Wild and natural locations are top of our list when it comes to deciding on a place to visit. Many of these destinations are home to weird and wonderful wildlife, with great opportunities to see them in their natural environment. Here are 6 of our most memorable wildlife destinations, each located in an obscure and wild corner of the world.
Some links may be affiliate, meaning we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you – this helps us keep sharing honest travel inspiration.
1. Corcovado National Park
Costa Rica
The Largest National Park in Costa Rica, the wild and wonderful Corcovado National Park, is a nirvana for nature and wildlife lovers. Hugging the Pacific Coast, on the Osa Peninsula, the area is home to a staggering 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, and an astounding 5% of the world’s animal population. Everything from the endangered Baird’s tapir, to the puma, call the park home. Toucans and macaws brighten the trees and sky, while the chatter from the jungle never ceases.
Experienced local guides know which animals are where, ensuring nothing is missed, Inhabited by over 140 varieties of mammal, 370 bird species, and 10,000 different types if insects, seeing something is almost guaranteed.
Among the many things we were lucky enough to see was a tamandua, and the rarely seen tayra.
Access to the park isn’t easy, the quickest way being by small plane from the capital, San Jose. Alternatively, you can come by road, as we did. This involves a long bus ride from the capital, to the Peninsulas largest town, Puerto Jimenez. From there, it’s a dusty and bumpy ride on the back of a truck to the village of Carate, near the park entrance. We enjoy travelling with the locals, it’s always a lot of fun and part of the adventure.
Carate, at the end of the road, has a variety of guesthouses and eco-resorts to choose from. Many of these places are surrounded by jungle, or sit on the shores of the Pacific. Ranger stations inside the park also offer basic accommodation, but with no roads, you must hike into them. To enter and explore Corcovado National Park, you must be accompanied by a guide. It is not possible to enter without one. They can be found at the park entrance, or your host may be able to organise or recommend one.
Corcovado National Park is one of the wildest and remote National Parks that we’ve visited. The unique and unusual animals, beautiful birds, and pristine jungle are like nowhere else on the planet. It is truly exquisite.
2. Etosha National Park
Namibia
A giant salt pan, Etosha National Park is one of the largest National Parks in Africa. Located in the North of Namibia, around a 4hr drive from the capital Windhoek, it’s one of the easiest National Parks to access and visit. Home to over 100 mammal species, 340 species of bird, and 110 different reptiles, it’s the ultimate place for wildlife enthusiasts.
The dry pan makes up almost 25% of the park, and with little in the way of vegetation, spotting some of the parks local inhabitants is guaranteed. Wildlife gathers around waterholes, making viewing fairly easy. Spending the day driving around to various drinking spots, seeing which herds are there, is amazing. Zebras and giraffes are everywhere, while elephants and lions are usually visible. The park is also home to the largest population of black rhino in the world, and one of the best places to see one in its natural environment.
Four access gates allow visitors to enter and exit at different corners of the park, allowing you to explore all corners over a period of days. Visiting Etosha National Park is easy to do independently, you don’t need to take an expensive safari. Windhoek has many car hire agencies, providing a range of vehicles. Namibian roads are excellent, making navigating the country fun and easy. The roads inside the park are gravel, and generally in a pretty average state, but with all the wildlife around, driving tends to be slow anyway.
Staying inside the park is possible in government run lodges, which tend to be expensive. Camping is also popular at one of the designated camping areas, providing you have all your own gear. Finding a lodge, or better still, a local farm stay near one of the park gates is the best idea. Meals will often be provided, which is ideal, considering there’s no grocery stores or supplies near the park.
Home to everything from aardvarks to the bat-eared fox, Etosha National Park is world class. The variety of animals, the ease of spotting them, and the amount of wildlife, make Etosha National Park one of a kind.
