5 best places to see wildlife

From lions to giant turtles and exotic lemurs, the spectacle of seeing elusive animals in their natural habitat is always an exciting experience – but the world is a big place, and if you want to see some diverse wildlife, how do you know where to go?

To help our fellow nature-lovers decide where to go, we’ve narrowed down the five BEST places to see wildlife around the world!

Grab your passport, camera and binoculars – at these five spots you’re guaranteed some incredible up close and personal experiences with wildlife around the world!

Tanzania

Tanzania remains largely untamed and unspoiled and contains an enormous variety of stunning landscapes ranging from deserts and grassy savannas to tropical beaches, fertile valleys and the rugged peaks of the Great Rift Valley. Home to vast national parks, Tanzania is mostly known for spectacular scenery and significant wildlife populations. It's here that you'll have the chance to see Africa's iconic 'Big 5' game animals up close and in their natural environments. Head to the Serengeti National Park to witness the awe-inspiring sight of the great annual migration, as millions of wildebeest and other animals make their yearly northward journey into Kenya's Masai Mara; or descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest caldera, to find a treasure trove of exotic wildlife including lions, elephants, pink flamingoes and the endangered black rhino.

Book on the Culture and Wildlife of Tanzania for an all-encompassing wildlife safari through the country’s magnificent National Parks, with opportunities to visit various tribal groups with rich culture and history.

Madagascar

Isolated from Africa millions of years ago, Madagascar has evolved an incredibly rich ecology and a landscape that is as bizarre as it is unique. Home to one of the richest ecosystems on earth, the island is teeming with cartoon-quirky wildlife. Take the Lemur, found nowhere else in the world. Lemurs are easy to see in several parts of Madagascar (there are over 70 different kinds!), and are one of the most recognised animals on the island. Other interesting animals you’ll spot is the aye-aye, indri, flying fox, fossa, mongoose, chameleon, an array of frogs, bugs and geckos. You’ll also see abundant marine life in the coral reefs around the island, too!

Book on the Madagascar Adventure (21 days) for a complete exploration of the island’s rich ecosystem and diverse landscapes over three weeks.

Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands are world-renowned for the diverse and plentiful land and marine wildlife. From incredible bird life, included blue-footed boobies, to sea life such as sharks, whales, sea lions, dolphins and tuna, as well as the huge population of green turtles that gather off the shores of the Galapagos Islands to mate, socialise and lay their eggs. There’s no shortage of endemic species that inhabit its islands, including the Galapagos penguin, Galapagos sea lion, giant tortoise, Galapagos hawk, lava lizard, Darwins finch and more. What’s more, the island is a paradise for birdwatchers, with over 56 bird varieties (almost half living only in the Galapagos Archipelago!). For up close encounters with the wildlife that’s unlike anywhere else in the world, the Galapagos Islands are a must!

Take a cruise to this impressive wildlife sanctuary for a memorable experience to see the spectacular and striking world of volcanic landscapes and fearless animals. On our 8 day Galapagos Islands on the Beluga Vessel you will be accompanied by a naturalist guide, with ample opportunity to explore the volcanic and wildlife rich islands.

Costa Rica

Encounter wildlife and birds in the pristine tropical rainforest of one of Central America’s most exotic wildlife havens. Set against a backdrop of palm-fringed surf beaches, pristine waterfalls and tropical rainforests, Costa Rica is a nature-lover's fantasy. The rich biodiversity including jaguars, crocodiles, spider monkeys, tapirs and coatimundis will delight any wildlife enthusiast. Take time out to visit the butterfly sanctuary and be surrounded by some of the large, small, colourful and exquisite butterflies native to Costa Rica. Or, take an adventurous raft down the white water rapids as howler monkeys scream in the distance, growling ocelots creep along the forest floor, and whistling sloths call to one another.

Experience Costa Rica on our 12 day Costa Rica Traverse adventure - A unique multi activity crossing of Costa Rica from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean Sea under your own steam. Cross the 'continent' by trekking, cycling, kayaking and rafting to view the rich biodiversity of this spectacular country.

Botswana

When nearly 1/3 of Botswana’s land is set aside for wildlife, it’s almost guaranteed that the country will be teeming with animals. With zebras, hippos, elephants, wildebeest, lions, giraffes, wild dogs, cheetah, rhinos, hyenas, meerkats and much more, nature-lovers will be in wildlife heaven in this exciting country. Whether you head to the magnificent Moremi Game Reserve to get close to Africa's iconic Big 5 game animals, or make your way through the lush wetlands of the Okavango Delta, one of the world's richest bird watching spots, or visit the vast Chobe National Park to see huge herds of African elephants on an early morning game drive, and watch hippos, elephants and other iconic wildlife at play as you take an unforgettable cruise down the Chobe River at sunset – one thing is for sure – your camera will get a workout!

Jump on the Botswana Explorer for a fully serviced camping safari that showcases the abundant wildlife and amazing sights of Botswana and Victoria Falls.