Have you ever considered a wildlife adventure? Well, now might be the time to start.
Currently, around 58% of European tour operators provide wildlife excursions. What’s more; these types of holidays are becoming increasingly more popular: 87% of Brits said that they would prefer to see animals in the wild than in captivity. Will you be the next to book a wildlife excursion?
Here at Free Spirit, we have many staff members who have enjoyed exciting wildlife adventure holidays. Just look at some of the amazing experiences our team has had…
Daniel and the turtles
Our project manager Daniel was lucky enough to be part of a group in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico who helped to release turtle hatchlings. He did this with a charity that helped him learn about the turtles before he released his hatchling. Sea turtles are now classed as an endangered species by the WWF, making this a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
When Daniel went to Barbados in December, he went on a catamaran day cruise to Carlisle Bay to see turtles in the wild. He also got to see some whales where he managed to get very close to some of these incredible animals. Whale watching is a popular wildlife adventure with over 13 million people choosing to take a whale-watching trip every year.
During this boat trip, there was 2 different snorkelling opportunities, one with the turtles and another over a shipwreck which gives you a unique and up-close experience. However, one tip from Daniel is that if you did want to see the turtles without having to commit to paying for an excursion, there are hotels where you are able to walk to the beach at high tide and swim close to lots of turtles.
James and the deer
Closer to home, there are many UK wildlife adventures to choose from. James visited Cannock Chase last year where he stayed in a lodge surrounded by wild deer. The deer are used to guests being there and James was able to purchase special food so that they would come right up and eat out of his hands!
This type of holiday is much quieter, where the deer would graze just outside of the lodge and approach when food was offered. This means many people would be able to take part and enjoy being so close to nature. Deer are relatively shy animals and will normally scatter when people are nearby, so this was a unique experience.
James was also lucky enough to spot a Stag which also came to get some food – although he wasn’t quite able to get the stag eating out of his hand!
Bethany and the fishes
Bethany was able to go to Tenerife back in 2018 and while she was there, she went scuba diving for the first time. During this experience, she saw many of the local exotic fish exploring the coral below and it was one of her favourite wildlife experiences to date.
As a first-time diver, Bethany was shown how to use the oxygen tank in the hotel pool and practiced breathing techniques. Once they were satisfied that she was able to do this confidently, she dived in the sea near Las Caletillas, Tenerife. The whole experience lasted for around an hour and is something that she would do again in a heartbeat.
Something else to note about Tenerife is not only do they have amazing wildlife experiences, but they are also known for their unusual black sand beaches, the most notable being Garden Beach (known in Spanish as Playa Jardin Beach).
These beaches are incredibly popular with tourists and if you do decide to take a trip here, you certainly will not be short of things to do!
Cheryl and the orangutans
Back in the summer of 2022, one of our broker support team, Cheryl, travelled to an Orangutan sanctuary in Borneo. Orangutans have always been her favourite animal. Whilst there she was able to get up close and personal with the many different species of apes that live around the sanctuary.
Cheryl got to watch them as they were fed, and she was very lucky. There is no guarantee that she would see an orangutang or any kind of great ape in the wild. However, as you can see from this image by Cheryl, she got to see many different types of apes – and even monkeys too! Cheryl went in the summer, which is considered the best time to try and see Orangutans with the optimum time being between May to September.
The orangutan population is quickly decreasing in numbers as there is now thought to be only around 45,000 compared to 2006 when there were 66,000 In the world. These types of holidays draw attention to their decreasing numbers and can help to fund conservation efforts through experiences or donations.
Rayleigh in Thailand
Another of our team members Rayleigh has had her fair share of exotic experiences, having experienced Thailand several times. On these trips, she has visited elephant, monkey, and tiger sanctuaries.
These sanctuaries are designed to help with the conservation efforts of these otherwise endangered animals. Elephants in particular are now considered to be critically endangered by the WWF. These sanctuaries are doing their bit to help rehabilitate and care for Elephants that may previously have been in the logging and tourism industry.
The elephant sanctuary in Chaing Mai where Rayleigh went allowed her to get up close and personal with these magnificent animals. There are still many ethical sanctuaries you can go to today that promote excellent care facilities where you can help feed and wash the elephants.
Future wildlife adventures
Whilst our team has embarked on many wildlife holidays, there are also many trips that they aspire to. For example, a member of our sales team, Lauren, has always dreamt of going to Kefalonia in Greece to volunteer with sea turtles. Something she has wanted to do ever since watching Lilo and Sitch! Similar to Daniel’s hatchling experience in Mexico, Lauren would like to be involved in the research, data collecting, and monitoring of these incredible animals.
She said whilst she is there, she would explore Ammes Beach where this experience is based. You can go over at any time of year to do this but depending on when you go, there are different activities to partake in. For example, from March to mid-April teams gather data through certain projects and in April and May, you get to observe the turtles and document their behaviours. As Lauren said, this would be a rewarding experience and something she hopes to do in the future.
Another member of our sales team, Diane, is also dreaming of a wildlife adventure holiday. At the top of her list is going to Canada to spot Orcas. There are more than 30 species of whale living off the shore of Canada, so it is an ideal place to go. Orcas are usually spotted around Vancouver Island where they live year-round. Other species also migrate there between May and October. Diane aims to take a boat tour to Vancouver Island to see these animals in their natural habitat.
Specialist travel insurance for wildlife adventures
Here at Free Spirit, our friendly team of specialists are here to help you get cover for a whole host of different types of holidays. Whether you’d prefer to lay on the beach or getting up close to animals, we’ve got you covered.
For any activities you plan to take, check our activities page to ensure it is covered. If you are unsure, get in touch with us and one of our specialist team will be happy to help!