The valley of Kashmir is as rich with history and political controversy as it is with culture and natural phenomena. Sample exquisitely spiced native cuisines and festive teas, then walk off your meal along the rugged trekking routes to the north. Marvel at the famous houseboats of Srinagar and take a spiritual moment to reflect at one of the many pilgrimage sites and religious shrines that dot the region. Of course, native craftsmanship makes for excellent souvenirs—carpets and textiles are an especial shopping must.

Maybe your local zoo has lions, leopards, zebras or elephants. Maybe they even have wildebeest. But we bet they don't have 1.3 million wildebeest—never mind 1.3 million wildebeest in migration, with predators in hot pursuit. It's one of the most awesome sights in nature, and you can see it at Masai Mara in southwestern Kenya.

The Ngorongoro Volcano blew its top millions of years ago, leaving behind the world’s largest intact caldera. Inside the crater—covering more than 100 square miles—is an ecosystem that’s home to more than 25,000 animals. You’ll have a great chance of spotting lions, as there’s a higher density here than anywhere else on earth, along with leopards and cheetahs. Black rhinos are also a common sight, as are hippos, zebras, hyenas...the list goes on and on. Outside the crater, more than a million wildebeest sweep through during the Great Migration. See signs of our first known human ancestor, who walked these plains 1.9 million years, at nearby Olduvai Gorge.

The Maasai call the plains of Serengeti National Park "the place where the land moves on forever"—so prepare to be astonished by its vastness. And here, you can witness the famous Serengeti annual migration, the largest and longest overland migration on earth.

The largest game reserve in South Africa, Kruger National Park is basically a synonym for the word "safari." Home to over 500 bird species, 100 reptiles, nearly 150 mammals, multiple archaeological sites, and a stunningly diversity of trees and flowers, Kruger is the country’s flagship national park. Adventurers can explore the park in a 4x4, take a bush walk or fly above in a hot-air balloon.