wildlife encounters
Whether it's the enduring fascination with the Big 5 or the enthralling exploits of vividly-coloured insects....
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Borneo
If you are looking for long-haul family adventure and some memorable wildlife encounters, our summer is a great time to visit Borneo (Malaysia) when it is at its driest. Be enthralled by the sight of orangutans in the wild and see turtles too if you visit Lankayan Island between June and September.
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Botswana
Botswana is blessed with an abundance of wildlife; see the main big animals, glimpse a re-introduced rhino or the endangered African wild dog. The extensive network of private reserves offer exclusive game-viewing safaris in the Okavango Delta, around the Kwando and Linyanti Rivers, as well as the Chobe. The lesser-visited Savuti is a magical spot for mobile safaris. The contrasting vast, flat saltpans of the Kalahariare home to herds of game which roam under open skies. Visit between May and October, when days are warm and sunny and water levels in the Okavango Delta are at their highest.
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Costa Rica
Home to a staggering number of species, Costa Rica packs a lot into a small area. Bird-watchers should head to the cloud forest - Monteverde embraces 6 ecological zones and is home to the elusive red and green quetzal. Meanwhile from July to September, endangered green turtles climb from the ocean and lay eggs on the protected shoreline at Tortuguero, alongside other nests dug by giant leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles. The delights aren't just over-ground - Isla del Caño has pristine coral reefs thronged with schools of tropical fish as well as sharks and rays - not that we needed an ecxcuse to visit the stunning Osa Peninsula - our favourite corner of Costa Rica. Christmas, February half-term and Easter are all really good times to visit. With plentiful family-friendly acticvities, not to mention direct flights with BA, Costa Rica is having something of a moment. Rates from £2, 850 per person for 14 nights, taking in the Central Valley, Osa Peninsula and beach finish in the Nicoya Peninsula, based on a family of 4 sharing 2 rooms on a B&B basis, including flights and transfers.