2010 Year of Biodiversity - Imaginative Traveller Wildlife Holidays
2010 is the Year of Biodiversity! And what better way to experience it than by actually seeing for yourself some of the world’s incredible wildlife rather than just armchair travelling with the various programmes on television (excellent though they are). Wildlife holidays used to be mostly concentrated on Africa. However, as access to remote destinations becomes easier, an explosion in wildlife holidays throughout the world has occurred. With Imaginative Traveller there are now numerous destinations where you can enjoy the most incredible wildlife encounters. How about a jungle trip in Borneo on our Sabah Wildlife Explorer or the ‘well kept secret’ Khao Sok National Park in Thailand on our Thailand in Depth tour, extend your trek through the Himalayas with a Chitwan Safari Extension, explore the Amazon in Peru, Brazil and Ecuador on various tours through South America or how about searching for leopards in India on our ever-popular Rajasthan Safari tour?!
Below are some of our favourite wildlife experiences - starting with the eternally popular Galapagos Islands!
Complete Galapagos – enjoy 8 days of wildlife cruising amongst both south and north islands with blue-footed boobies, penguins, marine iguanas, seals, sharks and of course the giant Galapagos Tortoise!
Ecuador and the Enchanted Isles – an 8-days Galapagos cruise plus an Amazon rainforest expedition on the mainland.
Peru Encompassed – the Amazon rainforest plus the rare sea birds and sea lions of the Ballestas Islands, Peru’s ‘mini-Galapagos’.
South America Circle - experience the Brazilian Amazon, including the pink Amazonian dolphins and of course the infamous piranhas.
South America Coast to Coast – combine the flora and fauna of the rainforest of Iguazu Falls and the Marumbi State Park on the Atlantic with the Pantanal - a massive wetland reserve, home to some 650 species of birds, 230 varieties of fish and a huge variety of other exotic wildlife.
Colours of Colombia - the Tayrona National Park has a fascinating wildlife including black howler and titi monkeys, red woodpeckers, iguanas, jaguars, a wide variety of lizards and tropical marine life.
Central American Trails - parrots, toucans and howler monkeys offer a spectacular backdrop to the various Mayan ruins of Mexico and Guatemala as well as the marine life of the world’s second largest barrier reef at Caye Caulker in Belize.
Rainforest Adventure – all the best national parks of Costa Rica – the waterways of Tortuguero, the coral reefs of Cahuita, the cloud forest at Monteverde and the jungles of Manuel Antonio.
Spitzbergen Explorer - cruise in search of arctic wildlife such as polar bears, walrus, whales, arctic fox and reindeer.
Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia – whales, seals, numerous sea birds and five different species of penguins including the King Penguins of South Georgia.
Annapurna & Chitwan – enjoy an elephant-back safari in search of tigers and rhino in Chitwan National Park after a lodge-based trek amongst the Nepalese Himalayas.
South Indian Highlights – explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary by foot and boat in search of elephant, wild pig, flying squirrel, over 260 species of birds and even tiger.
Sri Lanka Discovery – search for wild elephants and leopard in Kaudulla or Minneriya National Parks and visit the Elephant Transit Home at Udawalawe National Park.
Borneo Encompassed – meet the orang-utans at the famous Sepilok Sanctuary and enjoy wildlife experiences on the Kinabatangan River and in the Danum Valley from the first class Borneo Rainforest Lodge where over 110 species of mammals have been recorded.
Beachcomber – a tropical trip to Thailand combining the Ang Tong National Marine Park off the island of Koh Samui with the wildlife of Khao Sok National Park rainforest.
China Encompassed - visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base situated near Chengdu.
Complete East Africa – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda including the Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Parc National des Volcans for the Mountain Gorillas.
Highlights of Kenya & Tanzania –safari whilst staying in luxury tented camps and lodges visiting the Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Lake Nakuru and Samburu.
Preserving Primates – trek to see the mountain gorillas in BOTH Rwanda and Uganda as well as the rare Golden Monkeys, safaris in the wildlife-rich Queen Elizabeth National Park and a full day chimpanzee habituation experience.
Ethiopian Odyssey – Ethiopia contains a wealth of wildlife at Nechisar and Abyata-Shala National Parks, Lake Awasa and the Simien Mountains.
Botswana in Depth – a mobile camping safari in Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve, Savuti, the Khwai River and Okavango Delta.
Namibia in Depth - Etosha National Park houses large numbers of globally endangered species, including the black rhinoceros and African elephant. Also enjoy day and evening excursions in the fabulous, yet little known, Erindi Game Reserve.
Waterfalls and Wildlife – walk with lion cubs and even swim with elephants in Zimbabawe’s Antelope Park. Plus safaris in Hwange National Park and South Africa’s world famous Kruger National Park!
Kruger Wildlife Experience – unforgettable walking safaris and 4WD day and night game drives away from the crowds in Timbavati Game Reserve, part of Greater Kruger National Park.
West African Kingdoms – Benin’s Pendjari National Park is known for its elephant, baboon, lion, hippopotamus, buffalo, antelopes and over 300 varieties of birds. Spot elephants, buffalo and leopard from the amazing canopy walkway in Ghana’s Kakum National Park.
Magic of Madagascar – Madagascar has been cut off from Africa for millions of years resulting in a variety of unique endemic species including over 70 different species of lemur!
shrihari
Thanks for sharing the wildlife cruising amongst both south and north islands with blue-footed boobies, penguins, marine iguanas, seals, sharks and of course the giant Galapagos Tortoise! I think many peoples will be attracted and guided by this post.
Serengeti National Park