USA TODAY Photo SlideShow: The Vast Expanse of Nothingness!

USA TODAY 10best: Clear your mind in these open spaces made for exploring

JANUARY 15, 2019

Get out there

Fifty percent of the world’s population lives on just 1% of the Earth’s surface.  That leaves plenty of wide-open, uncrowded spaces to explore.  Taking a break from the hustle and bustle can help you find a new perspective or ease your troubled mind.  Here are a few places where you can get away from it all.

Mongolia by Lisa Niver
Traveling by van in Mongolia
One Camel in Mongolia by Lisa Niver

For eleven days, I traveled by van in Mongolia. Two hours outside of Ulaanbaatar, the capital city, there were no more roads, street lamps or electricity poles.

One camel in the distance

When they told me I was going to the vast expanse of nothingness in Mongolia, I asked, “How will I know when I get there?”

They said, “You will know.”

Gobi Desert Dunes by Lisa Niver


The Gobi Desert

The goal of our van trek was to walk in the sand dunes of the Gobi Desert.

A ger, our home in Mongolia by Lisa Niver



Sleeping in gers

Each night we stayed in different gers (you may also know them as yurts) along the route to the Gobi Desert.

Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia by Lisa Niver

Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs

This area in the Gobi is called the Flaming Cliffs, Bayanzag, Bain-Dzak or in Mongolian, Улаан Эрэг, and it’s where many dinosaur fossils have been found. An America paleontologist, Roy Chapman Andrews, discovered dinosaur eggs here in the 1920s.

Polar Bear at Nanuk Lodge by Lisa Niver
Walk with polar bears

If you’re interested in wildlife, perhaps travel to the northern reaches of the planet where you’ll be outnumbered by animals. At Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge near Hudson Bay, I walked with polar bears with Churchill Wild. It was one of the best bucket list adventures I’ve ever experienced.

 

Arctic Landscape with Polar Bear by Lisa Niver
Touch the Arctic

I took four planes to arrive at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. There was nothing else around for miles and miles.

Polar Bear at Hudson Bay by Lisa Niver
Polar Bear at Hudson Bay

Ride the Arctic Rhino (a lunar rover-like vehicle), spot a polar bear and walk with wild animals.

Wolf seen near Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge by Lisa Niver
Wolves walked with us, too

During my time at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, we saw over a dozen wolves.

Polar bear from Churchill Wild Walking Adventure by Lisa Niver
Arctic beauty

As we drove in the Arctic Rhino and walked in single file to see the polar bears, the landscape seemed surreal.

Rocky Mountaineer Train on bridge by Rocky Mountaineer
Over the river and across the bridge

If the Arctic isn’t your scene, perhaps traveling by rail through the Canadian Rockies will be more your speed. You’ll feel like you could stare out the giant train windows all day.

Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountaineer

Hells Gate from Rocky Mountaineer Train by Lisa Niver
Welcome to Hell’s Gate

We traveled along British Columbia’s Fraser River and were able to see Hell’s Gate in southern Fraser Canyon.

Reflections from Rocky Mountaineer by Lisa Niver
Reflections on the lake

During the day, we saw bears, eagles, osprey and the reflections of the clouds in the calm, blue-green waters.

Sunset from Rocky Mountaineer Train by Lisa Niver
Sunset from the train

In addition to spectacular views, we saw the historic Spiral Tunnels and Craigellachie, where in 1885, the “last spike” united the East and West of Canadian railway track.

Snowy Peaks from Rocky Mountaineer Train by Lisa Niver
Snow in the peaks of the Rocky Mountains

See the highest peaks in the Canadian Rockies and the remote vistas of Canada’s West.

Zebras in Tanzania by Lisa Niver
Watching zebras in Tanzania

For wide-open spaces in warmer climes, a trip to Tanzania and Kenya might be in order. I saw these zebras on the first day of my African safari in Tarangire National Park with Abercrombie and Kent.

Hippo Pool in Tanzania by Lisa Niver
Hippo pool at sunset

It was a treat to be allowed out of the safari vehicle to walk around high above the hippos. As the light faded, we went back to our mobile tent camp, Sanctuary Kichakani, and heard lions roaring around us during the night.

Lions in the Serengeti by Lisa Niver
Lions in the Serengeti

Early in the morning, we saw these four lions. Soon after, one of the lionesses killed an antelope.

Giraffes in the Maasai Mara by Lisa Niver
A family of giraffes in Maasai Mara

After visiting the children at Enkereri Primary School, we passed by this family of giraffes. The Chief of the village near Sanctuary Olonana, Richard, invited me to teach his warriors in the Maasai Mara how to hula hoop.

A Parade of Elephants by Lisa Niver
A parade of elephants

We spent hours watching elephants in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. Some of them were practicing fighting, some were eating and all were moving along towards the water.

See the full article on USA TODAY
Lisa Niver’s article on USA Today 10best

Watch my videos

From my 1st African Safari:

From Churchill Wild:

From Rocky Mountaineer:

 

The post USA TODAY Photo SlideShow: The Vast Expanse of Nothingness! appeared first on We Said Go Travel.