Ultimate Wildlife Wildernesses

Often remote and not especially easy to get to, these are those extraordinary and often untouched wildernesses where you are rewarded with wildlife at its most prolific and diverse.

15 - CORCOVADO AND OSA PENINSULA - Costa Rica, Corcovado and Osa Peninsula

National Geographic calls this “the most biologically intense place on Earth”, based on the great array of habitats (montane, cloud, prairie, swamp and mangrove) and tree species that exist on this remote peninsula – and this really is one of Costa Rica‘s most inaccessible regions. Home to rare mammals such as jaguars, pumas, tapirs, margays, and ocelots plus abundant birdlife, not to mention the humpback and dolphins that cavort in the gulf inlet, the other highlight is that you won’t be bumping into many humans either.

Find out more

14 - BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST - Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

The clue is in the name, but Uganda’s most famous of national parks is not just known for its topography of bamboo thickets, dense foliage and challenging terrain spanning 32,000-hectares in the Great Rift Valley, but is also where some 350 of the Planet’s last remaining mountain gorillas call home. Bwindi Forest is also one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth and one of Africa’s richest ecosystems, pertaining to some 1,000 flowering plant species, 163 tree species and 104 types of ferns. To which all play home to a recorded 120 species of mammal, 348 species of bird, and a dazzling collection of butterflies, frogs, chameleons and geckos.
Gorilla tracking permits are strictly limited to protect these and other endangered animals in the national park (which is only accessible on foot), thus making any expedition there highly exclusive and we advise you to book far in advance.

Find out more

13 - DANUM VALLEY - Borneo, Danum Valley

No human settlements existed at all in this, now protected, 43,800-hectare conservation area in Borneo’s north eastern region of Sabah. This primary lowland forest is a sparkling, undisturbed representative of Borneo’s prolifiic and unique flora and fauna and has been recognised worldwide for its outstanding biodiversity value. Notably, the Conservation Area and its surrounding are an important habitat for orangutan and, due in part to minimal hunting pressure, is particularly rich in other large mammals including the Bornean pygmy elephant, banteng, Malayan sun bear, clouded leopard, bearded pig and five species of deer. Danum Valley also provides one of the last refuges in Sabah for the critically endangered Sumatran rhino. Bird diversity is very high and over 300 species of bird have been recorded, including the Bulwer’s pheasant, seven species of pittas, the Borneo Bristlehead and all eight species of hornbill found in Borneo.

Find out more

12 - THE PANTANAL - Brazil, The Pantanal

As the World’s largest wetlands, the size of the Pantanal is difficult to digest yet its size has much to do with its remote appeal and arguably the reason for remaining so unspoilt. With a rainbow array of habitats to support a varied and prolific collection of species, the Pantanal offers the best wildlife safari in all South America on account of its wide open terrain especially when you compare it to the Amazon rainforest. It is home to many exotic and endangered species including hyacinth macaws, toucans, tapir, giant anteaters, giant otters, the maned wolf, jaguar and capybara. You can explore and observe the wildie of these wetlands by jeep, horse back, plane or foot.

Find out more

11 - KOMODO ISLANDS - Indonesia, Komodo Islands

The three islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar are what make up the Komodo National Park (marine and land), all typically remote and rugged and with only one village and no vehicles. The park was set up to protect and conserve many of the endemic animals such as the Komodo Drago, but also other species such as Timor Deer, wild horses, water buffalo and wild pigs. However its the waters and rich marine environment around these islands that afford the park its greatest renown and protection. It has 250 recorded species of coral, plus many types of sponge, bone fishes, sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, whales and even dugongs.  Those who make the journey here are rewarded with some of the most beautiful beaches too, unspoilt and solitary.

Find out more

10 - THE CLOUD FORESTS - Ecuador, The Cloud Forests

Not many are aware that Ecuador has cloud forests, which has much to do with its unspoilt charm. From where the Andean highlands run down to the Pacific coastline, these tumbling hills of the Mindo Cloud Forest are part of a wider bioregion known as the Chocó (Tumbez-Choco-Darien) which stretches all the way from Panama, through Colombia and Ecuador, possessing thriving ecosystems relied upon by thousands of species. In particular, it it the assortment and diversity of birdlife found in these forests is incredible not to mention other fauna, mammals and plants.

Find out more

9 - SELOUS GAME RESERVE - Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve

The largest game reserve or in east Africa, (54,600 km2 or  21,100 sq mi) located in southern Tanzania, there no permanent human habitation or permanent structures permitted in the Selous. Road access is difficult, so most visitors fly in by small aircraft to their designated lodge or camp – many located along the reserve’s river and lake systems. The habitats that feature here include grassland, typical Acacia savanna, wetlands and extensive Miombo woodlands. Both 4WD and walking safaris can be conducted here, and although animal populations are high and healthy, in comparison to the size of the reserve their concentration is not as good as say other smaller national parks or reserves. However some may argue that this makes for a more realistic safari.

