‘Beyond the Big Five’: Alternative Nature & Culture Experiences in Africa & Latin America

Madagascar

Helen says that lemurs are only just the beginning when it comes to experiencing Madagascar.

Helen Kennedy

Africa Travel Specialist

“Over 90% of visitors to Madagascar are attracted by its natural history. It’s a place where you can see a wide variety of endemic flora and fauna, with the number one attraction being lemurs. But what draws me closer are the things beneath the forest canopy – like seeing the lithe, slender fossa manoeuvre amongst the dense tree branches or watching the wonderfully weird lowland streaked tenrec forage for insects in its coastal rainforest habitat. And, after all that exploration, I always like to add some downtime to my stay, particularly in the Nosy Be Archipelago, where you can lounge on a deserted beach! Plus, there’s a melting pot of Malayo-Polynesian, African and European cultures to experience. I tend to enjoy a much more ‘complete’ Madagascar experience every time I visit areas such as the capital, Antananarivo – and you can too.”

I agree with Helen. Your visit to the ‘Lost World’ may differ entirely from another person’s, depending on the regions you explore. For an example of what you can do here, our Madagascar Wildlife Discovery small-group tour offers a range of nature experiences across the country’s southern and eastern regions.

Madagascar Wildlife Discovery

This annual small-group tour is one of our favourites, as it takes you to see unusual Madagascar wildlife in diverse habitats, from protected rainforest sites to the ‘spiny bush’. Observe various lemur species with your experienced Malagasy guide, who uses their expert knowledge to locate many colourful reptiles, endemic birds and other spectacular species.

Here are some of the trip’s highlights to give you a flavour of what’s on offer:

Alive with colours & calls

Seek indri and other Malagasy rainforest-dependent species in the humid rainforests of Andasibe-Mantadia and Ranomafana. As you trod along the winding paths, you’re instantly enveloped in your evergreen surroundings. Before you even get to see the indri, their whale-like calls echo through the canopy, which is almost as compelling as watching the lemurs themselves.

Andasibe is also home to the critically endangered diademed sifaka, one of the area’s flagship mammals, whereas Ranomafana is the best place to seek golden and greater bamboo lemurs.

Rare bird sightings

Be captivated by the bizarre ‘spiny desert’ habitat at Ifaty, which travel writing legend Dervla Murphy aptly christened ‘Nature's Botanical Lunatic Asylum’. Reliable sightings of the lovely long-tailed ground-roller and peculiar sub-desert mesite can only be achieved in the locally protected spiny bush parcels found here. As you come across one of these megaticks, the world almost seems to stop, leaving nothing but you and it to share a quiet moment together.

Tales of land & sea

Delve into the complex and intriguing regional variations of Malagasy culture while travelling through the homelands of the Merina and Veso Sakalava tribes, among others. Your guide may point out Betsileo people cultivating rice or teach you about the fascinating culture of the seafaring Veso people. Touring the town of Antsirabe by colourful rickshaw is a fun way to experience this culture, giving you a glimpse of what everyday life is like for the residents.

We also recommend that you explore some of the vibrant craft stalls dotted throughout the town, where you can engage with local vendors and peruse the diverse range of goods on offer.

Botswana

For Nikki and me, Botswana is one of our all-time favourite safari destinations. Not only do you get to experience the ‘Big Five’, but there are so many more exciting nature experiences to enjoy.

Nikki Lynas

Africa Travel Specialist

“In Botswana, you can see all the ‘Big Five’, including lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. However, from June to August, you may also be lucky enough to find and observe the endangered African wild dog as they search for their dens at the start of winter. Beyond these iconic sightings, what strikes me most about the country is the variety of landscapes, each alive with wildlife, making it feel like one of Africa's most authentic safari experiences. For instance, a mokoro boat ride in the Okavango Delta immerses you in a wet and watery world bustling with large mammals like hippos and smaller creatures living among the papyrus. I also like to complement this with a land-based excursion, such as a game drive in the Kalahari, to see everything from honey badgers to meerkats and the rich birdlife.”

Doesn’t that sound incredible? A mokoro is such a peaceful way to see Botswana, while a game drive provides the adventure that is so authentically ‘African’. To give you an idea of what this is like, look no further than our Kwando Five Rivers Botswana & Victoria Falls Safari, designed to showcase some of the best of Botswana wildlife during the ‘Green Season’.

Kwando Five Rivers Botswana & Victoria Falls Safari

This tailor-made tour is an ideal fit for the ‘Green Season’, a period often overlooked by travellers since it brings the summer rains. However, we suggest it if you want to see game bring their young into the wild. Spend time on safari in the Okavango Delta and Linyanti wetlands across three Kwando camps, with daily game activities. Plus, enjoy two nights to explore Victoria Falls!

