The Greatest Wildlife Locations within the World – Wild Junket Journey Journey Weblog

Final Up to date on June 9, 2023 by Nellie Huang

From the jungle of Madagascar to the icy realm of Antarctica, I deliver you a round-up of the perfect wildlife locations on this planet. 

As a serious wildlife buff, I really like touring to locations which might be brimming with wild animals. There’s one thing particular about coming nose to nose with animals within the wild. In at present’s world, such encounters are sadly turning into increasingly more uncommon.

I’ve been fortunate sufficient to have had many intimate wildlife encounters all over the world, from the savannas of Zimbabwe to the the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador and tundra of the Arctic. Based mostly on my private expertise, I’ve compiled a listing of the perfect wildlife locations and nationwide parks on this planet.

Greatest Wildlife Locations within the World

1. Antarctica

Antarctica stands sturdy as my #1 wildlife vacation spot. From the second we crossed the Drake Passage into the Antarctic waters, we have been actually surrounded by pods of whales, fur seals, elephant seals and 1000’s of penguins.

Antarctica is distant, harsh and really far past. One can actually get a way of being on the fringe of the world right here – there’s hardly any signal of humanity, solely animals roaming freely. Antarctica makes you’re feeling such as you’re the primary particular person ever to have arrived, even on a ship with 120 different passengers.

I traveled to Antarctica on an expedition cruise with G Adventures and thus far, it’s nonetheless the most epic journey I’ve completed. Every day of our Antarctic expedition introduced it with totally different experiences: whether or not that was watching leopard seals feeding, strolling amongst 1000’s of penguins, or cruising alongside playful orca. 

2. Galapagos Islands

Probably the greatest locations on this planet for wildlife watching is certainly the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. This group of islands fashioned hundreds of thousands of years in the past from volcanoes, and have been separated from the mainland since then. By means of the years, wild animals slowly arrived to the islands by air and by sea. These creatures finally tailored to the situations of the tiny islands, and advanced into endemic species which might be discovered right here and no the place else on Earth.

Due to how remoted the Galapagos Islands are, Galapagos wildlife by no means developed a concern of people. Don’t be stunned to seek out sea lions mendacity by the streets and big lizards swimming round your boat within the Galapagos. They aren’t in the slightest degree afraid of us. Examine my expertise touring the Galapagos Islands with youngsters.

At the moment, over 97 % of the land is nationwide park, and Ecuador limits who could dwell there and what number of vacationers could go to. The Galapagos Islands are a number of the most unspoiled locations on Earth due to safety legal guidelines and conservations efforts. 

3. Kenya

Kenya is the most well-liked journey vacation spot in East Africa, receiving round 2 million worldwide guests per yr. It’s straightforward to see why: the extraordinarily numerous nation is full of wildlife, from the Huge 5 that roam its savannas to the marine animals that inhabit its shoreline.

I’ve traveled throughout Africa (to round 30 nations within the continent) and the Maasai Mara positively ranks as one of many finest safari parks on this planet. Possibilities of seeing the Huge 5 are very excessive, particularly in the event you time your journey to the annual migration. You don’t even have to go far to see animals: in Nairobi, you’ll be able to feed child elephants on the orphanage or hang around with giraffes on the Giraffe Centre. And if that’s not wild sufficient, head into the Nairobi Nationwide Park and also you’ll be driving subsequent to wild rhinos and wildebeest very quickly.

4. Costa Rica

One other place I’ve discovered to be top-of-the-line locations to see wildlife is Costa Rica. The Central American nation really has all of it: lush rainforests, volcanoes, seashores, and distinctive wildlife (suppose howler monkeys, anteaters, inexperienced tree frogs and sloths). The Central American nation can be residence to a number of the world’s most protected nationwide parks, the place animals are literally ensured of a vivid future.

On our household journey to Costa Rica, we have been blown away by the biodiversity and environmental consciousness throughout the nation. Costa Rica has gone to nice lengths to guard its nationwide parks and wildlife reserves. Regardless of receiving round 1.7 million vacationers annually, the nation has completed such a fantastic job in making certain that tourism right here is sustainable and useful to native communities.

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5. Madagascar

Distant and remoted, Madagascar is a hidden paradise little identified to the surface world – making it all of the extra fascinating and alluring. We selected to honeymoon in Madagascar and I fell head over heels for this distinctive island.

