Having been on safari a dozen times, having travelled to Madagascar, India, Galapagos, the Arctic and twice to the Antarctic, I can't get enough of wildlife. Each encounter is different, each day unique. Wildlife trips make me feel in tune with nature. Here are my choices for the best new wildlife trips in 2018.
Tanzania: Serengeti, Selous and Zanzibar 11 days from $4860 Trip pace - Moderate Get off the beaten path and discover the best of Tanzania on this East African adventure. Explore the waterways and channels of Little Okavango on the shores of Lake Victoria and meet fisherman from the Sukuma tribe. Search for the Big Five whilst avoiding the crowds in Serengeti's Western Corridor, an untamed wild area of park. Spend a couple of days game driving and walking around the rivers, lakes and swamps of Selous Game Reserve, the largest reserve in Africa. After so much activity and excitement relax at a boutique hotel on the beach in Zanzibar. Inquire about this trip
Zambia & Malawi: Livingstone's Africa - Zambia & Malawi Explorer 16 days from $3691 Rated Adventure Touring. 2 out of 10 Experience the relaxed pace of these lesser travelled African nations on this exciting journey across Zambia and Malawi. Along the way you will be treated to the immensity of Victoria Falls, some of Africa's best wildlife viewing opportunities, on foot, by safari vehicle and even from a canoe as you glide down the Zambezi, the warmth of Malawi's people and its little known scenic beauties. Inquire about this trip
India: Kipling Country 9 days from $4,175 Rated Leisurely/Moderate, 2 out of 10 As a quarry tigers are challenging, this is their allure. To maximise your chances you need the best guides, which you get on this trip. But there is still a big question of chance which is why one of the days is a full one in Bandhavgarh with unlimited use of all the routes, all day. You pay for this privilege but it increases the chances of quality sightings no end. Inquire about this trip
Maldives: Manta Ray Adventure 7 days from $5,315 Rated Leisurely, 1 out of 10 Experience crystal clear blue water, unspoilt islands and an abundance of marine life. Cruising from Male to the northern atoll of Baa Atoll, we hope to encounter vast numbers of Manta rays, the ballerinas of the underwater world, as well as a host of other marine life including Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtles as well as Bottlenose and Spinner dolphins. Learn about this fragile eco-environment and discover culture and tradition in a destination where locals have travelled and made their living from the ocean for centuries. Inquire about this trip
Malaysia: Wild Borneo 12 days from $5,885 Rated Leisurely to moderate, 2 out of 10 The island of Borneo is known as being one of the world’s wildlife hotspots - thick jungles teeming with animals with enchanting names: Clouded leopard, Sun bear, Flying squirrel and Pygmy elephant. Whilst some of these animals are very rare and hard to see, others, including orang-utans, are quite common if you visit the right areas. Few places in Borneo can compare with the reserves of Tabin and Danum Valley which are limited to only a few visitors at a time. As well as visiting these exclusive reserves we experience the Kinabatangan River and complete our adventure with a stay on tropical Manukan Island. Inquire about this trip
Costa Rica: Wild Costa Rica 12 days from $5,225 Rated Leisurely to moderate, 2 out of 10 This tour will take you away from the tourist spots and is sure to captivate you, offering an earful of the exotic. Capuchin monkeys rustle the dense jungle canopy as Green macaws squawk overhead and an army of leaf-cutter ants patrol the forest floor. Come and discover why the world is ‘wild’ about Costa Rica. Inquire about this trip
Antarctica: Epic Antarctica
22 days from US$$15,295
Rated easy to moderate, 2 out of 5 This exciting 3-week expedition provides great diversity and will appeal to those seeking a truly comprehensive Antarctic experience. On the way south to the Antarctic Circle, we enjoy off-ship exploration visiting a large number of landing sites and cruising among the ice floes in our Zodiacs. We also visit the South Shetland Islands, the western and northern sections of the Antarctic Peninsula, the stunning Weddell Sea region, and the historic location of Elephant Island – a place forever connected to the epic story of Sir Ernest Shackleton. Adding to the experience will be a visit to several locations in the Falkland Islands, including the homes of nesting albatross and the colorful King penguin. Inquire about this trip
Antarctica: Legendary Snow Hill: March to the Emperor Penguins 14 days from US$19,995 Rated easy to moderate, 2 out of 5 During this once-in-a-lifetime experience, journey to the bottom of the world, cruising past masses of dense ice and thick, tabular icebergs—aboard the legendary icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov. True to the explorer spirit, this exclusive Antarctic adventure, last offered in 2010, is your chance to be a part of polar history. You’ll have the rare opportunity to observe one of the most spectacular sights in the wild: the elusive emperor penguin colony off the coast of Snow Hill Island, whose existence was first confirmed in 1997, and to which the first ground visit was conducted in 2004. Inquire about this trip
Sri Lanka: Wildlife Safari 12 days from US$9495 Rated leisurely, 2 out of 5 A global biodiversity hotspot, Sri Lanka has many endemic flora and fauna to impress the traveler captivated by natural wonders that don’t exist anywhere else. Herds of Asian elephants and troops of monkeys roam its virgin rain forests. Waterfalls plummet from cloud forest highlands, home to hundreds of varied species of colorful birds. Golden beaches ring the island, while offshore, great blue whales—the largest animal on Earth—swim in clear turquoise waters alongside graceful sea turtles. Inquire about this trip
Mexico: Whales & Wildness: Spring in the Sea of Cortez 8 days from US$6190 Rated leisurely, 2 out of 5 Dividing the Baja Peninsula from mainland Mexico, The Sea of Cortez is a UNESCO World Heritage Site teeming with nearly 900 different fish species, 39 percent of the world’s total number of marine mammal species, and one-third of all cetacean species. Few places are better for whale watching, and spring is prime time to see humpback, sperm, fin, pilot, Bryde’s and blue whales, plus large pods of dolphins. As we sail among the many uninhabited islands, explore the transparent waters with a suite of expedition tools and walk ashore among myriad seabirds. Inquire about this trip