005. Or, if hiking isn’t really your thing, there’s tonnes of snorkelling hotspots all over the Islands where there’s even the chance to swim with shoals of manta rays and whitetip reef sharks.

When to Go

Booking the “best” time to go to the Galapagos Islands really depends on what you’re looking for from your trip. Technically, there isn’t a best or worst time to visit thanks to the Islands’ location on the Equator (so the weather is travel suitable all year round, if a little hot), but the most popular times to visit are between June and August, and mid-December through to mid-January.

December to May is the rainy season, but the sea is relatively peaceful still, and the daily showers means that for the rest of the time the sky is pretty much cloudless – great for views of your surroundings, and for pictures. Plus, the temperature is usually above 25 degrees, so it’s definitely not cold but also not stiflingly hot, and makes it the perfect time to visit if you’re looking for clear snorkelling, colourful fauna, and hatching sea turtles.

Wildlife in the Galapagos

The rest of the year (June to November) is the dry season which comes with a rougher sea and cooler temperatures of around 20-25 degrees. If you’re an experienced diver, then this might just be the best time to visit as the cold water attracts a wider variety of marine life – such as the hammerhead shark, or whale shark.

Whale Season

Whale watching is technically a year round activity, but the cooler months are typically thought of as the best time to see them. It can occasionally be done by land, but more often than not it is done by boat, and guests will receive guidance from a naturalist who teaches you about what species you are seeing, and about proper whale watching techniques. One main thing to note is that it is incredibly difficult to predict exactly when and where the whales will show up; understandably, they cover a lot of water ocean in their home range, so although experienced guides will likely visit their most common grounds, they cannot definitively say that whales will be there.

Approximately 24 different species of whales have been identified in the Galapagos, but they come in two very distinct types: baleen and toothed whales (toothed whales includes dolphins, porpoises, and orcas, as well as sperm whales). Baleen whales do not have teeth, but a comb in their mouth used for filtering plankton and other small fish from the water, unlike toothed whales which mostly eat fish.

Albatross Season

The only time the Waved Albatross is not on land is from January to March, but they can be seen from April to December on the Española Island, where they always return during the breeding season. Nearly the entire population of 25,000 to 30,000 birds returns to Española during this period, and a lot of visitors describe the nesting season as one of the highlights of visiting the archipelago.

Wildlife in the Galapagos

Waved Albatross’ mate for life, and their courtship dance can last up to 5 days, including: beak fencing, honking, bowing, swaying and more. Each pair produces one egg every year, and both birds take responsibility for incubating the egg.

The waved albatross is the largest bird in the Galapagos, but they are critically endangered thanks to the activities of man, and man-related fishing. Long-line fishing boats lay out hundreds of miles of baited hooks which attract the birds, who get hooked and dragged under the waves. Other threats include water pollution, oil slicks, and chemicals. Not only this, but intentional harvesting for human consumption and feathers has seen a dramatic increase in recent years.

Wildlife

Most of the 13 major and 7 smaller islands remain uninhabited to this day, and over 97% of the land is preserved as a national park, so its unsurprising that the Galapagos Islands are home to some of the highest levels of endemism that can be found anywhere on the planet. 80% of the land birds, 97% of the reptiles and land mammals, and more than 30% of the plants you see on your visit can only be found here. It’s quite literally a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the natural wonders of the island.

One of the most popular birds to see is the blue footed booby (aptly named for their blue feet) who typically feed close to the shore, making spectacular dives into the sea to catch fish, and their elaborate mating ritual includes a stamping feet dance and a pose known as “skypointing”. Like flamingos, their feet are blue due to the nature of their diet which is high in carotenoid pigments, and it has typically been observed that males with brighter feet do better in mating rituals.

Wildlife in the Galapagos

Another popular bird is the flightless cormorant, which ranks among the world’s rarest bird species with less than 1000 left in the Galapagos Islands. These birds have black and brown feathers, turquoise eyes, growling voices, and wings about 1/3 the size that would typically be required to fly. They’re found only on the Fernandina and Isabela Islands, where they are often found diving in search of fish, eels, and other small prey.

There is also the Red-Lipped Batfish, with unusual red lips and an ability to “walk” along the ocean floor, the Galapagos dove which performs a unique bee-like function, helping to pollinate the Opuntia Cactus they use for food, and the Galapagos penguins which are only 19 inches long, and have genetically adapted to the heat: they regulate their body temperature by stretching out their flippers, avoiding the sun, panting, and swimming in the islands’ cool waters. And let’s not forget the famous Galapagos tortoise, which can live for over 250 years and were a key influence on Darwin’s Theory of Evolution: tortoises from different islands varied greatly in size and appearance, suggesting genetic adaptations to their environments.

