There’s something magnetic about places where nature leads. The charge in the air before a lion emerges through golden grass, the thrill of swimming beside a whale shark in the open waters, or the delicate imprint of turtle tracks woven into dawn-lit sand. Across Jumeirah’s most elemental retreats, these moments unfold not by chance, but by nature’s rhythm. Season shapes everything: the timing of migrations, nesting patterns, coral blooms, and wild births. To stand in the right place at the right time is to glimpse something few others do.

This is your guide to when and where to witness some of the most captivating natural encounters across Jumeirah - from turquoise island waters to wild savannah plains.

The Big Five, South Africa

In South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal, Jumeirah Thanda Safari spans 16,500 hectares of protected bushveld. During the dry season (June to August), thinning vegetation improves visibility, making it easier to spot the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino - including the critically endangered black rhino. It’s also the best time for stargazing, with constellations stretching brightly across the sky, and for glimpsing elusive predators such as the leopard and cheetah, the world’s fastest land mammal.

As the season turns to spring (September to November), new life begins to emerge - migratory birds return in flashes of colour, antelope calves find their footing, and the air carries the scent of warm, rain-soaked earth.

With just two vehicles permitted per sighting, and an expert team encouraging guest involvement with conservation efforts such as rhino tagging, Jumeirah Thanda Safari offers rare, up-close moments with the Big Five.

When to visit: June to August for clear sightings; September to November for new life

Where to stay: Jumeirah Thanda Safari, South Africa

Whale Sharks, Tanzania

Set on a private island within a protected marine reserve, Jumeirah Thanda Island gives guests front-row access to whale shark season - slow-moving, plankton-feeding giants that move through these warm waters until March, with peak sightings in November and December. To swim beside one is to feel the scale of the ocean. But the sea here teems with life in every season: nurse sharks, eagle rays, and sea turtles are common sightings, often spotted right from the jetty.

The best snorkelling conditions fall between October and April, when water temperatures are warm and visibility is at its peak. Guests can join marine biologist Rianne Laan in coral restoration sessions or visit the artificial reef where a sculpture named 'Rianne' now supports new coral growth. Every experience, from dhow sailings with Captain Maya de Villiers to turtle tracking and reef walks, connects back to a shared ethos of protecting what you explore.

When to visit: October to March for whale sharks; year-round for coral, turtles, and rays

Where to stay: Jumeirah Thanda Island, Tanzania

Manta Rays, Maldives

From June to November, currents in the Baa Atoll draw plankton to Hanifaru Bay - one of the world’s best-known feeding grounds for manta rays. With wingspans of up to seven metres, these gentle giants spiral in synchrony, feeding in ballet-like formations. At times, whale sharks join the bloom, drawn by the same invisible tide.

Closer to shore, Jumeirah Olhahali Island’s house reef offers year-round encounters with nurse sharks, stingrays, eagle rays, and kaleidoscopic reef fish. Herons, waterhens, and kingfishers are often seen from the villas. Whether you choose a curated yacht excursion, a traditional dhoni cruise, or a simple snorkel just beyond the beach, the island reveals something new each time you look.

When to visit: June to November for manta rays; year-round for reef life and birds

Where to stay: Jumeirah Olhahali Island, Maldives

Dolphins, Oman

Spinner and bottlenose dolphins are seen year-round in the waters around Muscat Bay, often spotted close to the bay in playful pods. Spinners earn their name from the mid-air spins they perform as they breach, while bottlenose dolphins are more measured - moving in groups, their sleek fins slicing through the calm surface in unison.

Snorkelling and diving are most rewarding from October through May, when visibility improves and coral life is most vibrant. From July to September, the waters surrounding Muscat also become a seasonal home for whale sharks, frequently spotted near the Dimaniyat Islands - a protected marine reserve teeming with life, from moray eels and reef sharks to graceful rays. It’s a coast rich in contrast - where cliffs meet sea, and ancient resin trees grow inland, still yielding the scent of frankincense.

When to visit: Year-round for dolphins; July to September for whale sharks

Where to stay: Jumeirah Muscat Bay, Oman

Sea Turtles, Abu Dhabi

From March through July, the endangered Hawksbill turtle returns to nest on Saadiyat’s protected shoreline. If timed just right, guests may see hatchlings begin their first journey to the sea. Between October and March, cooler weather brings humpback dolphins closer to shore, and birdlife to the surrounding mangroves.

With 400 metres of protected dunes, Saadiyat’s coastline is a refuge, not just for wildlife, but for those who come to witness it. Nature reveals itself gently here… in the curve of a turtle track, or the sudden arc of dolphins beyond the break. Guests can opt to paddle through quiet mangroves to spot herons and flamingos, or glimpse desert foxes under the moonlight, in an effortless blend of luxury and wilderness.

When to visit: March to July for turtle nesting; October to March for dolphins and birdlife

Where to stay: Jumeirah Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

Long-tailed Macaques, Indonesia

Bali’s dry season, from April to October, brings clarity to both land and sea. Long-tailed macaques are most active in the early mornings, particularly within the sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, where moss-covered temples and hanging vines form their jungle canopy.

Rice paddies around Ubud are lush during these months, attracting white egrets, kingfishers, and butterflies. Offshore, coral reefs thrive in the warm, clear waters. While the sea here doesn’t host migrations on the scale of the Maldives or Tanzania, its richness lies in detail - vivid coral, darting fish, and the energy of island life at its most alive.

Guests of Jumeirah Bali can book a thoughtfully curated day trip to Ubud, beginning with a scenic drive into the island’s verdant uplands. Highlights include a visit to Tapati’s batik workshops and surrounding artisan villages renowned for silversmithing and woodcarving. A stop at a local coffee plantation reveals the island’s distinctive brews, followed by a walk through the Monkey Forest and its resident macaques. The day concludes with sweeping views over the Tegalalang rice terraces and a cooling pause at the lush Tegenungan Waterfall.

When to visit: April to October for dry season wildlife spotting

Where to stay: Jumeirah Bali, Indonesia

To witness wildlife at its most extraordinary is to meet the natural world on its own terms - untamed, seasonal, and never promised. From rainforest to reef, mangrove to open sea, these close encounters with nature return us to something essential - and freeing. A deep sense of peace that comes from knowing how little we control, and how much we belong to something greater.


Let Jumeirah be your home across these wild, beautiful corners of the natural world - and plan your visit when the season is at its most alive.