Find out more

8 - SOUTHERN PERUVIAN AMAZON - Peru, Southern Peruvian Amazon

Peru’s generous swathe of the Amazon rainforest and mighty river system has long been regarded as having the best and most frequent wildlife observation than anywhere else in South America. There are two Amazon regions in Peru – the larger river systems around Iquitos in the North and the Madre de Dios tributary in the south near Puerto Maldonado – the latter is where the best Amazon expedition lodges can be found, with plenty of land and water based activities available to explore the Tambopata National Reserve and the Manu National Park.

Find out more

7 - SANDAKAN - Borneo, Sandakan

Well worth the journey; Sandakan is the gateway town on Borneo’s north eastern coast to the Kinabatagan River wilderness and offshore islands in the Sulu Sea. The river’s surrounding forests, mangroves, swamps and lakes are home to some of the island’s most unique and wondrous wildlife including Proboscis Monkeys, Macaques, Pygmy Elephants, lizards, Crocodiles, and birdlife including Kingfishers and Hornbills. The town is also where you find the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre where rescued or orphaned Orangutans as well as Sun Bears, Gibbons, Sumatran Rhinos and Elephants cane be seen up close before embarking on a trip into the rainforest in hope of spotting them in the wild.

Find out more

6 - KATAVI NATIONAL PARK - Tanzania, Katavi National Park

Completely off the beaten track, Katavi is one of those game reserves that remains isolated and undiscovered. Joining with the surrounding game reserves of Rukwa, Lukwati and Luafi adding to the array of ecosystems and habitats, this now spans an astounding 25,000 square kilometres through which the game has to traverse. With such a variety of landscapes, the individual environments change and as they do, the wildlife also varies. Flat plains, marshland, rugged hills, lakes and rivers all make up this great western Tanzania ecosystem and all of this makes for a few fantastic close encounters and some excellent photographic opportunities. For a wildly adventurous and untamed safari like no other, Katavi is the ultimate.

Find out more

5 - RAJA AMPAT - Indonesia, Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat‘s four islands (Waigeo, Misool, Salawati and Batanta) in Papua, Indonesia are part of what is called the “Coral Triangle” and “holds perhaps the richest variety of species in the world, including an incredible 75 percent of all known coral species” say the Nature Conservancy. Their marine landscapes hold enormous biodiversity such as leatherback turtles and 1,427 species of fish, and the islands’ coastal ecology shelter a wondrous array of terrestrial species as well as valuable forests. Raja Ampat is the ultimate destination for scuba divers, yet its forested slopes and thick jungle make it a rare joy to explore on foot and spot birds of paradise and marsupial cucus’ to name a few highlights.

Find out more

4 - NHA TRANG - Vietnam, Nha Trang

Nha Trang is the entry point for Vinh Hy Bay and Nui Chua National Park, which are both a world away from the popular beach resort, lying two hours south of this. The bay is incorporated into the national park, and famous for its beautiful beaches and dramatic boulder filled coastlines. The National Park is heavily protected conservation area of 25,000 hectares including 7,352 hectares of marine park, home to coral reefs and beaches for turtle nesting sites. It has a recorded 72 mammal species and 181 types of bird, including a number of endangered species such as the Black-shanked Douc, Pygmy Loris, the Asian Black BearSun Bear, Large-antlered and Siamese Fireback. There are also 12 recorded species of bat.

Find out more

3 - CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE - Botswana, Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Lion on safari, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana

Still considered a true wilderness, which some might say isn’t hard being the second largest game reserve in the world (52,800km²), the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) in Botswana’s Kalahari Desert remains fairly inaccessible and remote with Africa’s highest concentration of cheetah and a very exlusive safari to be had.

Find out more

2 - BAHIA BUSTAMANTE - Argentina, Bahia Bustamante

Estancia Bahia Bustamante, Argentina

Along this wild and remote stretch of Patagonian coastline in southern Argentina you will find some of the richest marine bird life to be found anywhere on the Planet. Its rugged coastline is pitted with petrified forests and starks cliffs, but where many marine mammals such as humpback whales and sea lions choose to frolic, mate and feed. Way off the beaten track, Bahia Bustamante is a rewarding destination for marine wildlife and well worth the journey. Choose to explore the region and fauna by boat, horse back, bicycle or foot.

Find out more

1 - MALILANGWE WILDLIFE RESERVE - Zimbabwe, Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve

This 130,000-acre reserve sits in Zimbabwe’s south eastern corner, a region which is largely dominated by the Gonarezhou Transfrontier National Park. This Park is part of one of the largest bio-refuges in all of Africa(spanning from the Kruger in South Africa to the South Gonarezhou Park in Zimbabwe and the Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park and Limpopo National Park  of Mozambique), and which this reserve is linked to. This truly wild and untouched area of rolling Mopane forest pitted with sandstone hills, winding creeks and Baobab trees has some superb game, and what some might a call a real safari

Find out more