Best Wildlife Holidays for May 2022

For your Pantanal jaguar safari we explore different types of major habitats accessed by using the Transpantaneira road and you will have quality time in two of them. In particular, the Cuiaba River (and its tributaries) where approximately 90% of the jaguar sightings take place during boat safaris. You cannot visit this area for just a couple of days and expect to see Jaguars and you can certainly not expect to see them if you do not go to the end of this famous road and spend some quality time on the water. Most other operators return to their lodges or houseboats for lunch, but we take packed lunches and stay out all day. Unlike other big cats around the world, Jaguars are sighted often in the middle of the day; either relaxing under the shade of the riverine forest, or sometimes hunting Capybara, Caimans or other prey species.

We then fly you up from Cuiaba to Manaus and due to the timings of flight schedules between the capital city of the Amazon and Tefe, we overnight you in a charming bed and breakfast. We can organise a boat safari to the ‘meeting of the rivers’, or you can simply have a walk around the attractions of Manaus – we recommend a visit to the Opera House. You will then fly to Tefe and enjoy a spectacular small boat transfer to Uakari floating lodge; beautifully located on meandering loop of a river in the unspolit and wildlife rich Mamirauá Reserve. During your stay you will be able to explore the flooded forest in a private dugout paddle, as well as take small group boat safaris to observe pink river dolphins, spider monkeys and sloth. This is a genuine community led project with 50% of the income going back into the community and the majority of the food you eat is purchased from the local villages.

This exciting 12-day adventure takes in some of Northern Botswana’s most prolific parks, including Moremi, the private Khwai concession and Botswana’s jewel in the crown; Savute. Before finishing on the Chobe Riverfront in Chobe National Park.

All locations offer excellent photographic and wildlife viewing opportunities. Where the predators, including lion, leopard and wild dog are regularly seen. The areas are also a haven for other wildlife, such as elephant, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, lechwe, kudu and many other iconic African mammals and of course a vast array of bird species.

With a large well-equipped game vehicles for a maximum group size of 6 people there is plenty of room assured for each guest. This tour will be characterized by maximising time in the field to take advantage of all available wildlife viewing opportunities. Fully supported camping ensures long days in the parks enjoying wildlife and a warm and friendly welcome back at camp in the evening.

Best time to visit Botswana on safari?

One of the best times to visit Botswana for wildlife is the dry season which runs approximately from June to October. This is the best time to see the predators in Botswana; as they share the same depleting water resources as their prey and it is at the lagoons and still flowing rivers where the majority of the hunting action takes place. We can also witness large bull elephants in Chobe national park and take a peaceful Mokoro safari looking for Hippo’s, giant crocs and a wonderful diversity of birdlife in the Okavango Delta. Temperatures will climb steadily throughout this period and reach their peak in October, but the game viewing in Botswana will remain vibrant throughout. We will have the chance to see African Wild Dogs in Moremi or Khwai and some large prides of lions in Savuti.

Wildlife Trails has more than 20 years experience of providing private tailor-made tours to the High Arctic; organising exciting and adventurous wildlife tours to Inuit communities such as Qikitarjuaq, Igloolick and Repluse Bay. These are not tours for clients expecting deluxe accommodation or wildlife sightings ‘to order’. These tours are for people wanting to get a genuine insight into the Inuit hunting and artistic culture, and the chance to take a boat safari with Inuit guides who have eyes like Eagles – an experience you will never forget!

The Azores is one of the best places to see whales and dolphins in Europe and the island of Pico is world famous as one of the best locations to see Blue Whales; particularly in the months of April and May. However, Pico has a long whale watching season from April to October and the magnificent Sperm Whale is another species which visits the waters off this beautiful island, with the famous Pico Volcano providing a stunning backdrop to your activities. Over 20 species of whales and dolphins either inhabit or pass by these waters along their migratory routes, so that Pico is one of the very best spots in the world for Whale Watching.