Island Hopping and Cruises

With 13 major islands and 6 minor islands, fitting a visit in to all of them in one trip would make for one hefty itinerary. Due to the nature of the geology of the islands, and the Islands’ volcanic history, each island has different wildlife and different activities for you to enjoy. Here are some of the best, and what you can do there:

Santa Cruz island: Santa Cruz is the economic centre of the Galapagos, and the most populated island. As it’s the second largest island, there is plenty to see, such as the Los Gemelos (two craters that formed with the collapse of a magma chamber), Puerto Ayora (the main town, which houses the Galapgos National Tourism offices, and where the famous Galapagos tortoise rests), as well as the Princes Ranch and El Chato Tortoise Reserve.

Isabela island: formed by six volcanoes, and resting directly on the equator, Isabela is known as the largest of all the islands. It’s a great destination to see a lot of flora and fauna unique to this particular island due to the newer lava fields, and today it is home to 2,200 residents who make their living from fishing, agriculture, and tourism.

Wildlife in the Galapagos

Floreana Island: once used as a penal colony, and inhabited by pirates and whalers in the 1600s, the natural wildlife has all but been wiped out thanks to the introduction of non-native seeds and animals. However, that doesn’t detract from the island’s natural beauty; Cormorant Point has a few beaches to relax among the bright pink flamingos, where you might also spot dolphins swimming in the water.

San Cristobal: with a small town, airport, and military base, San Cristobal is one of the more built up islands, but it is still a naturally beauitiful destination. Travellers have the chance to swim around the white coral beach, and try their hand at bird watching – the Chatham mockingbird and the San Cristobal lava lizard are unique to this island, so watch out for them. Or take a wander over to Lobos Island, home to sea wolves, seals, and small birds.

Espanola: the oldest island, and one of the best places to experience wildlife, Espanola Island is the only place in the world where the native albatross’ make their nests.

Santa Fe: one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos, there is always something to see on Santa Fe, from walking the trails of the Opuntia Cactus Forest to spotting manta rays, sea turtles, sea lions, and giant iguanas lounging on the beaches and rocks.Wildlife in the Galapagos

Baltra: once a US Army Air Force base during World War II, today you will find yourselves in the middle of a Galapagos Land Iguana sanctuary, where the Galapagos Conservatory are trying to re-introduce the iguanas. Sea lions and birds are often spotted here as well, and for historical reasons alone it is a fantastic place to visit.

North Seymour: barely 100 metres from Baltra, due to its very brushy vegetation, bird watchers will be delighted to spot one of the largest populations of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and frigate birds.

Bartolome: one of the youngest islands, and often the most photographed thanks to its colourful rock formations. Swimming and snorkelling around Pinnacle Rock is one of the main attractions as you’re likely to spot penguins, green turtles, tropical fish, and reef sharks.

Santiago: for those interested in geology, Santiago island is the place to see. Formed as the result of two overlapping volcanoes, the lava rock creates tide pools full of crabs, and you can observe lava flow in Sullivan Bay.

Rabida: famous for its red sandy beaches, Rabida Island is perfect for the ‘gram. Pink flamingos enjoy the saltwater lagoon, while brown pelicans nest in the salt bush and marine iguanas and sea lions lounge along the beach.

Fernandina: the smallest island, Fernandina has only one tourist site, and is typically considered the most pristine island in the archipelago. Due to the cold waters, the flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins tend to make an appearance, and the only site available to tourists is Punta Espinosa, which consists of a small trek around the peninsula.

Visiting all these islands completely on your own obviously poses a challenge just because of the sheer number of places to visit and things to see. A lot of travellers opt to tour the Galapagos Islands as part of a cruise holiday, either a more personal one or as part of a wider group. Doing it this way means travellers can still experience the natural beauty of the islands and their wildlife, without the added stress of planning such an extensive trip.

How to Get There

There are two airports in mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) that offer flights to the Galapagos Islands, and you can fly into either the San Cristobal airport or Isla Baltra airport. Most travellers find it easier to fly into one airport and out of the other, due to the nature of most tours starting at one airport and ending at the other.

Quick Facts

  1. Due to its scientific significance, 97% of the islands have been declared a national park, which means that these areas are uninhabited by people, and the Galapagos National Park charges an entrance fee. Of the remaining 3%, there are roughly 25,000 people residing here.
  2. The islands are a hotspot for volcanic activity, and there has been 13 volcanic eruptions over the last 100 years. The most recent eruption was in May 2015, which sparked concerns about the endemic species of pink iguanas that reside on Isabela Island.
  3. Because of the islands’ tropical location, there is no need for daylight savings, so the days and nights are completely equal in length. All year round there will be 12 hours of daylight, and 12 hours of night, so you’ll have plenty of chances to see the diurnal and nocturnal animals.
  4. The Galapagos tortoise has the average lifespan of well over a century, making it one of the longest-living vertebrates on the planet.
  5. The islands were named after the giant tortoises: the word “Galapago” refers to the old castellan word meaning riding saddle, because the shell of the tortoise resembles one. 