There are plenty more unique opportunities this itinerary presents, including the following:

Track the pack

Imagine a pack of endangered African wild dogs play-fighting, watching them tussle and nibble at one another. At Kwando Lebala Camp, this is a reality with day and night game drives in their natural habitat. Packs have denned here in the south of the vast Kwando Reserve for over two decades, making it one of the best places in the world to spot them. To maximise your chances of sightings, visit from June to July, during the denning season.

One footstep at a time

For a truly immersive Botswana wildlife experience, take a walk on the wild side, stopping to observe the finer details, such as prints, plants and birds. Across the three Kwando camps, you can head out into the bush with your expert guide and get a closer look at your spectacular surroundings. Happen upon hippo highways, tracking the hoof markings to where they reside and unearthing secrets about animal behaviour along the way.

Waterways of wonder

There’s no other feeling like gently floating along the Okavango Delta in a mokoro. Discovering the waterways in a dugout canoe (water level dependent), you can spot some unique birds, reptiles and amphibians. Notable species you should keep an eye out for include the red lechwe leaping across the waterways and jacanas walking on the water, as well as kingfishers, bee-eaters and weaver birds. Though it’s more about the whole experience than just the wildlife; you float ever so peacefully amidst the reeds, papyrus and water lilies under dramatic big skies, absorbing the soundscape emanating from the waterways and surrounding bush.

Uganda

Craig says that a wild world awaits you beyond the habituated mountain gorillas of Uganda.

Craig Kaufman

Africa Travel Specialist

“What I love most about Uganda is its diversity – there’s just so much to experience. Of course, the chimps and gorillas are the big draw, but I’m equally captivated by the scenery. One moment, you’ll explore wide-open savannahs; the next, you'll wander through equatorial forests, papyrus swamps and even remote plains dotted with hot springs. Along the way, I try to fit in as many primate-tracking experiences, game drives and birdwatching excursions as possible, since each one makes every day feel different. The ‘Big Five’ are present, though there are other wildlife oddities to add to your ‘checklist’ – my favourite being the shoebill, a prehistoric-looking bird with a wingspan of eight feet! All in all, Uganda is a country close to my heart that always invites you to look a little deeper under the surface.”

For someone who’s been to Uganda dozens of times, Craig still somehow finds something new to experience every time he returns. You can create your own memories in ‘The Pearl of Africa’ with our Gorillas, Wildlife & Waterfalls tour, which provides a base route for exploring the country.

Uganda Gorillas, Wildlife & Waterfalls

Aside from visiting the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you can savour spectacular scenery at Murchison Falls National Park – home to Uganda wildlife species that include plains game and carnivores. Another great idea, in addition to observing chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, is to track endangered rhinos on foot in Ziwa and enjoy the lake-land habitat of Mburo National Park.

We can weave the following highlights into your bespoke adventure:

Birds, butterflies & more

As you traverse the Afromontane rainforest of Bwindi on your mission to meet the habituated mountain gorillas, you may encounter other resident primates. L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys are two species found amongst the dense vegetation. Witness them scramble through the tree canopy high above, searching for food or travelling in their troops. Your guide will be able to point them out for you and provide invaluable insights into their behaviours and daily habits.

Colourful clouds of mixed butterfly species are often seen aggregating at bush-pig mud wallows. Among the 345+ birds recorded are 23 sought-after Albertine Rift endemics, completing what is a truly spectacular Uganda wildlife experience.

A forest bustling with life

Track wild chimps in the equatorial forest of Kibale, which is also home to various forest-dwelling monkeys and a myriad of colourful birds. Guided walks in Bigodi Swamp can reveal Ugandan red colobus monkeys and red-tailed monkeys, as well as sought-after birds such as the green-breasted pitta and black-and-white shrike flycatcher. When nightfall arrives, nocturnal creatures such as the Demidoff’s dwarf galago, Thomas’s galago and the Eastern needle-clawed galago come out to play. Follow their sharp movements, watching closely as they leap from branch to branch. You’ll also come across many other Uganda wildlife species along the way.

Wilderness cruising

An excellent way to see innumerable hippos, some of the largest Nile crocodiles in Africa and, with a bit of luck, the much-sought-after, dinosaur-like shoebill is by boat in Murchison Falls. Cruising upriver is peaceful. Take in the incredible scenery, plains game and predators around you. Elephants frequently splash in the water, often not very far from the boat. Troops of olive baboons and black and white colobus monkeys also inhabit the riverine woods, making this a perfect opportunity to encounter Uganda wildlife species in their natural habitat.

After departing, why not hike up the falls? Here, the River Nile thunders down a seven-metre-wide ravine. Feel the cooling sensation of the gentle spray and listen to the water crashing.