Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

This tiny island nation is big on biodiversity; Sri Lanka is home to nearly 100 species of mammals (19 of which are endemic), including the sloth bear, Sri Lankan leopard, and Sri Lankan elephant. Many of the country’s big mammals roam remarkable Yala National Park, located in the southeast; Yala’s leopard concentration is the highest on the planet. Nearly 200 reptiles slither through the marshlands (keep your eyes peeled for the predacious Mugger crocodile), some 500 species of birds ply the skies, while a wild array of amphibians hop from one watery pad to the next. Numerous whale species populate the waters surrounding the island; The Frangipani Tree is one of the world’s most spectacular waterfront properties, and makes a sensational base for waterborne expeditions to nearby Kalpitiya and Mirissa, renowned whale and dolphin sighting locations.