We had undertaken safaris before but had never seen elephants, hippos or zebras in the numbers that we came across on this trip. We were lucky enough to see the Big 5, but think our guides’ knowledge had a lot to do with that. We enjoyed game drives by vehicle and got wonderful views of wildlife on Chobe/Zambeizi river trips. The 2 night full-service camping in the Okavango Delta was a once in a lifetime experience. The trip overall was very well organised and varied and far exceeded expectations, our group of 10 having gelled extremely well. So pleased we did this trip as we now have so many amazing photos and memories to treasure.
![Young brown bear is walking by the shore. Finland](https://res.cloudinary.com/enchanting/q_80,f_auto,c_lfill,w_360,h_270,g_auto/exodus-web/2021/12/44491_hero.jpg)
Wildlife Tours in Europe
Europe Wildlife Holidays
Top 5 Destinations for Wildlife Holidays in Europe
Central Apennines: Towering above the Italian landscape from the Tuscana border, the Central Apennines boast a rich ecosystem and diverse species of wildlife. The region comprises ancient beech forests, alpine grassland and hillsides where you’ll find the likes of wild boar, red and roe deer, and wolves. But more importantly, the mighty Marsican brown bear, an endemic subspecies, roams the mountain forests. A tour of the bear corridors is an eye-opening experience and it’s evident how hard the Bear Smart Communities work to repair and maintain these areas which are vital to the protection of the brown bears.
Carpathian Mountains: These wild and rugged mountains loom over Transylvania in central Romania. The history, geography and nature combine to make the Carpathian Mountains one of the most incredible regions for wildlife tours in Europe. Here you’ll find the highest concentration of lynx, bears and wolves recorded in Europe and a walking tour takes you through forests that are largely undiscovered to get up close to the wildlife. Witness beautiful meadows that open up along alpine trails and visit a mountain hide where you can sit and observe brown bears in their natural environment.
Oulanka National Park: Close to the Russian border, Oulanka National Park is one of Finland’s most magical natural treasures. The park is known for its steep gorges, rare species of plants, and rapids that are crossed by suspension bridges. Our guided wildlife tour of Oulanka teaches you basic wilderness skills and introduces you to some of the fabulous bird species such as white throated dippers and the white-tailed eagle. But the highlight of the trip is an evening trek to a bear hide where you’ll hunker down to spend several hours observing brown bears in the wild. In the summer months the bears are fed with carrion around the hide so there is usually a lot of activity, which you can watch through the large windows of the hide.
Rhodope Mountains: Spanning southern Bulgaria and northern Greece, this mountain massif is a hauntingly beautiful region with incredible biodiversity. Living among the peaks and cliffs is a plethora of flora and fauna, from various species of orchid and butterflies to the Balkan lynx and chamois. The birdlife here is prolific with the likes of peregrine falcons, golden eagles, woodpeckers and buzzards often being spotted in the area. Below the Rhodope Mountains lies the Buynovsko Gorge, which brown bears frequent at feeding time. Because the mountains are a significant breeding area for griffon vultures, it’s likely you’ll see these distinctive birds standing on the clifftops.
Riisitunturi National Park: In the winter months Riisitunturi National Park is drenched in snow and the trees transform into wonderful ice sculptures, but once the snow has thawed, the landscape comes alive with wildlife and brown bears awaken from their long sleep. Since the dawn of time the Sami people coexisted here with the animals, and they lived harmony among the ancient wilderness. The national park was created to protect both the wildlife and its heritage, and it now remains home to brown bears and lynxes and many other incredible creatures.
Wendy Mann Botswana & Zimbabwe Lodge Safari
Jane Cousins Discover Sri LankaJust back from this trip, it was our first trip to Sri Lanka and our second trip with Exodus. It was a really great trip, really varied, we saw so much and yet the pace was just perfect. A beautiful country and very friendly and safe.
Joe Figueiredo Borneo & the Malaysian PeninsulaAn incredible two weeks on Borneo and the Malaysian peninsula. The first part of the trip involves several days of wildlife cruises, whilst staying deep in the jungle, to search for orangutans, elephants, crocodiles and various exotic birds. We were fortunate enough to spot lots of interesting animals under the guidance of our fantastic leader, Jeffry. The second half of the trip involves visiting various towns and cities on the peninsula, including Malacca, famous for its street market, Kuala Lumpur, and Georgetown, a colonial town on Penang Island. There are plenty of opportunities for tours, sampling traditional food and shopping. Finally, the tour moves onto Langkawi for a relaxing end to the holiday. This serene island, featuring pristine beaches, wonderful restaurants and vibrant nightlife allowed my group plentiful free time to enjoy another part of the country before flying home. A wonderful holiday that encapsulated everything Malaysia has to offer.
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