BA destinations with interesting wildlife
Feb 3, 2019, 11:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAGGL, A3G, Accor Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, LHW Sterling
Posts: 1,308
BA destinations with interesting wildlife
All,
Looking to tap into the collective wisdom.
I currently have a trip with my father planned for a fortnight over Easter (April) to Costa RIca. I'm getting cold feet due to the additional costs /complexity of being there over Semana Santa/Easter.
I can switch the flights to pretty much anywhere I think (with a joker etc) but need to be on the BA network as a companion voucher is at play.
I may struggle to get Nairobi/east Africa/South Africa agreed, so wanted to ask if anyone had an good wildlife destinations they could recommend. Not for the whole trip, but places where there's enough to do a solid week or so.
Thanks
Looking to tap into the collective wisdom.
I currently have a trip with my father planned for a fortnight over Easter (April) to Costa RIca. I'm getting cold feet due to the additional costs /complexity of being there over Semana Santa/Easter.
I can switch the flights to pretty much anywhere I think (with a joker etc) but need to be on the BA network as a companion voucher is at play.
I may struggle to get Nairobi/east Africa/South Africa agreed, so wanted to ask if anyone had an good wildlife destinations they could recommend. Not for the whole trip, but places where there's enough to do a solid week or so.
Thanks
Feb 3, 2019, 11:50 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
You may wish to consider (Malaysian) Borneo - readily accessible on a very short hop from Kuala Lumpur. Good wildlife opportunities, good value once there, and an attractive landscape too. Have enjoyed a couple of (short) visits over the last two years.
As for your original plan for Costa Rica : I flew down there with BA in 2016 and had a great week in what is a very welcoming and friendly country. I believe it’s widely considered as one of today’s very best ‘wildlife destinations’ worldwide. Seems a pity that it might not work out for you, but I wish you safe travels whatever you decide.
As for your original plan for Costa Rica : I flew down there with BA in 2016 and had a great week in what is a very welcoming and friendly country. I believe it’s widely considered as one of today’s very best ‘wildlife destinations’ worldwide. Seems a pity that it might not work out for you, but I wish you safe travels whatever you decide.
Feb 3, 2019, 11:53 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,911
Hi,
What kind of wildlife?
How about Denver then go to Yellowstone park ( no idea about the amount of wildlife at easter) ( or MIA and go into the everglades)
Or how about HKG/PEK/PVG then another flight to see the Pandas?
Rapidex's idea of JNB is good
Regards
TBS
What kind of wildlife?
How about Denver then go to Yellowstone park ( no idea about the amount of wildlife at easter) ( or MIA and go into the everglades)
Or how about HKG/PEK/PVG then another flight to see the Pandas?
Rapidex's idea of JNB is good
Regards
TBS
Feb 3, 2019, 12:07 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2003
Programs: BA, IHG, 5C
Posts: 4,413
If JNB doesn’t get accepted, you could do CPT instead which is more obvious and appealing for the non-wildlife part of the trip. Only moderately warm at Easter.
From there you can do malaria free private reserve along the Eastern Cape, or fly up to Namibia or Botswana for something different (probably expensive / luxurious if an organised trip).
Orherwise the variety in Kenya is amazing.
From there you can do malaria free private reserve along the Eastern Cape, or fly up to Namibia or Botswana for something different (probably expensive / luxurious if an organised trip).
Orherwise the variety in Kenya is amazing.
Feb 3, 2019, 12:13 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Belgium
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 146
Have been camping over there a few years ago the 2 weeks after Memorial day and on the higher elevations there was still a lot of snow.
+ from Denver it is still a long way to go to reach Yellowstone.
Feb 3, 2019, 1:17 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Nashville,TN
Programs: AA Gold Elite
Posts: 601
Forget about Kenya(Nairobi) over the Easter week. Many things are pretty much shut down Good Friday-Easter Monday-found that out personally in 2017.
Cape Town is having some political turmoil right now-might not be the safest. Protests on beaches(including a sheep slaughtered on a Camp's Bay beach), arson fires, traffic blockades by militant factions of the ANC. I have read reports of tourists being attacked/robbed/harassed very recently.
Botswana is wonderful but very expensive.
Zimbabwe is very unstable right now as well. Vic Falls is terrific though.
Maybe Zambia?
Cape Town is having some political turmoil right now-might not be the safest. Protests on beaches(including a sheep slaughtered on a Camp's Bay beach), arson fires, traffic blockades by militant factions of the ANC. I have read reports of tourists being attacked/robbed/harassed very recently.
Botswana is wonderful but very expensive.
Zimbabwe is very unstable right now as well. Vic Falls is terrific though.
Maybe Zambia?
Feb 3, 2019, 4:18 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 104
Cape Town is having some political turmoil right now-might not be the safest. Protests on beaches(including a sheep slaughtered on a Camp's Bay beach), arson fires, traffic blockades by militant factions of the ANC. I have read reports of tourists being attacked/robbed/harassed very recently.
'"We want toilets, water and electricity," said protester Ncedo Nkonyana, after balancing on his head and doing air splits in front of the police lined up at the top of the steps to the civic centre.' (source)
Feb 3, 2019, 4:43 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,111
No-one made any snide comments about the mice and other creatures in the airline lounges yet? I'm quite surprised.
Apart from JNB and the Kruger National Park which I wholeheartedly recommend (book accommodation with SANparks in the camps in the park, rent a car, do it all yourself - self-safari is the best), Phoenix is not far from the Grand Canyon and within a day's drive of Mesa Verde, Navajo National Monument, Canyon de Chelly, Grand Staircase/ Escalante, and several other national parks with a lot of wildlife. For the Canyon, go to the North Rim, but you have to do that in summer.
The Camargue (fly to Marseille or Nice) has quite a bit of wildlife too.
Apart from JNB and the Kruger National Park which I wholeheartedly recommend (book accommodation with SANparks in the camps in the park, rent a car, do it all yourself - self-safari is the best), Phoenix is not far from the Grand Canyon and within a day's drive of Mesa Verde, Navajo National Monument, Canyon de Chelly, Grand Staircase/ Escalante, and several other national parks with a lot of wildlife. For the Canyon, go to the North Rim, but you have to do that in summer.
The Camargue (fly to Marseille or Nice) has quite a bit of wildlife too.
Feb 3, 2019, 6:02 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,266
April is a good time of year to do a Southwestern National Parks loop out of Las Vegas (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, etc.) but that's more of a red rock geology trip than a wildlife proper trip. I will note however that the squirrels at Zion are pretty scary because too many park guests have taught them to expect food when someone opens up their backpack
Feb 3, 2019, 8:15 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BKK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de la Brosse a Cheveux Dore, SK *GfL, BA Gold, WY G, HH DIA, IC Plat Amb., Hertz PC
Posts: 3,699
I would echo subject2load's suggestion of Sabah and/or Sarawak, the two Malaysian states on Borneo. Very interesting places and not overcrowded by tourists yet.
Feb 3, 2019, 11:45 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAGGL, A3G, Accor Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, LHW Sterling
Posts: 1,308
Thanks all for the interesting (and in some cases amusing) suggestions so far. All welcome and helpful.
Inverness here we come!
Inverness here we come!
Feb 4, 2019, 12:46 am
#15
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK.
Programs: Nowt of note.
Posts: 1,628
Having been to Costa Rica (and loved it!) my gf and I had the same question for our own 241 this year, and after a bit of research we booked a week based in Kuching in Malaysian Borneo as mentioned twice upthread.