WORLDWIDE WILDLIFE CALENDAR

JANUARY
Two million wildebeest gather on the plains of the southern Serengeti, Tanzania to calve during the latter part of the month and stay until mid-April.

The whale watching season begins in Baja California, Mexico and runs until the end of April. You may see Fin, Minke, Bryde's, Orca, Pilot and Humpback whales as well as Blue Whale - the largest mammal on the planet.

FEBRUARY
Leatherback and Loggerhead Turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on the beaches of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa and also Western Australia.

As leaves fall, grasses wither and water sources recede in the Tiger Reserves of India, opportunities to see the magnificent tiger (and other game) are at their best from now until the end of April.

This is the best time to go to Poland in search of wolves.

MARCH
Botswana's Kalahari Desert abounds with game and migrant birds following the rains.

Whale Sharks, the largest fish in the sea, visit the shores of Western Australia at Coral Bay (Ningaloo Reef) - they remain until May.

APRIL
Now until the end of May is the best time to visit Zambia's Bangweulu Swamps for the elusive Shoebill Stork, Black Lechwe and innumerable waterbirds.

MAY
The peak time for seeing Grey Whales off Vancouver Island's west coast as they head north to their summer feeding grounds.

Brown Bears congregate for the first time in the year north of Vancouver to feed on succulents and to fish for salmon.

JUNE
This marks the beginning of the 'dry season' in much of southern Africa with the opening of various seasonal bush camps and the beginning of walking safaris.

The beginning of the 'dry season' in Australia's north. Much of the Kimberley region and far north Queensland becomes accessible.

The salmon return from the ocean to spawn in the freshwater creeks of Alaska, and ravenous Black and Brown Bears arrive to feed on them.

European Brown Bears emerge from hibernation in Finland's eastern wilderness.

JULY
The Blue Wildebeest reach their dry season refuge in the Masai Mara, Kenya and stay until mid-September.

Southern Right Whales arrive into the bays of both South Africa's coast and Australia's south coast to calve. They stay until October.

The islet-dotted waters of Canada's west coast is perhaps the best place in the world to see Orca Whales, they will be here until early September.

From now until mid-September you will find Green, Leatherback and Hawksbill Turtle's in Costa Rica's Tortuguero National Park.

AUGUST
Brown Bears congregate for the second time in the year, north of Vancouver, to fish for salmon.

Humpback Whales head south on their epic migration to Antartic waters. They can be seen off the Australian coast from now until the end of October.

Eastern Canada's Bay of Fundy is home to Northern Right, Minke, Humpback and Fin Whales between now and the end of September.

From August until September the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada is home to a high concentration of Blue Whales.

SEPTEMBER
Many migrant birds begin to appear in southern Africa.

Late September sees thousands of colourful iridescent Carmine Bee-eaters re-establishing their colonies in the banks of the main river courses in southern Africa, particularly the Luangwa and Zambezi Rivers.

OCTOBER
The last dry month in southern Africa and the best time to see large concentrations of wildebeest, buffalo and zebra as they congregate near the main water courses and rapidly drying lagoons.

Polar Bears gather in Churchill on the west coast of Hudson Bay, Canada.

NOVEMBER
The beginning of the Austral Summer and the only time to visit Antarctica and the Falkland Islands. Between now and March the area is superb for whales, seabirds, seals and numerous penguins.

The Indian 'dry' season begins now and national parks and wildlife reserves re-open after the monsoon.

Yellow-eyed penguins breed and are readily observed from November until May near Dunedin, New Zealand.

Olive Ridley and Leatherback Turtles may be seen between now and April in Costa Rica's Tamarindo Bay.

DECEMBER
December to August is the best time to visit the Royal Albatross colony on the Otago Peninsula near Dunedin, New Zealand

A huge population of Pacific Green Turtles gathers off the shores of the Galapagos Islands to mate, socialise and then lay their eggs.

Wildlife Calender courtesy of Wildlife Worldwide