Wild Vacations

How would you like to wake up to tropical fish peering into your window? Or scale hundreds of meters up the side of a cliff to reach your bed? These experiences await the guests at some of the world’s wildest vacation destinations! Read on to discover four unusual hotels. Each one is in a different biome, a large community of organisms found in a specific type of environment. Which one would you want to visit on your next vacation?

Would you like to wake up to tropical fish looking at you? Or climb the side of a cliff to reach your bed? These things happen at some of the world’s wildest vacation spots! Read on to find out about four unusual hotels. Each one is in a different biome. A biome is a large community of living things in a specific area. Which one would you want to visit on your next vacation?

PEMBA ISLAND, TANZANIA

PEMBA ISLAND, TANZANIA

Octopuses, barracuda, and other reef fish swim by. Guests at the Manta Resort can see these and other sea creatures from the comfort of their bed!

The resort, located off the coast of Tanzania, in Africa, includes a floating structure attached to the seafloor, called the Underwater Room. Guests there can dive into the Indian Ocean or descend to a space 4 meters (13 feet) underwater. Windows offer views of this coastal ocean biome.

At night, shy creatures like squid come to visit, attracted by underwater lights. Some animals seem very interested in the room, says Matthew Saus, who runs the resort. Batfish and trumpetfish are always looking inside, he says.

Reef fish swim by. Guests can see these sea creatures from their bed at the Manta Resort!

The resort lies off the coast of Tanzania in Africa. It has a floating building that’s fixed to the seafloor. It’s called the Underwater Room. Guests staying there can dive off the deck into the Indian Ocean. Or they can just hang out in a room 4 meters (13 feet) underwater. Windows offer views of this coastal ocean biome.

Creatures like squid come to visit at night. They are drawn to lights under the water. Some animals seem very interested in the room, says Matthew Saus. He runs the resort. Batfish and trumpetfish are always looking inside, he says.

CUZCO, PERU

CUZCO, PERU

Natura Vive Skylodge is not for people afraid of heights! It’s located in the Andes Mountains, in the South American country of Peru. Guests stay in clear capsules made of thick, strong plastic bolted to the side of a cliff—400 meters (1,300 feet) above the ground!

To reach their rooms, visitors can climb 750 metal rungs attached to the mountain. Or they can zoom down a zip line from a neighboring cliff. From their high-up perch, guests might spy an Andean condor, a large bird native to the area, soaring outside their window.

Skylodge is nestled a few miles from Peru’s tropical rainforest. Weather there tends to be hot and humid. In the wet season, from December through March, it rains almost every day. Lightning flashes as storms roll in. Rain or shine, the view is always amazing, says co-owner Natalia Rodriguez.

Natura Vive Skylodge is not for people afraid of heights! It’s in Peru, a South American country. The lodge is high in the Andes Mountains. Guests stay in clear capsules. They’re made of thick, strong plastic. The capsules are bolted to the side of a cliff 400 meters (1,300 feet) above the ground!

Visitors can climb to reach their rooms. They use 750 metal rungs attached to the mountain. Or they can zoom down a zip line from a nearby cliff. Guests might see an Andean condor soar by their capsule. This large bird lives in the area.

Skylodge is a few miles from Peru’s tropical rainforest. The weather there is hot and humid. It rains almost every day from December through March. Lightning flashes as storms roll in. The view is always amazing, rain or shine, says Natalia Rodriguez, the lodge’s co-owner.

NAIROBI, KENYA

NAIROBI, KENYA

Each morning at Giraffe Manor, special guests join the breakfast crowd. As people enjoy muffins and fruit, giraffes stick their necks through the windows for a snack!

Giraffes are native to the East African country of Kenya. But over time, people have destroyed much of their forest and grassland habitats. By the 1970s, only about 100 giraffes remained in Kenya.

The owners of Giraffe Manor wanted to help. They brought wild giraffes to the grounds for a breeding program. The hotel, working with a group called African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, has reintroduced dozens of giraffes to reserves across the country.

Special guests come for breakfast at Giraffe Manor. People eat muffins and fruit each morning. Giraffes stick their necks through the windows for a snack!

Giraffes are native to Kenya. It’s a country in East Africa. Giraffes live in forests and grasslands. But people destroyed much of this habitat over time. Only about 100 giraffes remained in Kenya by the 1970s. 

The owners of Giraffe Manor wanted to help. They brought wild giraffes to the grounds for a breeding program. The hotel works with a group called African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. Together, they have placed dozens of giraffes in reserves across the country.

SAARISELKÄ, FINLAND

SAARISELKÄ, FINLAND

During fall and winter in the Arctic, green, pink, and purple lights dance across the night sky. These light displays, called auroras, show up when particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere. At the Kakslauttanen (kak-SLAW-tah-nen) Arctic Resort, visitors can watch this light show from a cozy glass igloo!

The resort is located in a boreal forest. There, pine and spruce trees endure harsh winters and cool summers. The hotel opened in 1973 after its founder’s car broke down in northern Finland. Alone in the wilderness, he made camp and fell in love with the area.

Visitors can ride snowmobiles, sled, or go ice fishing. But an even more popular activity is watching the northern lights.

Green, pink, and purple lights dance across the night sky. This happens in the Arctic during the fall and winter. These light displays are called auroras. They show up when particles from the sun hit Earth’s atmosphere. Visitors can see this light show at the Kakslauttanen (kak-SLAW-tah-nen) Arctic Resort. They watch from inside a cozy glass igloo!

The resort is in a boreal forest. It has pine and spruce trees. These trees survive harsh winters and cool summers. The hotel opened in 1973. The hotel’s founder’s car broke down in northern Finland. He made camp alone in the wilderness and fell in love with the area. 

Visitors can ride snowmobiles, sled, or go ice fishing. But the most popular activity is watching the northern lights.