The Great Migration on the Serengeti in Tanzania
There are many great animal migrations, but only one Great Migration, where over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras migrate between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania in search of rain. The Great Migration is cyclical, happening every year and you can see it in Kenya or Tanzania, depending on when you visit (read here to learn when to go). However, few experiences match catching the Great Migration in the Central Serengeti when the golden plains are filled as far as you can see with wildebeest and zebras. As your Land Cruiser slowly moves forward, the mass of animals in front of you parts like the Red Sea before Moses; it’s an awe-inspiring experience and a wildlife lover’s dream come true.
Machu Picchu in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru
Machu Picchu is located in such an enviable position in the Sacred Valley of the Incas that it’s guaranteed to make a great first impression, no matter how you approach it. But the best view is from the Sun Gate (Intipunku), which is the endpoint of the Inca Trail, which leads you 42 km (16 mi) from the Urubamba River to the stones of Machu Picchu. As you climb up the monkey stairs on all fours and get back to your feet, you look through the stone archway to spot the ruins on the mountaintop against a backdrop of green and snow-capped peaks. If you’re lucky, the sun breaks through the frequent clouds and illuminates the stones and terraces cascading down the mountainside. This is what wonder looks like.
Uluru at Sunset in Australia’s Northern Territory
Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) is the world’s largest monolith. It’s also a sacred rock for the Anangu, the local Indigenous people who live in Australia’s Northern Territory and are the traditional caretakers of the land. Uluru plays a central part in their creation stories. It’s not hard to understand the power of Uluru when you visit it at sunset, when the sun hits the red rock and it seems to transform into shades of blue, orange, and even purple, depending on the light. You’ll feel the magic of this massive rock when you see it with your own eyes.
