Journey Through Nature: 6 Breathtaking Series to Watch After Planet Earth III

Journey Through Nature: 6 Breathtaking Series to Watch After Planet Earth III - Explore the Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon rainforest is a vast tropical wilderness that covers much of South America. Spanning over 2.1 million square miles, it is the world's largest rainforest and contains incredible biodiversity. Over 40,000 plant species, 427 mammals, 1,300 birds, 378 reptiles, and more than 400 amphibians call this intricate ecosystem home. For nature lovers, exploring the Amazon is the adventure of a lifetime.

Venturing into the lush green canopy brings you face-to-face with exotic wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for jungle cats like jaguars and ocelots hunting among the trees. Listen for the shriek of macaws and toucans as they soar overhead. You may spot sloths or tree porcupines napping in the branches or tiny poison dart frogs hopping along the forest floor. With some luck, you could even encounter the majestic harpy eagle or catch a glimpse of the rare Amazon river dolphin. The diversity is simply astonishing.

Wandering through the Amazon also allows you to experience indigenous cultures. Many tribes have lived in harmony with the rainforest for centuries. Visiting a community provides perspective into their customs, beliefs, and way of life. Share in traditional dances, sample cuisine, and learn about medicinal plants. The opportunity to interact is enlightening.

Of course, one of the main draws is being immersed in stunning natural landscapes. Take a boat ride down the Amazon River to observe its vast scale. The massive waterway stretches over 4,000 miles in length. Paddle through flooded forests in a canoe to reach remote oxbow lakes. Hike through dense jungle to discover roaring waterfalls and scenic outlooks. The terrain makes every day an adventure.

To fully experience the magic of the Amazon, stay at an ecolodge deep in the jungle. Wake to the sounds of howler monkeys and toucans. Follow naturalist guides on forest walks to uncover hidden wonders. Dine on sustainably harvested local produce. Fall asleep in your canopy-level hut to the gentle chorus of insects and frogs. This level of immersion creates lifelong memories.

Journey Through Nature: 6 Breathtaking Series to Watch After Planet Earth III - Dive the Great Barrier Reef

Slip beneath the crystal surface and discover an underwater paradise teeming with life. Diving the Great Barrier Reef offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the planet's most vibrant marine ecosystems.

Spanning over 1,400 miles off the northeast coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef boasts over 900 islands and nearly 3,000 individual reefs. The sheer size and diversity of marine habitats make it one of the best scuba diving destinations on Earth. Whether you are a novice or an experienced diver, the Great Barrier Reef has amazing sights waiting to be explored.

One of the main appeals is the incredible array of coral. Composed of billions of tiny polyps, the reefs form a stunning seascape of colors and textures. Experience the spectacle of coral spawning, when simultaneous reproduction turns entire reefs into a swirling mass of egg and sperm. Gaze in wonder at centuries-old coral colonies that rise from the seafloor like intricate works of art. Even the names of the dive sites evoke the splendor: Fairyland, the Cathedral, and the Blue Pearl.

Of course, the real stars of the show are the thousands of fish species. Regal angelfish with electric blue stripes dart through branches of staghorn coral. schools of iridescent parrotfish graze on algae coating the reefs. Massive potato cod lurk in hidden caverns waiting for prey. You may even spot giant clams over four feet wide resting on the sandy bottom. On an exceptional dive, you could encounter one of the reef's marine icons: the majestic sea turtle gliding gracefully by or a great whale shark filtering plankton into its gaping mouth. The diversity never fails to amaze.

Beyond the standard scuba and snorkeling, the Great Barrier Reef offers heart-pounding adventures. Take the plunge with a deep dive along a sheer outer reef wall encrusted with vibrant corals and sponges. Join an expedition to rarely-visited dive sites far offshore. Daredevils can even snorkel with dwarf minke whales during the annual migration. Or witness the frenzy of action as reef sharks, turtles, and giant trevally converge at an outer reef cleaning station. Experiencing the thrill of these encounters creates exhilarating memories.

Journey Through Nature: 6 Breathtaking Series to Watch After Planet Earth III - Trek the African Savannah

Venture out on foot into the sprawling grassland wilderness of the African savannah. An iconic landscape that covers much of the continent, this biome is home to an astounding diversity of wildlife. Embarking on a guided trek allows you to fully immerse yourself in the natural splendor and discover creatures great and small.

