Flamingo-spotting made easy

Jan 13, 2010 12:32:09 AM

Rose Mulready
Lonely Planet Author

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The flamingo, with its sunrise plumage and dancer’s moves, is the kind of bird that travellers cross the world to see. Who hasn’t dreamed of standing at the edges of an African lake to watch the water go pink with teeming flocks?

But if you think of flamingos as a distant, exotic mirage, you may be in for a pleasant surprise. These little pink guys get around. Sure, they live by the thousand in Africa and South America, but there are also wild populations in corners of the world ranging from Italy to northern Kazakhstan.

Here are our 7 most unexpected places to meet flamingos.

United Arab Emirates

Flamingos in Dubai? Sure, and they’re not just decorations on some flash hotel. Visit Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary to see the 3000-strong population strut against the Dubai skyline.

Italy

Head a little out of the Sardinian town of Cagliari to play on the beach and watch the salt marshes for a tell-tale dash of pink.

Sri Lanka

In the Bundala National Park you’ll find elephants, giant squirrels - and yep, flamingos.

Mexico

A trip to the fishing village of Río Lagartos should reward you with a sighting - the largest and most spectacular flamingo colony in the country hangs out in the Reservade la Biosfera Ría Lagartos.

Ukraine

It may be tricky to get into, but the Askaniya Nova Reserve is quite something. Animals imported by an eccentric 19th-century German play freely on a natural steppe. Flamingos have joined the party.

Portugal

Gorge yourself on the famous seafood in the port town of Setúbal while waiting for some 1000-odd flamingos to flap into their winter home in the nearby Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado.

India

Choose between the wild salt plains of Gujurat or the state of Orissa, where flamingos work their pink magic on Asia’s largest lagoon.

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Comments

16 January 2010 10:10AM fellow_traveler Report this comment
When in Mexico, why go all the way to Rio Lagartos when you can easily go see huge flocks of flamings closer to Merida? Anywhere along the estuaries and rias around Progreso usually have plenty of these birds (and roseated spoonbills) for easy viewing from your car.
16 January 2010 11:38AM aimbug Report this comment
You can also see them on the estuary in Celestun if you're on the northwestern tip of the peninsula (near Merida).
16 January 2010 6:59PM markbroadhead Report this comment
Also found in the Camargue in Provence, France.
16 January 2010 7:05PM bluesmoon Report this comment
In India, you can also see Flamingos in Bombay at the Sewri Mudflats. They show up between October and December.
17 January 2010 11:09AM turtletale Report this comment
Don't forget the Galapagos Islands - home to the rare galapagos flamingo! For instance: http://www.wideangle.ca/archives/2009/12/galapagos-flami.html.
13 February 2010 7:31AM ommulind Report this comment
Hi and thanks for showing this beautiful pic. But it is not a flamingo, but an ibis. Still beautiful though.
8 April 2010 1:44AM amila123 Report this comment
To view about sri lanka with more details visit www.ceylonthesmallmiracle.blogspot.com
21 April 2011 1:20AM evangaline2 Report this comment
Not an exotic locale, but I recently saw a flock of wild flamingos on the Card Sound Road near Homestead, just south of Miami. Although the numbers have declined due to the big human footprint, there are still flocks of wild flamingos throughout Everglades National Park. There is even a town called Flamingo as a result.