Nature

On the island of Lombok, Indonesia, the sudden eruption of Mount Barujari on Sept. 27 forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 tourists in the popular hiking area. 

Over 100 hikers, who had re­-mained on the trails, were escorted out by rescue teams the next day. No injuries were reported.

Barujari was one of seven volcanoes in Indonesia that were actively erupting at press time. The other six were experiencing minor activity.

There are about 130 known active  (but not erupting) volcanoes in Indonesia (and 169 in the US).

10-day, 9-night photo tour in Patagonia, ARGENTINA, with documentary filmmaker Ossian Lindholm, Feb. 7-16 & April 10-19, 2017. Highlights: In El Calafate, Laguna Nimez Reserve, home to black-faced ibis and flamingoes/in Los Glaciares National Park, mountain village of El Chaltén, Perito Moreno Glacier/petrified forest/3 days at luxury camp in Torres del Paine National Park for nature walks, puma tracking with professionals. $7,500 ppdo. Single supp., $1,880. Travel Vision (Arlington, MA; 800/866-7314, http://travelvisionjourneys.com).

On the island of Heimaey in Iceland, after a volcanic eruption on Jan. 23, 1973, one family’s home that was preserved under ash and volcanic debris was made the centerpiece of the museum Eldheim­ar (Sudurvegur/Gerdisbraut 10, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Heimaey, Iceland; phone +354 4882700, http://eldheimar.is/en).

7-day, 6-night ecotour in INDONESIA led by primatologist Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, Oct.31-Nov. 6 & Nov. 9-15, 2016. Highlights: From Jakarta, fly to Pangkalan Bun, Borneo/klotok (riverboat) up Kumai River/Tanjung Puting National Park/Camp Leakey/see wild orangutans, visit orphans at Orangutan Care Center & Quarantine. Learn about rehab, reforestation program. $5,150 ppdo. Single supp., $875. Orangutan.travel (San Diego, CA; 619/574-1371, www.orangutan.travel).

For years I dreamed of seeing the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, creatures with whom we humans share almost 98% of our nuclear DNA. I also was intrigued by Rwanda’s social and economic recovery following the devastation from the 1994 genocide. 

“Careful! Don’t step on the sea lion.” 

With those words, our guide Joed introduced us to the unique experience of observing wildlife in the Galápagos Islands. 

In northern Norway, guests of WolfLodge who meet certain requirements can interact with wild (but human-acclimated) wolves in an enclosure in Polar Park (N-9360, Bardu, Norway; phone +47 77 18 66 30, http://polarpark.no/polar-park-english.html). 

Located in the park, WolfLodge has one double and five 3-bed guest rooms; two bathrooms that are shared; a common area with a kitchen, living room and fireplace; large skylights for viewing the northern lights, and large windows for watching the wolves roaming the grounds.

My daughter, Jill, and I traveled to Rwanda to see gorillas in the wild. 

With some free time during my January 2016 visit to Costa Rica, I discovered the delightful Turu Ba Ri Nature & Adventure Park (San Juan de Mata de Turrubares, Costa Rica; phone +506 4052 0940, http://turubari.com/en). It’s an ideal place to visit.