1. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is something of a mecca for nature lovers. It carries 5% of the world's biodiversity and a quarter of the country is protected rainforest habitat. It may be a small country nestled between two vast continents, but its lush interior and untouched beaches - not to mention mountains, active volcanoes and dual coasts on the Pacific and Caribbean seas - makes Costa Rica a hugely rich and ecologically fascinating place.

Some Things to Spot

Whales: It's possible to see a myriad of different whale species off the coast of Costa Rica throughout the year, including the blue whale, pilot whale, sei whale and humpback whale. From December to April there's a good chance of spotting humpback whales as they migrate to warmer waters with their young, and if you're lucky enough to see them "breaching", you'll witness one of the most spectacular sites in the animal kingdom.

Sloths: Sloths have really captured the popular imagination with their slovenly charm (a side-effect of their metabolic system) and the unusual site of growing algae in their fur. There are a number of sanctuaries that are open to visitors, as well as national parks where you may be able to spot one in the wild.

Howler Monkeys: Howler monkeys are one of the few nest building monkeys and also some of the largest in the Americas. With loud howls that can travel throughout the rainforest for up to three miles, you may be able to hear them before you catch a glimpse.

Toucans: There are six different species of Toucan in the Costa Rican rainforests, and luckily their large beaks, bright colours and relatively noisy disposition ensures they're fairly easy to spot.

Tours and Where to Go

One sanctuary where you can learn everything there is to know about sloths is the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica - visiting not only allows you to enjoy seeing these wonderful animals, but also supports their efforts to help protect them.

There are also many stunning National Parks you can explore in Costa Rica, including the limestone caverns of Barra Honda - the perfect location for thrill-seekers. They also contain some fascinating endemic species that have evolved in the unique subterranean environment and can be found nowhere else on earth.

For whale watching you can visit Bahia Aventuras and various other tour providers, many of whom are committed to responsible tourism that help to protect the animals natural habitat.

2. Dubai

Dubai is thought of primarily as a vast and super-modern cityscape, with little room for nature between its shopping centres and skyscrapers. However, it's easy to forget that surrounding this city is a seemingly endless desert, and even within the urban areas there can be interesting wildlife to enjoy.

Some Things to Spot

Dubai Hare: Smaller than European hares, these hares are adapted to the desert environment and surprisingly don't need to drink water. They spend much of their time being very, very still to avoid drawing the attention of predators - particularly important as digging burrows in the sand presents its own unique set of challenges!

Striated Scops Owl: This small-eared and pretty-looking owl hunts insects, spiders and small mammals, and are sometimes seen during the day.

Sand Skink (or "sand fish"): The sand-skink has an odd snout and spends the mornings sunning itself on sun dunes. It has earned it's nickname by diving into the soft sand before gliding away under the surface. The more common garden skink however seems to avoid the sand and favours cultivated gardens, often living in compost heaps and hunting insects.

Sea Turtles: For divers one of the highlights however is the Green Turtle. Known for migrating huge distances they're an endangered species, having protected status across many countries.

Tours and Where to Go

Dubai is also home to thousands of migratory birds. The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary provides a wonderful way to see them. During the winter you'll be treated to the sight of pink flamingoes, but there are plenty more to see at the mouth of Dubai creek, including cormorants and ospreys.

There's also desert safari tours to enjoy, where you can learn the ancient art of Falconry, go stargazing with a professional astronomer or observe the Arabian oryx and gazelles.

3. Singapore

Like Dubai, Singapore is a primarily urbanised space, but despite this its wildlife is surprisingly diverse. However development and crop cultivation has had an inevitably negative effect on animal populations and biodiversity, and in response to this the Singaporean government launched the Singapore Green Plan in 1992. This resulted in the establishment of the National Biodiversity Reference Centre, hosting a variety of biodiversity-related information and activities.

Some Things to Spot

Sunda Slow Loris: With huge, mournful eyes, slow lorises became an Internet sensation because they are thought to be very cute indeed. However they are also venomous (who would've thought) and have been threatened by illegal wildlife trading, so it's much safer to see them in designated conservation areas.

Pangolin: The odd but equally lovely Sunda Pangolin is a scaled mammal that feeds on ants and termites, which they search for using their big claws, incredibly keen sense of smell and long tongue. Like hedgehogs, they are nocturnal and roll into a ball when they feel threatened. The Sunda Pangolin is critically endangered, mainly due to heavy poaching for their skin, scales and meat.

Lesser Mouse-deer: The smallest known hoofed mammal, the lesser mouse-deer is only 18 inches high and has more than a passing resemblance to Bambi. They live in the forests of Southeast Asia and are very shy, trying to remain silent and unseen.

Sunda Flying Lemur: Being neither a lemur, or able to fly, it may seem that the Sunda Flying Lemur is misleadingly named. However, they do the next best thing to flying, and glide gracefully between trees. They are also skilled climbers and spend their lives in the canopy, being strictly arboreal - feeding on leaves, buds, fruits and sap.

Tours and Where to Go

Visiting the nature reserves of Singapore is a great way to relax after time in the busy and illuminated city. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve retains some of the only primary rainforest left on the island and is home to around 40% of Singapore's flora and fauna. Here you can trek the rainforest and climb Singapore's tallest hill. The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is another beautiful nature reserve of mangrove forests and wetlands, and is considered to be an internationally important location for migratory birds.

4. Seychelles

The Seychelles are undoubtedly known for their stunning, paradisiacal beauty, but there's much more to these islands. With 115 islands scattered across the Western Indian Ocean - with 42 inner granitic islands and 73 outer coralline islands - The Seychelles has one of the highest endemism rates in the world.

Largely overlooked by people until the 1700s, the first explorers noted the intriguing flora and fauna, but sadly some of the discovered species declined rapidly due to human influence. Now great efforts are made to preserve the unique diversity that contributes to the beauty of these islands.

Some Things to Spot

Giant Tortoises: The Seychelles is home to the largest population of Giant Tortoises in the world, with the Aldabra Atoll being home to around 100,000 of these huge creatures. At an average weight of 550lb, the Aldabra Giant Tortoise has a 48 inch carapace and will dig burrows or rest in swamps during the hottest part of the day. They are also some of the longest-lived animals on the planet, with some individuals thought to be over 200 years old.

Seychelles Black Parrot: This darkly plumaged parrot is the national bird of the Seychelles, with a grey-brown colour and diet of mainly consisting of fruit - although it will also eat the flowers from the coco der mer. They lay their eggs within the cavities of old trees, and are found exclusively on the island of Praslin.

Whale Shark: You can spot whale sharks (certainly regarded one of the most exciting animals to see anywhere in the world) in the waters surrounding the Seychelles. These are huge creatures, with the largest confirmed individual having had a length of 12.65m, but as filter feeders they hold none of the usual threats to humans that the name "shark" might suggest.

Seychelles Warbler: A small, greenish songbird, the Seychelles Warbler is unusual in nature because it breeds in monogamous pairs but raises its chicks with the assistance of female non-breeding helpers - a phenomenon known as "alloparenting".

Tours and Where to Go

Many Seychelles animals are confined to certain areas, such as the black parrot, so you may find yourself island-hopping to see all of them. Cousin Island, for example, supports 300,000 nesting seabirds, including some endemic species like the Seychelles blue-pigeon.

Diving here is split into two main categories: the Inner Islands and the Outer Islands, and there's a lot to see, from butterfly fish to manta rays. There are many local dive companies to help you head underwater, such as Blue Sea Divers.