Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Exploring Cultures through Wildlife

We believe travel is about more than a vacation. It is about getting to know a country in all its glory, through interacting with local people & seeing places through their eyes. The world we live in consists of an extremely diverse human population which, throughout the ages, has developed distinct cultural & political norms specific to their religion and beliefs.

Today, this diversity has left us with a plethora of events, some traditional with a deep seeded history & some not-so-traditional developed purely for a specific need, that shed light into & allow us to experience cultures different from our own.

Wildlife holidays – Get your motor running & head out to the jungles…..

Wildlife tourism is an element of many nations' travel industry centered around observation & interaction with local animal & plant life in their natural habitats. Wildlife tourism is an important part of the tourism industries in many countries including many African & South American countries, Australia, India, Canada, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia & Sri Lanka among many. Wildlife tourism, in its simplest sense, is non-consumptive interactions with wild animals in their natural habitat, such as observing & photographing.

It also includes viewing of and interacting with captive animals in zoos or wildlife parks & can also include controlled animal-riding (e.g. elephant or camels or even ostrichs) and consumptive activities such as fishing & hunting (which under the definition of ecotourism, compromises animal welfare). It has the recreational aspects of adventure travel & usually supports the values of ecotourism & nature conservation programs. characterized by the offering of customized tour packages & safaris to allow close access to wildlife.

Many African economies depend on tourists flocking to iconic national parks & reserves to see the planet’s most stunning wildlife in its natural habitat. Safeguarding these irreplaceable living attractions - like elephants & rhinos threatened by poaching - has been a priority for many governments across the continent. The incoming revenues enable the authorities to manage & protect the habitats. At the local level, NGOs develop sustainable partnerships with tourism enterprises like lodges & Tour Operators that employ local people living near, or in, these wildlife-rich zones, allowing the people who live closest to wildlife, to reap the benefits.

Making communities realize the benefits of conserving wildlife is one of our biggest challenges. Large mammals like elephants & lions present a significant danger when they venture into homesteads or farms, some of which encroach on wildlife habitat. Many people are then pushed to kill wildlife to protect their land, while others hunt for bush meat or turn to poaching & wildlife trafficking to earn an income.

Wildlife holidays are increasing in popularity according to many pollsters – the ever-increasing demand for meaningful experiences is steadily overshadowing the desire for a suntan. People wold over appear to be getting much more active on holiday, as beach holidays are being overtaken by wildlife holidays. But for the busy amongst us, whilst a city break may represent the accessible, snackable adventure, sometimes the true escape lies in the wilderness.

A classic Africa safari can be accomplished in just a week - minimal jetlag & excellent flight connections make it easy to fit around tight schedules. Equally, the opportunity to turn off your phone & shrug politely as you explain there is no Wi-Fi in the Masai Mara - that feeling is as sublime as the burnt orange African sunset.

From the Arctic to the African savannah, nothing beats the thrill of being breathtakingly close to some of the world’s most incredible wildlife.

It is the splash of seawater from a whale’s tail, stepping into a bear’s snowy footprint, canoeing past a jaguar basking on a riverbank, or waking up to the sound of trumpeting elephants. They are wildlife encounters you'll never forget. Then there are the Komodo dragons in Indonesia and the orang-utans of Borneo…

Discover Darwin’s enchanted isles on a Galapagos cruise, look into the amber orbs of a Bengal tiger in India, or go on safari to catch the Great Migration thundering across the mighty Mara River. These are the kind of life-changing moments you can expect on a wildlife adventure.

The classic safari has been a mainstay on traveller’s bucket lists for generations. But lately there has been an upsurge in demand. It is impossible to forget your first safari. Whether you find yourself watching the theatre of the bush unfold at the watering holes of Etosha as zebras, springboks, rhinos or lions come down to drink, gazing the sun rise over the ochre sand dunes in Namibia, or witnessing the mighty wildebeest migration over the iconic Tanzanian Savannah, the best wildlife encounters anywhere on Earth can be found in Africa.  And then there is the Milky Way - for nowhere in the world is the sky quite like it is in Africa. Camping out and gazing at the billion lights is just incredible.

A precious hour spent with a family of silverback gorillas in Uganda’s misty mountains is repeatedly listed as the world’s number one wildlife encounter, and rightly so. Even the name is evocative: enter Bwindi Impenetrable Forest behind your local guide, and enter the gorilla’s realm.

Seeing the golden flash of a cheetah bolting lightning-fast across the plains is a sight that won’t leave you in a hurry. A prowling lioness, the anticipation of a watchful leopard scoping the best meal from their shaded perch in a tree – these high octane chases will leave you breathless.

Spotting a magnificent black-maned lion on a Kalahari dune or following a pack of wild dogs at high speed as they hunt - all have figured amongst the best wildlife safaris in Africa.

Seeing an elephant family stoically strolling across the savannah is a surprisingly touching moment & relaxing to watch elephants mud-bathing in the midday sun. These gentle, highly intelligent creatures often steal the limelight from the predators.

And moving to the other side, Indian subcontinent is one of the world's most stimulating destinations. While its melange of human cultures has long drawn the attention of historians & travelers, its wild habitats rich with exotic animals offer rare treasures for those who are passionate about nature. The Safaris here gets you far away from intense cities & into its natural realm, a landscape of powerful rivers, fabled jungles & intriguing wildlife. This is the native territory of the Bengal tiger, whose numbers are on the rise again after a century of decline. Wish to hear the roars of the tigers and the chirping of birds or want to sight the rare one-horned rhinos? Then, scout the exquisiteness of the natural world by visiting India’s wildlife sanctuaries & national parks.

However, there is such a variety of options that making blanket recommendations for what we think are “the best wildlife safaris" would be foolish.

The truth is that choosing the wildlife safari which is best for your trip to Africa depends enormously on you: what you want to see, how you like to travel & what kind of experiences you want. Or plan a wildlife trip to India & relish some of the best wildlife experience, bird watching or camping tours.

So, make your first step towards this: a call to discuss your ideas with one of our experts

Meanwhile we hope that our listed suggestions will offer inspiration. We have tried to highlight the strengths of the various countries & integrate some of the best camps & lodges for a great wildlife experiences. The options are far from exhaustive; many excellent camps aren’t included here - but you will find the crème de la crème of places which offer outstanding wildlife experiences, as well as some which excel for very specific species or activities. But of course, most (not all) of the Programs can be customised as per your preference.

Whether you want to witness the Serengeti’s Great Migration, track rhino on foot or gently approach some of the world’s last mountain gorillas, use our expertise to find the best wildlife safaris in Africa or India, for you.  

Please note currently all our Journeys are listed under the “Culture” theme before being transitioned gradually under the respective Headings. 

Check-out our suggestions & if you have a specific destination in mind, even if it is not yet featured on our site, we can always design & customise a Journey, especially for you. Almost all of our Journeys are available on demand, allowing you to specify a departure date & group size. Private departures are ideal for family, friends & social groups.

We are in the process of updating our experiential offerings of Wildlife Safaris. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore more options & we will be happy to customise & offer suggestions based on your personal preferences……

Come……be inspired & discover the World