Top 10 once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters

The Okavango Delta is world-famous for its wetland landscape and phenomenal wildlife viewing opportunities. Go during dry season to see animals congregating at waterholes, or during wet season to spot hippo and crocodile in the water. Whatever the season, you'll find a huge variety of birdlife too. Botswana will leave you with plenty of stories to tell.

Count up the Big Five in South Africa and Swaziland's vast landscapes. The national parks here are home to hoards of the most popular safari sight-seeing staples, however the real draw is the world's largest rhino population in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi. If a safari is on your bucket list, these are countries not to miss!

Whilst the spider monkeys and even jaguars are a big draw to mainland Belize, some of the biggest attractions of this exotic destination lie in its waters. The Belize Barrier Reef, the longest in the western hemisphere, provides some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving spots in the world. In these clear blue waters, you could get the chance to spot seahorse, manatee, sea turtle and even dolphin. Jump in!

Get up close and personal with our closest primate cousins - gorillas and chimpanzees. In Uganda's Bwindi National Park, we'll take a walking safari in search of gorillas; in Kibale National Park we'll go on a jungle trek to discover chimps. Coming face-to-face with these great ape families and seeing them playing, eating and resting, is sure to give you goosebumps.

Brazil features a variety of habitats side-by-side, each with their own ecosystems and wildlife to spot. From the wetlands of the Pantanal - home to capybara, armadillo and tapir - to the world's largest rainforest, The Amazon, where monkeys, caiman and sorts of colourful birdlife live.

The land that inspired Kipling's Jungle Book is sure to ignite your own imagination. Take a Jeep safari through Kanha National Park, a quiet forested land that offers a good chance of spotting the elusive Bengal tiger. This region of India is also home to sloth bear, leopard and other indigenous animals that are well-worth the patience taken to spot.