Summary

The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator, and 97% of the land mass that makes up these islands is designated as a national park. They are a must-see location for anyone, but particularly those interested in the wildlife adventure and wish to see a variety of bird and animal species that are unique to the islands. There are over 20 islands to visit, all of which are known for different specific scenery, vegetation, and wildlife, although much of the more common species can be found across multiple locations.

The islands were made famous by Charles Darwin, who visited in the 1800s on the HMS Beagle and studied the wildlife of the ‘Enchanted Isles’, which ultimately led him to come up with the theory of evolution by natural selection in 1859. In his theory, he noted that each island had its own species of tortoises, reptiles, finches, and other birds, all of which had adapted themselves to suit their unique island environments. Although some species have descended from a common ancestry, there are some – like the blue-footed boobies – that are found nowhere else in the world.

Check out all our Galapagos trips here.

orca ORCA – Looking out for whales and dolphins

ORCA have been working for decades to protect whales and dolphins across UK & European waters. Our mission is to give everyone who cares about whales and dolphins an active role in safeguarding their future by empowering people from all walks of life to play an active role in marine conservation.

We do this by harnessing the power of citizen science, teaching members of the public to monitor whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans) so we can understand them better and ultimately give them the protection that they need.

Marine mammals have never faced such a diverse and wide ranging array of threats. Whether plastic pollution or overfishing, climate change or whaling, there are challenges facing the marine environment that have the potential to devastate some of the most iconic species we see in the ocean.

Yet, despite interest in the ocean being greater than ever before, we still only understand a fraction of the world beneath the waves, and as it stands over half the world’s species of whales and dolphins are classified as “data deficient” by the IUCN – meaning we can’t say whether they are endangered, threatened or even on the verge of extinction.

orca

Monitoring the Oceans

ORCA’s work involves training members of the public to become Marine Mammal Surveyors. These volunteers collect scientific data from ships that we call “platforms of opportunity”. These ferries and cruise ships are already visiting important marine habitats around UK & European waters, so we place a team on board to collect environmental and sightings data during the voyage.

This has allowed us to build a long term dataset that we use to drive marine conservation policy at the highest levels. This includes helping to define Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Hebrides and supporting the development of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the North Sea – both key areas that are home to important species around the UK.

monitoring the ocean to save the Orca

This approach is not only effective but it means that almost anyone with a passion for the ocean can get involved in helping to protect whales and dolphins, volunteering to sign up for surveys and join our army of volunteers working across the UK and beyond.

Inspiring & Educating

The added benefit to working on passenger ships is that we have the chance to meet hundreds of thousands of people each year to talk about our work and help people learn more about whales and dolphins right on our doorstep.

ORCA have teams of Wildlife Officers who live aboard a number of different ferry routes around the UK, spending anything from three to eight months of year talking to passengers, running deck watches and delivering presentations to highlight the changes we can all make in our life to protect the marine environment. These Wildlife Officers also collect data throughout their time at sea, adding valuable data to our core research and helping us to monitor vulnerable marine spaces.

ORCA also run their Cruise Conservationist programmes in partnership with our friends in the cruise industry. These highly trained individuals deliver a bespoke programme for passengers aboard selected cruises, trips that have been targeted specifically to allow us to monitor hard to reach or understudied habitats around Europe and the rest of the world.

These programmes not only contribute critical data for our conservation research, but they also give us a unique opportunity to reach hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life and show them the important role these habitats play. We also take this message on to the shore, showing children in the classroom the small changes they can make as a part of Whale Education Month every October.

An Opportunity for Everyone

The beauty of ORCA’s work is that almost anyone can get involved – regardless of your background or previous knowledge, you can potentially go out to sea and help us to collect data as a citizen scientist. The only qualification you need is to be passionate about the marine environment – after that, we’ll teach you everything you need to go out to sea and collect data.

ORCA run Marine Mammal Surveyor courses around the UK each year, starting in October and running until the end of January. These courses are one day and usually take place at a weekend, and will teach you all of the fundamental skills you need to be an ORCA Marine Mammal Surveyor including how to record data, how to identify different species and what we expect of you on the ships.

Once you’ve trained up, got your uniform and joined as an ORCA member, you’ll be ready to apply for the dozens of surveys we run across the UK. Trips last anything from one day to 32 nights and your ticket and accommodation on ship are all included, so all you usually need to do is to get yourself to the port itself.

