Wildlife

A selection of national parks within easy striking distance of Bangkok offer blissful respite from the teeming Thai capital.

The Iban people of western Sarawak have a fearsome reputation due to their history of headhunting. But these days the tribe enjoys a peaceful coexistence with its surroundings.

Tiny Kui Buri National Park is one of the best places in Thailand to spot elephants and other native wildlife in their natural element.

Once an important form of hunting in a resource-scarce area, falconry retains its status as one of the UAE’s most revered traditions.

A trip to the nature reserve of Gunung Leuser in North Sumatra brings travellers into close — sometimes too close for comfort — contact with a population of resident orangutans. Images by Kit Yeng Chan

Borneo is legendary for its dense, rugged landscapes. And it is still very possible to lose yourself in Sarawak’s array of national parks.

Go out on patrol with the Wildlife Alliance while staying at the Bill Bensley designed Shinta Mani Wild.

May is the best month for tiger spotting, as the large cats are often seen seeking water and shade.

A symbol both of the Chinese nation and of wildlife conservation, few species are as unique as the panda — or as adorable.

The Komodo dragon is surrounded in myth and mystery: a bacteria-laden mouth full of serrated teeth, 4 million year old species, and the world’s largest lizard weighing more than 150 pounds. 

Giant red apes swing from trees. Mysterious pygmy elephants stomp through the thick jungle. Nowhere in the world’s imagination more represents the wildlife of Asia more than Borneo. 

It’s not just plush hotels and sand. There is wilderness here as well – from the sea to the dunes.