Escape Edition 91

Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

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Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

It’s not surprising that wildlife holidays are very popular. A safari or wildlife-watching getaway is a fantastic way to discover our planet’s diverse flora and fauna. A certain thrill comes with witnessing animals in the wild – seeing them feeding and interacting with one another right in front of you makes for a truly magical experience. But it can be hard to decide where to go. So, in this week’s Escape Edition, we’re here to help with some of our top tips for that ultimate wildlife adventure.

SRI LANKA SAFARI? WALK IN THE PARK

MONKEYS, JUNGLES AND VOLCANOES

SWING INTO NATURE

SRI LANKA SAFARI? WALK IN THE PARK

On a safari holiday in Sri Lanka, you can expect to see gentle elephants, elusive leopards, pint-sized sloth bears, and so much more.

Considering its petite size, Sri Lanka boasts an extraordinary amount of wildlife. This place is home to hundreds of bird species, more than 120 types of mammals, and nearly 200 species of reptiles. On your Sri Lanka safari, your guide will be able to point out all sorts of fascinating creatures, from tiny multi-coloured birds to scuttling insects. And, of course, you’ll be able to see much larger animals like deer, buffalo, monkeys, and crocodiles.

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Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s second largest national park, stretching over 370 square miles on the country’s southeast coast. It’s home to Asian elephants, sloth bears, buffalo, mongoose, pangolin, wild boar and much more. But the star residents are the leopards. Nowhere else in Asia has so many in one place, so your chances of seeing one are high. A private safari in Yala is the best way to see wildlife – you can explore it comfortably and avoid crowds in this popular park during busier times. A full-day game drive can last five to seven hours, as you’re transported by a luxurious 4x4 and your expert guide points out local wildlife. Glamping is another great Yala experience. Consider staying at Leopard Trails tented camp in the heart of the park, where curious langur monkeys, gentle elephants, and the occasional sloth bear provide excellent evening entertainment.

Take me there

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MONKEYS, JUNGLES AND VOLCANOES

Our eight-day Monkeys, Jungles, and Volcanoes fully escorted tour in Costa Rica is the perfect way to see much of the wildlife this pint-sized gem has to offer.

Your adventure begins in San Jose, where sloths, boat rides, and ziplines await. You’ll journey east through Braulio Carrillo National Park, where you’ll navigate the wetlands of Tortuguero, meandering through lagoons, canals, and the lowland rainforest, before arriving at your eco-friendly lodge. Wake up to the lively chorus of howler monkeys before you journey on the waterways, spotting green iguanas, sloths, caiman, toucans, and crocodiles.

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Enjoy watching the agile howler, spider monkey, and playful white-faced capuchins swing through the rainforest. After saying adios to Tortuguero, travel to Horquetas, where you’ll visit a local Tico family’s palm plantation and learn how this exotic vegetable is grown. You’ll even get to try some! At the Arenal Hanging Bridges, you’ll walk at eye level with the lush canopy, observing sloths, monkeys, and chattering birds up close. The final stop on this adventure is Manuel Antonio National Park, where you’ll venture deep into the park to spot some of the 109 different animals and 184 bird species! Next up? Lastly the beach. Lounge in the warm Pacific Ocean or relax on your sun lounger with a good book.

Take me there

Show Less

SWING INTO NATURE

Borneo is synonymous with rich rainforest – so you’ll want to pack your hiking boots. You can walk along the jungle-clad peaks of Crocker Range National Park, where you’ll be able to spot gibbons, macaques, civet cats, and a variety of birdlife. Or you could explore the ancient rainforest in Taman Negara Gunung Kinabalu. Spanning 750 square kilometres, this park was Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and is bursting with more than 4,500 types of flora and fauna, including over 320 bird species.