Wildlife Trails have pioneered a certain bespoke design of gorilla and chimp safari, that brings together the best mid-range wildlife lodges – all of which we have personally visited – with our hand picked dirver/naturalists and their photographer friendly landcruisers with roof openings. Our tailored gorilla trekking holidays allow you to get under the skin of this wildlife rich and vibrant country, as your driver will not only be your expert naturalist; but also your friend and guide to all things Ugandan. This 10 day Gorilla and Chimp safari takes you from the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe to Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo (see detailed map info); as you enjoy both chimp and gorilla treks in this primate focused Uganda wildlife holiday.

Always dreamed of a ‘real’ Botswana camping experience but worried it would be too basic. Believe me, having taken this exact safari in July 2022, this is as good as it gets for a quality Botswana safari, with the stunning private campsites, superb camping staff and excellent quality ensuite tents ensuring all you have to worry about is charging your camera and taking enough memory cards.

We focus on extended stays in Savuti, Moremi and Khwai with the genuine chance to see lions, leopards and African wild dogs. We were lucky enough to also see African wild cat and Serval in Khwai and expect to be surrounded by Elephants on the Chobe River, as we take you on a private boat safari just before sunset. Interested in our small group Botswana camping safari? Then contact Allan at Africa(at)wildlifetrails.co.uk

Corbett National Park was the first park to be brought under the ‘Project Tiger’ umbrella due to its magnificent scenery and large unspoilt wilderness area, which in turn supported a healthy tiger population. The reality for many visitors over the years had been occasional sightings glimpsed on elephant back and a feeling that the park is a better location for birders than more general wildlife enthusiasts; based on our visits in April 2006, April 2010 and March 2011 and our clients trips, we can confirm this view point is now completely redundant.

Not only does this beautiful park afford the visitor an excellent chance to see tiger, it also provides spectacular elephant sightings in the hotter months, with groups as large as 30 animals making the daily crossing over the Ramganga river. It is possible to view both wild elephant and tigers in a jeep safari from Dhikala, and the real highlight, is the rare chance to stay inside a Tiger Sanctuary at one of the simple lodges and you have a wildlife experience that rivals anything else in India.

This is a Botswana safari I have been thinking about designing for years and I am so excited that it has finally come to fruition. The annual Zebra migration through Botswana does not attract as much attention as the famous Wildebeest migration in East Africa, but in its own way it is equally special and also attracts the attention of many of Botswana’s apex predators.

Once the rains end and the salt pans at Makgadikgadi dry up (around April/May), tens of thousands of zebra migrate across the National Park to the banks of the Boteti River valley and remain there until the rains start again in late October/early November.

Our beautiful Botswana wildlife lodge, Leroo La Tau, is located on the banks of the Boteti River Valley so this significant and overwhelming migration arrives on their ‘doorstep’ during April/early May (depending on the years rain) and will remain in that area for the next 6 months or so.

As well as 4 nights at Leroo La Tau to witness the Zebra migration, we will also spend 3 nights at Camp Xakanaxa which is located on the boundary between the Okavango Delta and the world famous Moremi game reserve. It is one of the few camps which allows the perfect balance of water based activities and game drives at the same time. Moremi is one of the best places in Botswana to see lions, leopards and African wildlife dogs.

We will have large well-equipped game vehicles for a maximum group size of 6 people so each guest has a window seat and plenty of room for their camera equipment. This tour will be characterized by maximising time in the field to take advantage of all available wildlife viewing opportunities.

There are several different types of major habitats accessed by using the Transpantaneira road and you will have quality time in two of them. In particular, the Cuiaba River (and its tributaries) where approximately 90% of the jaguar sightings take place during boat safaris. You cannot visit this area for just a couple of days and expect to see Jaguars and you can certainly not expect to see them if you do not go to the end of this famous road and spend some quality time on the water. Most other operators return to their lodges or houseboats for lunch, but we take packed lunches and stay out all day. Unlike other big cats around the world, Jaguars are sighted often in the middle of the day; either relaxing under the shade of the riverine forest, or sometimes hunting Capybara, Caimans or other prey species.

