Witnessing animals in their native, unspoiled environment is a remarkable experience. Close, intimate interactions with the animal kingdom are rare and sometimes dangerous, yet humbling and extraordinarily beautiful. We caught up with zoologist Brendan Phillips, who revealed the best spots to see the residents of our planet.
Indonesia
Perhaps the most famous of animals to call the archipelago of Indonesia home is the orangutan. Native to Indonesia and found in the lush rainforests of Sumatra and Kalimantan, these hairy red apes love to charm their visitors with their intelligence and advanced learning abilities. In addition to these great apes, Indonesia’s jungles are a sanctuary to a diverse number of inhabitants. Creatures such as tigers, elephants, and bounteous monkeys form a chorus of wildlife that will put on a show you will never forget.
Peru
Adorable in name and appearance, the Spectacled Bear, found in Peru, is the only species of bear native to the South American continent. This gorgeous creature lives in the Andes Mountains and is distinguished by the white rings around its eyes that resemble eyeglasses. They are extremely shy, preferring to hang out on the foggy slopes amongst the fruits and berries. Their fellow Peruvian citizens consist of rare exotic species such as squawking macaws, slinky felines, and colored river dolphins.
India
Known as the land of tigers, India provides a sanctuary for almost half the world’s wild tigers. These glorious, big-pawed beasts will make the hair on your neck stand up as they prowl alongside your safari jeep. Their majestic orange and black stripes announce their status in the animal kingdom, and to catch even just a glimpse of these creatures is mesmerizing and unforgettable. They live alongside many other interesting species, such as antelope, elephants, leopards, and rhinos, that also call India home.
The Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are a melting pot of exotic and colorful wildlife. Unique, vibrant, and sometimes even comical, the residents of the islands range from the blue-footed booby to 450 different species of fish. There are curious bottlenose dolphins, ancient green sea turtles, and dinosaur-like marine iguanas. Dive into the waters of The Galápagos Islands, and you may experience an underwater encounter with some of the world’s largest fish or even a giant oceanic manta ray.
South Africa
South Africa is irrefutably famous for its wildlife and extremely popular for its game drives. Getting to meet elephants, giraffes, hippos, and if you’re lucky, leopards and cheetahs firsthand is a dream come true for many travelers. Experiencing it all in the wilderness of South Africa, with its spectacular landscapes and endless savannahs, overloads your senses in a good way. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, take part in tracking the highly endangered black rhino on foot.
Madagascar
This island nation off the African coast boasts some of the highest biodiversity on the planet. Out of the 200,000 species that live on Madagascar, 150,000 of them are unique to the island, existing nowhere else. They include frogs, exotic birds, and many, many lemurs. Some of the wildlife in Madagascar is peculiar, to say the least, like the flat-tailed gecko (the spitting image of an autumn leaf), the Malagasy leaf-nosed snake (which looks like a sort of snake-unicorn), and the loveable aye-aye (a primate that uses its exceedingly long middle finger to tap on bark to find prey). Basically, if you visit Madagascar, you’re in for a smorgasbord of weird but wonderful creatures.
Do you have any favourite destinations where you’ve encountered wildlife? Let us know in the comments!
Remember, in order to preserve this precious planet of ours, we encourage you to engage in responsible wildlife tourism whenever possible.
