Posted on Monday, 3 June 2024

Venture into the wild and see your favourite creatures in their natural habitat

Escape the merry-go-round of modern life by taking your family on a life-affirming wildlife holiday. Choose your quarry - whether that's rhinos on the Eastern Cape, giant tortoises in the Galapagos, or hummingbirds in Costa Rica. Whichever creature is your passion, you'll likely find the host landscape just as captivating.

Here's our pick of the top wildlife holiday destinations in 2024.

Galapagos Islands: Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies

Many amazing creatures call the Galapagos their home - from blue-footed boobies to marine iguanas to majestic old giant tortoises. And having been separated from the rest of the world for so long, these beautiful beasts don't flee from humans - they simply stare back with equal interest.

While a trip to the Galapagos is not cheap, it deserves the 'once in a lifetime holiday' tag. Taking your kids here could prove to be a life-changing experience for them - and you.

Before heading out to the islands, why not recuperate from your flight in Ecuador's otherworldly Mashpi cloud forest?

Madeira: Sperm whales, Zino's petrel, and Berthelot's pipits

A much closer and more affordable wildlife spotting destination, Madeira is best visited in May, when sperm whales appear offshore to feed. Many boat tours get you up close to these endemic species.

Bryde's whales, Trocaz pigeons, and Zino's petrels are also found in abundance.

Borneo: See pygmy elephants, orangutans, and proboscis monkeys

East Sabah in Malaysian Borneo is one of the best places in the world to glimpse the endangered orangutan. The most environmentally conscious option is to book a tour that has been approved by British primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall.

Pygmy elephants are found in East Sabah too - and with just 1,500 remaining, they sadly also make the endangered list.

Sun bears are equally at risk and can be seen in rehabilitation centres.

Base yourself on the jungle-enveloped Kinabatangan River, and you'll also see crocodiles.

Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula: Jaguars, tapirs, and hummingbirds

The Osa Peninsula may have a minuscule footprint in global terms, but it's thought to host 2.5% of the planet's biodiversity.

Few people visit this remarkable area - but those who do are rewarded with sightings of jaguars, tapirs, hummingbirds, and quetzals.

Andalusia's Sierra Morena: See the Lynx, the world's rarest cat

Head to one of Spain's wildest areas, the Sierra Morena in Andalusia, to glimpse the planet's rarest cat - the Iberian lynx.

Just 500 of these elusive felines are thought to exist, but a special tour - planned by the European Nature Trust - will give you the best chance of spotting one.

Learn about the cat from researchers, check camera traps, and enjoy sunrise expeditions. What's more, you can end your adventure on the stunning Andalusian coast.

The Azores undersea: Whales, dolphins, and manta rays

You don't have to travel halfway across the planet to see humpback whales, giant manta rays, and hammerhead sharks. Just four hours from the UK, the Azores' nutrient-rich seas attract all these creatures.

And because they lurk so close to the shore, they are easy to see - just book onto one of the many tours.

Aside from incredible sealife, the Azores boast awe-inspiring volcanic mountains, arches, and caverns.

Read our Azores Travel Guide.

Dartmoor: Nightjars, snipe, butterflies, and otters

At first glance, the windswept, granite-peppered wilds of Dartmoor might look bereft of life. But if you're willing to put in the legwork, you'll find this beautiful national park is teeming with beguiling creatures.

From woodland otters to grassland fritillary butterflies, nightjars to snipe, Dartmoor is a nature spotter's dream. You might also spot an adder - the UK’s only venomous creature!

Tours are available to make seeing these wonders easier, such as 'Deep into Dartmoor' with BBC Springwatch's Nick Baker.

South Africa: Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino

Is seeing the Big Five on your travel bucket list? If so, South Africa's Kwandwe Reserve on the Eastern Cape could be the perfect place to tick it off. Here you have an excellent chance of spotting lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino (both black and white).

Upmarket glamping options place the sights and sounds of the Reserve just beyond the tent flap.

What's more, Kwandwe presents one of the more affordable ways to see these astonishing animals.

Patagonia: Pumas, giant anteaters, and jaguars

A Patagonian wildlife tour is undeniably costly, but with such incredible diversity on show, it'll prove worth every penny.

Down by the coast there are bellowing elephant seals, while in the Andes there are patrolling pumas. In the Ibera wetlands, you'll spy giant anteaters, marsh deer, and jaguars.

Dedicated conservation-centric tours are available.

Sweden: Beavers and moose in the wild

Camp in the Swedish bush while looking for beavers and stalking moose.

A number of Swedish wildlife holidays are available in which you can enjoy wild swimming, lake canoeing, berry foraging, and under-the-stars camping, all while seeking out the local fauna.

Both children and adults are sure to be spellbound by this, the ultimate escape from the modern world.

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