Wildlife-watching holidays are increasingly popular and destinations and rare beasts previously thought unattainable by the average traveller are now much more accessible.
But with accessibility comes responsibility. Does the operator follow ethical and sustainable practices? Is the destination protecting its flora and fauna for future generations – and future travelers?
Explore sales director Paul Bondsfield says: “Increasing visitor numbers must be tempered with a well-managed scheme to ensure wildlife isn’t threatened. Done well, more visitors, means more income to help preserve habitats and support local people.”
Recently there has been an increase in flydrives in this category, as well as ‘voluntourism’, where travellers help out at animal sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres.
John Warner, managing director at GAP Adventures in the UK, says: “This is why we’ve introduced 13 new voluntours for 2010, including a chance to work at the largest panda reserve in the world; to work with wild animals of the Amazon and help rehabilitate gibbons in Thailand.”
Bwindi National Park, Uganda
What can you see: Mountain gorillas from June to February; chimpanzees; Africa’s big game; and birdlife including the elusive shoebill.
Green credentials: You will be supporting the Gorilla Organisation, which is dedicated to protecting the primates and works closely with local villages and farmers.
Where to stay: Two nights in a hotel, five nights in a tented camp at Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Guests stay in a stunningly located, well-appointed, ensuite fixed camp.
Sample product: A 10-day safari with Explore starts at £2,175 including flights, transfers and ground transport. You get a tour leader and driver, as well as time with a park ranger and guide. explore.co.uk, 0844 499 0904
Phuket, Thailand
What can you see: Gibbons – and in the Khao Sok National Park you can see elephants, leopards and tigers.
Green credentials: Visitors can volunteer at the Phuket Gibbon rehabilitation centre, organised by non-profit organisation Planeterra, which was set up by GAP Adventures.
Where to stay: In simple guesthouses and bungalows.
Sample product: Prices start at £539 per person with GAP Adventures and includes overland transportation, accommodation, some meals and a tour leader. ?gapadventures.com, 0844 410 1090
Tasmania, Australia
What can you see: The best time to see migrating whales is October to January and the best time to see baby Tasmanian devils is August to November. Tasmania is also home to Australia’s largest fur seal colonies.
Green credentials: All camps are fully sustainable and the whole island is powered by hydro-electricity.
Where to stay: Two nights in standing camps and one night in Bernacchi House, with all remaining accommodation in four-star hotels in Hobart and Launceston.
Sample product: A 10-day, self-drive wildlife adventure in Tasmania with Audley Travel costs £2,115 per person, excluding flights. ?audleytravel.com, 01993 838000
Frégate Island Private, Seychelles
What can you see: This very fragile ecosystem includes Aldabra giant tortoises, unique tenebrionid beetles, the Seychelles terrapin, giant millipedes and the endangered Hawksbill turtle.
Green credentials: The preservation of the natural environment is at the centre of the island’s philosophy. They’ve planted 100,000 trees here and it is home to the Indian Ocean’s largest nursery for endemic trees.
Where to stay: There are only 16 villas on the two-sq-mile island and the number of guests is restricted.
Sample product: ITC Classics offers six nights in a one-bedroom villa on a full-board basis from £9,615. Price includes economy flights with Air Seychelles from Heathrow and helicopter transfers. itcclassics.co.uk, 01244 355527
Peruvian Amazon
What can you see: Some of the most untouched areas of the Amazon basin lie in Peru. The area is home to more than 25,000 plant species, approximately 1,800 bird species and 361 mammal species. The Pacaya-Samiria is the largest and least-visited reserve in Peru, best seen on a cruise.
Green credentials: Delfin Amazon Cruises has teamed up with Minga Perú, an NGO involved with local sustainable resource management and social justice.
Where to stay: Guests stay in a luxury cruise vessel on the Amazon. The boat features a library, dining room, observation deck, entertainment centre and sun deck with hammock.
Sample product: A six-night itinerary with Cox and Kings including two nights in Lima and a four-night cruise on the Delfin starts at £2,755 per person. This includes flights with British Airways.?coxandkings.co.uk, 020 7873 5000
Northwest Namibia
What can you see: One of the best places in Africa to observe rhino is the Okaukuejo Camp. The Desert Rhino Camp is home to one of the largest concentrations of black rhino, as well as antelopes, lions and elephants.
Green credentials: Okaukuejo Camp is also home to the Etosha Ecological Institute and the eco-friendly Desert Rhino Camp is a collaboration between Wilderness Safaris and Save the Rhino Trust Namibia.
Where to stay: The Desert Rhino Camp and the Okaukuejo Camp, at the western end of the Etosha Pan.
Sample product: Expert Africa has an 11-night, self-drive trip including three nights at the Desert Rhino Camp and three at the Okaukuejo Camp costing £2,648. This includes flights with South African Airways from London, all accommodation, some meals and car rental.?expertafrica.com, 020 8232 9777
Tips
- Know the best times of year to visit an area; the dry season is the best time to see animals at waterholes, but spring and rainy season is better for spotting babies and there are fewer tourists.
- Find out how close your clients can get to the wildlife. Does the operator offer walking safaris or horse rides through wildlife areas, for example?In Africa, do some research into migration times as these are going to influence how much wildlife your clients will see.
- Make sure your client is aware that seeing wild animals is dependent on many factors. It takes time to find them and there is no guarantee of sightings so clients need to be patient.
- Educate customers on the comfort levels they can expect – managing client expectations is everything.
