Animals are fascinating and quite a few of us find zoos captivating; a touch of the wild in our daily routines. Zoos to children mean getting to see the king of the jungle, or elephants or monkeys; there is a charm to these animals that we can not ignore. To adults, zoos tend to be a place where we take kids, we watch kids interact with animals and enjoy their fascination. But the ultimate experience is in the wild where the animals are free to roam in their habitat. Where humans do not confine them to a cage and curb their natural instincts. Safaris are a different cup of tea altogether, meant as the real contact with nature, and yes, there is nothing childish about a lion that’s free to roam.

The word safari, literally meaning ‘journey’ in Swahili, can be our way to see the raw, primitive lives of animals. For those brave enough, Africa is the best known destination to start their journey, but safaris are not exclusive to Africa; other areas are equally well known, South America and Australia also come to mind.

South America
The Andes Mountains of South America is the ideal location for those who want to see the majestic condor in its natural habitat. Hiking trails meander up the side of the mountain, giving different perspectives of the birds as they soar, though watching condors is not the only thing South America has to offer. For those wanting to do more than observe, a trip to Argentina to hunt can be rewarding. From Wild boar and cougars to water buffalo, Argentina allows man to explore their base instincts, and come home with a trophy to show their courage and skill beyond just a story of the one who got away.

Australia
The word outback is synonymous with Australia, the idea of seeing a variety of wildlife not found elsewhere draws many visitors to their shore. Adventure seekers around the world want to explore remote areas of the Northern Outback Territory, the beauty of the rivers and gorges, the spray from waterfalls or the pull to explore caves only part of the draw, the opportunity to spot wild boar, giant scrub bulls and water buffalo are equally enthralling. Add to that a license to hunt these same animals, and you may have the perfect combination of thrill and beauty for any big game hunter. For those not so into safaris, check our complete guide to the Kakadu National Park and enjoy the environment and animals in their own natural habitats.

Africa
Adventure seekers all over the world travel to Africa on safaris, name any place and there is probably a guide that can take you out to see large game. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, even Zambia, pick a spot and start your journey. It only depends on how much you want to see; Kenya or Tanzania offer the most diverse, zebras, lions, elephants, giraffe and bison. That is not all you can see here though, many more animals dot the landscape. Uganda is the place to go if you want to see gorillas, and the floating trips on the Zambezi River in Zambia are the perfect location to watch crocodiles and hippopotamus in the water. Giraffes and antelopes can be seen here as well. The diversity in what can be seen is equaled in what can be hunted. African hunting guides can take the adventurous further into the wild, guaranteeing the ultimate in trophies, any or all of the ‘big five’ in animal hunting. For anyone who wants to hunt the most dangerous and challenging prey, the ‘big five’, lions, elephants, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard can all be found in many areas throughout Africa, the only limit is the amount of money in your pocket, fees charged for the thrill are high, but for many, well worth it as they pit their skills against animal’s instincts of survival.