Safari & Wildlife Travel Articles

Ian and Susan Johnson visited Sumatra and Malaysia with Audley in August 2011. They describe their experiences of wildlife viewing, jungle trekking and some welcome relaxation on one of Malaysia's east coast beaches.

We like nothing better than to read about your travel stories and the moments that made your trip memorable. Frances Smith and Paula Wilson describe their recent trip with Audley to South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.

For Polar specialist Jonathan Goldsmith it is often the story behind a photo that makes it a treasured memory. These are his favourite pictures from his recent trip to Spitsbergen in the Norwegian Arctic.

All our specialists regularly revisit their chosen regions, meticulously inspect hotels and keep up-to-date with all travel-related issues. Here, Angela, one of our Southeast Asia specialists, kept a diary while on a recent trip.

Choosing to travel in the low season has a number of great benefits. In addition to lower prices, you’ll find the space and time to wander the most popular sights without the crowds, as well as spot wildlife at its most prolific.

Audley client, Annette Beach, describes her encounter with mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda.

With plenty of sunshine, fabulous wine and food, great safaris and spectacular landscapes, South Africa has long been a popular destination for Audley travellers. Whilst there are plenty of opulent safari lodges throughout the country, we have worked hard to seek out quality accommodation and trips for all budgets so you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy your time in South Africa.

New Zealand’s dramatic scenery draws visitors from across the globe but, for many, Kiwi hospitality leaves an equally lasting impression. By sharing their passions with guests, many locals have created a business for themselves and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for their visitors. Whether you’re a rugby fan, history buff, wildlife enthusiast or lover of fine foods, our favourite properties offer the chance to combine your interests with an expert guide to New Zealand life.

Many species of turtle are now critically endangered, and it is thanks to the work of conservationists all over the world that turtle breeding sites are now becoming increasingly protected.

We work with some of the best guides in Africa, many of them award winners. Here we introduce you to just a handful of the guides who have made Audley travellers’ trips more memorable over the years.

Safari operator, guide, cook, mechanic, raconteur and adventurer Thomas Holden has been smitten by Africa since childhood when his grandfather first ignited his passion for the continent. Thomas now runs a safari company in Tanzania and shares with us his enthusiasm, experiences and top tips for his adopted homeland.

Audley client, Kate Jones travelled to Borneo in July 2011.

Southeast Asia is inhabited by many different peoples and unique wildlife, and offers the traveller a wide range of experiences. We list out top five reasons why you should visit.

Audley clients, Kay and Richard Tremellen-Frost, travelled to Botswana in February 2011.

Wedged between the arid plateau of Tibet and the hot fertile plains and jungles of India, Nepal offers a plethora of opportunities to travellers despite its small size. The Himalaya Range forms the backbone of Nepal and provides arguably the best mountain scenery in the world. However, there’s far more to Nepal than mountains and the country’s national parks and unique architecture provide a wonderful contrast to the wild landscapes.

Audley's Costa Rica specialist Oonagh Mallinder explains why travelling to Costa Rica during the ‘green season’ can be a very rewarding experience.

Our Africa Safari Programme Manager has just returned from a visit to Zimbabwe, where she sets out to dispel one or two preconceived ideas and discover anew what the country now has to offer the traveller.

Despite its small size Sri Lanka is an incredibly diverse island covered in tropical forests and lush tea plantations, home to some top-notch cuisine and blessed with a fascinating history and culture. But its the profusion of different habitats and altitudes which means that wildlife enthusiasts can spot a great variety of flora and fauna without having to travel long distances.

We asked our country specialists to create a special collection of unique honeymoon ideas.

Audley's Costa Rica specialist Oonagh Mallinder explains why travelling to Costa Rica during the ‘green season’ can be a very rewarding experience.

Audley clients, Amanda and Steve Rencontre, spent three days at the beautiful Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Read their diary account of those few unforgettable days.

Our specialists are always looking for that ideal combination of wildlife, intimate accommodation and remote African bush. Here, one of them puts together their own perfect safari.

The Northern Territory is the wildest and most diverse of Australia’s eight states and territories. We asked some of our Australia specialists for their favourite experience of the Territory and this is what they chose.

Audley client Dr Ian McCurdie writes about his family's Christmas holiday to the Masai Mara in Kenya.

Jamie Scarrow is one of British Columbia's premier wildlife photographers and his work has been published in notable magazines such as National Geographic and Nature Conservancy. Here, he talks about his work at the Knight Inlet Lodge in Canada and his aspirations for the future.

A late Easter weekend in 2011, followed by the May Bank Holiday means that you can take just four days out of the office to enjoy an 11-day-long break. Take a look at our Easter trip ideas for a little inspiration.

Christine Reddall travelled to Borneo with Audley.

In 2009 Costa Rica topped the Happy Planet Index, reporting the highest life satisfaction in the world, and, once you’ve visited this beautiful and diverse land, it’s easy to understand why.