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But one animal in particular is the real star of the show – the orangutan. No holiday to Borneo would be complete without a sighting of this flame-haired primate. You’re unlikely to see one in the wild, so set aside a day to visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Home to about 80 orangutans – either ex-pets or rescued orphans – Sepilok teaches their hairy residents how to look after themselves before releasing them back into the wild. You’ll be able to see both baby and adult orangutans swinging through the immense forest reserve and filling up on bananas at feeding time.

If it’s diving you’re after, head to Lankayan Island. Anchored off Borneo’s northeast coast, this beauty spot boasts dozens of dive sites, shipwrecks, and a variety of marine life. You’ll be able to see turtles, pufferfish, leopard sharks, whale sharks, and more.

Take me there

Show Less

SRI LANKA SAFARI? WALK IN THE PARK

On a safari holiday in Sri Lanka, you can expect to see gentle elephants, elusive leopards, pint-sized sloth bears, and so much more.

Considering its petite size, Sri Lanka boasts an extraordinary amount of wildlife. This place is home to hundreds of bird species, more than 120 types of mammals, and nearly 200 species of reptiles. On your Sri Lanka safari, your guide will be able to point out all sorts of fascinating creatures, from tiny multi-coloured birds to scuttling insects. And, of course, you’ll be able to see much larger animals like deer, buffalo, monkeys, and crocodiles.

Show Less

Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s second largest national park, stretching over 370 square miles on the country’s southeast coast. It’s home to Asian elephants, sloth bears, buffalo, mongoose, pangolin, wild boar and much more. But the star residents are the leopards. Nowhere else in Asia has so many in one place, so your chances of seeing one are high. A private safari in Yala is the best way to see wildlife – you can explore it comfortably and avoid crowds in this popular park during busier times. A full-day game drive can last five to seven hours, as you’re transported by a luxurious 4x4 and your expert guide points out local wildlife. Glamping is another great Yala experience. Consider staying at Leopard Trails tented camp in the heart of the park, where curious langur monkeys, gentle elephants, and the occasional sloth bear provide excellent evening entertainment.

Take me there

Show Less

MONKEYS, JUNGLES AND VOLCANOES

Our eight-day Monkeys, Jungles, and Volcanoes fully escorted tour in Costa Rica is the perfect way to see much of the wildlife this pint-sized gem has to offer.

Your adventure begins in San Jose, where sloths, boat rides, and ziplines await. You’ll journey east through Braulio Carrillo National Park, where you’ll navigate the wetlands of Tortuguero, meandering through lagoons, canals, and the lowland rainforest, before arriving at your eco-friendly lodge. Wake up to the lively chorus of howler monkeys before you journey on the waterways, spotting green iguanas, sloths, caiman, toucans, and crocodiles.

Show Less

Enjoy watching the agile howler, spider monkey, and playful white-faced capuchins swing through the rainforest. After saying adios to Tortuguero, travel to Horquetas, where you’ll visit a local Tico family’s palm plantation and learn how this exotic vegetable is grown. You’ll even get to try some! At the Arenal Hanging Bridges, you’ll walk at eye level with the lush canopy, observing sloths, monkeys, and chattering birds up close. The final stop on this adventure is Manuel Antonio National Park, where you’ll venture deep into the park to spot some of the 109 different animals and 184 bird species! Next up? Lastly the beach. Lounge in the warm Pacific Ocean or relax on your sun lounger with a good book.

Take me there

Show Less

SWING INTO NATURE

Borneo is synonymous with rich rainforest – so you’ll want to pack your hiking boots. You can walk along the jungle-clad peaks of Crocker Range National Park, where you’ll be able to spot gibbons, macaques, civet cats, and a variety of birdlife. Or you could explore the ancient rainforest in Taman Negara Gunung Kinabalu. Spanning 750 square kilometres, this park was Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and is bursting with more than 4,500 types of flora and fauna, including over 320 bird species.

Show Less

But one animal in particular is the real star of the show – the orangutan. No holiday to Borneo would be complete without a sighting of this flame-haired primate. You’re unlikely to see one in the wild, so set aside a day to visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Home to about 80 orangutans – either ex-pets or rescued orphans – Sepilok teaches their hairy residents how to look after themselves before releasing them back into the wild. You’ll be able to see both baby and adult orangutans swinging through the immense forest reserve and filling up on bananas at feeding time.