How should the perfect Sri Lanka leopard safari be designed? Our wildlife safaris focus on longer stays in the national parks and with this one week Leopard safari at Yala national park, our approach is consistent with this ethical approach. We prefer to break up the long drive from Colombo to Yala with interesting stops en route. Not only will these stops give you a break from the car, they will also allow you to immerse yourself more fully in both the culture, food and scenic beauty of this amazing island.

Allan spent 2 months in Sri Lanka during 2022 and looked at all 3 access points to Yala national park. We now do not offer leopard safaris through the crazy busy Tissa gate to any of our wildlife clients; we only send them to Kataragama, or the spectacular Kumana national park. The drivers and guides we use in Sri Lanka are personal friends of ours and the feedback about them from oure regular clients is first class. A Sri Lanka wildlife holiday with Wildlife Trails represents incredible value for money and never disappoints.

Sri Lanka wildlife safari holidays nearly always include a Leopard Safari at Yala national park. Not only are these often short and rushed, they also enter from the Tissa gate, which sadly is one big mess of traffic chaos and poor behaviour towards wildlife. By taking you wild camping on this small group Sri Lanka wildlife holiday in Kumana National Park -sometimes referred to as Yala East – we avoid all this nonesence and give you a pure and natural wildlife experience very few can offer.

Putting a South America wildlife holiday combining the chance to see Jaguars in Brazil and Pumas in Chile has been a long held dream for Wildlife Trails but we took our time to make sure that the timing was right. We have been visiting and sending our clients to the Cuiaba River for 15 years now and no doubt the most realiable sightings are here in the months of September and October. By visiting in late October we optimise our Jaguar experience and then travel on to Torres del Paine for Jaguars at the end of the month. This is also a fantastic time to see Pumas and other resident wildlife and it is less crowded than the peak months of February/March. So, why not join us on this truely special big cat safari in South America and see the two iconic cats of Brazil and Chile. Always small groups when you book with Wildlife Trails and with the best connected naturalists on the ground.

Safari through the wilderness of Botswana. Experience the Okavango Delta by traditional dug-outs and the abundant wildlife of Moremi game reserve and Savuti. Explore Chobe NP by boat and enjoy wonderful views of Victoria Falls!

Wildlife Trails first visted Finland in April 2012 with the quest to see three of Finlands apex predators in the atmospheric winters snows. The trip was a huge success with great sightings of Wolverine, Brown Bears and Wolf. Expect your body clock to be completely reversed as you adjust to sleeping through the day and photographing in the late evening and dawn when these iconic predators are at their most active.

Two lucky clients will get the chance to take advantage of some ‘left over’ chimp habituation permits and gorilla permits from trips which could not take place during the pandemic. You must be able to travel for these specific dates in June, as we have already moved the permits one time before and cannot do so again.

Our tailored gorilla trekking holidays allow you to get under the skin of this wildlife rich and vibrant country, as your driver will not only be your expert naturalist; but also your friend and guide to all things Ugandan. This 10 day Gorilla and Chimp safari takes you from the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe to Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo (see detailed map info); as you enjoy both chimp and gorilla treks in this primate focused Uganda wildlife holiday.

Spring birdwatching, gourmet food & wine tasting in the Narbonnaise regional park with two expert local guides accompaning a maximum group size of just 4 people. This tour is not for hardcore birders, but for people wanting to combine the pleasure of food, wine and birding in the beautiful warm and sunny region of Occitanie in May/June 2025.

