Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
Do you like to travel? Do you love wildlife? Have you ever considered combining the two? Modern life is hectic and technologically driven by commercially motivated reasons. And it is extremely important to separate yourself from the hustle and bustle once in a while.
The problem is that when most people go on vacation, they go to a big city like New York or London. (Which you should do at least once, there’s no shame in that). But when you go to cities only when you travel, you simply experience the same hustle and bustle, just in a different environment.
That’s where wildlife holidays come in. Seeing an animal in its natural habitat helps you become connected to your animal roots.
That’s why this article presents five exciting wildlife vacation ideas that every traveler will love. There’s no specific order to this list—so you’ll have to decide which one is for you based on your needs and desires from a nature escape. So, for your next vacation, take a break from the concrete jungle and head to the real one!
Grizzly Bears
This may sound like a crazy idea, and one only for those adrenaline junkies, but Grizzle bears in Alaska can be enjoyed by everyone.
The Katmai National Park is an unspoilt wild area that has received more than 100 years of protection in a wildlife protection program. Therefore, there is plenty of food available for grizzly bears. You will see the bears in their natural habitat, and potentially get up close, accompanied by a guide.
Besides walking among grizzly bears, there is plenty of other wildlife to see in Alaska. With the right tour, you can see sea otters, whales, moose and bald eagles.
Best time to go: To make sure you get all the grizzly bear sightings you can, you should go between June and September. This is because in June and August, you are more likely to see general bear activity, such as playing, grazing and mating, while in July and September, you can see them coming together to eat salmon. sockeye.
Great Migration
There are a number of awesome safaris, such as those offered by Naturetrek wildlife holidayswhich gives you the experience of their lives witnessing the Great Migration.
The Great Migration it is a 1,200 mile journey made by over a million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra. The zebra and the wildebeest are following the rain, while they themselves are being followed by a large number of predators.
This trip is not for the swimmish, as you are likely to see more than a few lions hunting, and successfully at that.
If you’re feeling brave, you can get out of your vehicle (if the guide says it’s ok) in Botswana and Zambia for a bush walk, where you’ll get to see more lion, elephant, buffalo, black rhino and leopard. You will also see more zebra, hyenas and hippos. Even if you’re super independent, you’ll want to book a tour. The tours offer many options to participate in a bush walk, while keeping you safe and informed.
Best time to go: February and March is the best time to see the migration in Tanzania, because that is the rainy season. You will see baby animals and many predators. In June and July, you will get to see the Great Migration in Kenya, and if you choose to go there, you will also get to see crocodiles in the Gurmeti River, waiting for their prey as they try to cross.
Whales
Photo by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash
Alaska alone is a vast, rugged and beautiful place. And it is one of the last true wild places left on the planet.
If you want a totally exhilarating and heart-stopping experience, head to Alaska to kayak with whales, where even a pod of killer whales can swim past or you might see the dark shape of a humpback whale darting by ‘grace from below.
You can see the humpback whales converge in Frederick Sound during the summer months and camp right next to them on the shore. You will also have the chance to see Dall’s porpoises, harbor seals, harbor porpoises and Steller’s sea lions. Don’t forget about sea otters and bald eagles!
Something to think about: You probably want to be pretty confident in your sea kayaking skills before venturing into the open water around Alaska.
Best time to go: The best time to plan your trip is between May and September. This is because the days are the longest, the temperatures moderate, and the whales will be active in the area.
Forest
There are six national parks in Madagascar. These parks form the World Heritage Site of Atsinana, located in the eastern part of the island. Madagascar is similar to the Galapagos Islands, as it hosts a rich and diverse ecosystem. And like the Galapagos, that ecosystem has been evolving on its own, since the island separated from the mainland more than 60 million years ago.
What will you get to see? You will see lemurs! On Madagascar there is 33 species of lemurs. These eccentric creatures are delightful to watch as they vocalize without hesitation and draw with all the confidence in the world.
Since the island is quite remote, joining a tour is highly recommended.
Best time to go: The best time to go see lemurs on Madagascar is between April and mid-December. The rest of the time is a wet season which often involves cyclones and should probably be avoided. If you are determined to go during the wet season, invest in a good one waxed. If you want to see baby lemurs, you should go there in October and November. Otherwise, if you go in April, you will avoid the best season.
Mountain Gorillas
Tracking mountain gorillas is ranked over and over as one of the best wildlife experiences on the planet. Mountain gorillas they are the world’s rarest of all non-human primates. Only about 1000 left! All of them can be found in the border region between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. There are many awesome and exciting guided gorilla tracking tours, where after you find them, you actually get to spend an hour hanging out with them.
People who have had the experience of seeing gorillas in their natural habitat describe it as one of the most life changing experiences they have ever had. Is it because of their size? Is it because of their grace in movement despite their size? Or because they are so similar to humans? You will have to decide for yourself
Best time to go: The best time to see the gorillas is during the dry season: from January to February, and from June to September. That being said, you can go on successful tracking tours all year round.
Photo by Andreas dress on Unsplash
So what are you waiting for? Get up from your office desk and get out from under those harsh fluorescent lights. And ditch the concrete for an actual jungle on one of these exciting wildlife vacations. Whether you want to see majestic gorillas in the Congo, well-fed grizzlies in Alaska or strutting lemurs in Madagascar, there is a holiday for you. Remember to join the tours to be safe and get the most out of your visit.