Check out our travel guide to Namibia and start planning your adventure
3. Danum Valley
Borneo
A 130-million-year-old rainforest, the Danum Conservation area offers some of the greatest wildlife and nature encounters this part of the world has to offer. Home to more than 15,000 varieties of plant, it’s a phenomenal eco-system. Residing here is more than 30O bird species, 140 species of mammal, including the endangered Sumatran rhino, and Borneo pygmy elephant. Orangutans, sun bears and leopards also roam the forests, making this area of Sabah, Borneo, one of the most special places we’ve visited.
During our time there, we saw a variety of wildlife, from bearded pig and mouse-deer, to flying lemur. Guided hikes into the rainforest are rewarding, with many different things to discover. Night safaris are also possible, with a whole new world appearing after the sun goes down. There are only two places to stay inside the Danum Valley, each providing unique experiences. Booking ahead is essential.
Getting to the Danum Valley is easy enough. Your accommodation will collect you from the closet town, Lahad Datu, and transport you into the park. Lahad Datu can be reached by plane or public bus from Kota Kinabalu, Sabahs largest city. The city has regular connections to mainland Malaysia.
Danum Valley is a magical place, that David Attenborough and National Geographic regularly talk about. It’s easy to understand why when you are here. Home to species you never knew existed, it feels like a place that has always been here since the beginning of time. At more than 130-million-years-old, it probably has.
4. Tikal National Park
Guatemala
Covering over 140,000 acres, Tikal National Park is immense. Part of the greater 2.4million acre Maya Biosphere Reserve, the massive area is a thriving eco-system. Home to 54 varieties of mammal, and more than 300 species of bird, it certainly is an awesome place for wildlife. You will usually see more birds than people. Jaguars, pumas, and anteaters reside in the park, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Inside the park, deep in the jungle, lies the ancient Mayan city of Tikal, one of the main reasons people visit the area. Thousands of buildings and temples cover the vast kingdom, many taking days to reach. Tikal’s main city, however, is only a short walk through the jungle from the park headquarters. As you approach the complex, and emerge from under the giant trees, an enormous pyramid shaped temple becomes your focus.
Five impressive temples, some of which can be climbed, dominate the site. Three complexes, each containing hundreds of statues, made Tikal one of the America’s largest cities. Believed to have been inhabited since 900BC, there’s no doubt that this once was, and still is, an extraordinary place. A filming location for star wars in 1977, the ruins have an otherworldly appearance.
Abandoned at the end of the 9th century, the city was gradually reclaimed and swallowed by the jungle. Slowly forgotten, it wasn’t until 1848 that the Guatemalan government officially discovered the ruins. A century later, in 1950, restoration work began. Archaeologist continue to excavate and make new discoveries to this day.
Shuttle’s ferry visitors from the closet town, Flores, taking around ninety minutes. Visiting from Belize City, in neighbouring Belize, is also an option, the journey taking three hours. We explored Guatemala by car, allowing us to drive to the park.
Staying inside the park is a great choice, with a few lodges available. This allows you to wander the park in the evening, and early morning, before anyone else arrives. This is the best time to see wildlife. Flores provides a number of accommodation options, along with restaurants, making it a popular place to base yourself.
Tikal National Park, and the ancient city of Tikal, with its enormous trees, and tropical forests filled with wildlife, is a spectacular place, and will forever remain one of our most memorable experiences.
Joining a tracker on an early morning jungle hike, searching for forest elephants, is not something I’ll forget anytime soon.
5. Pongara National Park
Gabon
Gabon, a country on the West Coast of Central Africa, has 13 National Parks, Pongara National Park being one of them. An amazing 10% of the country has been allocated to National Park status, making it a must visit destination for nature enthusiasts. Over 190 mammal species can be found in the country, and with one quarter of the world’s gorilla population, Gabon sure lives up to its nickname as “The Last Eden.”