Allan has had a house in the Languedoc (Occitanie) since 2010 and although mammal viewing options in France are still fairly limited in scope – although the Wolves are coming! – there are some spectacular and diverse landscapes for birding and the region has the highest bird count in France. The food and wine in this region are also spectacular, so for our very first ‘wildlife tour’ in France we are promoting this ‘Gourmet Food, Wine and Birding tour’. This tour is suitable for all fitness levels and is definitly not a hardcore birding trip. Instead it is a gentle immersion into the regions various delights, which include spectacular scenery, amazing regional food, stunning wines, historic Cathar castles and some excellent birding. The tour has a lovely bilingual leader, as well as a charming French female birding guide to look after our small group of 6. Anyone looking to extend their stay or take part in activities close to our hearts – Allan (walking and kayaking) and Kirsty (horse riding) are welcome to speak to us direct about the possibilities.

There has never been a better time to visit Jordan and the iconic Petra due to the very limited number of tourists who will visit this year. Not only will this make visits with our small group of 6 more pleasurable, it will also open up amazing opportunities for photography at iconic locations, such as Jerash, Salt, Petra and Wadi Rum. Currently Jordan is on the UK amber list and with its relatively high vaccination rates it is likely to stay there; which means you will not need to quaratine on your return home. This Jordan photography holiday is designed to maximise our photography time and is suitable for clients with medium fitness and all levels of photography.

The Floe Edge in the Canadian Arctic, is truly remarkable environment, where each year over a small 3-4 week period, we have a chance to see some species which are normally found far out in the Arctic Ocean. At this time of year, we have the migration of both Walrus and Beluga Whales, so these are two of the species we will be looking for. Taking the lead from our local Inuit Guides we follow the floe edge for days of discovery, possible narwhal watching and the chance to see a variety of sea birds, polar bears, seals and possibly beluga and bowhead whales. Since we will experience close to 24 hours of sun at this time of year; there will be long full days looking to find and photographic animals perfectly adapted to survive in this challenging environment

Our quest for not only a good location in Costa Rica to see Tapir, but also how to organise the day by day activities, has been a long but enjoyable one for Wildlife Trails. There are many companies who talk about ‘the chance’ to see Tapir, but 90% of the time you are going to be disappointed. We realised that the Osa Peninusula was one of the best places to see Tapir in Costa Rica, but without our clients pre-booking specific wildlife trails with expert guides, their chances would still be quite low. So, this tour not only gives you the best chance to see Tapir when visiting Costa Rica, but also includes some amazing Humpbacj, Dolphin and Quetzal action enroute. Enjoy the ride!

We have been visiting Ranthambhore since 1997 when the owner Allan Blanchard spent a month there looking at conservation projects in the buffer zone areas the park. His fascination and love for the area brought him back many more times, and along with local guides that are now close friends, he has developed many interesting side trips away from the park to help spread the income from tourism further afield. There is a great road from Ranthambhore which takes you to the village of Bhoori Phadi and the small but beautiful Banas River; which forms one of the boundaries of Ranthambhore National Park. There are activities here organised by local people, such as boat and camel safaris and the chance to camp wild for the more adventurous. In addition, you can take a wonderfully rural 4-wheel drive route from Ranthambhore to the imposing Ramathra Fort, and create a tiger safari with a twist. Don’t just go to Ranthambhore with a standard tour operator and stay locked behind your hotel walls when not on safari. Go with Wildlife Trails and see a side of this park and the surrounding country that few get to see.

The historic Ramathra Fort stands on the Daang plateau between Ranthambhore and the Chambal River Valley, with spectacular views of the villages and countryside below.  The surrounding landscape is characterised by a network of gorges, scrubland and small traditional farms, and on evening drives there is a chance to see Indian Fox, Jackal and Hyena. It is just 10 minutes away from a large lake which attracts a wide variety of bird species and on which a leisurely boat safari can be taken.

June in Kenya is the last month of the shoulder season and a stunning time to visit on your Kenya wildlife holidays before the crowds of the high season arrive. By booking all accommodation through the famous Serena lodges we obtain an additional discount on your behalf, but we also retain our independance and privacy by booking an expert naturalist/driver, who will be your friendly, personal guide from the moment you touch down in Nairobi.

