WHERE TO GO WHEN

We can’t say what the future will bring, or which borders will be open, but nature will always be waiting. From animal encounters to epic walks, these open-air adventures offer 33 wild escapes for the year(s) ahead…

JANUARY

Best for…wolf watching YELLOWSTONE NP, USA

It might seem contrary to visit Yellowstone National Park in winter when it’s mostly closed, but this is a special month – as wildlife watchers know. The thick snows of January and February put the park’s famous wolves in focus, their grey-black fur easier to spot against a white background. Winter tours follow the life-and-death antics of the packs of the Lamar Valley while snowshoeing side-trips reveal the other side of life in the park: the tough winter ahead for the herds of elk, bison, and pronghorn antelope.

Best for… close encounters BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

In January, grey whales complete the longest migration by a mammal on Earth – around 12,000km – heading down the North American coast to arrive in the Sea of Cortez. Here they arrive to breed in the shallow waters of Magdalena Bay and the lagoons of Ojo de Liebre and San Ignacio where panga boats take visitors out to observe them until April. It’s a remarkable encounter, with friendly whales often rubbing up against the hulls or feeling for the hands of visitors to encourage a quick scratch.

Best for… volcanic walks TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS