'I've visited over 130 countries but one nation stands out as my favourite'
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Adventure traveller and TV presenter Simon Reeve has shared his top pick for the most extraordinary country on Earth, boasting sights not found "anywhere else on the planet". Known for traversing some of the world's most breathtaking and perilous locales, Simon's escapades have ranged from close encounters with the KGB to adrenaline-fueled pursuits by cheetahs.
His latest BBC series, 'Scandinavia with Simon Reeve', sees the daring host explore the Nordic countries' wild beauty, from tundra to forests and fjords. However, this is just the latest in a long line of expeditions for Simon, who has racked up visits to over 130 countries, an impressive tally for someone who didn't fly until adulthood, reports the Express.
Simon reflected: "You know, I'm a very lucky bloke. I've been to more than 130 countries now and travelled pretty extensively, I grant you, but almost all as an adult. You know, I don't come from a 'travel-ly' family. I didn't get on a plane until I was growing up and properly working."
Simon also opened up about his modest upbringing, lacking "fancy foreign holidays" as a child, which he feels has made him even more grateful for his current role. He doesn't overlook the privilege of his remarkable career and recalls times spent on the dole during his teenage years, keeping him grounded and "very aware" of his good fortune.
Choosing a favourite destination from his extensive travels is quite the challenge for the seasoned presenter, but with a bit of arm-twisting, he admits there's one place that truly captivates him. He said: "So, I've always got my eyes open when I'm travelling. I'm always trying to soak it up like a human sponge, and I absolutely love the journeys still. If you twist my arm and you say, 'You've gotta come up with somewhere that you really love', Madagascar."
(Image: (Image: BBC))
Madagascar, ranking as the world's fourth-largest island, is famed for its unique wildlife - an incredible variety of reptiles, plants, and mammals found nowhere else on Earth. The WWF notes that this 144-million-acre island off Africa's southeast coast boasts an eclectic mix of ecosystems, ranging from lush rainforests to arid deserts.
Simon added: "Madagascar was staggeringly different and beautiful and surprising, and obviously, that's off the east coast of Africa. It's got a bit of Africa in it. It's got a bit of Asia in it. But it's quite unique, as well.
"You see stuff there that you don't see anywhere else on the planet. You know, a group of cowboys wearing huge floppy hats taking a huge herd of buffalo across the country to market."
Climb another hill, and you might find yourself overlooking a "huge plain of spiny cactus", shared Simon, who asserts that Madagascar is a land of "weird stuff happening there".
He went on to say: "You know, when humans first arrived on Madagascar, there were lemurs the size of gorillas. You know, things have evolved there in very different and special ways, so that is a place that has really amazed me."
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