If you enjoy the path less travelled and seeing a greater diversity of wildlife, then a camping safari to the edge of the Kalahari in Botswana could be for you. This 7 day bespoke Botswana wildlife holiday spends 3 nights each in Nxai and Madadakagdi Pans. There is plentiful resident wildlife in the Nxai Pan National Park which is mainly desert adapted species such as springbok, gemsbok, ostrich and brown hyena. During the summer months this population is swelled by elephant, zebra, eland, giraffe and wildebeest. The pans are one of the best places to see wild cheetahs in Botswana and prides of lions also follow the seasonal migrations.

This very special Ugandan gorilla holiday gives you the opportunity to see 3 of Uganda’s most iconic animal species. We start off with a short drive to the Mabamba wetlands on the outskirts of Kampala, where we enjoy a gentle private dugout boat safari looking for the beautifully bizarre Shoebill Stork. From here you wil drive to Queen Elizabeth national park and enjoy both private game drives and boat safaris on the scenic Kazinga channel. We may be lucky to catch a glimpse of a leopard or lion, before driving south to the Ishasha sector; home to the famous tree climbing lions. We then enjoy a long but spectacular journey to the remote community of Nkuringo on the Nteko ridge and if the weather is clear, we will have stunning views of up to 8 Volcanoes, which ‘straddle’ the Uganda, Rwanda and DRC borders. It’s time for you to experience that life changing 1 hour with a Gorilla family before driving to Lake Mburo national park and staying at the stunning Mihingo Lodge. Lake Mburo now enjoys regular leopard sightings during their unique night time drives and is home to many different antelope species within the park. You will enjoy a final breakfast overlooking the park before driving back to Entebbe.

As we write this article in July 2020, we can say that with some confidence Dermakot wildlife reserve in northern Borneo is one of the best locations to see small wild cats in the whole of Asia. This is a combination of ideal habitat, extensive research and the huge amount of time spent on night drives within the reserve – the harder you work, the luckier you get. Genuine chances to see Clouded Leopard – Tarsier – Slow Loris – Leopard Cat and Marbled Cat.

As more and more exciting Jaguar photos ‘flooded’ the internet it was inevitable that locations like the Cuiaba river would start to attract large numbers of wildlife enthusiasts and we recognise that this is not the experience all wildlife lovers are looking for on their bespoke Brazil wildlife holiday. There are actually many other locations in the vast wetland known as the Pantanal and simply by flying into the south you can experience a very different style of wildlife safari.

Although the chances here to see Jaguars are less, the animal count can often be higher and more diverse and our clients have been lucky enough to see many giant anteaters, bush pigs, peccaries, 6 and 9-banded armadillos, capybara and caiman. Because you will have your own private naturalist, you can dictate the pace of the wildlife viewing; although we definitely recommend a few night time drives.

You will then fly south to Iguacu airport where you will be met by your friendly knowledgeable guide. We have visited this Unesco world heritage site multiple times, so know the importance of booking a hotel within the park and therefore being able to visit the falls in that ‘golden’ first 1-2 hours before the mainstream tourists arrive. We also know great places for bird watching and eating locally; so you will really maximise your 3 nights spent here before flying onto Sao Paulo or Rio.

Grizzly bear viewing on Vancouver Island is often promoted as being at its best during the ‘salmon season’ from late August until early October, but that is to miss the opportunity to witness the Spring bear viewing season in Canada, which is equally impressive and has some unique photography opportunities that you will not have at any other time of the year. Firstly, female grizzlies are out and about with their beautiful spring cubs – twins are commonly sighted – and you will have a great chance to photograph them. Some of the best bear viewing action can be the posturing and aggressive behaviour of the large male grizzlies, as they look for the females to mate with. May and June are the peak mating months of Grizzly Bears.