If it’s diving you’re after, head to Lankayan Island. Anchored off Borneo’s northeast coast, this beauty spot boasts dozens of dive sites, shipwrecks, and a variety of marine life. You’ll be able to see turtles, pufferfish, leopard sharks, whale sharks, and more.

Take me there

Show Less

GET INSPIRED BY OUR TOP TIPS

ROTTNEST ISLAND QUOKKAS

Encompassing six different ecosystems and home to a fascinating variety of wildlife, you’ll never be short of things to see on Rottnest Island, Western Australia. On land, you’ll find an abundance of birds, frogs, snakes, and lizards. And, in the ocean, there are over 100 tropical fish species to uncover. Learn about the diverse flora and fauna on a wildlife tour, or go to Cathedral Rocks to spot fur seals and humpback whales. And, of course, no trip to Rottnest Island is complete until you’ve had your first quokka encounter. Snap a selfie with these sweet-looking marsupials at Thompson Bay, or catch them resting on one of the many soft-sand beaches.

GET INSPIRED BY OUR TOP TIPS

CANADIAN BEAR SPOTTING

Bears can be found across Canada, but the best place to see them is in British Columbia. There are several bear lodges nestled in the Great Bear Rainforest, where you can head out each day in search of grizzly, black, and spirit bears. Canada is also home to roughly 17,000 polar bears. In northern Manitoba, Churchill is the best place to see them, where they roam around the edge of Hudson Bay. A guided tour is the best and safest way to see them. The experienced guides know roughly where the bears will be and can tell you all about these beautiful creatures.

GET INSPIRED BY OUR TOP TIPS

BLUE IGUANAS

The Cayman Islands’ biggest wildlife success story is the blue iguana. Once on the brink of extinction, these dragon-like creatures can now be seen by tourists thanks to massive conservation efforts. Make sure you take a tour that will take you to Queen Elizabeth II Royal Botanic Park, where you can learn all about the species before wandering around the beautiful gardens and spotting them.

FIND THESE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES ON OUR TRIPS

Tanque Verde Ranch

Elephant Hills Jungle & Lake Safari

11 Day Perth, Rock and Reef

Kariega Main Lodge

Maldives Diving Holidays

9 Day Unlimited Bears and Belugas Adventure

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Escape Edition 91

Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

SRI LANKA SAFARI? WALK IN THE PARK

MONKEYS, JUNGLES AND VOLCANOES

SWING INTO NATURE

SRI LANKA SAFARI? WALK IN THE PARK

MONKEYS, JUNGLES AND VOLCANOES

SWING INTO NATURE

SRI LANKA SAFARI? WALK IN THE PARK

SRI LANKA SAFARI? WALK IN THE PARK

MONKEYS, JUNGLES AND VOLCANOES

MONKEYS, JUNGLES AND VOLCANOES

SWING INTO NATURE

SWING INTO NATURE

GET INSPIRED BY OUR TOP TIPS

ROTTNEST ISLAND QUOKKAS

GET INSPIRED BY OUR TOP TIPS

CANADIAN BEAR SPOTTING

GET INSPIRED BY OUR TOP TIPS

BLUE IGUANAS

FIND THESE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES ON OUR TRIPS

Tanque Verde Ranch

Elephant Hills Jungle & Lake Safari

11 Day Perth, Rock and Reef

Kariega Main Lodge

Maldives Diving Holidays

9 Day Unlimited Bears and Belugas Adventure

LOOKING FOR MORE INSPIRATION?

SPEAK TO A SPECIALIST

Out There Made Easy

Knowledge

Ease

Value

Trust

Knowledge

Ease

Value

Trust

Part of the Dnata family

Good Housekeeping

ATOL Protected

Rated Excellent