I visited 13 countries, not including Germany where I live. This included Spain – 5 times!, Czech Republic, Finland, Austria – 3 times, Italy – twice, Luxembourg, England, Switzerland France – twice, Canada, United States, South Africa – twice, Swaziland, and Australia, plus numerous shorter trips within Germany.
Although I do have a favorite destination of 2012 (coming in a later post), what really stood out in my mind were the adventures I experienced while traveling.
Here are my top 12 Travel Adventures of 2012:
(in no particular order)
1. Getting THISCLOSE to a Rhino Mother and Baby at Hlane Royal Park, Swaziland
Hlane Royal Park lets visitors out of the safari jeep to get closer to the rhinos on special tours. When I visited there was a baby rhino whose mother was hiding it behind some bushes. I creeped behind our guide slowly, trying to fade into the bushes. He walked silently, never taking his eyes off the mother rhino. Eventually he stopped when we were about 5 meters away from the mother. She stared at us…and went on eating. Never in a million years would I have ever thought I would get SO close to a rhino, let alone a mother and a baby. It was the experience of a lifetime!
2. Snowmobiling in Finland
I live for adventure travel, and was totally up for the adventure of snowmobiling for the first time through a forest. Little did I know how adrenalin packing it would be…and SO much fun! See: Snowmobiling in Iso-Syöte, Finland.
3. Hiking in the Drakensberg, South Africa
The Drakensberg are the highest mountains in all of southern Africa and they put me to the test – in the best way possible. I never would have thought about hiking in South Africa before but now I’m convinced it should be on every nature lover/hikers list of things to do. It’s a great way to take in the scenery and perhaps even meet a new primate friend along the way as I did in Monkeys and Mountains: My EPIC Day in the Drakensberg.
4. Summer Adventures in the Nassfeld, Austria
The Nassfeld is a well-known ski area in Carinthia (Kärnten in German), but I loved all the adventures it offered in summer. In just one day I rode down the mountain on a Summer Rodelbahn, climbed through a rock labyrinth, and swung through the trees on a Flying Fox and High Ropes Course. And that is to say nothing of all the hiking and rock climbing the area offers. A seriously action-packed fun day!
5. Observing Hippos in iSimangliso Wetland Park, South Africa
This was not adventurous per say since I observed the hippos from the safety of a boat while on a
Hippo and Croc Boat Safari with Heritage Tours and Safaris, but it was an incredible experience to be SO close to a large herd of hippos and it was my first time observing hippos in the wild. And it was in one of Africa’s most dangerous estuaries…but that’s a whole other story.
6. Cycling in Costa Brava
I have always wanted to take a cycling holiday and I finally got the chance to do so in Costa Brava. It was everything I imagined it would be and more. I loved that I saw things (like a hidden waterfall) and small villages that I would have missed if traveling by other means of transportation. Plus the cuisine in Costa Brava is mouth-watering good, so it was easier to justify all the food I was eating with cycling. See: Cycling in Costa Brava.
7. Kayaking with Crocs in Katherine Gorge, Northern Territory, Australia
Considering that the crocs can be longer than your kayak, and my paddling skills leave something to be desired, I was a bit intrepid about this adventure. Not only did we see a croc, but we saw him snap at our guide who inadvertently got to close! Amazing! And why I’ll remember Kayaking with crocs in Katherine Gorge for a very long time!
8. Paragliding Over Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) in Italy
Not only was it my first time paragliding but the weather was being temperamental and I was communicating with my guide in German. The first few moments are terrifying as you literally jump off a cliff….then incredibly blissful as you get a bird’s-eye view of the world below you while Paragliding Over Alpe di Siusi.
9. Volunteering with Chimps in Girona, Spain
Photo courtesy of MONA, used with permission.
I have worked with gorillas before, but my first love has always been chimps. I was beyond excited when I had the opportunity to volunteer with them for a few days at MONA, a chimp sanctuary that rescues chimps that have been previously kept as pets or were used in circuses. It was both heart breaking and inspiring. I’ve yet to write about it (post coming soon), but you can read about one chimp who made quite the impression on me: My Chimpanzee Love Affair in Girona, Spain.
10. Hiking in the Pyrenees, Spain
As regular readers know I love mountains. I’ve also been spoiled growing up in the Canadian Rockies and living close to the Alps. I didn’t have high expectations for the Pyrenees, but they were beautiful! So beautiful that I just had to hike and convinced our anxious guide that I, along with two fellow travel bloggers would hike back down instead of taking the train down with everyone else. I’m sooooo glad that I did and now I want to go back for more Hiking in the Pyrenees now that I know how breathing they are!
11. Shark Diving Without a Cage in South Africa
