Wildlife adventures don’t start and end with being driven in a jeep around the famous game parks of Africa… It’s time to redefine the ‘safari holiday’ or else risk missing out on all the other amazing nature experiences that are up for grabs
Words Adam Millward
Travel expert
Helen Byron is a wildlife consultant for Wildlife Worldwide, which offers a huge selection of safari holidays – both traditional and alternative
There is something primeval about the sound of a lion roaring just metres from you in the dark of an African night; even more so if you’re on a walking safari with all senses on high alert. As a former safari guide, the exhilaration is hard to beat!
Don’t just limit yourself to Africa though, as the morning light and dawn chorus in India’s tiger country is magical. Why not try Sri Lanka for leopards? Why, in fact, stick to a vehicle? There are boat safaris cruising Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands on the search for jaguar or Borneo’s riverbanks looking for primates and elephants. Why not walk with bears in Canada? Or hope for lynx in Spain? There are horse-riding, mountain-biking and hot-air-ballooning safaris. In fact, one of my all-time favourite trips was a whale safari off the coast of Baja, Mexico. Think outside the box and the world will be your oyster.
Map key
1 Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka
2 Tempelfjorden, Svalbard, Norway
3 Lamar Valley, Wyoming, US
4 Bora Bora Lagoon, French Polynesia
5 Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, Mongolia
6 Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Romania
Polar bear
The king of the bears and other Arctic wildlife may be closer than you realise… A three-hour flight from Oslo, Svalbard offers a frozen safari like nowhere else on Earth.
American bison
Nicknamed the ‘American Serengeti’, Yellowstone National Park is a hotspot not just for geysers but US animal icons such as bison, elk, bears and wolves.
Stingray
Who says all safaris must be on land? Grab your snorkel or diving gear of choice to get up close with the diverse residents of a tropical lagoon.
Snow leopard
What better way to enjoy Mongolia’s largest national park and go in search of elusive snow leopards than astride a camel?
Asian elephant
Elephants are one of the stars of any classic safari, but Africa doesn’t have a monopoly on these popular pachyderms. Asian elephants are just one of the alternative ‘Big Five’ that you can see in Sri Lanka.
Dalmatian pelican
Swamps are some of the most species-rich habitats, so it stands to reason that Europe’s largest wetland makes for a top safari. Birdwatchers are in for a treat!
Travel guide
When to go
The dry season is generally the optimum time for sightings. Note that the dry season won’t necessarily coincide with summer.
How to get there
A flight will get you to your destination, bufor the safari itself you’ll have to transfer to