The design of all our wildlife safaris focus on longer stays in the national parks and with this one week Leopard safari at Yala national park, our approach is no different. We prefer to break up the long drive from Colombo to Yala with interesting stops en route. Not only will these stops give you a break from the car, they will also allow you to immerse yourself more fully in both the culture and scenic beauty of this amazing island. If you are travelling during the whale watching season from December to April, we definitely recommend you visit Mirissa to enjoy an ethical whale watching tour which does not chase or get to close to the animals. Otherwise, we also often choose to include a night at Galle, as there are some wonderful markets, restuarants and an early walk around town before the heat builds up is always interesting. We can also look at stops at wildlife sanctuaries like Udawalawe and Bundala.

Tadoba national park is now well known as one of the BIG 3 of India’s tiger reserves and we can even say, that with the amazing expansion of tiger populations into the many buffer zones, this is the place to be for tiger lovers. Add to that, a wide diversity of habitats, several large lakes which attract the tigers during the hot summers, and a chance to see both wild dogs and a melanistic leopard, and there is something for everyone.

Imagine an Asian wildlife holiday which combines amazing and diverse jungle experiences with a spectacular view of the Himalayas and the chance to take a tiger safari and stay at the legendary Tiger Tops jungle lodges. If this is your dream then we have created the perfect Nepal wildlife safaris for you, with 2 nights in Kathmandu at the fabulous Dwarika’s Hotel, before staying 5 nights at Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge, then 5 nights at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge, where we should have our best chance to see tigers, and finishing off this ‘Big 3’ Nepal wildlife safari with 4 nights at the up and coming Shuklaphanta wildlife reserve.

This really is the ultimate Jaguar safari in Brazil, as we take you to two famous Brazilian rivers, each with a high density of wild jaguars. Less people visit the Paraguay river and the Taiamã Ecological Reserve where you will be taking your boat safaris. In the last few years there have been more Jaguar sightings closer to our riverside lodge on the banks of the Paraguay and we can use the latest sightings reports to plan our daily activities. We have a large spacious boat designed for 12 but only carrying 4 Wildlife Trails clients; who will enjoy a huge amount of space for their comfort and all important camera equipment. After 4 nights on the Paraguay river we drive back to Cuiaba and start our journey down the Transpantaneira road. We focus on two different habitats along this road, the drier north where you are more likely to see Tapir, Giant Anteaters and Ocelot and then the end of the road for our Jaguar boat safaris; where we are also likely to see Giant river otters, Howler monkeys, Caiman and Capybara. To have the best possible chance to see Jaguars we again have a large boat with just a few clients in and we go out as early as possible and take packed lunches. Which means that we are still viewing and photographing Jaguars, while the other groups are back at the lodge or on their houseboats having siestas.

Our first visit to Sri Lanka way back in 2002 included visit to Bundala, Uda Walawe and Yala national parks. While Yala is very much the jewel in the crown of Sri Lanka’s wildlife sanctuaries it is important to be transparent with visitors about excessive visitor numbers which have been caused by the building of a ferry/ cruise ship terminal just 1 hour away by road. Given we are writing this during the middle of the Corvid-19 pandemic, the future of the cruise industry is far from certain, but what is certain in that Wildlife Trails has its finger in the pulse of all wildlife sanctuaries in the country and has already designed this tour in such a way, as to avoid the busier areas of the park and provide our clients with the most natural and exciting wildlife safari experience possible. As well as including a short extension to Uda Walawe national park before arriving in Yala, we also take you right into the heart of the Central Highlands. Enjoy the clean mountain air, authentic bungalow accommodation and choose a walking tour which suits your abilities and interests. After your leopard safari in Yala and experiencing the beautiful eastern side of the park; with its mangrove forests and amazing bird life, you will drive west to Mirissa for your small boat whale watcing safaris looking for the largest animal in the world – Dondra Point is one of the best places to see the Blue Whale.

