5 amazing TEFL destinations for animal lovers
Whether you want to see multicolored birds in the cloud forests of Central America, get on the trail of tigers in South Asia, or swim between sponge corals and strange fish in the bath-warm Indian Ocean, this guide has you covered. It runs through just five of the top TEFL destinations for animal lovers; a real taste of the wild…
Costa Rica
There’s probably no place that could beat Costa Rica to the top of this list of TEFL destinations for animal lovers. The stats speak for themselves – this compact nation in Central America covers just 0.03% of the world’s surface but accounts for a mega 6% of its overall biodiversity. It’s a veritable wildlife-spotting mecca. Head to Manuel Antonio National Park to walk trails in the company of three-toed sloths. Go to the Osa Peninsula and you’ll meet hulking whales on the edge of ancient Pacific rainforests. Check Tortuguero to witness turtles creeping into the Caribbean Sea. It’s incredible. TEFL jobs in Costa Rica can pay up to $1,100 USD/month.
South Africa
South Africa? For TEFL teachers? You bet. We actually run a Teach in Africa internship in this amazing country at the end of the continent. It will take you to the Eastern Cape to work as a volunteer in disadvantaged communities around the wave-lashed sands of Port Elizabeth. That means some of the world’s safari havens are within striking distance. The Addo Elephant National Park begins on the north side of the town itself and hosts huge herds of Africa’s largest mammal, for example. There’s also the Garden Route National Park to the west, where fynbos habitats give way to seas teeming with sharks and whales.
Thailand
Tried-and-tested TEFL favorite Thailand is surely up there with the top places for wildlife lovers in southeast Asia. By some estimations, the Land of Smiles is host to something in the region of 10% of the world’s overall animal life. In the north, the forests are known to be stalked by Asian elephants and feared tigers. In the south, the islands are slithered over by venomous snakes and come fringed by coral reefs teeming with damselfish and turtles. The good news is that the teaching sector here is still booming and you can earn up to $1,200 USD/month. It might be best to dodge the megalopolis of Bangkok if you want to see the wilder side of the country, though.
Argentina
Now, most teachers here will be based in the capital of Buenos Aires. But Argentina represents a vast swathe of South America, much of it bursting with wildlife. If you can get out of the megacity for a spell on your time off, you can venture south into fabled Patagonia. There, spires of rock and stone spike the skies to give jagged ranges like the Fitz Roy where vicunas and Andean pumas still roam the wilds. Along the seas of the Antarctic, there are penguins in the straits, whale pods, and all manner of migratory birds.
India
India is a wildlife lover’s dream come true. A whole continent in a country, it ranges from the Himalaya in the north to the drifting waterways of Kerala in the south. In one place, you might be stalking uber-rare snow leopards under the gaze of 8,000-meter-high mountains. In another, you could be watching king cobras slide through the jungles. India also happens to be one of the last remaining strongholds of the Bengal tiger – check out the Kanha National Park and the Satpura National Park if you want to see one of those majestic beasts!
There are plenty of TEFL destinations for wildlife lovers and they aren’t all tropical. If any of the above have stoked your wanderlust then be sure to head over to our courses page or check where we currently run TEFL jobs programs.