The Galapagos is just the tip of a world wildlife wishlist. Jane Jurgens lists some other destinations to covet for an animal adventure.
So you want to see . . . THE BIG FIVE
Go to: Africa/South Africa
Originally coined by big-game hunters referring to the hardest animals to hunt on foot, the term Big Five has come to represent the ultimate wishlist for an African safari holiday.
If you're lucky enough to see lions, leopards, elephants, black rhino and African buffalo, you've hit the safari jackpot and the good news is there is a variety of places to do it. The private reserves around South Africa's Kruger National Park are a strong contender, including the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, where you're likely to see all five within a few days. You can also try Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
WHEN TO GO: June to October, although you'll get better value — and still a wonderful experience — if you go out of peak season. Talk to a travel agent or safari expert to find the best destination and time for you.
So you want to see . . . TIGERS
Go to: India
Skip the tourist-traps where you can pose with a heavily-sedated tiger for that all-important social media snap. Instead, choose a reputable tour in India where you have the chance to see tigers in the wild — almost half the world's remaining tiger population can be found in more than 40 national parks. The Bengal tigers in Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park are quite used to tourist vehicles so you're likely to spot them on a guided morning or evening safari. The park is also dotted with ancient ruins, including a fort where tigers like to congregate. Wouldn't that be a better Instagram shot than a chained up tiger?
Wild mountain gorillas live in the Virungas in equatorial Africa, bordered by Rwanda and Uganda, and there are only an estimated 800 remaining. To see them, you'll need to take on a lengthy, guided hike in dense jungle, after first obtaining a potentially expensive permit. Tours operate year round in both countries but Rwandan permit costs doubled last year, so Uganda offers better value for money. But an experience like this is priceless, so save your cents and make the trip of a lifetime.
WHEN TO GO: June — it's after the wet season (March to May) and before the peak season (July/August).
So you want to see . . . JAGUARS
Go to: Brazil's Pantanal region
A beautiful jaguar the banks of a river in its natural habitat in the Pantanal region, Brazil. Photo / Getty Images
It's a bit of a mission to get to the Pantanal from New Zealand — fly to Santiago, connect to Sao Paulo and on to Cuiaba, then a three-hour drive — but as the largest wetland in the Americas, there's no shortage of wildlife to spot. The area is most famous for being home to one of the world's largest jaguar populations, which draws tourists from around the world. Jaguars are notoriously hard to spot however as they like to live alone, deep within the camouflage of dense jungle. The Pantanal gives slightly better odds of seeing them — the landscape is far more open than in the Amazon rainforest and the jaguars will come to the river beds to hunt other Brazilian natives, the capybara (large guinea-pig like rodents) and caiman (a type of alligator).
WHEN TO GO: The dry season — July to October.
So you want to see . . . ORANGUTANS
Go to: Borneo
Thanks to the devastating consequences of poaching and deforestation, there are only two places left in the world where you can see orangutans in the wild — Indonesia's Sumatra and the island of Borneo. Both destinations have sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres where you can see rescued orangs but Borneo offers slightly better chances for spotting wild apes, as they are found in locations across the island (in Sumatra, they are found only in the north). Sunday Travel's Stephanie Holmes visited Borneo last year with G Adventures and was lucky enough to spot a family of orangutans in the rainforest. "It was a magical experience," she says. "To see these critically endangered creatures in their natural habitat was such a privilege, and highly recommended." While there, you can also spot a variety of other wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, Bornean sun bears, and pygmy elephants.
WHEN TO GO: The "dry season" is March to October, although with a tropical, humid climate, you can expect some rain whenever you go.
Blue Maomao Arch, Poor Knights Island, North Island. Photo / Getty Images
You don't need to go far for world-class diving — just head to the Poor Knights Islands, just off Northland's Tutukaka Coast. A group of ancient volcanoes dating back more than 11 million years, and a marine reserve for more than 35 years, French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau rated the Poor Knights as one of the world's top 10 dive spots. But you don't need to hold a Padi licence to get up close with the reserve's marine life — snorkelling and kayaking are just as rewarding. Take a daytrip with registered operators based at Tutukaka and explore the arches, tunnels, kelp forests, sheer cliffs and caves — including the world's largest sea cave — and discover the incredible marine biodiversity that makes this unassuming Kiwi destination one of the world's best.
WHEN TO GO: January to April gives warm waters, but visibility is best from May to September . . . slip into a wetsuit and brace yourself.
