Wildlife holidays

Beyond the traditional African safari holiday, a huge range of wildlife holidays are available to those who want to get close to nature. Read our round-up of the best African safaris to see how to spot the Big Five or learn how to follow the Great Migration.

Continue the big cat theme and go in search of Bengal tigers in Madhya Pradesh or spot jaguars in Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands, which are also home to 300 species of birds and scores of other rare animals.

Orangutans are a major attraction in Malaysian Borneo, where proboscis monkeys, sea turtles, saltwater crocodiles and enormous rafflesia flowers are also not to be missed. Alternatively, track gorillas in Rwanda; go whale watching in South Africa, or glimpse polar bears and a mass of marine life inside the Arctic Circle. Birdwatching is popular from pole to pole and all points in between.

Perhaps the ultimate wildlife adventure though is an expedition cruise to the Galapagos, where you can snorkel with sea lions, watch giant tortoises and catch the courtship displays of blue-footed boobies and red-throated frigate birds.

Many countries around the world offer opportunities to see some amazing animals in their natural habitat; our wildlife specialists have a wealth of personal experience and can take you to a strikingly diverse world beyond the Big Five; discover our top 10 wildlife travel experiences too to see where we’d go in search of the wild things.