Kiwi Curated
Where World Wildlife Day is Every Day
by Joy PecknoldWhat would the world be without its wild animals? Elephants roaming the savannah. Whales breaching in the bay. Eagles soaring the wind currents above. We can’t imagine a world without them, and neither can these fauna-focused resorts. In honor of UN World Wildlife Day, we hone in on hotels that show they care through ethical wildlife experiences and conservation.
Where World Wildlife Day is Every Day
Seeing some of 20 gorilla families play, groom and eat their greens in their natural habitat is one of those ultimate bucket list items. Doing so feels even better at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. The first ever community owned lodge in Rwanda helps fund socio-economic initiatives in surrounding communities and conservation in the Volcanoes National Park.
VIEW HOTELWhere World Wildlife Day is Every Day
Best Adventure Getaway category winner in the 2021 Kiwi Collection Hotel Awards, Bensley Collection – Shinta Mani Wild calls the lush Cardamom Mountains home, as do more than 50 creatures on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Taking conservation very seriously, the 865-acre property funds a dedicated Wildlife Alliance ranger station within its camp, and guests can contribute to the work, including arresting poachers and releasing animals.
VIEW HOTELWhere World Wildlife Day is Every Day
A remote retreat nestled in the Great Bear Rainforest, Nimmo Bay prides itself on ethical wildlife viewing. Certified by the sustainably-minded Commercial Bear Viewing Association, their guides will help you unobtrusively witness grizzlies and black bears as the roam the shoreline and fish for salmon in rivers. A kayak trip through the channels of the Broughton Archipelago is an opportunity to quietly glimpse of all kinds of marine life, such as eagles and seals, or a pod of orcas, if one is lucky enough.
VIEW HOTELWhere World Wildlife Day is Every Day
Marooned on a private island, a 20-minute flight from Tahiti, The Brando is more than a sunny, extravagant escape, it’s also a research spot. The tropical isle has its own environmental non-profit established in Marlon Brando’s honor and an onsite Ecostation for scientists to do their work. Guests can get in on the learning with bird discovery tours and other explorations lead by naturalists.
VIEW HOTELWhere World Wildlife Day is Every Day
A poolside cocktail isn’t the only activity that will boost one’s mood at Amanyara. Through their Sea Turtle Initiative, the beachfront Caribbean resort lets guests participate in tagging green and hawksbill turtles so that universities and conservation organizations can study their migration patterns. Take it a step further and swim with them on a snorkel or scuba-diving adventure in the North West Point Marine National Park.
VIEW HOTELWhere World Wildlife Day is Every Day
As with the whole of the hotel brand, Six Senses Laamu makes sustainability a mandate, and that includes tending to the aquatic ecosystem that surrounds its idyllic isle. Their own resort marine biologists, along with researchers from NGOs, work together on the Maldives Underwater Initiative. Guests can spend a “Reconnect with Nature” day with the team snorkeling the house reef, or identifying turtles or manta rays. To bring their work to a broader audience, they’ve launched an online Junior Marine Biology Program for ages 6 to 16.
VIEW HOTELWhere World Wildlife Day is Every Day
At Barmurru Plains, play out that Crocodile Dundee fantasy but just admire these reptilian relics of the Late Cretaceous period for the magnificent beasts they are. Nestled in the wilds of the Northern Territory, this luxurious bush camp does safaris by open-top vehicle, on-foot or, the ultimate, airboat. Jettisoning across the wetlands, it’s a prime way to see scores of bird species—some flocks numbering in the thousands. With every guest, a donation is made to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
VIEW HOTELWhere World Wildlife Day is Every Day
Arced around Malohom Bay within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Gaya Island Resort is a guardian of its pristine setting. Their resident marine biologist runs the onsite marine centre, which is focused on turtle rescue, coral reef restoration and education, while a naturalist heads up programs at their wildlife centre, including the preservation of the endangered proboscis monkey. Guests can visit the centres and also partake in immersive experiences, such as the Mangrove Kayak Tour and Coral Garden Marine Expedition.
