The best places to see wildlife around the world, according to the people behind Planet Earth III

David Attenborough’s BBC Planet Earth series has been gracing our small screens for the last 17 years – and we’re still as obsessed now as we ever were. The first episode of Planet Earth II, featuring racer snakes chasing a baby iguana, has been hailed as one of the greatest wildlife moments humans have ever captured, and other sequences are equally awe-inspiring, from the hairy survival tactics of penguin chicks to decadent mating rituals of birds of paradise. To celebrate the release of Planet Earth III (on BBC One and iPlayer at 6.15pm on Sunday 22 October 2023), we asked the people behind the show – producers, directors, researchers and camera operators – about their favourite places in the world to see wildlife.

African National Parks in Zakouma, Chad

Kiri Cashell, Producer and Director, Deserts and Grasslands

"This has to be Africa’s most exciting safari destination – a place where you can see one of the most remarkable wildlife gatherings on the continent. Home to vast concentrations of game and birds, here you have the familiarity of the big 5, but with a variety seen almost nowhere else. One of the headline attractions is the giant herds of elephants, some of the biggest in central Africa. To see 550 individuals grouped together is a jaw-dropping moment for even the most seasoned safari traveller. We chose to film here for Planet Earth III to showcase this rare spectacle, but also to highlight the incredible place that is Zakouma – it has come from the brink of destruction to be a model of modern wildlife conservation. In 2010, the government of Chad invited NGO African Parks to take over management, as the poaching in the area was so out of control that Zakouma’s renowned elephant population was at risk of obliteration. Through a strong emphasis on security, stability and local communities, the park has become a stronghold for many species that are endangered or extinct in other parts of central and west Africa. It is a beacon of hope for conservation, and by taking a responsible holiday here, you too can become part of Zakouma’s success story.”

What you will see: Elephants, game and birds.
Where to stay: Depending on your budget, there are two options. Stay at Tinga Camp for a more affordable trip, or make the most of their luxury fly camp, Camp Nomade – situated on the best viewing plains, chefs from Michelin-star restaurants cook for you under the stars every night. Remember that access to this park is only during the dry season (December – May), as it is inaccessible due to flooding for the rest of the year.

Pousada Trijuncao, Brazil

Tom Greenhalgh, Assistant Producer and Director

"This property sits in the heart of the Brazilian Cerrado, the most biodiverse savannah on earth. It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever filmed. Join expert guides from world-renowned ecotourism and research organisation Oncafari, and search for rare maned wolves using radio telemetry – the chances to see one are good! You can spot many of the 250 bird species that are found here, and you can kayak in search of dwarf caiman on a misty lake. Tapir can be seen during the cool early mornings, and the research team are now also tracking jaguars, including a large melanistic (black colour morph) male. A wildlife rehabilitation centre on-site aims to reintroduce tapirs, deer, rhea, peccary and other Cerrado creatures back into the wild. It is a good chance to get up close to these unusual creatures. Sustainable tourism is the main goal here and local produce is used to produce delicious meals. For a different and breathtaking wildlife experience, I can’t recommend this place more."

What you will see: maned wolves and black jaguar
Where to stay: Pousada Trijuncao is stunning and you will be surrounded by colourful birds and marmosets. Maned wolves have even been spotted by the swimming pool!

The Okavango Delta in Botswana

Charlotte Bostock, Producer and Director, Freshwater

“For me, the best place to watch wildlife is the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Out of the places I have visited, it feels like the last remaining ‘true’ wilderness. What struck me the most was the utter peace – you can go a whole day without seeing many vehicles or hearing any anthropogenic noise. I was lucky enough to spend five weeks there filming the wild dog hunt for the Planet Earth III Freshwater episode and had the most incredible wildlife encounters. One memorable experience was lying in bed, looking through the canvas mesh of my tent to see a herd of elephants feeding in front of me under a full moon. Another was having the wild dogs chase an impala through our camp just before we were about to have our dinner. There is a huge diversity of wildlife due to the habitat – the birding is fantastic, as is the megafauna – huge herds of elephants and buffalo are encountered frequently, and we also had regular sightings of lions and leopards.”

What you will see: Wild dogs, elephants, impala, buffalo, birds, lions and leopards

Where to stay: Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge is an off-grid lodge in the private Chitabe concession, with twice-daily game drives good for regular sightings of lion, cheetah, wild dog, red lechwe and elephant.

The Maldives

Steve Greenwood, Producer and Director, Heroes

“If you want to see spectacular wildlife, go to a coral reef. My favourite destination of all is The Maldives. All life is there, from the psychedelic-coloured nudibranchs, the extraordinary shoals of fish and the divine manta rays to the incredible top predators: the sharks (but don’t worry – they are totally safe). If you don’t scuba dive, then snorkelling is also fantastic. Some people stay on resorts, others on liveaboard boats, but you can also stay on many of the islands. This lets you get a taste of village life (as long as you don’t mind doing without alcohol). We stayed on the island of Fulidhoo and when we weren’t diving we made some great friends with the people who live there."

