Wildlife and Nature

Big Five

Buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, rhino. This is the “Big Five”, which were initially the five most wanted trophies for hunters, but now are some of the animals most sought after by people on safari in Africa. Here is a list of which parks host the Big Five.

Of course, just because a reserve does not have the Big Five does not mean it’s going to give you a lesser safari experience. Some of our favourite reserves don’t have all five animals.

The so-called “Little Five” are the Buffalo Weaver, Elephant shrew, Ant-Lion, Leopard Tortoise and Rhinoceros Beetle.

Botswana : Moremi Game Reserve 
Kenya : Masai Mara - Lewa Wildlife Conservancy - Tsavo NP - Aberdare NP - Mount Kenya NP
South Africa : Kruger - Shamwari - Amakhala - Addo - Madikwe - Hluhluwe-Umfolozi - Phinda Private Game Reserve
Tanzania : Serengeti NP - Selous Game Reserve - Ngorongoro Crater

Birds

There are so many places which offer incredible birding experiences that it is hard to know where to start. We have therefore given you a list of where to find the birds which we are most commonly asked for. We are, however, very happy to advise you about birding options in whichever country you are keen to travel to.

In Africa, bear in mind that often the ‘green’ seasons are the best times to see the most birdlife, whereas this is not necessarily the peak time for seeing other wildlife.

Andean Condor : Antisana - Colca Canyon - Cotopaxi NP
Carmine Bee-eaters : Moremi GR
Cock of the Rock : Manu NP
Flamingoes : Peru, Paracas - Kenya, Nakuru 
Harpy Eagle : Brazilian Amazon - Manu - Tambopata
Hoatzin : Brazilian Amazon - Peru, Manu & Tambopata
Jabiru Stork : Manu - Pantanal - Tambopata
Ostrich : South Africa, Oudtshoorn
Parrots & Macaws : Brazilian Amazon - Kapawi - Manu - Napo - Tambopata
Pel’s Fishing Owl : Moremi GR
Penguins : South Africa, Boulders Beach
Shoebill Storks : Bangweulu Swamps
Toucan : Brazilian Amazon - Iguazu Falls - Manu - Tambopata

Desert Flora & Fauna

Botswana : The Kalahari Desert
India : Desert National Park, Rajasthan; Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan; Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary; Gujarat.
Jordan : Shawmari Reserve
Peru : Paracas National Reserve
South Africa : Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Gorillas & Chimpanzees

Rwanda : Nyungwe Forest Reserve - Volcanoes NP
Tanzania : Gombe Stream NP - Mahale Mountains NP
Uganda : Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Mgahinga - Kibale Forest   -   Queen Elizabeth NP - Ngamba Island

Indian & Nepalese wildlife

India :  Bandhavgarh NP for birds & tigers.  Corbett NP.  Kanha NP various inc tigers.  Kaziranga NP various, inc rhinos.
Nepal : Bardia NP for tigers, rhinos.   Chitwan NP for tigers, rhinos

Marine Environments

Ecuador : Galapagos Islands - Isla de la Plata
Kenya :  southern Kenya coast
Peru : Ballestas Islands
South Africa : Whale Coast - Garden Route - Wild Coast - Elephant Coast
Tanzania : Zanzibar - Chole Island - Chumbe Island - Mafia Island - Saadani

Rainforests

The range of wildlife you can hope to see in the rainforests includes: capybara, tapir, peccary, jaguar, puma, ocelot, jaguarundi, various monkeys, Giant Otter, river otter, river dolphin, agouti, armadillo, Amazonian Manatee, and caiman.  

Brazil : Brazilian Amazon 
Ecuador : Ecuadorian Amazon - Kapawi region - Yasuni NP
Peru : Peruvian Amazon - Manu Biosphere Reserve - Tambopata Reserve
Rwanda : Nyungwe Forest Reserve - Volcanoes NP
Uganda : Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Mgahinga