Wildest: Islands

The Zanzibar Archipelago has been labeled the most exotic island chain in the world. Pristine sands and azure blue sea make it a much loved holiday destination, but many bizarre creatures also roam these islands.

The Caribbean is a tropical paradise. From just a few meters wide, to hundreds of kilometers across, each of the over 7,000 islands are different, and each has its own unique wildlife.

The Galapagos archipelago contains 13 main islands and a hundred or so smaller rocks and reefs. The region's wilderness is so pristine and rich in life it altered our entire view of the natural world.

Lying like a teardrop in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is an island that defies convention. Poised just six degrees above the equator, it's less than 75,000 km sq in size. But it has enough wildlife to rival a continent.

Lying just off the coast of west Scotland, the Hebrides archipelago is made up of more than 500 islands and islets. Isolation from the mainland has made it the perfect breeding ground for millions of creatures.

Japan's 7,000 islands stretch for over 2,400km, and cover an incredible range of climates. Winter in the central and northern islands can be savage, but summer in the sweltering southern islands couldn't be more different.