One of the main draws is the chance to see Africa's famed megafauna up close. Imagine spotting a dazzle of zebras stripes blurred as they gallop across the plains. Feel the thunder in your chest as a crash of white rhinos graze nearby. Hold your breath while giraffes stride past in an effortless, loping gait. Of course, the king himself may make an appearance, as a lone male lion naps under an acacia tree, his mane blowing gently in the breeze. Tracking wildlife on foot gives you a primal thrill and appreciation for these iconic yet endangered species.

In addition to the famous faces, a walking safari reveals hidden wonders that vehicles cruise right past. Crouch silently as a column of leggy safari ants cross the path, destined for their underground colony. Pause to witness an endless herd of wildebeest stretching across the horizon, making their great migration. When your guide spots clues in the dirt, follow his gaze to spy a leopard tortoise plodding ahead or an African hare darting off through the grass. These intimate encounters stick with you.

Trekking also allows you to connect with local Maasai tribesmen, who have roamed these lands for centuries. Chat with them as you walk, learning about traditional practices and customs. Observe how they read the land and wildlife around them, checking for signs of rain or threats. Maybe join in their playful jump dances, as they whoop and holler. This cultural insight leaves a powerful impression.

As the sun rises high overhead, stop to rest and have a bite under the shade of an acacia tree. Sip cold water straight from your reusable canteen as your gaze pans across the surrounding grassland. Listen to the soft rustle of the breeze. Safari camps are great, but nothing compares to sitting directly on the earth, among untamed wilderness. This feeling of peaceful connection is profound.

Journey Through Nature: 6 Breathtaking Series to Watch After Planet Earth III - See Antarctica Up Close

Feel the chill of adventure and witness Earth’s last frontier up close on an Antarctic expedition cruise. Of all the continents, Antarctica remains the most remote, pristine, and uninhabited. Each year, a limited number of ships embark on incredible voyages there, giving travelers the opportunity to experience its grandeur firsthand. Setting foot on the seventh continent creates lifelong memories.

The prime attraction, of course, is the otherworldly landscape. From soaring icebergs that shimmer in shades of cobalt to endless fields of pack ice sculpted by the relentless winds, Antarctica impresses with its stark yet beautiful topography. Marvel at colossal frozen cathedrals carved directly from glacial ice. Listen to the roar of a calving glacier as it sheds an apartment-sized chunk into the sea. The raw natural power awes and humbles.

Yet nothing stirs the imagination like coming face-to-face with iconic Antarctic wildlife in their natural realm. Passengers lucky enough to sight a massive humpback whale launching its 40-ton body out of the freezing water will gasp in amazement. Spotting a raft of gentoo penguins porpoising through a channel or a lone emperor penguin chick braving the elements pulls at your heartstrings. And when a curious minke whale approaches your Zodiac raft at arm’s length, you’ll grasp just how special it is to make these fleeting connections.

Expedition staff include expert naturalists who enrich the experience by sharing their deep knowledge of the local ecology. Thanks to their keen eyes, you may catch a glimpse of the elusive Antarctic petrel returning to its nest or spot a Weddell seal snoozing on an ice floe miles away. Their passion is contagious.

Yet for all its wonders, Antarctica remains an extremely fragile environment. Responsible tour operators follow strict protocols to protect its pristine ecosystem. Watching your step to avoid delicate mosses, vacuuming clothing to prevent introduction of microbes, and maintaining a respectful distance from wildlife are all key. Following these guidelines allows conscientious travelers to admire Antarctica's grandeur without destroying what makes this place so special.

Journey Through Nature: 6 Breathtaking Series to Watch After Planet Earth III - Journey to Remote Islands

Islands have an undeniable allure for adventurous travelers seeking destinations off the beaten path. Their isolation breeds biodiversity, cultures develop in unique ways, and exploring their untouched landscapes can feel like discovering new worlds. Expeditions to remote islands worldwide offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences that ignite the imagination.

One major appeal is the exotic wildlife found only on these isolated lands. The Galápagos Islands famously inspired Darwin's theory of evolution due to their endemic species like marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and giant tortoises. On the remote Juan Fernández Islands off Chile, rare species like the Juan Fernandez firecrown hummingbird are found nowhere else on Earth. And the far-flung outposts of Hawaii and the Seychelles both harbor an incredible diversity of birds, plants and marine life shaped by their extreme isolation. Witnessing such endemic creatures in their natural habitat is a privilege.

