I’ll admit I avoided visiting the Grand Canyon on a number of occasions.
Something so big and so constantly revered as an iconic landscape was sure to disappoint, right? I finally gave in on a road trip from Phoenix this year and will admit the landscape was colourful, imposing and impressive all at once. The views were great to make this my third favourite National Park in the US.
However, what made my Grand Canyon trip most enjoyable was visiting at the end of April. Why? No crowds! Even the staff working there said this was the best time of year to go. The shuttle bus rides I took were often empty, the trails I hiked were quiet, even the walkway along the south rim Crater seemed deserted at times.
This couple were two of only a handful of people I came across one morning. I can’t imagine visiting during the mid-summer crowds – I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed it nearly as much.
Orang-utan is a word that is actually composed of two Malay language words orang (person) and hutan (forest). This is where their nickname of ‘Man of the Forest’ originates from.
96.4% genetically human, these are the only great apes of Asia and they are only found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.
The Bornean Orangutan is listed as endangered, as habitat destruction has had a devastating impact on their numbers in the wild. I saw three of them near the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Borneo but they were all very far away. The most accessible and reliable way to see Orangutans in Borneo is by visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilition Centre.
The first photo below is of a rehab Orangutan at Sepilok, the second is a wild Orangutan near the Kinabatangan River.
Young Orangutan eating a banana at Sepilok
A Wild Orangutan in a distant tree, about 100m from the Kinabatangan River
The Galapagos Islands are one of the world’s most fascinating destinations for wildlife lovers, largely because of the endemic and unique wildlife.
Even the birds are different here. Booby birds might be fun and whimsical, but I thought the Swallow-tailed gull was pretty cool too. Considering how relatively dull the seagulls are at home around Toronto, the head and eye colouring of these guys stood out for me. This photo I enjoyed the most, capturing one just as it was taking flight at South Plaza Island in the Galapagos.
They breed almost exclusively in the Galapagos Islands and can also be found along the coast of Peru and Ecuador when it isn’t breeding season.
Swallow-Tailed Gull taking flight in the Galapagos Islands
When it comes to wildlife photography, a long lens is your best friend, but then every so often you get surprised and find yourself almost too close!
That is what happened to me in Sri Lanka. I was looking for leopards in Ruhuna National Park. We had spotted one far away in the distance in a tree, but still only a speck with my longest zoom lens. Then only minutes later as our 4WD vehicle turned a corner, this mother Sri Lankan Sloth Bear appeared and crossed our path.
She was so close that with my long lens I only managed to snap a few quick photos before she meandered away, into some dense shrubs. I’ve seen Grizzly and Black bears in North America, but the Sloth bears I saw in Sri Lanka remain my favourite.
Watching giraffes walk is one of the simple pleasures I enjoyed on safari in Africa.
These great animals quickly became one of my favourite animals, especially the Maasai Giraffe. Also called the Masai or Kilimanjaro Giraffe, this is the tallest land animal and largest of all giraffe species.
Interestingly, giraffes can sleep standing up, or lying down and only sleep for 4-5 hours a day. They’re about 6 feet tall at birth and once fully grown they have no predators to fear as their speed and kicking power can either outrun or kill animals such as lions. Their only moment of weakness is when they are clumsily bent over trying to drink.
Maasai Giraffe - Distinguished by the colour and shape of their markings
