Sunday Times 2
Catch them before they’re gone
Millionaire globetrotters who are bored of five-star hotels and superyachts can splash out on the ultimate travel adventure – to see 18 of the world’s most endangered animals… before they’re lost forever.
The unusual once-in-a-lifetime offering will set you back a cool $1million, but it will last three months and take in 11 of the world’s most exotic destinations.
The Snow Leopard is one of three endangered species from China (Reuters)
The trip has been dreamt up by luxury tour operator Hurlingham Travel and will whisk travellers from the Galapagos Islands to India, Brazil, Botswana and even the Arctic and Antarctic.
Forget lazing on a beach, wealthy adventurers will be on the lookout for majestic Bengal tigers in India, mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Black Rhino in Namibia.
In Antarctica, Emperor penguins will take centre stage, while travellers will try and spot jaguars in Brazil, polar bears in the Arctic and African wild dogs in Botswana.
While in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, the isles that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, Leatherback sea turtles will be the highlight, alongside the Giant tortoise and Galapagos penguin.
The biggest haul of endangered animal will be in Indonesia, where guests will hope to see not only the Sumatran tiger, but also the Sumatran elephant, Sumatran orangutan and Javan rhino.
Perhaps one of the most difficult animals to spot on the trip will be the saola, also known as the Asian unicorn, proving that money doesn’t get you everything.
The last time one was spotted in Vietnam was in 1998, although one was captured on a camera set-up by the World Wide Fund for Nature in 2013.
The enigmatic saola, which resembles an antelope but is actually related to cattle, was only discovered in 1992 and is only found in Vietnam and Laos.
None exist in captivity and this rarely-seen mammal is already critically endangered. Scientists have categorically documented saola in the wild on only four occasions to date.
The trip isn’t all about enjoying a ‘last chance to see’ experience. Guests will also visit conservation projects focusing on each animal and a portion of the fee paid by them will be donated to each charity.
While the epic trip is hardly a five-star spa break, guests certainly won’t be slumming it.
Accommodation throughout the trip will err on the side of luxury – from an eco-lodge with views of the Virunga Volcanoes in Rwanda to a private charter flight in Antarctica to whisk adventurers to a tented camp at the top of a 200ft ice cliff.
WHERE YOU’LL GO AND
WHAT ANIMALS YOU’LL SEE
China – Armur leopard, Giant panda, Snow Leopard
Namibia – Black Rhino
Galapagos Islands – Leatherback sea turtle,Giant Tortoise, Galapagos Penguin
Vietnam – Saola
Rwanda – Mountain Gorillas
India – Bengal tiger
Indonesia – Sumatran Orangutan, Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger, Javan rhino
Brazil – Jaguar
Botswana – African wild dog
Arctic – Polar bear
Antarctic – Emperor penguin
© Daily Mail, London