The pure adventure of reaching these distant lands also beckons. Your ship may navigate extreme open ocean for days before a tiny speck breaks the horizon—your remote destination. Arriving by light aircraft requires hopping from atoll to atoll, only to find a simple landing strip hacked from the jungle. Even once there, getting around often means catching rides from friendly locals with boats or vehicles rarely seen by visitors. This sense of exploring the unknown brings child-like excitement.

Opportunities to immerse in unique cultures offer further appeal. On distant Rapa Nui (Easter Island), you can learn legends of the mysterious moai statues while hearing locals speak the Polynesian Rapa Nui language. Throughout the scattered islands of Micronesia, traditional ways endure, from navigating the seas using stick charts to mischievous spirits called taotaomona. And in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives’ proud history as a former sultanate still influences local traditions today. Interacting with such cultures provides perspective.

Journey Through Nature: 6 Breathtaking Series to Watch After Planet Earth III - Enter the Jungle Canopy

Venturing up into the jungle canopy unveils a world often hidden from view. While trekking the rainforest floor has its appeals, ascending into the leafy heights reveals new dimensions. For intrepid travelers, canopy access allows you to immerse in the vibrant ecology at the forest’s peak, bringing eye-opening perspective.

Imagine clipping into a harness, stepping off a platform, and soaring over the jungle on ziplines. Feel the rush of wind and monkey-like agility as you glide between towering trees. Glimpse exotic birds and mammals usually shrouded in foliage, now at eye level. Zooming through ecosystems unused to human presence brings childlike excitement.

Alternatively, traverse wobbly hanging bridges suspended stories above the jungle floor for squirrel’s eye views. Peek down through gaps at the ground far below then gaze outward at the green sea of trees. Spot a sloth dozing in a cecropia tree or glimpse a pair of spider monkeys acrobatically swinging through branches. Moving through the canopy on foot provides panoramic perspective.

For stability, climb rugged scaffolding up massive ficus trunks to reach lofty viewing platforms. While catching your breath high aloft, scan the emerald expanse with binoculars. Quiet observation from a treetop perch allows intimate study of birds and wildlife in their natural realm. Discover exotic species only found at certain heights. Descending later feels like returning from another world.

Or step light as air across a network of delicate hanging bridges. Constructed from local materials by indigenous tribes, these sway gently underfoot revealing views between forest giants. Witness birds and monkeys effortlessly crisscrossing through their world. Moving in stillness and silence allows a profound, peaceful connection.

Finally, awake at dawn inside a luxury treehouse suite perched high on stilts. Draw back the curtains and sip local coffee as the jungle comes to life. Greet the riot of color and sound from your front-row seat as you marvel at the complex interactions unfolding. This type of immersion in the canopy ecosystem stays with you always.

Journey Through Nature: 6 Breathtaking Series to Watch After Planet Earth III - Observe Rare Wildlife

Journeying to the farthest reaches of the planet offers opportunities to witness creatures so elusive, they seem almost mythical. Encountering these rare and endangered species in the wild fosters appreciation for their fragile existence. For wildlife enthusiasts, the privilege of observing such tantalizingly uncommon fauna creates the most treasured memories.

Madagascar’s rainforests brim with biodiversity found nowhere else, like the cat-sized aye-aye lemur. Bushy tails, oversized ears, and elongated skeletal middle fingers make them seem plucked from a cartoon. Legend warns these features mark the aye-aye as harbingers of death. In reality, tapping on trees to locate larvae makes them exceptional ecosystem engineers. Still, their ghostly appearance and avoidance of humans make sightings breathtakingly special. One ecotourism operator reminisces, “That first glimpse of beady eyes peering from the shadows is heartstopping.”

The Spix’s macaw of Brazil tells a tragic tale of endangerment. Their brilliant blue plumage contrasts with grey around the head, making identification easy. But habitat destruction has decimated populations. Some believe only a single male remains in the wild. Captive breeding programs strive to maintain genetic diversity. An aviculturist who supports these efforts shares, “Whenever our breeding pair fledges a chick, it’s deeply moving, knowing we’re preventing their extinction.”

New Zealand’s kiwi bird holds the title of national icon yet remains threatened. With brown plumage and a long narrow beak ideal for snuffling through soil, they superficially resemble the fruit that shares their name. But peering into a nesting burrow and locking eyes with a pair guarding their single egg is profoundly affecting. A lifelong kiwi conservationist reminisces, “No matter how often I encounter them, that first direct look still gives me goosebumps.”

