E: 29/02 Win a wildlife safari - writing skills required

Sorry if this has been up before; I saw something similar but it didn't look like a writing
competition

http://www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com/travel.asp


The Way to Win

- Your story must be no longer than 800 words and must describe an encounter with a wild animal.
- Your story can take place anywhere, either at home or abroad. You could describe an experience in a far-flung wilderness, a nature reserve on your doorstep or even an urban environment.
- Whatever subject matter you choose, it is essential that your writing conveys a sense of travel, discovery and something of the essence of the natural world.
- One of our judges, Brian Jackman, suggests the key to a successful travel article is to bear in mind the call of the reader: "Take me there."
- The judges will look for the writer's individual voice to shine through.
- Do your research, check your facts and read the work of previous winners – found in any June issue of BBC Wildlife.
- Don't forget to follow the rules.
- You'll find an entry form in the January issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine – good luck!

First Prize
- Your wildlife safari for two with Expert Africa begins with an overnight flight from London Heathrow to Maun via Johannesburg. Botswana is one of Africa’s top safari destinations, and a stronghold for a wide variety of wildlife, including huge herds of elephants and the endangered African wild dog.
- You’ll then fly by light aircraft to Chitabe Camp for two nights. In theheart of the Okavango Delta, Chitabe has luxurious en-suite tents and its activities concentrate on 4WD game drives (day and night) and short walking safaris.

- Next fly north to a different part of the Okavango: large floodplains dotted with forested islands fringed by palms. Stay for two nights at Little Vumbura, a stunning camp on its own island. Enjoy motor-boat trips in the deeper channels, excursions by mekoro (dug-out canoes) across shallow floodplains, and 4WD game drives.
- From the Okavango, fly to another contrasting environment: the Linyanti Reserve. Spend two nights at Savuti Camp, wherethebeautiful en-suite tents each have a veranda facing a waterhole, and game drives concentrate on the wildlife found in the Savute Channel.
- Leaving Botswana, fly to Livingstone in Zambia, beside the magnificent Victoria Falls. End with two nights at the brand new Toka Leya Lodge, beside the Zambezi River, your base for a range of activities from river cruises and game drives to museum visits and tours of the Falls.
- Sadly leaving Livingstone, you fly back to the UK. This 9-day safari using camps run by Wilderness Safaris, would normally cost from £4,135 per person sharing.

Rules
1. The competition is open to all writers aged 18 and over, previously published or not, other than employees or the immediate family of BBC Worldwide, Origin Publishing or the Expert Africa/ Sunvil group.
2. One entry per person.
3. The story should be no longer than 800 words and must be typed with double-line spacing on A4 paper and on one side only.
4. You must not write your name on the story. Instead, your story must have one anonymous tag word written in the top right-hand corner of each page. You must then write the same tag word on an envelope containing the completed entry form, and this envelope should be attached to the back of the story. Stories will not be returned.
5. The story must not have been entered in or won a prize in any other competition anywhere in the world or have been previously published.
6. The story must be the original work of the entrant, who must be the sole owner of the copyright.
7. The entry of a story to the competition constitutes a grant to BBC Worldwide of the right to publish it in any media.
8. The stories will be judged by an independent panel. BBC Wildlife reserves the right to withhold prizes if, in the opinion of the judges, the standard of entries so warrants.
9. The judges' decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into concerning the final choice of winners.
10. The prize must be taken between 15 November 2008 and 31 May 2009 (excluding periods around Christmas, New Year and Easter). Three dates will be offered; there are no cash alternatives and the prize cannot be transferred.
11. Expert Africa reserves the right to use similar camps, run by Wilderness Safaris, in Botswana and Livingstone as alternatives.
12. All entries must be received by the closing date of 29 February 2008. Proof of posting is not proof of receipt.
13. Winners will be notified by email in April. The winning essay will be published in the June 2008 issue of BBC Wildlife.
14. Email addresses may be used by Expert Africa for marketing purposes.