Malaysia is a hard-to-rival ecotourism destination. And now, through a combination of charismatic animal species and government programs to protect them, several areas of Malaysia have found a way to regulate and harness tourism as a positive force for animal conservation. Whether it’s dolphins, monkeys, turtles or elephants you’re hoping to encounter (and maybe even help), Malaysia is the place to be.
Read More >>Posts Tagged ‘elephant’
Top Tropical Rainforest Adventures
Visiting a rainforest is a unique nature experience. During the day, these unique biomes burst with a busy buzz and bright flashes of colour, while at night, the air comes alive with the shrieks and calls of the forest’s many nocturnal creatures. Amidst all this natural beauty, it’s important to tread lightly. Rainforests are home to an estimated 40 to 75 percent of all the world’s plants and animals, including many still just being discovered.
Read More >>From Logging to Tourism: A New Deal for Asian Elephants in Laos
Laos was once majestically known as Lane Xang – Land of a Million Elephants. Today, however, the outlook for the Asian elephant population in Laos is bleak. Only 1,000 remain and their numbers are steadily decreasing. An estimated 560 still work in logging, the industry that is primarily responsible for their slow demise. Fortunately, tourism is offering one positive solution.
Read More >>The Inside Word… on Malawi
With so many destinations in the WHL Group’s ever-expanding network, we have an incredible wealth of local travel information at our fingertips. Through the Inside Word, our local partners – all travel experts – share their top tips on what to do, what to eat, where to party and where to shop in their necks of the woods. This month, we hear from Kate Webb about local travel in Malawi from the inside.
Read More >>First Impressions of Travel in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
A herd of elephants stomped across the wide-open plain while a family of giraffes craned their necks for a mid-day snack. As I stared out the window onto the lush green plain, it hit me: This is Africa! My first wildlife sighting in Botswana came before I had even touched down in the Okavango Delta. I took the elephants and giraffes grazing below our Cessna as a sign of things to come.
Read More >>The Inside Word on… Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang, the focus of this month’s Inside Word, was once the royal capital of ‘The Kingdom of a Million Elephants,’ retains the beauty of its regal and French colonial past. Well-preserved buildings and a plethora of glittering Buddhist temples nestle at the confluence of two picturesque rivers and against a backdrop of densely forested mountains.
Read More >>Photo of the Week: Cheetahs Posing, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
This photograph flawlessly captures two cheetahs standing ready and vigilant in the rays of another remarkable day in Tanzania. Distinctively the fastest moving land mammal, these incredible cats are capable of achieving speeds in excess of 70 mph (110 kph) in pursuit of prey.
Read More >>Photo of the Week: Orangutan, Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia
Meeting our ‘ancestors’ is a must when you pay a visit to mysterious Borneo. Sharing over 90% of their DNA with humans, the orangutans, or ‘red apes’, are one of the most endangered species of the 13 types of primate found on the island. In Sabah, one of the best spots to see orangutans is at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre, located approximately 25 kilometres from Sandakan.
Read More >>Travelling with a Heart to the Hill Tribe Villages of Northern Thailand
One major destination in the Golden Triangle is the historic city of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The second-largest city in the country, it is a vibrant gateway to the spectacular northern region. Sitting comfortably at 316 metres above sea level, it is also a vital hub at the heart of a mountainous territory perfect for anyone seeking a cooler climate and opportunities to experience the rich and diverse cultures of the many ethnic minorities who reside in these hills.
Read More >>Kenya’s Masai Mara Joins the whl.travel Tribe
THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SWAHILI. The whl.travel local connection in the Masai Mara, Africa Veterans Safaris Ltd., is eager to bring ideas about sustainable tourism to the international stage. Martin Kiguru, the company’s Director of Operations, grew up on the rural outskirts of the Masai Mara and has a true emotional attachment to the people and wildlife unique to his home. “Africa Veterans Safaris Ltd is extremely excited to join the whl.travel family in order to promote our destination Masai Mara responsibly,” he said.
