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Best wildlife holidays

Nature lovers, check out our top wildlife holidays.
From an orangutan orphanage to a giant tortoise sanctuary, there are some unforgettable wildlife experiences to be had on a TUI Tour. These escorted holidays include everything from a 4x4 tour to spot tigers in India to a trip to a penguin colony in South Africa, so they’re perfect for wildlife enthusiasts. And what makes them even better is that every one of them has conservation at its heart. Intrigued? To help you find your best wildlife holiday, we’ve handpicked some of our top animal encounters in South Africa, Borneo and beyond. Read on to find out more…

Then, when you’re ready, take a look at our best TUI Tours deals.

1. BORNEO

Orangutans might be the first animal that springs to mind when you think of Borneo. But the island’s wow-factor wildlife also includes the sun bear – the smallest of all bear species. Native to Southeast Asia, these black furballs have snouts that look like they’ve been dipped in honey. Our Best of Borneo: Cities, Islands and Jungles tour includes a trip to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sandakan, where you can see up to 40 sun bears. The centre houses rescued sun bears, then cares for them until they can be released back into the wild.

Of course, a trip to Borneo wouldn’t be complete without an orangutan sighting or two – and that’s why our tour also includes a visit to an orangutan orphanage. At the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, you can learn all about the work being done to save and rehabilitate orangutan orphans. These apes are critically endangered, and only found in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Keep your eyes open during your visit and you may spot some satsuma-coloured baby orangutans playing in the trees.

Find out more about our holidays to Borneo.

2. INDIA

There’s a major conservation project in India that aims to look after and increase the number of endangered Bengal tigers in India. See first-hand the work being done by visiting Ranthambore National Park on an Icons of India – Tigers and the Taj Mahal tour. There are sadly only 2,500 Bengal tigers left in the wild, but around 30 have been born in the park over the last few years. The tour includes two 4x4 safari drives into the park so you can try to spot these stripy big cats in their protected habitat.

Find out more about our holidays to India.

3. SOUTH AFRICA

Think South Africa and you’ll probably picture lions, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest and every bush creature in between. But what about penguins? Boulders Beach near Cape Town is home to a colony of endangered African penguins – and it’s one of the only places you can see them in the wild. It’s worth visiting both for the sight of these little birds waddling across the sand, and for the impact your visit will make. Part of every visitor’s entry fee goes towards paying for the conservation of the penguins that live here. You can tick off this experience on our South Africa Explorer tour.

Find out more about our holidays to South Africa.

4. THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Book your place on a Natural Wonders of the Galapagos Islands tour to see giant tortoises in a special sanctuary. On your final day of this tour, you’ll take a speedboat ride out to Santa Cruz Island, home to the giant tortoises. There’s a huge area of land dedicated to these huge slow-motion creatures – it’s called Galapagos Magic. A few years ago, the tortoises were on the brink of extinction. Today, there are over 100 free-roaming tortoises in this place alone, thanks to the work being done here to protect them. On the tour, there’s also time included to plant a tree in the sanctuary to help conserve the island’s forests for centuries to come.

Find out more about our holidays to the Galapagos Islands.

5. COSTA RICA

Costa Rica’s been on the avid wildlife lover’s radar for a while now – and no wonder, when it’s home to creatures like manatees, crocodiles and sloths. Try our Costa Rica Discovery tour on for size and you’ll have a chance to see them all in Tortuguero National Park. Sea turtles nest on the beaches here, too and you’ll learn all about them in the visitor centre. Or, jump on the Costa Rica Grand Tour for a trip to Sarapiqui, an eco-tourism hotspot. Here, you'll take a wildlife walk through the jungle, looking out for howler monkeys and red-eyed tree frogs in their natural habitat.

Find out more about our holidays to Costa Rica.
Ready to put your explorer hat on? Browse our tours deals to get there for less. Or, for more inspiration, check out our Best trips of a lifetime and our Best tours for mountain lovers.

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Author: Rachel Tysoe-Bailey

Last updated: 06.02.2020

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