From rooftop hot tubs overlooking bustling cityscapes to a sparkling infinity pool pouring into an emerald lagoon, some of the best hotel pools are made so by the breathtaking views that they command.

If you've explored a destination on land, why not spend a few days exploring the underwater part of it? A whole new world is waiting to be discovered just beneath the waves.

It was back in 2000 that Lizzie Corke and Shayne Neal first considered opening an ecolodge in the Cape Otway National Park. In 2004 this dream became reality and here we look at what a stay at the Great Ocean Ecolodge entails.

Oman has not been renowned for its conservation record but, as Harry Ring discovers, the turtle project in Ras Al-Jinz is an encouraging development in the quest to protect this delicate species.

Kenya’s Masai Mara is one of Africa’s legendary safari destinations. In March, June and November, you might get the odd storm, but these are quickly burnt off by the tropical sun. Your reward is watching the bush come to life. Greg Monson, owner of Kicheche, one of our favourite camps in the Mara, tells us what makes the green season so special.

Madagascar is huge, roughly two and half times the size of Great Britain, and it’s difficult to know how to get the best out of your first visit without some insider knowledge. We would recommend, unless you have an abundance of time, visiting either the north or south of the country.

Around the world, many countries are doing their bit to support the beautiful and endangered turtle. The following nations offer the visitor a rare glimpse at conservation efforts first-hand, where the protection of these wonderful creatures is of the utmost importance.

Some of the world’s most beautiful, ancient and iconic destinations are well known for good reason, but this popularity usually means that crowds of tourists and sightseers vying for space are a common sight.

Kangaroo Island, situated off the coast of Adelaide, is fast becoming a popular addition to tours for those wanting to delve further into the wildlife of the country. Lou Payton, one of Audley's Australia specialists, recounts her recent visit to this island.

Vancouver Island is located off the West Coast of mainland Canada. At 290 miles in length and 50 miles wide, it is the world’s 43rd largest island and a place that manages to condense most of the highlights of Canada. Audley's Canada team pick out their own personal highlights of the island.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and one of the most diverse, with a huge array of landscapes, people and culture. Discover our top tips for the best places to go on a first-time visit to this magnificent country.

Just because in some cases they have been around for millions of years doesn't mean you'll have seen them. In fact, our list of the world's more unusual animals includes some which are definitely not easy to see, such as the virtually motionless sloth. See which animals made our list.

Safari is fascinating, even at second-hand and we love listening to your stories to find out what your highlights were. Tanzania Specialist, Alex has heard stories of thrilling chases, of heart wrenching moments when young animals narrowly escaped death, and magical evenings counting shooting stars.

Jonathan Scott of the BBC's Big Cat Diary, and legendary guide and wildlife expert Phil Berry, lead a once-in-a-lifetime safari in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park.

Zambia's South Luangwa has been home to some of Africa's legendary guides, probably the best known name though is Robin Pope, owner of Zambia's most successful safari company - Robin Pope Safaris.

Audley client, Clive Harber, describes his trip to Papua New Guinea.

Audley client, Rolf Richardson, describes his trip to the Galapagos Islands in January 2009.

Country specialist, Fiona explains why Alaska is one of the most rewarding destinations to visit.

To mark their 60th Anniversary of safaris in the Luangwa Valley, Norman Carr Safaris are offering a special community and conservation safari.

You can get very, very close to the wildlife on a photographic safari in Zambia.

Kirsty, our Botswana Specialist, gives a first hand account of the recently reopened Caprivi Strip in Namibia.

Enjoy a relaxing cruise on a traditional rice boat on the Backwaters and admire the beautiful scenery.

The Gorongosa National Park lies in Mozambique is one of the finest game viewing destinations in Africa. National Geographic have recently returned from filming there and have given us permission to put a short clip of it on our website to help promote Gorongosa.

BBC2's new three-part series investigates the remote South Pacific islands, from its history and culture to wildlife and colonisation.

Mozambique has yet to be discovered by mass tourism, and as a result its reefs are untouched and an incredible variety of marine life exists in its waters.

Follow an Audley itinerary which includes some of the highlights of comedian Billy Connolly's new TV series which sees him journey through Canada's Northwest Passage.

Botswana is best-known for its luxury safaris but as Victoria explains, you can still experience its fantastic wildlife by avoiding luxury lodges and staying in mobile tented camps.

India Specialist, Harsha Ogale discovers that although wild tiger numbers are dropping, the population in national parks is increasing.

This three-part series on BBC 1 brought an international team of scientists, climbers and wildlife film-makers to Guyana to document its wealth of natural scenery and wildlife.

This six-part series from the makers of 'Planet Earth' documents China and Tibet's wealth of natural scenery and wildlife on BBC 2.

There are many fantastic aquariums in the world, whether you're looking for number of species, volume of water or pure entertainment value. Many offer the chance to swim with sharks, feed penguins or simply learn about the amazing creatures that live in our oceans.