DESTINATIONS WINTER | TOURING & ADVENTURE TAKE
WINTER WILDLIFE TOURS
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Swap summer safaris for wildlife watching in the winter months, writes Katie McGonagle
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intertime trips tend to fall into two camps: long-
haul to the Caribbean or Indian Ocean for a fly-and-flop escape on white-sand shores, or short-haul to the snowy slopes of the Alps. But what if clients are looking for a different kind of adventure? The winter months are also a
great time for wildlife watching, whether jetting off to the southern hemisphere to combine sun and safari, or heading for colder climes where it’s easier to spot elusive animals against snowy backdrops.
travelweekly.co.uk
That’s where a guided tour comes with key advantages for those who want to make the most of the wintry wildlife: not only can it offer better value than having to fork out for a private driver and vehicle, but it often adds expert- led tours and commentary that will bring these animal-spotting opportunities to life.
If clients have had a taste of wildlife wonderlands in summer and want to come back for more in the quieter months, here are three perfect alternatives for winter wildlife tours.
➣ 4 JANUARY 2024 43
LIKE THIS? YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Black bears are the big draw for California’s most popular nature reserve, with between 300 to 500 known to roam this huge wilderness – although despite the name, they’re usually brown. Yosemite is also a haven for a thriving population of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, mountain lions, mule deer and mink-like Pacific fishers, which can be spotted from more than 750 miles of hiking trails.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
WHAT TO EXPECT: Go back to basics in America’s first national park, which brings together bubbling mud pools and surging geysers with some of the most abundant animal populations in North America. Spot ospreys soaring over the sweeping Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, marvel at the intricate travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, see the regularly timed eruptions of Old Faithful and try to capture the bright colours of the Fountain Paint Pots and Grand Prismatic Spring on camera. WHY GO IN WINTER: Yellowstone offers a different experience in winter – when the crowds have dissipated and the wilderness is engulfed in a blanket of snow, these pristine landscapes are at their picturesque best. The bears might be hibernating, but you can watch snow-dusted bison plodding in long lines across the valleys, huge herds of elk roaming the plains and spot the recently reintroduced wolf population prowling in search of prey. BOOK IT: Globus has a seven-day Yellowstone Winter Wonderland tour starting from £3,284 for departures in February 2025, round-trip from Jackson including some meals, sightseeing and, new this year, all tips. Flights not included.
globusjourneys.co.uk
TRY THIS
PICTURES: Shutterstock/SamanthaZurbrick, Green Mountain Exposure
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