Komodo Island has its dragons. Tasmania has its devils. Every island, it would seem, is a treasure chest of unique critters and decidedly unfamiliar environments -- at least to mainland dwellers. It's not a coincidence, after all, that so many island locales are compared to that mecca of wildlife anomalies, the Galápagos Islands. But isolation doesn't just breed strangeness; it also fosters abundance. For example, a 2007 survey of island fauna by biologists from the University of California, San Diego, showed that one island acre contains on average nearly 15 times more lizards than one mainland acre. What do statistics like that mean for wildlife-loving travelers? It means put on your pith helmet. It's time for an island safari. (For more of Adrienne's island adventures, read her blog.)
Sri LankaA large gathering of elephants bathing in a tree-lined water hole is probably enough to inspire a trek through Sri Lanka's Yala National Park. But this wildlife preserve on the southeastern coast of the island also boasts one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. While huge pachyderms wander with slow, mesmerizing gaits through rocky plains, top-level carnivores stalk prey (Sambar deer, wild boar & jackal -- also worth looking at) in pockets of mustard, neem and satinwood tree forest. "Islands often have dramatic topography and rainfall gradients that can result in many different habitats within a small area," says UC San Diego professor of biology Lauren Buckley. "Visitors can thus readily see many different habitats and many different types of plants and animals." Book a wildlife tour with Jetwing Eco Holidays and find yourself careening through Yala -- and other Sri Lankan national parks and preserves -- in a safari- style Jeep. When you're not keeping a tally of countless elephants and leopards, try to keep track of primates and endemic birds. jetwingeco.com
MadagascarOn a canoe trip through the lake in Vakona Reserve on Madagascar, no less than 40 Nile crocodiles lurk beneath the surface. They measure up to 20 feet long and pack an appetite for up to half their body weight in a single meal, so seeing one may or may not be worth the risk. But five different islands crawling with lemurs, a colony of land tortoises, boa constrictors hanging from the trees and a pumalike carnivore found nowhere else in the world make this treacherous paddle worthwhile. Explore Madagascar in classic safari style with Abenteuer Afrika Safari. In a four- wheel-drive Jeep, trek the island's diverse terrains -- from lush rainforests in the northern reaches to arid deserts spotted with twisting baobab trees farther south to white-sand beaches on a small island off the eastern coast. Sleep in tents & boutique accommodations along the way, always a safe distance from the crocodiles. abenteuerafrika.com
Ten Thousand Islands, Everglades, FloridaThe glassy-eyed alligators that populate mangrove tunnels and sea-grass swamps in Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge are only a few genes removed from dinosaurs. That kind of biological résumé accounts for their blithe attitude. From fresh-and brackish-water marshes they slither onto white-sand beaches throughout this archipelago off Florida's southwest coast. They are almost always oblivious to Florida panthers striding across high-reaching branches, West Indian manatees grazing in the water around them and travelers holding their breath as they capture the sights on film. Some -- especially those on a safari -- might argue that when it comes to alligators, a blithe attitude is the best attitude. Make your way through several of the Ten Thousand Islands by kayak with Everglades Area Tours. Whether you choose to make a day of it or opt to camp overnight in the archipelago, start on Chokoloskee island, just south of Everglades City, Florida. Head north in a fully equipped sea kayak, spotting great blue herons, bottle-nosed dolphins and bald eagles along the way. evergladesareatours.com
Kodiak Island, AlaskaFive-foot-tall brown bears fish for salmon in mirrorlike island streams on Kodiak Island. Endemic to this evergreen area of Alaska, Kodiak brown bears dwell in the most uninhabited reaches of the archipelago and grow to more than 1,500 pounds, making this subspecies the largest form of grizzly. "Animals often change size when they arrive on islands," says Professor Buckley. "A visitor can thus see gigantic or miniature versions of mainland animals [on islands]." A bit of calculated risk adds to a memorable safari, and well-trained guides get you as close to gigantic bears as possible while also keeping you whole. Board a floatplane & fly above Sitka spruce forests to Spirit of Alaska Wilderness Adventures, a wilderness outfitter and lodge on Amook Island, an isle nestled in one of Kodiak's inlets. Spend your days on this stretch of land in the heart of Kodiak Island as the Inuit did, sea kayaking through the untamed wilderness. With the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge as their backdrop, guides at the lodge can also show you the humpback, orca and fin whales that frequent the Uyak Bay. Plus be on the lookout for more than 250 species of birds on land and at sea, and sea lions, harbor seals and fox. spiritak.web.cedant.com
Kangaroo Island, Australia The kangaroos on Kangaroo Island -- hopping through the bush in wild abundance with their chocolate-brown fur and jet-black tips -- are more than a little photogenic. But they're also a scientific phenomenon to behold. Says Professor Buckley: "What makes islands special is that their animals and plants have evolved in isolation from those on the main- land. This can result in unique species that are only found on a single island." Spotting the nuances between the island subspecies of kangaroo & the mainland variety -- in between snaps of the camera -- can make for a magnificent safari experience. Find Kangaroo Island 'roos with relative ease -- as they hop across the road, over hillsides, through fields. But for the best experience, sign up for a professional tour with an outfitter like Exceptional Kangaroo Island. Climb into a four-wheel-drive vehicle and traverse unpaved island roads as your guide points out kangaroos -- and wallabies, koala bears, echidnas, goannas, cockatoos, seals, sea lions and myriad other island species from dawn until dusk. exceptionalkangarooisland.com
Utila, HondurasEvery year, beginning in early spring, the world's largest fish migrate at a leisurely pace and shallow depth along the northeast side of Utila. The 30-foot-long whale sharks follow the currents through the Gulf of Honduras, just a short distance from where the Continental Shelf meets the island. Scientists aren't sure why they choose to share the nearby waters with the hawksbill turtles, eagle rays and schools of barjacks who frolic around the soft and hard coral at Turtle Harbor Marine Reserve each year. But experts and laymen alike can agree on one conclusion at least: Not all safaris are on the savanna; some happen on the reef. But don't just go on a whale shark watch; make this safari a research mission. Sign up for one of Deep Blue Utila's whale shark research tours and help the company with its project to electronically tag and monitor the island's whale sharks. You'll also have a chance to learn from visiting whale shark experts from around the world. deepblueutila.com
Falkland IslandsIn the remote reaches of the wild South Atlantic Ocean, the Falkland Islands are a breeding ground for several million penguins: from monochromatic gentoos to wild-eyed rockhoppers to burrowing Magellanics. But it's the king penguins at Volunteer Point, marching in regal order with gold-crested chests across flat, glistening stretches of beach and over rolling lowland valleys, that the islands are best known for. On the northeastern peninsula of East Falkland, more than 1,000 of these royal penguins incubate eggs in pockets above their feet, fish for lanternfish and huddle in tightknit groups near the sea. The dense colony accounts for most of the Falkland's king penguin population -- odds that any camera-wielding safari-goer can appreciate. Spend at least a week island hopping in this chain with the help of International Tours and Travel. The East Falkland-based operator can customize your itinerary to include Volunteer Point's colony plus Kidney Cove, home to a diverse range of penguin species -- not to mention Sea Lion Island's resident elephant seals. falklandstravel.com
