Elite Traveler March-April 2018

INSPIRE TOP SAFARIS

The million-dollar safari WORLDWIDE Eighteen endangered species, 12 countries, one million dollars. We can’t imagine a more comprehensive tour than Natural World Safaris’ Journey to Nature’s Edge. With the sad reality that many of the world’s most critically endangered species are disappearing at alarming rates despite conservation efforts, it offers a chance to see these animals while they still exist, and to make a significant contribution to local conservation programs working to save these magnificent creatures. Accompanied by Natural World Safaris’ managing director, Will Bolsover, you will crisscross the globe by helicopter, private plane and boat to see these animals in their natural habitats, with donations made to each destination’s wildlife preservation efforts. A large portion of the program takes place in Africa, visiting the six countries with the best game viewing. In Kenya, fly by helicopter to lay eyes on the last four northern white rhinos, a subspecies the Save the Rhino foundation has declared functionally extinct. The organization plans to use the infuriating story of their extinction by poaching to galvanize research and protection efforts for two other critically endangered, but savable, rhino species. On a more optimistic note, you’ll see mountain gorillas in Rwanda and lemurs in Madagascar and track chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Mahale Forest. Then you’re off to Antarctica, where you’ll stay at Whichaway Camp, on a 200ft ice cliff, to observe emperor penguins. In India, trek through the lush Kanha National Park and snow-covered Himalayas to see the royal Bengal tiger and snow leopard. En route to the Galápagos to check out the giant tortoise, a stopover in Borneo will likely reward you with sightings of hawksbill and green sea turtles, the adorably petite sun bear, orangutans and pygmy elephants. A water safari in Brazil’s remote Pantanal wetlands lets you admire jaguars when they come to drink from the river. Finally, up in the snow- covered wilderness of Arctic Canada, see the king of the north, the mighty polar bear, in all his glory. $1m for two people for 111 days. Contact Will Bolsover, managing director, will@naturalworldsafaris.com, +1 866 357 6569, naturalworldsafaris.com

Photos Richard Denyer, Dana Allen