Situated within the Indian Ocean, Madagascar is positioned 250 miles (400 km) off the east coast of mainland Africa. Having been remoted from the African continent 165 hundreds of thousands years in the past, Madagascar’s weird wildlife have been evolving ever since. At the moment, there are over 70 species and sub-species of lemurs in Madagascar, and they’re really easy to identify you’ll be able to actually see them all over the place.

The most well-liked and well-known lemur species is the ring-tailed lemur. It’s thought-about to be some of the clever of them as effectively. Different lemur species that I really like are the Verraux sifaka (that may dance sideways) and the tiny gray mouse lemur (smallest primate in Madagascar). 

6. Svalbard

One of many world’s northernmost inhabited areas, Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Svalbard is the polar bear’s kingdom: there are extra polar bears than people dwelling right here. 

Moreover polar bears, Svalbard’s rugged, distant terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra additionally shelter seals, whales, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. My expedition cruise was full of thrilling wildlife encounters: at one level, I noticed 11 polar bears feeding on a whale carcass, a harp seal floating on an ice sheet with its calf, and over 100 walruses, piled atop each other, lounging about underneath the solar. My Arctic cruise in Svalbard was really top-of-the-line wildlife experiences I’ve ever had.

7. South Africa

 South Africa is without doubt one of the most numerous nations I’ve been — with cosmopolitan cities alongside dramatic coastlines that fringe wild savannas and rugged mountain vary. You’ll be able to simply go from game-driving within the African bushveld to browsing on the seashore or wine-tasting at lush vineyards in a matter of hours. Plus it’s residence to many historic websites which have witnessed some main turning factors in world’s historical past.

I really like South Africa a lot that I’ve been 4 occasions! For wildlife lovers, it’s paradise on Earth. From the sealions off V&A Waterfront in Cape City, to the cute African Penguin colony at Boulders Seashore, cage shark diving in Gaansbai, and wildlife safari in Kruger, the biggest and hottest nationwide park in South Africa.

8. Australia

House to a number of the most unusual animals on this planet, Australia is undoubtedly top-of-the-line locations to see animals. About 50 million years in the past, Australia cut up from Gondwana, the large super-continent of the southern hemisphere. Since then, modifications in land formation and local weather led to the distinctive natural world that we all know in Australia at present. Greater than 80% of our vegetation, mammals, reptiles and frogs are distinctive to Australia and are discovered nowhere else on this planet. 

It’s straightforward to see wildlife in Australia: in lots of parks and reserves, you’ll discover kangaroos hopping freely, koalas hanging onto eucalyptus timber, wombats snoozing in bushes, and emus sauntering leisurely on their very own turf. Kangaroo Island and Rottnest Island are a number of the finest spots to see Australian wildlife.

9. Uganda

Mountain gorillas are a number of the world’s most endangered animals on this planet, with simply over 1000 left on Earth. Being of their presence is an absolute privilege, and a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. There’s something humbling and transferring about coming so near an animal of this dimension and stature within the wild — with no fence or cage between you. 

Mountain gorillas can solely be discovered within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda. In line with the 2019 gorilla census, there are 1063 mountain gorillas left on this planet. Uganda holds 60% of the overall mountain gorillas left on this planet, with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest being the most well-liked alternative for a gorilla trekking tour. 

Gorilla trekking is an costly expertise — with permits costing upwards of $500. However when you lock eyes with a gorilla, you’ll understand it’s effectively definitely worth the cash. Sure you solely spend one hour with the gorillas, however it’s an intense, exhilarating and deeply soul-stirring hour.

10. Mexico

11. Tanzania

When most individuals consider an African safari, they consider the Serengeti in Tanzania – and rightly so, because it has impressed many movies and books.

Over 25% of Tanzania is designated to wildlife sanctuaries and nationwide parks. The full space is bigger than the scale of the entire Germany because the nation. Between the Serengeti Nationwide Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Space, they shield the best and most assorted assortment of land animals on Earth. 

Each October and November, over a million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras come south for the rain earlier than heading northwest about six months later. It’s additionally a fantastic place to catch cheetahs and lions in motion as they prey on the herbivores within the space. 

