GLOBETROTTERS MONTHLY CHALLENGE
Wildlife Across 7 Continents
And From the Underwater World to the Sky
I’ve been waiting to experience a “bull shark dive” in Fiji to submit this article. Now, here I am, sitting by the beach in Fiji, collecting my thoughts to start writing.
One is just stuck in my head:
Oh my, how beautifully diverse our planet is !❤
I can’t bring myself to focus on one experience, one safari, or one continent. Let’s travel through my best of all 7!
Australia / Oceania
Just yesterday, I got to dive with bull sharks, lemon sharks, nurse sharks, and some other reef sharks in Fiji!
I had an amazing, adrenaline-filled experience, but at the same time, it was peaceful to watch these predators just roam around. The sharks came very close, one even slapped me with a fin (and I got it on video to prove it !!).
In 2016, I traveled the east coast of Australia. Australia’s wildlife is very unique. I’ve encountered animals I’ve never seen before, some never even heard of. From kangaroos, wombats, and platypus to adorable koalas.
I visited a koala farm where I was able to hold baby koalas and feed them milk. How cute!!
Antarctica
I often got asked, “What do you even do in Antarctica?”. Besides beautiful landscapes of eternal ice and snow, Antarctica is busting with interesting wildlife.
We were on a constant lookout for different types of whales, seals, and sea lions, and were almost always greeted by various species of penguins when stepping on land.
Africa
Africa is a wildlife paradise. A safari is a must-do activity and there are so many national parks to choose from.
Roaming around all day looking for the big 5 never gets old.
My very favorite activity in Africa so far was biking through Hell’s Gate National Park surrounded by giraffes, zebras, and buffalos.
As a child, my favorite animal was a giraffe. They always liked to come close and be fed with their long black tongues. I loved finally seeing them in the wild!
Apart from all the amazing safaris on land, Africa has interesting marine life as well. You can try to catch some dolphins off the coast of Zanzibar or play with colorful starfish on the beach in Kenya.
North America
Although I still have lots of North America to explore and wildlife to encounter I did get lucky traveling there a few times.
I spotted an American alligator roaming around Florida’s Everglades National Park and spent an afternoon observing Scarlet Macaws in Honduras.
South America
This continent has a special place in my heart. For the landscapes, culture, and wildlife.
Flamingos in the lakes of Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, Alpacas, and Lamas I’ve encountered in Peru, Chile, and Ecuador. Pink dolphins and tarantulas in the depths of the Amazon.
And then there is Galapagos. A chapter for itself. Impressive underwater and on land.
On as little as a quick walk around the island, you’ll be greeted by iguanas, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, turtles, and baby sharks.
Explore the depths of the ocean further and you’ll likely be in for an underwater spectacle. Schools of hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles, and playful sea lions.
A place to be for any wildlife lover.
Asia
My plan for the next few months is to explore Asia. I am sure I will have much more to share then.
Still, I will never forget my encounter with tigers in Thailand (not in the wild unfortunately), and the first time I saw an elephant in the wild in Sri Lanka- casually crossing the road in front of our jeep.
Europe
Last but not least, my home continent.
A trip to Iceland might reward you with humpback and minke whales, as well as puffins flying over your head (it was hard to snap a good photo without an incredible zoom).
If you want to see a deer up close I invite you to the outskirts of my home town, Ljubljana. For a bear encounter stop in Kocevje (I had to google it but tours are actually available, we live and we learn).
As a proud Slovenian, I can not complete this article without mentioning a very unique animal residing in our wonderful caves.
Meet Proteus or directly translated from Slovenian — a human fish. The aquatic salamander is adapted to living in the dark and can live up to 100 years.
You’re welcome, I have just added Postojna Cave to your bucket list.
If I said our planet is incredibly diverse at the beginning of the article I now feel like I underestimated it!
I’ve had countless unforgettable wildlife encounters across the 7 continents. As I continue my explorations in Asia and beyond, I am sure I will soon be able to share even more incredible adventures.
How amazing is traveling the world?!
*A note: the animals I’ve encountered in different continents are not necessarily endemic. I am just sharing my experience :).
Special thanks to Anne Bonfert for this inspiring challenge and making me nostalgic going through my photo album.
I invite you to also read these two amazing articles submitted as a monthly challenge:
