We love to watch wild animals in their own environment and have been privileged to meet many beautiful, exciting and dangerous animals during our travels.
Lion with small cubs in Masai Mara, Kenya
African safari is a grand and wonderful experience. Our trip to Kenya, where we went on safari in three national parks, is one of our strongest travel experiences. The feeling of being real close to all these animals in their own environment is something quite unique. Even more breathtaking is when the heart seems to beat a little faster as a huge elephant slowly approaching, and you know that the driver is on alert in case the elephant would feel threatened and get the idea to attack.
During our safari in the Masai Mara we had the opportunity to admire a lion family with young lion cubs. It’s easy to forget how few lions there are left in the world when visiting Masai Mara, since you are able to see quite a few here!
We kept dead silent so as not to disturb them and stood a long time and enjoyed the moment when we pondered how the parents took care of the kids and how they played.
Sloth i Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a wonderful destination that offers amazing nature and wildlife.
In southwestern Costa Rica along the Pacific Ocean lies the National Park Corcovado. When on a trek a short distance from the shore our guide suddenly pointed up at one of the trees. Just a few meters above us were moving something very slowly among the tree leaves.
It was love at first sight when our eyes met the eyes of this somewhat lazy and fuzzy animal.
Getting close to this sweet three-toed sloth was an incredible experience that still warms our hearts at the thought of it.
The three-toed sloth does not belong to the same family as the two-toed sloths, despite the name and appearance. Three-toed sloth is slightly smaller and is even slower and more lazy. They spend most of their lives hanging in trees where they both eat and sleep.
Giant Pand, China
The giant panda is one of the most amazing animals that exist. It is no wonder that it fascinates so many with his big bear like body with white fur and black spots. The giant panda spend most of their hours awake eating bamboo. The giant panda has previously live in the wild in more places around Asia, but because of the human impact on their environment, they are now highly endangered and there are only a few places in China where it still can be found.
During our trip to China, we visited the city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province, where the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center does a fantastic job of preventing extinction. They are leading in research on this species, and has even managed to breed lots of kids that also has a very high survival statistics.
To visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the best place to, not only get to see giant pandas, but also learn interesting information about them. It’s easy to spend a lot of time just to stand and watch these great amazing animals when they sit on their back eating his bamboo.
Alligator in the Everglades, Florida
In South Florida lies the gigantic Everglades National Park. At Royal Palms, one can go for a walk in the swamp with alligators just a few steps from your feet.
It is a beautiful area where they made it easy and convenient to get around on foot and study the animals in their own environment without it having any effect on them.
Obviously, it’s really exciting when a real live alligator makes a lunge just a few feet from where you stand, or slide past the wooden jetty you stand on, but there are also lots of beautiful birds to admire in the Everglades. Perhaps the most unique animals in the Everglades are the Florida panther but there’s only 80 individuals alive and so the chances are minimal that as visitors get to see even a glimpse of them.
Quokka, Rottnest Island Australia
West of Perth, short distance by ferry, in southwest Australia lies the small Rottnest Island. On the island you get the opportunity to become acquainted with a small animal that exist only here, the Quokka.
The island actually got its name from these animals when they initially was considered a kind of ratt. They belong, however, to the kangaroo animal family.
Although this specie are nocturnal and mostly sleeping during the day, you can see them almost everywhere on the island. Especially in vegetation but occasionally crossing one of the roads mainly used by bicycles.