My Ultimate 2022 Wildlife Travel Bucket List
After the global pandemic hit international travel hard in early 2020 itchy feet syndrome has never been stronger. With fervent wanderlust and endless Googling to see when restrictions are being lifted, minds are turning to making the most of travel in 2022. Never again will we take our liberty for granted. So, where do you head to make up for lost time? If money was no object and time wasn’t a luxury, these are the wildlife travel experiences I would be hitting up in 2022.
January
Mafia Island, Tanzania
What better way to kick off the year than by soaking up the sun on a tropical island in the Indian Ocean? From October to February whale sharks migrate to the warm waters of Mafia Island where they feed on the biologically productive waters that brim with one of their favourite foods - plankton. Compared with other whale shark aggregation sites around the world Mafia Island, around 20km off the coast of mainland Tanzania, is less crowded so your encounter is sure to be more intimate and memorable for the right reasons. When you’re not making friends with the world’s biggest fish you can become immersed in the islands coral reefs either by snorkelling or diving. Perfection.
Must Do: Snorkelling with Whale Sharks
February
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a destination that has sustainable tourism at its heart. This adventure and wildlife capital should be on the bucket list of any adrenaline junkie with plenty of opportunities to lose yourself in the natural world. From exploring the cloud forest in Monteverde to experiencing the weird and wonderful in the Venado Caves, there will be wow moments around every corner. With a carefully planned itnerary you can pack a lot into your trip. Canonying, whitewater rafting, kayaking, surfing, mountain biking… The list goes on and you can do it all in Costa Rica. Depending on the time of year you may even be lucky enough to see the world’s biggest turtle - the leatherback - hauling itself up the beach to lay its eggs at Tortuguero. Make sure you try to stay at an ecolodge in the jungle one night to soak up the jungle atmosphere.
Must Do: Search for Sloths & Snorkel with Sharks in Manuel Antonio National Park
March
Ranthambore National Park, India
India is assured to be a feast for all the senses. Not only is it a rich melting pot of culture but it’s also home to some spectacular wildlife. Travel to the land of the tigers and join a jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park to find the elusive bengal tiger. Despite the relatively high chance of seeing these special felines, it’s best to book multiple safaris to increase your chances of witnessing the king of the jungle in its natural habitat - after all, this is the wild and you can never guarantee a sighting. Ranthambore National Park is situated in the Rajasthan region of India which is close to other must-see destinations such as Jaipur and New Delhi so you can easily make the most of your time in India.
Must Do: Tiger Jeep Safari
April
Sabah, Borneo
Venture into the tropical jungles of Sabah to get up close and personal with Borneo’s primates. Take a river cruise to gain a unique perspective of the jungle where maybe you’ll spot an endangered Bornean elephant - a subspecies of the Asian elephant. But the crown jewel of this trip is the critically endangered orangutan. Orangutans have become a symbol of the global conservation movement for all the wrong reasons. As their dense jungle home becomes cleared and burnt to make way for monocultures like oil palm to feed rising demand across the world, the orangutan is becoming ever closer to extinction. Thankfully there are people who have dedicated their lives to orangutan conservation in the region to give hope for this species and you can support their work by visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
May
Amazon River, Brazil
The mighty Amazon, the largest river in the world, is a sight to behold in itself. Over 80,000 plant species and some 30 million animal species called the Amazon rainforest and its river home. Cruising down this tremendous river as you navigate its meandering bends to uncover just some of the mysteries of its deeply hidden secrets is sure to be a memorable experience. Depending on where you cruise you could experience the Amazon in parts where it is as vast as a sea or its tighter tributaries with bordering jungle. You may catch a glimpse of the unique Amazonian pink river dolphin riding the wake of the boat as you enter the forested fringes of the river. One of our planet’s many support systems, the Amazon is legendary.
Must Do: River Cruise on the Amazon
June
Uganda
Trekking across the jungle of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest following in the footsteps of Dian Fossey to find Mountain gorillas has always been a dream. These great apes are one of our closest relatives and yet have suffered greatly at the hands of humanity. Uganda is a hotspot for these charismatic creatures and one of the only places in the world you can encounter them in the world. After this once-in-a-lifetime experience consider searching deep inside Kibale Forest for chimpanzees as Jane Goodall did before to witness another of our relatives in their natural environment. Uganda is also home to impressive game reserves that will be less crowded than their counterparts in Kenya and Tanzania, plus Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the world-famous tree-climbing lions. This unique behaviour allows them to climb out of the midday sun and seek much needed shade from the searing sub-Saharan heat.