Hugging the Atlantic Ocean, Pongara National Park is a haven for animals including forest elephants and chimpanzee. Leopards and the elusive giant pangolin add to the park’s ecological importance. Its beaches are one of the preferred nesting sites for the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle, with a number of conservation programs in place to protect this sanctuary.
One of Gabons most accessible National Parks, located around 40km’s from the capital, Libreville, it’s a favourite weekend trip for locals. Boat’s depart Libreville regularly, making the short hop across the Gabon Estuary, to the resort area of Point Denis.
Immersing yourself deeper into the wild is also an option for the adventurous. Pongara Lodge sits on the shores of the Atlantic, inside the park. The only way to access the lodge is via boat, the scenic ride from Libreville taking around one hour. Although visiting for the day is doable, spending a night or two here is most rewarding. Joining a tracker on an early morning jungle hike, searching for forest elephants, is not something I’ll forget anytime soon. Forest buffalo lazing on the beach, parrots chatting in the trees, and the sound of crashing waves. This is Pongara. Nothing but ocean and jungle as far as the eye can see, in every direction.
Pongara National Park, and Gabon, are valuable and inspirational destinations for admirers of conservation and nature. Visiting this obscure corner of untouched Africa is an amazing experience. The importance that Gabon has placed on protecting its natural environment, and the creatures that call it home, should not only inspire visitors, but other countries as well.
Exploring Gabon and supporting one of its many conservation programs is both worthwhile and rewarding – an inspiring adventure in ‘the last Eden.’
6. Kruger National Park
South Africa
The Kruger National Park is one of the premier National Parks in the world. Home to more than 145 mammal species, and 507 varieties of bird, together with countless reptiles and other life forms, the park is unrivalled in its diversity. First protected in 1898, it became South Africa’s first National Park in 1926. A must visit for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers, its vast savannahs and diverse landscape create the ideal habitat for its many residents, including the “Big Five”, lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhino.
Whether you’re on a safari, or self-driving, the chances of seeing magnificent animals in their natural environment are almost assured. One of the largest National Parks in the world, the Kruger offers unlimited exploring opportunities for visitors. Ancient archaeological sites that date back thousands of years add to the Kruger’s allure.
Accessibility is another of the Kruger’s assets, the park containing nine different entry gates. Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is only a forty-five minute drive form the Numbi Gate, a popular entry point. The city of Nelspruit serves as a great base, with everything from shuttles and tours to the Kruger, to car hire for self-driving.
The Kruger is well equipped with a large variety of accommodations, from budget friendly camps, to luxury lodges. Staying overnight inside the park is an unforgettable experience. Many lodges offer night drives, which are not possible for day visitors. These drives provide the chance to see nocturnal animals that are impossible to see during the day. Coming alive after the sun goes down, animal calls and unusual sounds create a completely different atmosphere.
Ideally, staying for a number of nights would be best, and the most convenient way to explore the park. Entering via one gate, then spending the day exploring, as you make your way to a lodge, is a great idea. Enjoy a night or dawn safari, then head off to another lodge for the second night, then exit through a different gate when you are ready. You decide, it’s entirely up to you and your imagination.
Kruger National Park is African beauty at it’s best. With its stunning wildlife, distinct eco-system, and unmatched elegance, it’s an exceptional destination for adventure and exploration. Kruger National Park, a vast and unparalleled nature and wildlife sanctuary.
Why obscure wild places are worth visiting
With habitat loss due to human encroachment becoming a major problem, conservation has never been more important. Protecting wild and natural areas, for both nature and wildlife, is critical. Visiting these National Parks helps fund the ongoing protection of the animals that call them home. Some popular parks see large numbers of visitors, for obvious reasons. Obscure parks and wild places can be just as rewarding, if not more so. In many cases, you may encounter few, if any, other visitors. Seeking out unique wildlife destinations in these lesser-known places—and supporting them—will always be high on our agenda.
What obscure wild places would you like to visit?
For more inspiration, you may also like East Africa’s Best National Parks