Have you ever wondered what the world might have looked like when dinosaurs were still alive? Or what the plant life on an alien planet might look like? Then there is only one place that you need to go: The ‘Lost Island’ of Socotra. According to experts, the plants on Socotra (like the aptly named, red sap Dragonblood tree) are 20 million years old. Yes, 20 MILLION. The popular thinking is that the plants are so unique because the remoteness of the island never required them to evolve. Not to mention the lack of human interference destroying them.

The trees and plants look like strange upturned umbrellas, with leaves only growing at the top of the knobbly branches – and that’s just one species. There are 307 species of plants that can only be found on the island, as well as 10 unique species of birds – and that’s just some of the unique plants and animals you can find there. To protect this little island out of time, UNESCO declared it a world heritage site – something we can all be thankful for, as a lot of the unique life on the island is already endangered.

If you want to experience the past like you’ve never imagined you could, Socotra is the place for you.

This so called ‘Wonder of the World’ is about… 270 million years in the making. Back then the entire region was an expanse of sea. But, as the 270 million years ticked down to the more recent millennia, the water retreated and left behind one of the most interesting landscapes you could think to see – over 400 square kilometres of giant stone formations littering the landscape. This has become known as the Stone Forest, and with the way the natural landscape formed around it, the name is perfect.

The ‘forest’ is broken into three parts: The Major Stone Forest, the Minor Stone Forest and the Naigu Stone Forest, each one with their own unique formations. Here and there you might even spot a few formations that don’t look anything like the towering rocks that surrounds them. There are even a few local myths and legends that surround the forest.

In the end, the oddly-shaped and rock-lined landscape looks like something right out of an alien movie.

It’s a cave, you say. What’s so special about a cave? An excellent question, and it has an excellent answer. See, in these particular caves in Waitomo there lives a very special little worm. This worm lives nowhere else but in New Zealand, and in the Waitomo Caves there are millions of them. It’s these worms that make the caves special – because they glow.

Discovered in 1887, the caves started welcoming visitors in 1889. Since then they’ve only risen in popularity, with thousands of tourists coming to see them. And they are remarkable. The roof and walls of the caves are littered with the tiny glowing worms, giving the inside an otherworldly and ethereal feel – as if you’re a giant being looking at the stars of the cosmos sparkling around you. Aside from tours, there have even been people who’ve gone there to take their wedding photos. Surrounded by the ‘stars’… now that’s one way to make your special day even more unforgettable.

Ever seen the first Superman movie? The one where Christopher Reeve was hot, but started off a series of films that became the worst sequels in history? Yes, those. And remember, in the very first film, what Krypton looked like? Giant crystal cities on a crystal planet – like a giant geode turned inside out. And geodes are something we have here on Earth, too. But have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk inside a geode? To walk in a landscape and a city that looked like Krypton?

Now you can.

In Mexico you’ll find the Naica Mine and inside, the most amazing crystal formations. The crystals are mainly selenite, with the largest crystal (that has been found so far) measuring a whopping 12m in length, and weighs 55 tons – that’s about 11 average sized African elephants. Because of where it’s situated (above an ancient fault and above a magma chamber) the crystals could form – over a period of 500,000 YEARS. It gets better, too. Apparently entirely new organisms are being discovered in the cave system, specifically evolved to withstand the high temperature and ridiculously high levels of humidity, and not related to anything in the known genetic database of life on Earth.

In other words, not only does it look like another planet, but it has life down there that you won’t find anywhere else.

I’m going to bring up another movie for this one (I like movies, alright?!), and this time I’m going to refer you to the gorgeous floating mountains in the film Avatar. Remember those? Well, as it turns out, they’re not completely fake. Yes, alright, the real ones don’t actually float all over the place, but the location itself does exist. These odd pillars of stone and marble rise up high into the sky and, with the usual misty clouds that lazily drift between them, you’d almost swear that they were floating.

The mountains are considered sacred by many of the locals, and there’s even a monastery half carved into, half hanging off one of the mountains. Like the stone forest, it’s theorized that Tianzi was one under water but, as it retreated over the course of 400 million years, the mountains were formed.

The Tianzi mountains are, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful sights, and it’s no wonder that the surrealistic sight inspired the creation of a planet of blue aliens and giant, colourful prehistorical-looking bird-bats.

The Appeal: As one of the most mellow species of fox – and definitely one of the fuzziest and most adorable – arctic foxes almost look like the perfect little not-dog cuddle buddies. They have the most adorable little laughs, interesting quirks, and they are highly intelligent to boot. Some pet foxes even have their own favourite cuddle toys, and properly socialized pet foxes can interact really well with people and even other pets (large pets, that is. Your hamster, however, will be a nice snack). The fact that they can learn to use litter boxes is a definite bonus.

