Animal Encounters when Travelling

A big highlight for me when travelling is seeing the local wildlife, and preferably not in a zoo. I have included some of my memorable moments below, but be forewarned I have a bias towards monkeys!

1) Sumatran Orangutans in Bukit Lawang, Indonesia: There is nothing cooler than being able to hear the orangutans for several minutes before you can actually see them. The whooshing sound of them swinging through the trees was music to my ears. I was so giggly with anticipation to get my first glimpse of one, and I wasn’t disappointed. There is no other word for them except mesmerizing. I could watch them for years on end and not get bored.

2) Howler Monkeys in Costa Rica: I remember the first night in the jungle being woken up by the most bizarre sound I had ever heard in my life. It was bone-chilling at first, but quite comical after that! I was aware there were howler monkeys in the trees, but nothing prepares you for the first howl. I bolted upright in bed and never got back to sleep after that. Apparently they are the loudest land animal and can be heard for 3 miles/5 kms. Who needs an alarm clock when howler monkeys are in the trees directly above your jungle lodge.

3) Monitor lizards on Tioman Island, Malaysia: I remember my friend and I waking up in the morning and there were all these lizards loitering on the lawn below our balcony. I had just come from Australia and was use to seeing small cute, colourful geckos everywhere, but these lizards were mammoth (longer than I am tall, which isn’t saying much, but still…). They more resembled mini alligators. I think we waited for hours on the balcony in a panic-induced state wondering how we were going to get to the beach.

4) Moose in the Rockies: I am petrified of so many animals (bears, bison, cougar), that I usually make the person I am hiking with walk ahead of me. It allows me to feel more at ease. For some reason Moose don’t scare me though. They are so beautiful to see up close, especially with their antlers, and it makes you realize how large they really are. They have such a captivating presence that I could watch them for hours.

5) Diving in Fiji: I find the underwater world very surreal. I love the silence involved in scuba diving. Fiji was the first place I dived, and nothing has compared since. The colours and diversity of the coral and fish was incredible. I am spoiled forever. Highlights were the manta rays, moray eels and sea stars.

6) Squirrel Monkeys in Costa Rica: I was so disappointed as it was less than 24 hours until our trip was over and I still hadn’t seen a squirrel monkey. Time was running out… Fortunately, shortly after getting back to our hotel and drowning my sorrows in pretty rum drinks with umbrellas in them, we were surrounded by dozens of energetic squirrel monkeys. There were so many I didn’t know where to focus my attention. This is when you realize how useful digital cameras are! I must have taken over 100 photos of the monkeys. They were the cutest things ever, even in the middle of the night when they were swinging from the trees and running on our rooftop. It was a great way to conclude my trip.

7) Alas, some of my “memorable but not in a good way” experiences: a) Camel riding in Australia. The one in front of me kept turning around and spitting at me...yuck! b) a cheeky monkey in Ecuador that came up to me put his hands in my pockets and then proceeded to spank me on the leg since I didn’t have anything for him to eat and c) the mongoose in Hawaii that went into my backpack and stole my energy bar. It was the last of our food until dinner and we still had to hike uphill in the sweltering heat for 2 hours. Sneaky little guy!

Until next time,
Meg