What you will see: Coral reefs, nudibranchs, shoals of fish, manta rays, whale sharks
Where to stay: There are plenty of small eco-lodges across the islands, but if you’re looking for a fancier stay the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has a host of wildlife watching activities and excursions you can book.

Pembrokeshire, Cornwall, West Coast of Scotland

Matt Brandon, Series Producer

“We often overlook locations in the UK, yet they are amongst the most spectacular in the world. Of course, the weather can be changeable, but that’s part of the charm. On sunny days, the UK coast rivals anywhere in the world. As a family, we have spent many happy, rainy, windswept days playing in the surf during the day and then huddling up around the fire at a campsite or a cosy pub to refuel. When taking a break from our busy Planet Earth filming schedule, this is my favourite place to wind down, take some time out, and explore the landscapes."

What you will see: Beautiful beaches, coastal walks, seals and dolphins, basking sharks and sea birds.
Where to stay: There are plenty of campsites you can book. If you'd rather not camp, look at some of the UK's loveliest Airbnbs, or consider renting a holiday home with friends to share the cost. Summer and early autumn (when the sea is at its warmest) are the best times to visit.

Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica

Abigail Brown, Assistant Producer

“We filmed the gliding tree frog sequence from the Planet Earth III Freshwater episode in the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. I would love to go back for a holiday. It has been described as the most biologically intense place on Earth, and so if you love wildlife, this is the place to go. I can guarantee you will see frogs! But hopefully, you won’t have to stand chest-deep in a pond like me to see them…”

What you will see: Gliding tree frogs and sea turtles
Where to stay: Osa Conservation Campus is the place to stay if you want to be immersed in nature and wildlife as it is surrounded by ancient old growth rainforest, mangrove forest, and miles of beaches where sea turtles nest.

Wild Camping in the French Pyrenees

Amy Cavender, Junior Researcher

“The French Pyrenees is abundant with wildlife and protected ecosystems. In the summer, you’ll see alpine valleys filled with rare mountain butterflies and, if you’re lucky, golden eagles and the rare Pyrenean Chamois. Hiking and camping is a great way to be fully immersed in nature and see lots of wildlife – in most regions of the French Pyrenees you are allowed to wild camp or ‘bivuoac’ for the night, allowing you to be flexible with your route. Ax-Les-Thermes, a town at the foot of the mountains, is a great starting point. From here, there are many walking routes to suit all abilities, and there is a chain of mountain refuges along the way where water and hot food are available if you need a break from camping stove meals. Camping means that the trip is affordable, and camping means you can keep your carbon footprint low.”

What you will see: Rare mountain butterflies, golden eagles and the rare Pyrenean Chamois.
Where to stay: This mountain lodge is in the heart of the Wild Fauna National Reserve of Orlu, between the deep valleys of Ariège and the towering peaks of the Pyrénées Orientales.

Hang son Doong Cave, Vietnam

Theo Webb, Producer and Director: Extremes

“Of all the places I have travelled to while making wildlife documentaries, few have taken my breath away like Hang son Doong cave in Vietnam. Hidden by a thick jungle, this gargantuan cave is both intimate and awesome in equal measure. To reach the Hang son Doong, you must first travel through another cave, Hang En – the world’s largest cave opening. After a further trek, the mouth of Hang son Doong is just visible in the undergrowth. From here down, you’re in darkness. With the help of powerful torches, the scale is immediately evident, but remarkably, this cave gets bigger and bigger. In places, the darkness and deafening silence create an intimate, almost cosy feel, contrasting with the sections where you walk alongside a rushing, mighty river. The dolines – holes in the ceiling – allow a vibrant forest to grow and some exposure to light. At certain times of the year, the Earth’s tilt aligns the sun with one of these dolines to create a magnificent light show. It is truly breathtaking. Delve deeper still, and you pass by some of the world’s largest stalagmites before reaching a vast passage, often filled with water. It is a remarkable end to one of Earth’s greatest natural wonders."

What you will see: Spectacular geology
Where to stay: Accommodation and cave tours are run by Oxalis Adventures.

