Located in the Central Valley, Costa Rica’s busy capital city has seen most of its characterful Spanish colonial architecture destroyed by earthquakes, so now it consists of nondescript modern buildings with a few exceptions such as the old market and the National Theatre. The gold and jade museums are well worth a visit; otherwise there … Continued
Around 55km south of Walvis Bay, Sandwich Harbour was once an exceptional Ramsar designated birding site. It was a natural freshwater lagoon and tidal mud flats, protected by a sand bar which led to an oasis of life and some of the highest densities of shorebirds in the world (counted at 7000 birds per square … Continued
Once a mule trail for traders, an escape route for rustlers and challenge for legendary pioneers, the 2,874m Sani Pass is the only driveable route up into the High Berg of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg mountains and connects Kwa-Zulu Natal to the Kingdom of Lesotho (remember your passport!). Although in the process of being tarred, the hairpin … Continued
Santa Cruz is the most central and most populated of the Galapagos Islands, with most people living in the town of Puerto Ayora, where the Charles Darwin Research Centre is also found. It includes a visitor centre and a giant tortoise breeding programme, and was the home of Lonesome George, for years the sole survivor … Continued
One of the central islands, Santa Fe has just one visitor site in a sheltered bay which is a good location for snorkelling and swimming. The beach is patrolled by male sea-lions which can make for an interesting landing, and vigilance is required when snorkelling. There are two trails, the most commonly used passing through … Continued
Santiago is one of the central islands and has a number of interesting visitor sites including the fur seal grottos and tidal pools at Puerto Egas and the lava flows at Sullivan Bay. Espumilla Beach is a good location for spotting some of the ten species of finch that can be found on Santiago and … Continued
Santiago is situated in the wide Central Valley at an altitude of 520 metres set against the magnificent backdrop of the Andes to the east. The city was founded in 1541 and is now the political, economic and financial capital of Chile with almost 40% of the country’s population living in and around the city. … Continued
By far the larger of the two main islands, São Tomé lies ‘at the centre of the world’, being the closest landmass to the imaginary crossing point of the Greenwich Meridian and the Equator, which may be crossed on tiny Rolas Islet off São Tomé’s southern tip. The nation’s lively capital, São Tomé town, displays … Continued
This popular inland Caribbean region boasts the eponymous river with its rafting possibilities – white-water or gentle – and the exemplary La Selva Biological Station for guided primary jungle walks and rainforest education. There is plenty of wildlife to be seen in the prolific forests including various bird and poison dart frog species, and neotropical … Continued
Lying on the southwest fringes of the Saurashtra peninsula (west-central India), Sasan Gir National Park is the last home of the remaiting 500 or so Asiatic lions. It was created in 1913 and given sanctuary status in 1965. Once close to extinction, Asiatic lions have been steadily rising in number since 1980 in this safe … Continued
Established in 1981, Satpura National Park covers an area of 524 sq km of unique central Indian highland ecosystem in Madhya Pradesh. The terrain is extremely rugged and consists of sandstone peaks, narrow gorges, ravines and dense forests, with altitude ranging from 300 to 1352 metres. Joining Bori Wildlife Sanctuary to the west and Pachmarhi … Continued
Found near San Gerardo de Dota at 7000ft, just off the Cerro de la Muerte (Hill of Death) road, this lush, secret valley contains the resplendent quetzal and much more high altitude bird life besides. Ancient trees drip with mosses, orchids and bromeliads, and majestic tree ferns grow surprisingly tall – classic cloud forest habitat. … Continued
