Wildlife beyond the African safari: where else to go

The Galápagos: animals that don't run away

Ecuador's Galápagos Islands are perhaps the one place where the animals barely notice you. Sea lions doze across the paths, marine iguanas bask on black lava, and when snorkelling a sea turtle or a curious young sea lion may glide past. The islands are also home to giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds.

There are two ways to plan it: a small ship that sails between islands overnight, or staying on the inhabited islands and heading out on day trips. The first takes you further; the second is more flexible and often better for families. Visits to the national park are tightly regulated and most sites can only be reached with a licensed guide – one of the reasons the islands are still the way they are.

Borneo's rivers and Indonesia's reefs

In Malaysian Sabah, in the north of Borneo, wildlife is usually watched from a boat. On the Kinabatangan River, mornings and evenings often bring proboscis monkeys, macaques and hornbills to the riverside trees, and sometimes a wild orangutan or a herd of Borneo elephants. At the rehabilitation centre at Sepilok, near Sandakan, you can see orangutans learning to return to the forest – not a zoo, but work worth supporting.

Indonesia offers a different kind of nature. In Komodo National Park, reached from Flores, live the Komodo dragons, and the surrounding waters are known for strong currents and abundant marine life. Further east, the reefs of Raja Ampat are considered among the richest on earth. These are journeys with a lot of time in the water, best for people who love to snorkel or dive.

Sri Lanka: elephants, leopards and whales on one island

Few places fit so much wildlife onto such a small island. In the dry season, roughly late summer into early autumn, large herds of elephants often gather at the Minneriya and Kaudulla reservoirs. Yala and Wilpattu national parks are home to leopards – sightings are never guaranteed, but the chances are reasonable. And off the south coast, mostly in winter and spring, blue whales pass through.

Sri Lanka's great strength is the combination. You can watch elephants in the morning, climb an ancient rock fortress in the afternoon and take the train up into the tea hills the next day. It is one of the best countries for a first wildlife journey in Asia, especially for families.

Costa Rica and Mexico: forests, turtles and whales

Costa Rica is a country where nature starts as soon as you leave the capital. In the cloud forests of Monteverde or San Gerardo de Dota live hummingbirds and, with luck, the resplendent quetzal. On the Osa Peninsula, one of the country's wildest corners, you can meet four species of monkey, sloths and toucans. On the Caribbean coast at Tortuguero, in certain months, sea turtles come ashore to nest – watched only with guides and under strict rules.

In Mexico, wildlife mostly means the sea. In the lagoons of Baja California, roughly January to April, grey whales arrive to calve, and some approach the boats of their own accord. Near La Paz, off Espíritu Santo, you can swim near a sea lion colony. It is a fine choice for Lithuania's darkest months: desert, light and ocean in one journey.

Australia: animals found nowhere else

Australia's wildlife looks as if it came from another world, because in a sense it did. On Kangaroo Island near Adelaide, kangaroos, koalas and sea lions live close together. In Tasmania, after dark, you may see wombats and, with luck, a Tasmanian devil. In the north, at Kakadu, crocodiles and great flocks of birds gather around the waterholes in the dry season, and the Great Barrier Reef remains one of the finest places on earth to snorkel.

Distances are vast, so it is worth choosing one or two regions rather than trying to cover the continent in two weeks.

The season improves the odds, but nature promises nothing – which is why every encounter feels like a gift.

How to choose

• If you want to be in the water with the animals – the Galápagos, Raja Ampat or Baja California.
• If you want to combine wildlife with culture and trains – Sri Lanka.
• If rainforest and primates matter most – Borneo or Costa Rica.
• If you have more than two weeks and want animals found nowhere else – Australia.

If wildlife is the heart of your journey, start with the animal and the season, and only then choose the route. Tell us what you'd love to see and how you like to travel, and we'll explore the possibilities from there.