ZSL and Exodus team up to launch wildlife holidays

Whales and bears of British Columbia

Wildlife holidays are a popular choice, whether it's whale watching or a tiger safari, but it can be hard to know which trips are ethically sound, and which actually cause harm to the animals you're seeing, or their environment.

Now, ZSL (the conservation charity behind London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo) have teamed up with travel company Exodus to offer wildlife holidays. With a name like ZSL behind them, travellers can rest assured that their holiday will be as environmentally responsible as possible -- groups sizes are kept small to ensure minimum disruption while still benefiting local communities.

The trips take in all seven continents, ranging from four to 23 days, and offer a chance to see species in their native habitats while helping to fund ZSL’s global work for wildlife. Expert knowledgable guides will offer an insight into the flora and fauna, as well as local cultures,

Kathryn England, ZSL’s Head of Commercial, commented:
“By combining our wildlife knowledge with Exodus’ responsible travel expertise and 40 years of pedigree, we have created a collection of truly memorable wildlife adventures, rooted in conservation.”

Prices start from £1,209, with 27 trips to choose from, and you don't have to travel too far to enjoy the wildlife on offer -  European options include bear watching in Romania or whale and dolphin watching in the Azores. It's a tough call, but these are our top five of the trips on offer:

• In search of brown bears in Romania
• Volunteering on a game reserve on the Zambezi River
• In search of snow leopards in the Himalayas
• Tigers in focus in India
• Whales and bears of British Columbia

Take a look at the website to see the full range of trips on offer.