Having lived in Cape Town for a year, we absolutely love South Africa and have come up with this recommended 2-week South Africa itinerary perfect for first-time visitors. If you think South Africa is all about wildlife safari, think again. Of the 150 countries I've traveled to, South Africa is[...]
Planning an African safari in Kenya? Check out my detailed Kenya itinerary with recommendations on best places to visit and stay for those with 2 weeks in Kenya.
From the jungle of Madagascar to the icy realm of Antarctica, I bring you a round-up of the best wildlife destinations in the world. As a major wildlife buff, I love traveling to places that are brimming with wild animals. There’s something special about coming face to face with animals in the w[...]
The Pantanal boasts the highest concentration of wildlife in South America. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do a Pantanal jaguar safari, by Dave & Becca from Bring Us That Horizon. The Pantanal is often outshone by the Amazon rainforest, in fact, the Pantanal may well be Brazil’s best-kept[...]
One of the coolest things to do in Florida is swimming with manatees. Here's my guide on how and where to swim with manatees! “There’s one right there!” Our captain points to a grey mass close to the water surface. I drop my snorkeling mask and poke my head out of the boat’s bow. There it is[...]
Traveling the Galapagos Islands with kids is an epic, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here’s my guide to planning the perfect Galapagos family trip! At 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos Islands are some of the best wildlife destinations in the[...]
Of all the wildlife experiences I’ve had, gorilla trekking still ranks high as my favorite wildlife adventure. Here's a complete guide to gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking is unlike any other wildlife experience I've had. There is something humbling and moving about coming so close to an animal o[...]
As a huge fan of wildlife watching, I’ve spied on a leopard up close in the Serengeti National Park, observed black rhinos in the savannas outside Nairobi, and floated alongside hippos in the lush eden of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Being able to observe wildlife in a natural setting is a rare[...]
Not sure if you should go on an African safari with kids? Think again. It just takes some planning, for both you and your kids to have the adventure of a lifetime. I’ve been to Africa around 30 times: from Tanzania to Uganda, Madagascar to Benin. It’s my favorite continent, and I try to visi[...]
Thrilled to have one of my closest friends, Hannah Enightoola, share a story here about turtle watching in Trinidad. Hannah has traveled far and wide, but she'll always consider Trinidad her home. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I gaze at the seemingly never-ending stretch of sandy beach, hopin[...]
Atop an open-roofed jeep, we bounced across the muddy floodplains like a group of explorers out on a mission. Indeed, we were on a mission: to find Asian elephants in the wild. I had seen wild elephants many times but never in Asia — and being a wildlife buff, it was about time to s[...]
Over thousands of wildebeests and zebras sprawl across the vast grasslands, peppering the landscape that runs for miles into the horizon. We’ve seen them before – but now to see them in such big numbers is just impressive. As we drive further along the rolling hills and surprisingly gr[...]
The walkie-talkie crackles. Our guide Benjamin listens intently and whispers back in the local Rukiga language. “We've found the gorillas. A male and a female. They are just ahead," he announces. "Are you ready?" We drop our bags and proceed in silence through the thick and wet jungle w[...]
Etched at the bottom of the world, Antarctica is as far south and remote as you can get. The seventh continent, as some call it, is covered in icebergs, glaciers, mountains and thick layers of snow. At first glance, Antarctica appears vast and empty – with expansive ice fields stretching fo[...]
Scuba diving in Maui, Hawaii, was one of the best experiences we've had in our travels. Read about our Maui scuba diving experience here. Dark rocks, giant boulders, and aged patches of lava surround us. In the midst of these rock tunnels and small coral caves, our marine biologist guide Pauline sh[...]
On our last day at Pico Bonito, we awoke before dawn, determined to carry out our mission: to search for the famous toucan. The Pico Bonito National Park is home to a myriad of wildlife, ranging from the world famous toucan bird to the Central American aguti, the elusive jaguar and ocelot (a type o[...]
A thick leathery body floated over the glassy green water surface as we glided by the edge of the swamp in our motorized wooden boat. Our local guide Elmer signaled for the boatman to move closer. Once we were within an arm’s length from the body, we found a pair of big marble eyes staring bac[...]
Outside our thatched bungalow, we hear the jungle slowly awaking with the chirping of birds, shrill cries of cicadas and loud croaking sounds of frogs. Together, they form a synchronized jungle orchestra, their natural symphony echoing throughout the forest that surrounds us. Daylight[...]
They growl like ferocious bulldogs, snort like pigs, and have the most disturbing screech I've ever heard. They’re strange creatures alright – spotting a stocky and muscular body, clothed in black fur and an incongruous white marking on its chest, point ears and a tail that emits a pungent o[...]
A self-drive safari in South Africa can be an excellent way to see the wildlife at your own pace, on your own terms. Covered in nothing more than gravel stones, the road ahead of us did not look like something our tiny Kia Picanto could handle. There were no signs and the road winded ahead as far as[...]
Out on the brackish water, two enormous heads bobbed on the surface. We cruised nearer for a closer look. Two teenage elephants emerged from the water, their bulky bodies towering over our small boat. Flapping their ears, they moved swiftly towards the land. “They’re just swimming across the ri[...]
It was barely daylight when we set off from our apartment in Camps Bay to Gansbaai, a fishing village some two hours away from Cape Town, South Africa. This fishing town is most famous for its dense population of great white sharks. Although sleepy from the early rise, we were fueled by ex[...]
The air was thick with humidity. We followed the trail that snaked through the dense tropical foliage, pushing past thick molave leaves as we ventured further. “Shhh…” Our 18-year-old park ranger, Ijie, stopped us in our tracks and pointed at a branch hanging above our heads. There they were[...]
One of my favorite travel experiences of all time: swimming with whale sharks in Cebu, the Philippines. Read about our experience here. In the far distance came a spray of water and the faint outline of an enormous animal resembling a whale. We watched in awe as it glided gently by the bow of a sma[...]
Although Kruger is undoubtedly the largest and most popular National Park in South Africa there are plenty of other wild venues scattered across the country that are, in my humble opinion, just as interesting if not more so. For those who are wondering which national park to include in your South Af[...]