Swap the Serengeti for These 3 Unexpected Safari Hot Spots

Looking for an epic safari adventure, but don’t have the money to fly to Africa? You can experience guided wildlife adventures in other destinations around the world that go well beyond the traditional African game drive.

A Celtic Safari with Coos, Cliffs and Highland Wildlife

Celtic travel experts Brendan Vacations, operating in Ireland and Scotland, swap the Big Five for Highland cattle, red deer, golden eagles and Atlantic puffins, offering a variety of customizable self-drive and private-driver experiences. Hairy Coo Safari gets guests face-to-face with the famous Highland cows on Rothiemurchus Estate. Guides share the breed’s history as well as point out any deer or native birds along the way. Land Rover Safari tour takes travelers through the Highlands off-road, accompanied by a kilted guide. Guests will see red deer and golden eagles through glens and forest tracks. The Loch Tay boat safari brings travelers to the water to discover ospreys and red squirrels while the guide tells local folklore stories from the surrounding clans.

Under-the-Radar Wildlife Safaris in North America

Embark on safari adventures in the United States with Natural Habitat Adventures in Canada, Mexico and the United States. In fall, guests visiting Churchill Manitoba can participate in Canada’s Premier Polar Bear Adventure and spend multiple days traveling across the tundra on a Polar Rover while looking for polar bears, arctic foxes and more. An expert Expedition Leader will explain the big bears’ habits and lives. In Mexico, the winter season features the monarch butterfly migration, where guests can spot millions of monarch butterflies as they grow in protected sanctuaries on the Kingdom of the Monarchs tour. Head to Alaska before summer ends for the Ultimate Alaska Wildlife Safari. This adventure allows travelers to immerse themselves in the last frontier and enjoy the chance to see coastal brown bears as they hunt for fish, play and nap in breathtaking sites like Denali National Park, Brooks Falls and National Habitat’s Alaska Bear Camp.

India’s Best Safari is Just Beyond the Golden Triangle

Join Friendly Planet Travel’s 12-day Best of India guided, small tour group for a true wildlife safari. In Ranthambore National Park, explore the former royal hunting ground turned protected tiger reserve. Venture into the jungle on two safari drives for the chance to see Royal Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, pythons, crocodiles, monkeys and a variety of bird species.