The Safari Goes Global
Travelers are looking beyond the wilds of Africa to nd superlative animal encounters.
AROUND DUSK, the safari vehicle rounded a bend and slowed to a crawl. My guide, Luiza Coqueiro, swept a spotlight across the palm fronds, and a pair of eyes appeared. A jaguar emerged and yawned, unfazed by our presence. We were a stone’s throw from one of the world’s ercest predators—and my heart was pounding. I had traveled to Brazil to spot big cats, but coming face-to-face with one is never a sure thing—and getting this close felt even more thrilling than I’d expected.
Safaris are often associated with destinations like Kenya and South Africa, but travelers are increasingly seeking them out in alternative destinations, says Wendy Klausner, a senior adventure specialist at Natural Habitat Adventures. “People are discovering animals they didn’t know they cared about—and going gaga over them,” Klausner says. “It’s a form of childlike discovery.”
That was certainly true of my jaguar-spotting trip in the vast Pantanal wetlands of Brazil, which felt a lot like an African safari but for the landscape.
Trips like these have been taking o as tour operators, including Natural Habitat, have partnered with nonpro ts to preserve ecosystems and use tourism dollars to support both local people and wildlife. These rewilding e orts, which aim to reintroduce marquee species to rehabilitated environments, have the added bonus of making animal encounters more likely, Klausner says. In many cases, these projects have helped struggling species to not just survive but thrive—to the bene t of all. Here’s a closer look at a few standouts.
SEEK OUT STAGS IN SCOTLAND
The Alladale Wilderness Reserve, in the Highlands, is a rewilding success story, with more than 23,000 acres of peatland, rivers, and native pine forest recovering over the past 20 years following centuries of deforestation and overgrazing. Visitors can stay at one of three lodges (doubles from $742) on the preserve and take ranger-led hikes to spot red deer clashing antlers during rut, golden eagles soaring above the glens, and pine martens darting through the forest.
TRACK EUROPEAN BISON IN ROMANIA
Driven to extinction in the wild a century ago, European bison have been reintroduced to Romania’s Carpathian
Mountains by the groups Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania. Today, dozens roam VânătoriNeam Natural Park, where travelers can join experts from the Bison Land Association (half-day tours from $23) to look for the animals.
HEAR THE IBERIAN WOLVES OF SPAIN
Long vilified as a threat to livestock, Iberian wolves are making a comeback in parts of northern Spain, including the regions of Asturias and Castile-León, where conservationists have reintroduced the species—and implemented protections for cattle. Sightings of the wolves are still rare, but adventurers can hike and drive through the
hills in the company of naturalist guides, like those from Wild Expedition, which offers a 10-day tour (from $3,509).
DISCOVER AUSTRALIA’S WILD SIDE
The country is packed with mustsee species, but actually spotting them in the wild can be surprisingly difficult. Natural Habitat Adventures can improve the odds in places such as Crater Lakes National Park and Kangaroo Island, where it’s often possible to see koalas, platypuses, and wombats. The company’s threeweek, cross-continent “Ultimate Australia Safari” (from $28,195 per person) covers them all.