At Charters Private Wealth, we love encouraging clients to draw up their own bucket list. But what exactly is a bucket list? Simply put, it’s a collection of dreams, goals and aspirations that you would like to accomplish within your lifetime. As you might expect, going on safari is a popular entry. That’s because it’s one of the most thrilling and unique experiences on the planet. Observing wild animals in their natural habitat appeals to all ages and presents a once in a lifetime opportunity for individuals and groups. Here are five thrilling examples:

1. Chiang Mai

Elephants are both intelligent and beautiful, however in Central and South East Asia they have a history of being used as working animals and are now being forced to entertain and carry tourists in the sweltering jungle heat. The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is in search of a better relationship with these animals. The nature park functions as a sanctuary to rescued elephants, as well as many other animals. You can help to feed and bathe the animals at the sanctuary, meaning that the Elephant Nature Park offers one of the most intimate and ethical wildlife experiences out there.

2. India

If leopards and lions aren’t your felines of choice, the tigers of India might be the big cats that scratch that itch. India is home to over 75% of the world’s tiger population and an Indian tiger safari is a great holiday for any wildlife enthusiast. Though these elusive cats are hard to spot amongst the jungle fauna, the highest concentration of tigers can be found in the Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Maharashtra parks, making sightings far more likely.

3. African ‘Big Five’ Safari

The ‘Big Five’ are considered to be Africa’s must-see animals. The phrase was initially coined by big-game hunters, referring to the African wildlife that were thought of as the most dangerous and hardest animals to hunt. Today, thankfully, hunting has become much less commonplace on the African savannah and the phrase now refers to some of the most majestic animals on planet earth.

Lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and cape buffalo make up the five, and there are a whole range of different safari companies that offer a chance to see these magnificent animals. For the best chance to see the ‘Big Five’, game parks in South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania or the Masai Mara are the ones you’ll want to visit.

4. Komodo National Park

What could be more thrilling than coming face to face with a real life dragon? The Komodo Dragon is the largest lizard on earth, growing up to a maximum length of 10ft. Another interesting fact is that they often eat up to 80% of their body weight in one sitting—that’s a lot of food! Komodo National Park in Indonesia is one of the only places on the planet that you can see these animals in their natural habitat and is certainly not one to miss.

5. Borneo

The area known as Borneo is a vast swathe of land that connects both Malaysia and Indonesia. It’s a place of cheeky monkeys and great apes, though the area is famed for its Orangutan population. Of all the regions in Borneo, Sabah is the most popular due to its reasonably good road systems, making travel much easier. The area also has a number of hotels that range from budget to luxurious, making it a destination accessible to everyone.

So there you have it, five safaris that may allow you to encounter some of nature’s most majestic creations. For those of you who are interested in having such an incredible experience, we recommend that you factor it into your financial plan. For advice on how to construct a financial plan, do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. You can call us on 01789 263888 or email hello@charterswealth.co.uk.