T R AVEL TALK ASK THE EXPERTS


NEED ADVICE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP? ARE YOU AFTER RECOMMENDATIONS, TIPS AND GUIDANCE? OUR EXPERTS HAVE THE ANSWERS…


THE EXPERTS


Shafik Meghji Freelance travel writer & author of Crossed Off the Map


Carrie-Ann Lightley Freelance writer specialising in accessible travel


Sam Jones Communications delivery manager, Cycling UK


Robbie O’Brien Japan destination manager, Trailfinders


From left: A pair of collared aracaris in Costa Rica; a weeping cherry tree in Maruyama Park, Kyoto; cycling Norfolk’s Rebellion Way


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I’ve been on safari in Africa and would love to try a unique alternative next. Can you suggest any good destinations? Beyond the classic safari spots, you’ll find plenty of alternatives offering remarkable wildlife encounters, dramatic landscapes and, often, fewer tourists. Try the Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh — home to an estimated 785 wild tigers. Kanha National Park, open from mid-October until June, is the pick of the reserves. 4WD safaris take in forests, rivers and savannah stalked by over 100 of the big cats, not to mention sloth bears, leopards, swamp deer and 300 bird species. Sleep in one of Shergarh’s luxurious canvas huts, set in woodland near the reserve. Stays from 17,756 INR (£167) full- board; private jeep safaris from 14,622 INR (£140) shergarh.com


NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL Alternatively, in the far north east


of India, try a 4WD or walking safari in the grasslands and wetlands of Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, which has over 2,600 one-horned rhinos — a species saved from the brink of extinction but still under threat. They share the UNESCO World Heritage Site (open from October to April) with other rare creatures such as Ganges river dolphins and hoolock gibbons. Intrepid’s 16-day Sikkim, Assam & Nagaland tour, which includes Kaziranga, starts at £2,315 per person, excluding international flights. intrepidtravel.com Costa Rica is another excellent


safari destination, spanning just 0.03% of the Earth’s landmass but accounting for a staggering 5% of its fauna. A major nesting site for sea turtles between March and October, Tortuguero National


Park’s maze of jungle-fringed waterways, lagoons and beaches is best explored on a boat or kayak trip. Keep your eyes peeled for manatees, caimans and howler monkeys, too. Meanwhile, in southern Costa Rica, the tropical rainforests of Corcovado National Park lay claim to around 50% of the country’s biodiversity. Guided hikes along serpentine trails offer the chance to spot everything from scarlet macaws to Baird’s tapirs. You may even glimpse a puma or jaguar. Aim to visit during the dry season, between December and April. Journey Latin America has a private 15-day Costa Rica Wildlife Discovery tour featuring Tortuguero and Corcovado from £5,250, based on two people sharing, excluding international flights. journeylatinamerica.com SHAFIK MEGHJI


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