VIEW HOTELWhere World Wildlife Day is Every Day
Within the largest private reserve in South Africa, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is home to some 240 birds and 80 mammals, including pangolins, aardwolf and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra which are hard to see anywhere else. There’s also a couple meerkat colonies that provide endless entertainment. Here, their Tswalu Foundation supports ecological research of the area to aid conservation and restoration.
VIEW HOTELSeeing some of 20 gorilla families play, groom and eat their greens in their natural habitat is one of those ultimate bucket list items. Doing so feels even better at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. The first ever community owned lodge in Rwanda helps fund socio-economic initiatives in surrounding communities and conservation in the Volcanoes National Park.
VIEW HOTELBest Adventure Getaway category winner in the 2021 Kiwi Collection Hotel Awards, Bensley Collection – Shinta Mani Wild calls the lush Cardamom Mountains home, as do more than 50 creatures on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Taking conservation very seriously, the 865-acre property funds a dedicated Wildlife Alliance ranger station within its camp, and guests can contribute to the work, including arresting poachers and releasing animals.
VIEW HOTELA remote retreat nestled in the Great Bear Rainforest, Nimmo Bay prides itself on ethical wildlife viewing. Certified by the sustainably-minded Commercial Bear Viewing Association, their guides will help you unobtrusively witness grizzlies and black bears as the roam the shoreline and fish for salmon in rivers. A kayak trip through the channels of the Broughton Archipelago is an opportunity to quietly glimpse of all kinds of marine life, such as eagles and seals, or a pod of orcas, if one is lucky enough.
VIEW HOTELMarooned on a private island, a 20-minute flight from Tahiti, The Brando is more than a sunny, extravagant escape, it’s also a research spot. The tropical isle has its own environmental non-profit established in Marlon Brando’s honor and an onsite Ecostation for scientists to do their work. Guests can get in on the learning with bird discovery tours and other explorations lead by naturalists.
VIEW HOTELA poolside cocktail isn’t the only activity that will boost one’s mood at Amanyara. Through their Sea Turtle Initiative, the beachfront Caribbean resort lets guests participate in tagging green and hawksbill turtles so that universities and conservation organizations can study their migration patterns. Take it a step further and swim with them on a snorkel or scuba-diving adventure in the North West Point Marine National Park.
VIEW HOTELAs with the whole of the hotel brand, Six Senses Laamu makes sustainability a mandate, and that includes tending to the aquatic ecosystem that surrounds its idyllic isle. Their own resort marine biologists, along with researchers from NGOs, work together on the Maldives Underwater Initiative. Guests can spend a “Reconnect with Nature” day with the team snorkeling the house reef, or identifying turtles or manta rays. To bring their work to a broader audience, they’ve launched an online Junior Marine Biology Program for ages 6 to 16.
VIEW HOTELAt Barmurru Plains, play out that Crocodile Dundee fantasy but just admire these reptilian relics of the Late Cretaceous period for the magnificent beasts they are. Nestled in the wilds of the Northern Territory, this luxurious bush camp does safaris by open-top vehicle, on-foot or, the ultimate, airboat. Jettisoning across the wetlands, it’s a prime way to see scores of bird species—some flocks numbering in the thousands. With every guest, a donation is made to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
VIEW HOTELArced around Malohom Bay within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Gaya Island Resort is a guardian of its pristine setting. Their resident marine biologist runs the onsite marine centre, which is focused on turtle rescue, coral reef restoration and education, while a naturalist heads up programs at their wildlife centre, including the preservation of the endangered proboscis monkey. Guests can visit the centres and also partake in immersive experiences, such as the Mangrove Kayak Tour and Coral Garden Marine Expedition.
VIEW HOTELWithin the largest private reserve in South Africa, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is home to some 240 birds and 80 mammals, including pangolins, aardwolf and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra which are hard to see anywhere else. There’s also a couple meerkat colonies that provide endless entertainment. Here, their Tswalu Foundation supports ecological research of the area to aid conservation and restoration.
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