It is no secret that one of our big passions is African safaris. We love the sense of adventure and the opportunity to see unique landscapes. Of course, the real draw is the wildlife! So, we were surprisingly in our element when we recently traveled to Hawaii on an educational trip with The Four Seasons hotels! The Hawaiian wildlife is unique, varied, and relatively accessible.
Our Top 5 Hawaiian Safari Experiences:
- The Green Sea Turtle: We had two excellent turtle encounters during our week-long trip: first, while outrigger canoeing in Maui, and then while swimming in the ocean at the Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island. Hualalai has a pretty active surf, so the hotel has built a protected swimming cove. Hotel guests aren’t the only ones who appreciate the calmer waters. While swimming, two curious sea turtles swam to our group to see what we were up to!
- Resting Sea Turtles: At Hualalai, you are also asked to share the beach with these peaceful giants, and you will likely encounter several napping turtles during your stay. For us, this was a gentle reminder of the fragility and vulnerability of the species.
3. A Family of Francolins: At Hualalai, our private patio was home to a friendly family of francolins. These birds were happy to hang out in the nearby bushes while we enjoyed our morning coffee. One curious youngster even tried to check out our room!
4. Wild Turkeys! The Four Seasons Lana’i in the center of Lanai offers a unique setting that is entirely unexpected from what most people imagine Hawaii to be like. Sometimes, you might think you are at a ranch in Wyoming instead of Hawaii! To further this atmosphere, the property has several families of wild turkeys roaming the grounds! Our time in Africa has taught us that we are birders, and there were plenty to be seen on all 3 of the Hawaiian Islands we visited!
5. Swimming with Sea Cucumber: We love to snorkel; we find it relaxing and love seeing new reefs and sea creatures! The sea cucumber was new to us, and we wished we had an underwater camera. These giant slug-like creatures aren’t attractive but are a nice item for my wildlife checklist!
Bonus: While she is not a wild animal, we loved spending time with Koele, the 17-year-old house cat, at Lanai. Not much bothers or excites her, but she’ll happily reward you with a purr if you oblige to scratch her ear!
Through our affiliation with Brownell, our clients enjoy the fantastic Four Seasons Preferred Partner Amenities at any Four Seasons hotel, including Hawaii. Contact us if you are looking to plan your Hawaiian trip with a bonus safari!