The Malagasy giant jumping rat was unknown to science until discovered in the 1990s. Growing over a foot long, their heft earns them the nickname “gorilla rat”. Instead of burrowing, they build spherical nests in rainforest trees. So little is known about these massive rodents that sightings remain incredibly scarce, but profoundly meaningful. One lucky researcher describes the euphoria of documenting them in the wild, saying: “It’s like glimpsing a living unicorn.”

Journey Through Nature: 6 Breathtaking Series to Watch After Planet Earth III - Discover Ancient Forests

Of all the wonders across our planet, few mysteries compare to the allure of ancient forests. These primaeval woodlands have stood for eons, long predating humanity’s arrival. Venturing into their shade imparts a humbling sense of just how fleeting our lifespan is compared to these enduring elders. For those seeking perspective, journeying to discover ancient trees worldwide offers profound experiences that resonate through the years.

In California’s Redwood National Park, gazing up at the soaring enormity of old growth coast redwoods sparks childlike awe. Growing over 350 feet tall and living well over 2000 years, they were already ancient at the time of Christ. One wanderer describes the magic of craning his neck to take in their dizzying height, saying: “I’d never felt so small and insignificant beneath those giant cathedral groves.” Beyond magnitude, reaching out to touch deep furrows in their fibrous bark connects you to the centuries.

Great Basin National Park is home to some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. Their gnarled bristlecone pines date back over 5000 years, earning them the nickname “Methuselahs”. While their twisted forms may lack mighty height and girth, one visitor speaks of their wonderful antiquity, musing: “I inhaled the thin cold air, pondering all they'd witnessed since sprouting when the pyramids were young.” Tree-ring samples have even settled historical debates, proving their value.

The luxury of time flows differently ambling among 600-1000 year old cypress giants in Santa María del Tule, Mexico. Comparing their enormous buttressed trunks to classical columns, it’s easy to admire their resilience. One frequent guest confides, “I most cherish the quietude beneath their branches. My busy thoughts soon settle, leaving only calm presence.” There is nobility in such longevity.

Even lone ancient specimens can become living legends, like South Africa’s Sunland Baobab. At 6000 years old, its hollowed trunk was large enough to create a bar inside. Locals speak of it reverentially, gathering for festivals under the broad parasol of its crown. For them, as for so many drawn to old growth forests worldwide, longevity breeds an aura of the sacred.

Journey Through Nature: 6 Breathtaking Series to Watch After Planet Earth III - Witness Extreme Weather

For adventurers who live for adrenaline, few thrills compare to experiencing Earth’s raw elemental power firsthand. While most extreme weather unsettles us, the intrepid discover wonder in nature’s tempestuous outbursts. Seeking out these intense phenomena worldwide offers a riveting reminder of who’s really in charge on this planet of ours.

A perpetual lure for storm chasers is the hypnotic power of lightning, unleashed most ferociously in Venezuela’s Catatumbo region. This remote wetlands area averages 160 lightning strikes per hour, 240 nights a year. For those drawn to the flash and thunder, the dramatic lightshow evokes primal excitement. One electrified observer effuses: “Seeing sky-to-ground lightning bolts detonate all around had me buzzing for days after with exhilaration and gratitude for the spectacle.”

Of course, tornadoes whirl as another fabled phenomenon for weather junkies. The Great Plains of North America breeds monsters exceeding one mile in width that rip landscapes to shreds in moments. Yet seasoned chasers speak of the mesmerizing beauty viewing these swirling giants from a distance. As one veteran storm tracker describes: “Out there on the prairie, you feel insignificant compared to their might. But you also get hooked on the adrenaline rush.”

For those enchanted by the cold, few sights compare to the radiant shimmer of the aurora borealis. This dazzling atmospheric phenomenon materializes when solar particles collide with gases above the planet’s magnetic poles. Auroras shape-shift hypnotically, with curtains of green, purple and blue light dancing across the night sky. Observing their ethereal glow from Arctic Viewpoints leaves a lasting imprint. “The sheer vibrancy and scale awed me.” one spectator recalls. “No fireworks display could ever compete with nature’s radiance.”

Meanwhile, the ocean churns up titanic storms like cyclones and typhoons that pummel coastlines worldwide with overwhelming power. But riding out a hurricane’s assault safetly behind reinforced glass can prove exhilarating for hobbyists who revel in nature’s authority. One storm watcher recounts his pulse racing as violent winds lashed palm fronds about while horizontal rains bombarded the windows. He emerged fully in awe of atmospheric forces beyond all control.