July
Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana
The African continent has stolen my heart and with 54 countries to explore there are many wildlife-filled adventures to be had. You can easily find a travel company that offer itineraries exploring multiple countries in one trip, hitting many of the ‘must-see’ destinations and those off the traditional tourist track too. July is the dry season in Eastern Africa and is the optimum time for wildlife watching. July also sees the beginning of the Great Migration as hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra enter the Maasai Mara in Kenya from the Serengetti in Tanzania - a bucket list sight not to be missed!
Must Do: The Great Migration
August
Guadalupe, Mexico
Being shark mad I couldn’t write my ultimate wildlife travel bucket list without including Guadalupe. The crystal clear waters of Guadalupe are the perfect setting for cage diving with one of the ocean’s ultimate predators. You can reach Guadalupe by boat with most liveaboard itneraries lasting between 5-7 days and departing from San Diego in the U.S. If you’re not yet sure whether you want to dedicate that many days to getting up close and personal with the world’s largest predatory fish then heading to South Africa for a day trip with great white sharks is an easier way to wet your appetite.
Must Do: Cage Diving with Great White Sharks
September
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
With huge schools of fish, gigantic manta rays and shivers of sharks it is not hard to see why Raja Ampat is regularly voted one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world. This archipelago is home to a vast diversity of marine life and caters to every divers interests. Home to rugged landscape and pristine blue waters, Raja Ampat is easily one of the closest places to paradise on Earth. Comprising over 1,500 islands off the coast of West Papau there is plenty to explore and enough to entice you back time and time again.
Must Do: Diving in Raja Ampat
October
Madagascar
With characteristic baobab trees enchanting the skyline and the chatter of primates filling the atmosphere, Madagascar is a wildlife lovers paradise jam packed with abundant biodiversity. It’s famed for its ring-tailed lemur population, but did you know there are over 100 different lemur species? It’s not just lemurs you can spot, but also a diverse range of invertebrates, chameleons and birds, to name just a few. As Africa’s largest island nation Madagascar is a destination that offers many once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Whether you crave the adventure of a unique jungle safari or would prefer to relax on white sandy beaches before plunging into the warm tropical Indian Ocean, there is something here for everybody.
Must Do: Avenue of the Baobabs
November
Antarctica
Antarctica is one of our planets last great wildernesses that few get the opportunity to witness. Travelling to the end of the Earth is a gargantuan task in itself. Once you have made it across the treacherous Drake’s Passage you will be rewarded with sights often associated with Attenborough documentaries. Observing migrating humpback whales and rafts of gentoo penguins as they escape predating leopard seals, you’ll always want to have your camera ready. If you have the time, add a stop to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands to your wildlife adventure. It would be wrong not to make the most of it.
Must Do: Sea Kayaking in Antarctica
December
Galapagos Islands
No wildlife bucket list is complete without mention of the Galapagos Islands. The place that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution has been a pilgrimage site for conservationists, photographers and animal-loves the world over ever since and is the perfect place to end the year. With so much to see both above and below the waves a cruise or liveaboard would be an ideal option for exploring this vast archipelago. As with all eco-tourism its particularly vital that you adhere to codes of conduct to minimise disturbance to the local wildlife and leave only footprints behind so that future generations can continue to experience this wilderness.
Must Do: Darwin and Wolf Islands
What’s on your wildlife bucket list?
This list is by no means exhaustive and barely scratches the surface of the incredible wildlife experiences you can have around the globe. From the frozen stretches of Svalbard to the hidden depths of the Pantanal, the vast temperate forests of Alaska to the endless desert of the Sahara, there’s enough adventures out there to last several lifetimes.
So, what are you waiting for? Get exploring.
“Life is short, the world is wide… I wanna make some memories”
Disclaimer: I have not been paid to feature any of the links within this article and I am not associated with the companies featured in any way other than personal opinion and endorsement. When I receive remuneration for my writing, included links or through brand partnerships it will be clearly stated.