ORCA’s work to monitor marine life has never been more important as the ocean faces graver threats than ever before. We know that to protect the marine environment we need to understand it better, so why not visit www.orcaweb.org.uk/train to find out how you can get involved in our work.

built in automatic flashes can create terrible photos Say No To Your Flash

Dave Cheetham Wildfoot Travel

Every month Wildfoot Travel’s marketing expert Dave Cheetham offers some practical photography tips.
Aimed at beginners and the everyday photographer, these tips are carefully compiled to help you get better travel and wildlife shots.

 

Every trip calls for a few shots, often portraits,  in fading light or dark conditions. Without expensive professional equipment, the automatic, built in flash on your camera can produce hideous results. Direct, harsh, cold light and red-eye can ruin an otherwise good photo.

So before you resort to flash photography, here are a few ideas to experiment with

  1. Most cameras have a setting to override the flash and, in many cases, with the flash set to ‘off’ the camera’s semi-automatic modes will re-adjust to get the best image possible. This can have unexpectedly good results.
  2. Move your subject. If you are indoors, see if you can relocate your subject to a position with better light.
  3. Move yourself. Be aware of where the light is coming from, make sure it can reach your subject effectively, from the right direction. Without you, or anything else in the way.
  4. Let more light in. Can you open a window or door, pull a curtain or turn another light on to let more light in to the frame?
  5. Position your subject away from walls – avoiding the harsh shadows that walls create.
  6. Use a tripod. In low light, camera shake will be exaggerated so a tripod will help reduce the blurring effect.
  7. Turn the ISO up, increasing the sensitivity to light. Try different settings as higher settings bring more noise or ‘grain’ to your shots.
  8. For the more technical amongst you, select a wider aperture (lower F-number) to let in more light.
  9. Study the location and learn the light. Make a mental note of where the ‘nice light’ spots are.
  10. Don’t wait ‘til you go. Experiment with all these ideas before your next big trip, that way you’ll come back with better photos.
Joby Gorillapod 5K - allows the wildlife photographer unique flexibility Joby GorillaPod 5K Tripod Kit

Dave Cheetham Wildfoot TravelEach month Wildfoot Travel’s Dave Cheetham reviews a piece of wildlife travel or photography gear. From clothing to books and cameras to accessories, the product-in-focus may vary, but the honest and thorough scrutiny remains constant. Here Dave reviews a recent purchase, Joby’s flexible DSLR tripod.

I have to admit, when I am out shooting photos or video, I lack the patience of a great landscape photographer. Instead of taking my time to ensure a precise set-up and wait for the perfect moment, I have one eye on the next move, always keen to capture the bits that I am missing and snap the amazing things that are going on around me. That irrepressible, fast moving, reactive urge lead me to invest in the Joby Gorillapod 5K, sold together with ball-head as a kit at around £130.

Joby Gorillapod 5K great for wildlife photography

Now let’s get one thing straight. I also have a decent tripod, so I wasn’t looking for an alternative. Just a more flexible tool to use under the right circumstances.

My Canon 5D MkIII is a heavy piece of kit and with a heavy zoom lens attached. I have to admit, I was expecting disappointment.  But the reality was quite the opposite. The Gorillapod dealt with the heavy lump without a single problem.
Standing at about 15 inches high, Joby’s quirky camera stand is remarkably stable under load and offers all the benefits I was hoping for and more.

Shooting wildlife, it is ideally flexible. Its bumpy, bendable legs make it quick and easy to get the camera set at a really low viewpoint. So you can be eye to eye with your subject in a flash. Something traditional tripods can make impossible or, at best, difficult.
You could get away without the ball-head (saving about £60), simply relying on the in-built bendability of the legs which give remarkable and almost-instant adjustability but for me the added ‘wigglability’ is worth the cash.The legs bend and grip so much better than I expected, allowing you to use rocks, railings, branches and bars to stabilize body and lens. This can lead to great shots, often with a slightly different perspective as intriguing leading lines and interesting foreground material can be a unexpected bonus provided by the mounting surface.
For the impulsive photographer like myself, you can quickly snatch the legs together, lift the whole lot up and dash off to your next vantage point with the ‘knobbles’ providing an almost perfect grip. I found myself leaving the pod attached all day and using it as a carry handle between locations.

Joby Gorillapod 5K - allows the wildlife photographer unique flexibility

This beautifully-ugly, delightfully-functional accessory has a reassuring robust feel and even though I haven’t owned it for too long, I trust its durability without question.

Overall, I am very impressed. This is a very useful tool indeed.There are times I would definitely pack a traditional tripod instead. However, on the occasions when I need to travel light, be flexible and be low to the ground, I would certainly choose the Gorillapod.

The price tag is a high one but if your camera is smaller or lighter, Joby have more affordable Gorillapods on offer. You may also decide to forgo the ball head to further reduce your financial distress – at least until you are sure you really need it.

Find out more about the Joby Gorillapod 5K here

Find the perfect Gorillapod for your camera (or phone) here