12. Palau

Situated within the western nook of the Pacific Ocean, Palau is an archipelago nation within the Federated States of Micronesia, sprinkled with tons of of world-class dive websites. It’s top-of-the-line scuba diving locations on this planet, with a mind-blowing array of marine animals inhabiting the waters surrounding Palau.

Within the week that I spent exploring Palau, I did loads of dives and noticed tons of of sharks, hawksbill turtles, and big bumphead parrotfish. Let’s not neglect the distinctive jellyfish lake, the place I swam amidst hundreds of thousands of translucent white jellyfish. This lake was some of the magical locations I’ve ever been — as there isn’t a the place else fairly like this on this planet.

13. Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked nation in southern Africa identified for its dramatic panorama and numerous wildlife, a lot of it unfold over 11 nationwide parks. With the tip of controversial President Robert Mugabe’s 37-year reign in 2017, Zimbabwe welcomed a brand new chapter within the nation’s tourism trade and it’s now thriving as safari vacation spot. 

Throughout our time in Victoria Falls Personal Recreation Reserve, we have been actually stunned by what number of spectacular wildlife sightings we had: from herds of zebras grazing on the grasslands, to kudus galloping amidst the bush, and vultures eyeing the savanna from the highest of the Acacia timber. Out of the six black rhinos that decision this reserve residence, we noticed 4 of them, as they linger simply inches away from our jeep, oblivious to our presence.

14. Sri Lanka

Lush jungles, rural villages and wild seashores — Sri Lanka is the Backyard of Eden of southern Asia, quietly tucked away in secrecy away from the vacationer path. It’s only a leap away from the chaos and insanity of India, and but it looks as if a world away. 

The island could also be small in dimension, however  it’s acquired an extremely wealthy wildlife, together with a few of Asia’s final remaining leopard, bear and elephant populations. Simply 197km away from Sri Lanka’s largest metropolis, Colombo, is the Kaudulla Nationwide Park the place you’ll be able to see wild elephants and different wildlife.

The very best time to go on an elephant safari in Kaudulla is between August and December, when as much as 2 hundred congregate on the tank for the annual “gathering”. Moreover elephants, there’s a slew of different wild animals that may be discovered within the park – together with Sri Lankan sambar deer, Sri Lankan axis deer, chevrotain, wild boar, Sri Lankan leopard, and sloth bear.

15. Botswana

Botswana stands out for its numerous ecosystems: on a wildlife safari in Botswana, you’re by no means restricted to only one transport mode. Moreover game-tracking by 4WD, you’ll be exploring Botswana’s combination of salt pans and savannahs by mokoro (dugout canoe, Botswana specialty) and riverboat.

Locations to not miss embody the Chobe Nationwide Park, residence to the world’s largest herds of elephant, and the Okavango Delta, an beautiful wetland space. Gliding by the calm waters of the Okavango Delta, watching hippos and crocodiles from afar, is an extremely surreal expertise. 

16. Brazil

Taking over half of South America’s landmass, Brazil is without doubt one of the most biodiverse nations on this planet. It’s residence to the world’s largest rainforest – the Amazon and the world’s largest wetland – the Pantanal. Along with the Atlantic rainforest and cerrado grasslands, these ecosystems include an astonishing abundance and variety of wildlife.

Plan your whole Brazil itinerary round recognizing wildlife and exploring Brazil’s jaw-dropping pure landmarks. If you happen to do, be certain that to incorporate a Pantanal jaguar safari; Caraça Sanctuary to see maned wolves; Paraty to see spectacular variety of birds; and Iguazu Falls – one of many most lovely waterfalls on this planet.

17. Borneo

As the biggest island in Asia, Borneo is politically divided amongst three nations: Malaysia and Brunei within the north, and Indonesia to the south. Borneo is without doubt one of the world’s nice biodiversity hotspots, boasting an intriguing array of species together with; frogs that ‘fly’, fish that ‘stroll’, monkeys that ‘dive’, vegetation that eat bugs, lizards, snakes and, in fact, orangutans and lots of different mammals.

Among the finest spots for watching wildlife on the island are positioned within the state of Sabah: Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley and Deramakot Forest Reserve. Whether or not you dream of seeing Orangutans, Pygmy elephants, flying frogs or the elusive wild cats of Borneo, take a tour to one among these locations and also you gained’t imagine what number of animals you’ll be able to spot.

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