Wanderers, by nature.
We’re not the only ones with a love of travel. From butterflies and dragonflies to whales, turtles and birds, the animal kingdom is full of intrepid travellers—creatures that journey vast distances each year, guided not by maps or GPS, but by instinct alone.
Some migrate for warmer skies or greener pastures. Others follow ancient paths to give birth, raise their young, or gather in great, shimmering numbers. Whatever the reason, these annual movements are among nature’s most powerful expressions of rhythm and resilience.
The Great Migration across East Africa may be the most photographed, but it’s just one of many. Picture Botswana’s zebra herds shifting like stripes across the plains. Or a sea of flamingos descending on Tanzania’s soda lakes, turning the horizon blush-pink. In Bhutan, an annual festival marks the return of the endangered black-necked crane—proof that even the rarest arrivals don’t go unnoticed.
From land to sky to sea, the wild is constantly in motion. Here are ten migrations to inspire your next adventure. And in witnessing them, you may come to realise: not all those who wander are lost.