Unexpected Animals to Encounter on Wildlife Holidays in Africa

Wildlife holidays in Africa make many people think of safaris - of Lions and Elephants and Wildebeest on the great savannah. But it also has other, less expected animals for wildlife enthusiasts willing to visit its diverse extremities. Destinations include the High Atlas Mountains, Ethiopia and Madagascar. Butterflies in the High Atlas Mountains

The High Atlas is a mountain range in the continent's northwest, in Morocco. It is as high as the Alps and home to a wide array of animal species, including a bountiful population of butterflies. Wildlife holidays in Africa’s High Atlas take butterfly enthusiasts on gentle walks through the mountains from a comfortable base, in search of Moroccan and North African endemic species. Up to 45 butterfly species can be seen on a typical excursion. These include the Moroccan Meadow Brown, Moroccan Copper and Vaucher’s Heath (Moroccan endemics), Moroccan Hairstreak, Giant Grayling and Dark Giant Grayling (North African endemics) and Green-veined White, Moroccan High Brown Fritillary and Martin’s Blue (localised sub-species).

The weather is reliably warm and sunny, ideal for seeing butterflies, and butterfly enthusiasts can enjoy Moroccan and French cuisine in a Berber-style inn after a day’s walk through the stunning mountain scenery with an expert naturalist guide. The mountains are also home to splendid bird species, including Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker and the Crimson-winged Finch. It is a surprising and delightful destination for wildlife holidays in Africa.

Ethiopian Wolves

Unique to the highlands of Ethiopia in the eastern part of the continent, the Ethiopian Wolf is a handsome and rare animal. It is tawny coloured and fairly fox-like in appearance. A highlight of wildlife holidays in Africa’s Bale Mountains is undoubtedly sighting the Ethiopian Wolf among grassy uplands and towering outcrops. The beautiful Bale Mountains are also home to the endemic Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck and Giant Molerat, amidst a habitat of mountains, moorlands and unusual plant species like Giant Lobelias.

Visiting Ethiopia also takes nature enthusiasts to Ethiopia’s Rift Valley Lakes, Awash National Park and Wondo Guenet Forest.

Madagascar

Famous for its isolation, the island of Madagascar is a unique destination. From the baobab-dotted Spiny Deserts of the island’s southwest to the rainforests of the east and the deciduous forests of the northwest, Madagascar is a varied landscape of exciting ecosystems that have produced an array of endemic animal and plant species. Most famous of all are the many species of lemur, ranging in size from the large Indri (which cry a plaintive dawn chorus at Perinet) to the small Mouse Lemur. Day and night walks through Madagascar’s many habitats take nature enthusiasts to worlds beyond their imagining, populated by lemurs (30 species), beautiful birds (40% of which are endemic) and well-camouflaged chameleons (34 known species compared to Africa’s nine). It is truly stunning.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you’re looking for wildlife holidays in Africa, Naturetrek specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to polar expeditions and tours to other spectacular regions on Earth.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.