Saturna Island, Gulf Islands, British Colombia, Canada

Estelle Cheuk, Assistant Producer

“Saturna Island is a mountainous island in the middle of the Salish Sea, between the coasts of Vancouver and Vancouver Island. More than 50% of this island is protected, making it a haven for wildlife. Off the coast of its most easterly point, the ocean often churns quite ferociously, even on the fairest and stillest days – this is because the tides force huge amounts of water across an underwater sill that sits just offshore and is the height of Niagara Falls. All this movement brings lots of plankton to the surface, which provides food for fish and, in turn, attracts birds and marine mammals, such as whales. East Point is one of the best places to whale watch from land in the Southern Gulf Islands. Killer whales swim past close to the island’s sandstone cliffs from May to November – so close, in fact, you often hear their blows before you see them! While the whales are perhaps the island’s most iconic visitors, the Planet Earth III team came to Saturna Island to film one of its more unusual residents – the wandering garter snakes. On hot summer days, these snakes make their way to East Point shores and, remarkably, dive into its cold waters to make the most of the ocean’s riches to feast on. The Saturna community is close-knit and very passionate about their island’s wildlife. A locally run community organisation, SIMRES (Saturna Island Marine Research and Education Society), conducts and supports scientific wildlife research here and education programmes for the island’s residents and beyond."

What you will see: Bald eagles, oystercatchers, killer whales, humpback whales, harbour seals, sea lions, garter snakes.

Monkey Bay, Malawi

Sam Lewis, Camera Operator

“Monkey Bay is located right on the shoreline of Lake Malawi and is a great access point for seeing the incredible Cichlid species that have evolved there and their unique behaviours. This is where we filmed the 'play dead' Cichlid sequence for the Planet Earth III Freshwater episode. Mouth brooding is another behaviour we regularly saw while filming – this is where the fish protect their young by using their mouths as shelter."

What you will see: Cichlid fish
Where to stay: During the shoot we based ourselves at Mufasa Eco Lodge. This was a fantastic place to stay with incredibly knowledgeable owners and staff who can take you out to find whatever behaviour or Cichlid species you desire. They are also working hard to give back to the community in as many ways as they can and reduce their impact on the environment as much as possible.

Kri Island, Raja Ampat

Yoland Bosiger, Assistant Producer

“The Indonesian archipelago of Raja Ampat lies at the centre of the Coral Triangle, stretching from the Philippines to Timor to Papua New Guinea. Here, hundreds of jungle-covered islands meet some of the richest coral reefs in the world. The Planet Earth III team stayed at the Kri Eco Resort, a secluded and pioneering resort on the tiny island of Kri in Raja Ampat. A SCUBA diver’s dream, Kri’s reefs are filled with sharks, manta rays and an unimaginable number of fish. But Kri also provides access to a lesser-known habitat: blue water mangroves. While mangroves often grow on muddy beds, here their tangled roots give way directly to pristine coral reefs, providing a sanctuary for juvenile fish. One such fish, the archerfish, fascinated the Planet Earth III team because of their ability to dislodge insects from the mangrove’s leaves. Thanks to the crystal-clear waters, the team were able to film juvenile archerfish learning the technique of spitting water jets into the air from other more experienced fish. When their jets weren’t successful, the juveniles resorted to capturing insects by jumping over twice their body length into the mangrove canopy."

What you will see: Coral reefs, sharks, manta rays, fish, blue water mangroves, archerfish

Tambopata Nature Reserve, The Amazon Rainforest of Peru

Alex Walters, Assistant Producer

“For the Forest episode of Planet Earth III we, of course, wanted to feature footage of the stunning pristine Amazon rainforest. For this, I travelled with a team of camera operators and local crew to Tambopata Nature Reserve in eastern Peru, where we stayed in Tambopata Research Station with Rainforest Expeditions. It took three days to get there from the UK, but the journey was worth it. The Tambopata Research Station is one of the most remote eco-lodges in South America. Here, you are completely immersed in nature; if you can’t immediately see it, you can hear it all around you. Around the lodge, there are many rainforest trails to explore, and you can take guided tours if you wish. It’s worth an early morning wake-up call one morning to go on a river tour to watch flocks of macaws fly overhead (such as the bright scarlet macaw and blue-and-yellow macaw). As you leave the lodge, you will take away some hard-to-beat memories and, if you’re a keen photographer, camera cards jammed full of wildlife photographs.”

What you will see: Parrots, bright scarlet macaw and blue-and-yellow macaw
Where to stay: Half the Tambopata Nature Reserve is luxurious, while the other half is a bustling wildlife research station (where we set up our base). The staff at the lodge are exceptional; you get the feeling that the forest wouldn’t take long to fully engulf the place, so the staff are constantly busy cleaning and tidying. The wildlife is always welcome, though – from the restaurant you will often see howler monkeys sitting in branches of the enormous emergent trees that tower above the lodge. The bedrooms are open on one side, looking out onto the rainforest, so you don’t even need to leave your bed to watch howler monkeys, spider monkeys, macaws and countless other animals.

Planet Earth III will begin on BBC One and iPlayer at 6.15pm on Sunday 22nd October