14 of the world’s best wildlife safari experiences : In recognition of World Wildlife Day on March 3 every year, there is a compiled list of some of the best wildlife encounters throughout the globe, from seeing turtles lay eggs in Japan to seeing dugongs in Thailand.
- Turtles, Japan.
Yakushima, a rainforest island off the southern coast of Kyushu, was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 1993 for preserving the nesting grounds of loggerhead turtles. The loggerhead turtles’ largest spawning sites in the north Pacific are on the island. Yakushima-born loggerhead turtles can reach a height of one metre and roam throughout the Pacific before coming back to the island to give birth to their young. Over 500 turtles occupy the sands of Inakahama Beach from May to August and deposit their eggs there. You can observe them from an observation tower. The newborn hatchlings can be seen scurrying to the water later in the summer.
- Southern Right Whales, Australia.
Off the coast of South Australia, Southern Right Whales can be seen in the vicinity of the Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island from May to September. Head of Bight, one of the most prominent maternity grounds for Southern Right Whales in the world, and one of the most well-known spots to watch them. Up to 100 whales can be seen at once during the peak of the season from a viewing platform above the water. You can kayak around the bay at sunrise or sunset with a native guide at Ceduna on a safari, further along the coast of the Eyre Peninsula (a 90-minute flight from Adelaide), where you may paddle beside these 90-tonne gentle giants. A Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari offers another opportunity to get up close to Southern Rights. You’ll also encounter dolphins, seals, and seabirds in addition to whales. Within an hour’s drive of Adelaide, on the peninsula, you may view whales playing on the Fleurieu Peninsula during the migratory season and learn more about them at the South Australian Whale Centre in Victor Harbor.
- Dugongs, Thailand.
One of the last remaining habitats for the threatened dugong is the marine canals in the Libong Archipelago Wildlife Reserve in southern Thailand. Seagrass beds all around the island of Ko Libong, which is off the coast of Trang, support the growth of this endangered species. Learn more about the mammal, which is related to the manatee, by going on a boat tour with a naturalist. Additionally, the island is home to local mangrove and seabirds as well as migratory visitors, especially in the winter. Another protected species, fake killer whale schools, have also been observed close to Ko Lanta.
- Bald eagles, California, USA.
Some North American civilizations consider the bald eagle to be a sacred animal, and many of their religious and spiritual traditions centre around its feathers, just like they do with the golden eagles. Bald eagles can be seen all around Tuolumne County in central California, especially close to the New Melones Lake where they spend the summer building their nests. On the lake and nearby Don Pedro Reservoir’s banks, as many as 20 bald eagles have been spotted at once.
- Japan’s Cranes.
The Japanese red-crowned crane, one of the world’s rarest birds, is a sign of longevity and fortune. The area was designated as a national park after 10 birds were found in the wetlands of Kushiro in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. More than 1,000 cranes now reside in the Kushiro wetlands, with the dozen or so that reside in the Kushiro Japanese Crane Reserve being protected as special natural monuments to ensure the survival of the species.
- Dalmatian pelicans, Montenegro.
The tiny nation of Montenegro, which is comparable in size to Northern Ireland, has five national parks, three nature reserves, as well as lakes, woods, and mountains that are home to a variety of wildlife safari. Wading birds, gulls, and other waterfowl congregate around Lake Skadar in the spring. Watch out for squacco herons, tiny egrets, whiskered terns, and the endangered Dalmatian pelican. Black woodpecker, common crossbill, and crested tit are attracted to the woodlands of Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the nation’s oldest national parks, while northern goshawk and golden eagle are drawn to the meadows. Go into the valleys that offer the collared flycatcher a protected passage through the mountains if you want to see it.
- Osprey, piping plover and herons, Florida, USA.
Parkland and natural preserves make up more than 80% of Florida’s Paradise Coast in the southwest. More than 200 kinds of birds can find a safe habitat along the shore, which is surrounded by tropical woods, islands, mangroves, and estuaries. Osprey find food in the tidal pools at Tigertail Beach on Marco Island, and its northern sands offer refuge to vulnerable species like the piping plover. While many migrate throughout the winter and remain there until the beginning of spring, roseate spoonbills, bald eagles, and great blue herons can be spotted all year round in the Everglades.
- Tarantulas and elks, Colorado, USA
In La Junta and Comanche National Grassland in southeast Colorado, tarantulas proliferate in large numbers every autumn. As thousands of male tarantulas travel in quest of a partner, the migration takes place. Bull elk, meantime, are also out hunting for a mate in the Colorado Rockies. At Horseshoe Park in Rocky Mountain National Park, you can see hundreds of them and hear their distinctive rutting call from a wide distance. Elk Fest, held in September, is a celebration of the animals in Estes Park, the town that serves as the entrance to the national park.
- Mule deers and black bears, California.
Typically, mule deer are dark grey-brown in colour with a white rump patch and a short, black tail. In the spring and summer, deer move to higher altitudes, while in the autumn and winter, they move to lower ranges. Around Mammoth Lakes in the Sierra Nevada mountain region of California, keep an eye out for them in the spring and autumn. A black bear could also be seen getting ready for or emerging from hibernation.
- Moose, wolves and otters, Canada.
In Mont Tremblant National Park, which is to the northwest of Montreal, tourists are most likely to see moose, white-tailed deer, black bear, beaver, eastern wolf, red fox, red squirrel, and river otters during the summer. The wolf, whose presence is essential to preserving the park’s delicately regulated environment, is one of its most significant inhabitants. Also drawn to the area are 206 different bird species.
- 14 of the world’s best wildlife safari experiences : Gorillas, Uganda.
Imagine being mere feet apart from a family of critically endangered mountain gorillas as they feed, play, and groom each other. Experienced guides lead you on a hike through an ancient rainforest in search of gorillas, elephants, chimpanzees, and baboons. Gorilla trekking safari takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park these two safari destinations give you the unforgettable safari experience.
- Fireflies, Japan.
During the firefly’s mating season in May, the Oirase River in the northern Japanese prefecture of Aomori draws tens of thousands of them. At dusk, the river that runs through Hachinohe city is surrounded by the Genji and Heike species, which fill the air.
- 14 of the world’s best wildlife safari experiences : Monarch butterflies, California, USA
One of the most spectacular natural phenomena on Earth is the migration of this brilliant insect over the North American continent. The majority of Monarch butterflies in the west migrate in massive concentrated clusters to the warmer coast of California to breed, in contrast to the primary eastern population, which winters in central Mexico. Due to the fact that the first Europeans to pass through the region were amazed by the abundance of butterflies in this region of the Sierra Foothills, Mariposa County was called after the Spanish word for butterfly. The county holds a Monarch butterfly festival in May.
- 14 of the world’s best wildlife safari experiences : Annual great migration.
Annual great migration is one of the top 7 world wonders that takes place in Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. This takes place from July to October where millions and millions of wildebeests, thousands of zebras, and thousands of other mammals like elands, Thomson’s gazelles and others cross the Mara River from Tanzania to Kenya to look for the fresh pastures and water. This is such magical and rewarding safari experience.
