Biggest, rarest, wildest: top animal tours

1 Tigers, Kanha NP, India

Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, central India, was the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book and is one of the best places in India to see tigers.

A 16-day safari with Wildlife Worldwide visiting Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh National Parks costs from £2,450 including flights, most meals, accommodation in hotels and luxury camps and sightseeing in Delhi and Agra.

Tiger-viewing is on elephant or by jeep; leopards and bears are often seen. Departures: November-May.

2 Giant Pandas, Qinling Mountains, China

It has been very difficult to see giant pandas in the wild, but Laoxiancheng Panda Reserve in central China has a fledgling eco-tourism project. A pioneering 14-day panda trek in Shaanxi Province with Naturetrek costs from £3,395 including flights, most meals and accommodation in hotels, lodges and tents.

Trekking is described as tough. The tour includes a visit to the Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an and a chance to see rare golden monkeys. Departures: April 13 and October 5.

3 Desert elephants, Skeleton Coast, Namibia

The best chance of seeing the rare desert elephants of Namibia is in Skeleton Coast Park in the dry season (June-December) when the animals head for the hills to escape the rain. A three-night stay at Skeleton Coast Camp with Cazenove+Lloyd costs from £3,224 and includes flights and fully inclusive accommodation in luxurious meru-style tents.

The camp organises day trips in a 4WD vehicle in search of the elephants. Gemsbok, giraffe, ostrich, hyena, Hartmann's mountain zebra and, occasionally, lion and cheetah can all be seen from the camp.

4 Saami reindeer migration, Norway

The annual reindeer migration in Arctic Norway is the most important event of the year for the Saami people. A 10-day journey with a Saami herder family moving their animals from their winter to their summer grazing area, crossing the barren Arctic tundra on a snowmobile, is available exclusively through High and Wild.

The price of £2,435 per person in a group of seven includes accommodation in lavvu tents (like a teepee), snowmobile hire, Arctic-proof clothing, most meals, transfers to and from airport and the services of an expert guide. The return flight from Heathrow to Kirkenes can be arranged, from about £350. Departure: April 5.

5 Ocean giants, Ningaloo Reef, Australia

Whale sharks - the biggest fish in the sea, measuring up to 60ft long - can be seen on a 15-day dive, swim and snorkel tour of the reefs of Western Australia with Dive Worldwide.

Humpback, southern right, sperm and killer whales, dolphins, dugongs, giant manta and eagle rays are among the hundreds of species that can be seen on Ningaloo Reef, the largest fringing reef in the world. The cost of £3,795 includes flights, accommodation in a mixture of hotels, motels and chalets, most meals and guiding. Departure: June 3.

6 Orangutan study group, Borneo

The Orangutan Foundation, in cooperation with Discovery Initiatives offers privileged access to the famous orangutan study area in Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo. The 14-day trips offer the chance to see wild and rehabilitated orangutans and conduct wildlife surveys with Camp Leakey researchers.

The price, from £3,195, includes flights, twin-share accommodation at Rimba Lodge, most meals and a contribution to the Orangutan Foundation. Each trip is led by Ashley Leiman, head of the Orangutan Foundation in the UK, or one of her colleagues. Departures: June 21, August 30, September 13.

7 Wildebeest migration, Serengeti, Tanzania

The unspoilt Mara River area provides an unrivalled viewpoint for the annual Serengeti wildebeest migration away from other tourists. Steppes Travel is offering a 17-day itinerary to Tanzania, including five nights at the luxurious Sayari tented camp.

This is topped and tailed by stays at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge and the Matemwe Bungalows in Zanzibar. The price of £4,995 includes flights, road and light-aircraft transfers, accommodation, most meals, activities and guiding. Departures: February.

8 Whale watching, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Grey and blue whales, dolphins and sea lions can all be seen at close quarters on a 17-day whalewatching, kayaking and hiking tour with Pura Aventura. The tour includes kayaking across the turquoise waters of Baja, California, a boat trip into the Bay of Magdalena to see migrating grey whales and a three-day hike in the Copper Canyon.

The price of £2,125 includes hotel and camp accommodation, most meals, guiding, transport and specialist equipment. Flights can be arranged - eg from Gatwick to La Paz via New Mexico - with American Airlines, from £660 return. Departures: February 2, 16 and 23.

9 Polar bears, Spitzbergen

At 80 degrees north and only 600 miles from the North Pole, the island of Spitzbergen is one of the best places in the world to see polar bears. Against a backdrop of icebergs, glaciers and immense sea cliffs, landings are made from an expedition cruise ship for encounters with walrus, Arctic foxes, whales and bears during a period of 24-hour daylight.

A 12-day guided expedition aboard the MV Vavilov with Exodus costs from £2,999 and includes flights, accommodation in a main-deck twin cabin, full board on the ship, and all activities. Departures: June, July, August.

10 Lion safari, Botswana

A two-stop safari in Botswana will pretty much guarantee the best lion sightings in Africa. First, at Duba Plains in the Okavango Delta, you will see large prides take on the local buffalo population and in the dry Savute Channel in the Chobe National Park you might see some of Africa's biggest lions take on elephant.

source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2008/01/19/et-animaltours-119.xml