Be still, be patient... What's that, moving through the tall grass? Is that a lion? A cheetah? No! There's three! And they are on the prowl, looking for their next kill! Such is the excitement of being on safari. And once you are have been, you are hooked for life.
Here are the world's best wildlife experiences, places you will want to visit again and again.
A hidden rain forest trail leads to an azure-blue pond, where a waterfall plunges down. You resist the urge to a refreshing dip and walk on up the hill discovering tree frogs and butterflies along the way. A coatimundi crosses your path, while overhead howler monkeys scream. This is Costa Rica, La Pura Vida. Visit our Costa Rica page
Borneo - Apes & jungles
Endless deep green jungles, stunning mountains and one incredibly blue ocean. Trek Mount Kinabalu, explore the deep forests by canoe and spot wild orang utans and proboscis monkeys. Stay in a long house for an immersion in tribal life or journey inland to the spectacular bat caves and extraordinary rock formations of Mulu National Park. This is Borneo, a land for adventure-seekers. Visit our Borneo page
East Africa - Migration and more
Home to the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth - the annual wildebeest migration - East Africa will impress you like no other place. Endless savannahs awash in vast numbers of animals; tribal people who bring colour to the land. As you are in awe of the herds of wildebeest on the Masai Mara and Serengeti, enjoy yet another glorious African sunset on the plains of Samburu, or spot a leopard in the trees of Nakuru, Kenya and Tanzania will capture you like few other countries do. This is the world of the Maasai, the land of elephants, giraffes, cheetahs and lions. Learn more about the Migration or visit out Kenya or Tanzania pages
Ecuador packs a lot of variety into a small country. The undisputed highlight is the Galapagos Archipelago, with their otherworldly volcanic landscapes and stunning array of wildlife. Snorkel with sea lions and penguins, come close to boobies and albatrosses, iguanas and tortoises and watch whales. This is nature in its primordial state, nature as it used to be. Download our Ultimate Galapagos Guide
Sri Lanka is well known for its splendid temples, ancient ruins, welcoming people and flavourful food, its lush mountains and glorious beaches. What is not as well known is the splendid wildlife opportunities. Yala National Park is one of the best places in the world to spot leopard, while blue whales congregate off Sri Lanka's southern coast and elephant herds gather in Udawalawe. Visit our Sri Lanka page
Bandhavgarh is one of the top places in India to spot the elusive endangered tiger. Coupled with the deep forests of Kanha, and the solitude of Pench, these three parks make up Madhya Pradesh’s trio of well-known tiger reserves. Each with its own atmosphere and ecosystems, the parks are at the core of Exodus' Land of the Tiger, a trip that will perhaps also net you leopard, wild boar, langur monkeys and the odd gaur (Indian bison). Ask us about our Wildlife in India tours.
Be on the look-out for orang-utans in the jungles of Sumatra, track komodo dragons on the island of the same name and snorkel with colour fish and perhaps manta rays in a land known for both culture and natural beauty. Ask us about out Primates and Dragons tour.
No experience is quite like coming eye to eye with mountain gorillas in their natural setting. After you trek through dense jungles and up slippery slope, the hour spent with our closest relatives is one experience you will carry with you for life. See them on a trip to Rwanda, combine a visit with tracking chimpanzees and other primates, scale the highest canopy walk in East Africa and see the Big Five in Akagera National Park. Visit our Rwanda page.
With the highest number of elephants in the world, a huge continuous wilderness area where animals roam free, the tranquility of the Okavango Delta and rare species such as rhino and wild dog, Botswana is a safari destination like no other. To top it off, just across the border in Zimbabwe you find Victoria Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world and a staple of any Botswana safari. Botswana has a huge range of safari options - from budget camping trips to mobile tented safaris and high-end fly-in safaris in remote lodges. Contact us for all the different options or visit our Botswana page.
One morning you will find yourself on the edge of Perinet Reserve on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar. The sun is about to rise over the forest canopy and all around you the bush comes alive. Groups of Indri's are shouting at each other through the trees - a primeval sound somewhere between a howl and a siren. Madagascar is the land of lemurs, of ringtail and golden bamboo lemurs, of sifakas and indris - there are over 70 species spread throughout the country. Then there are the colourful tribes, tropical beaches, bustling markets and ever-changing scenery - Madagascar is world all on its own. Ask us about our tours.
No other destination in the world will leave you feeling as insignificant before nature, yet as alive, as Antarctica does. Giant glaciers calving enormous icebergs; penguins porpoising through the waters, chased by leopard seals; whales feeding and coming up for air, curiously inspecting you in your zodiac. This is Planet Earth at it's best, a proverbial Eden, earth as it was before the arrival of humankind. Antarctica will change you forever. Download our Ultimate Antarctica Guide.
South Georgia - penguins & elephant seals
Stunning mountainous South Georgia has abundant wildlife and is a destination all in its own right. Get up close to nesting albatross and witness massive rookeries of king penguins (by the hundreds of thousands). Late October marks the beginning of the breeding cycle for many species and you may see male elephant seals battling for control of the beaches and harems. Is it a wonder polar explorer Shackleton requested to be buried here? Download our Ultimate Antarctica Guide.
Svalbard, the archipelago of which Spitsbergen is the main island, truly is Europe's last great wilderness, home to more polar bears than people, land of snow-covered mountains and glaciers. As you sail these frigid waters you are sure to encounter walrus, bearded seal, minke whales and beluga, a myriad of wildlife such as Arctic fox and reindeer, as well as countless birds. The land is dotted by remains of centuries-old human intrusions, people like you that explored the outer limits of our earth. Visit our Svalbard page