When you visit Brazil on a wildlife holiday even if it involves a Jaguar Safari in the Pantanal you soon pick up on the fact that nearly all the local guides are full on birders and will take every opportunity to point out ‘special’ birds to their clients. As all birders know, if you want to maximise the variety of sightings and species you need to visit a diversity of habitats and altitudes in the company of an expert guide. This combination of higher altitude Cerrado plateau and Wetland habitat – without the need to travel too far in Brazil – is ideal for keen birders and those looking to see a diversity of landscapes and wildlife in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso.

It is true to say that if you include a visit to Murchison national park in Uganda, you need to add a lot more time to your Uganda gorilla trekking holiday – but what’s the rush? If you avoid the holiday weekends you will see few other visitors here and the wildlife encounters, including huge Wild Elephants, Hippos, Lion, Leopard and the iconic Shoebill, can often be amazing. From here, it’s a long but scenic drive up the escarpment and down the other side to Kibale, where you will have two amazing chimp trekking opportunities in the stunning forest. You then have time for more savannah wildlife viewing at Queen Elizabeth national park, before then heading to two seperate and stunning gorilla trekking locations in Bwindi and then Nkuringo. We then include some well deserved chill out time at the surreal Lake Bunyonyi, before heading back to Entebbe to connect with your onward flight.

A visit to Vancouver Island really showcases the sheer diversity of wildlife, both marine and terrestrial, found in the Pacific Northwest, and offers plenty of varied wildlife activities at a very affordable price. About 300 miles long and 70 miles wide, the best and most cost effective option to explore the island is a self-drive tour which gives you the freedom to visit multiple locations and fully experience all that it has to offer. The northeast of the island offers easy access to both Johnstone Strait, the best place in the world to see Orcas in the wild (as well as Humpback Whales), and the remote coastal inlets on the adjacent mainland where Grizzly Bears still maintain a stronghold, far from any human encroachment. The rugged west coast of the island is on the annual migration route of the Gray Whale, large numbers of which pass by off the coast en-route from Mexico to Alaska, and is also one of the best places in North America to see Black Bears. Sightings of Humpback Whales and Sea Otters are also possible off the west coast, and Bald Eagles and Sea Lions are more or less a certainty. The popular seaside community of Tofino on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island is a great destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Besides the excellent black bear watching tours and whale watchign trips, there are many other outdoor activities which you can book direct, or just enjoy walking the famous Wild Pacific trail.

After a nice nights sleep in a quality hotel in Dar, it’s time to start the adventure with your private naturalist with a visit to the world-famous Selous game reserve – famous for big cats and the chance to see African wild dogs. From Selous, we visit Mikumi and it’s large lion prides, before ending up in a beautiful camp on the Great Ruaha River, where big game regularly walks through the camp to the excitement of all visitors.

The chance to see African wild dogs, or African painted dogs as they are sometimes referred to, is high on many wildlife lovers wish list. It is important to remember that this is one of the rarest canids in the world and sadly is on the endangered ‘Red List’ of IUCN. Loss of habitat and human conflict are the main reasons for their decline; so it is more important than ever to conserve and protect the few remaining strong holds of this charismatic species. Over the years, Wildlife Trails have enjoyed considerable success in photographing this species and with this knowledge we have created safari holidays which visit the best places to see wild dogs at the right time of year.

Sri Lanka leopard safaris in Yala national park remain one of the best big cat experiences found in Asia. On an island where they are the top predator bar none, they are much more diurnal in behaviour than in India’s wildlife sanctuaries, which thus provides much better opportunities for our wildlife photography holidays to Sri Lanka.  We have been travelling to Yala since 2002 and the safari camp we have hand picked based on personal recce trips in 2022 is based away from the maddness of the Tissa gate and all the package hotels. Ten jeep safaris in Yala (with some of them full days with packed lunches) will allow us to experience key zones and focus on leopards, wild elephants and sloth bears.

Please note, that this tour can easily be extended on a private basis to visit other wildlife sanctuaries or cultural locations of personal interest.