The Reality: First thing you need to take into consideration is temperature. They need cold weather; if you live in a hot climate, this is one pet you shouldn’t have. They also have quite a distinctive scent, marking their territory with urine and feces, and require early socialization training. They’re also very curious (and very sly) creatures, making them prone to escape attempts just because something interesting caught their attention. Also, when training a fox, positive reinforcement is the way to go – spanking will not help you here. Although they can survive on puppy food, they also need a supplemented diet of vegetables, eggs and meat – but no pork! And remember, other small pets are food, not friends. And they are diggers, so if you’re a gardener… kiss your petunias goodbye.

In Conclusion: Although foxes can be kept as pets, you have to keep in mind that they need a lot of training, attention and special care. Vets are also, more than likely, going to charge you an arm and a leg to treat your fox – and you have to have them vaccinated. You also need to be extremely patient. Unless you’re ready to bond with your new fox partner for life, just don’t go there.

The Appeal: Striped Hyenas can actually make great pets – with certain things taken into account - if they’d been tamed from birth. They’re highly intelligent but, unfortunately, they are also endangered. In many ways, their behaviour is like that of dogs – but instead of barking, they laugh at you. And, believe it or not, they are actually really adorable and lovable animals that can steal your heart with a big, toothy smile.

The Reality: If you want to keep a Striped Hyena as a pet, there are a few things you’re going to have to be prepared for – over and above their unique sounds. These hyenas communicate a lot via their scent, and mark their territory with their anal pouches. They also need a good sized territory – these animals are not meant to be house pets alone. They also have a distinctive diet – not only do they tend to be carrion eaters, but they also need eggs, insects, fish, fruits and vegetables. They also tend to regurgitate pellets, much like owls do. And make no mistake, they might be ‘tamed’, but striped hyenas have quite the bite on them – they’re perfectly capable of killing an animal with one snap.

In Conclusion: If you don’t mind the scent, if you have a large enough property, and if you have the patience and the time to raise them from early on, then a Striped Hyena would be a great pet for you – just make sure you don’t have any smaller pets or kids around that might end up a perfectly natural snack.

The Appeal: No matter who you are, you can probably name one movie or commercial that’s shown off just how adorable Meerkats can be. They are playful, love to snuggle, and are undeniably cute when they clamber all over their beloved owners. They’re quite intelligent, too, and very fluffy – which is great, since they also love to be scratched, tickled and groomed. The idea of Meerkats as pets has also grown significantly in the past ten years.

The Reality: Most people who buy a meerkat for a pet only get one – which is just about the worst thing you could do to a meerkat. They are incredibly social – in the wild they live in massive family groups – and a lone meerkat will turn to self–mutilation and can even become suicidal. They also need a special enclosure with both an outdoor and indoor area.

They’re also extremely care intensive. You can’t keep Meerkats if you have a day job – they need constant socialization and stimulation, being highly energetic. You should also be able to afford to cater to their dietary needs of fruits, vegetables and meat, and you better not mind mischievous little creatures trying to dig through your pillows, cushions, carpets and floors. They also have extremely sharp teeth and claws that can chomp right down to the bone – in other words, be prepared to get a few nips, and don’t let your kids play with them unsupervised.

In Conclusion: Meerkats can make great, loving and loyal pets. But, unless you have the dedicated time that they need and the money to cater to their living, feeding and social requirements – and have very thick skin / cheap furniture – don’t get a Meerkat.

The Appeal: These cats are the smallest wild cats in Africa, coming in at a whopping… 2kg’s (4.5lbs). They are, without a doubt, one of the cutest little felines; not just because of their size, but also due to their almost unnaturally big, cute eyes. It’s also quite fluffy and looks to be the perfect snuggling companion. Basically, it’s every cat lover’s weakness. It also has to be said that they are amazing little creatures that are, very sadly, endangered.

The Reality: Although some people have managed to keep black-footed cats as pets, they’ve generally been hand reared since birth – and for good reason. Despite their overpowering level of cuteness, these cats are not for the faint of heart. They come from a very arid region, and tend to get most of their water from their food, requiring very little drinking water in normal circumstances. High humidity, or cold temperatures, are a death sentence.

They’re also nocturnal, and like to spend their days hidden away under rock ledges or in empty termite mounds – which is why they’re locally referred to as ‘Miershoop Tier’ or ‘Anthill Tigers’, and the tiger part is not an exaggeration. These cats are still hunters, and they don’t realize that they’re not part of the big cats. Aside from their normal food of insects, spiders, birds and rodents, they’ve been known to hunt sheep and have even gone after giant giraffes. You have to keep in mind that these cats are extremely energetic, and eat significant amounts to keep up with their metabolism. What they can’t eat, they hide. Oh, and just a little head’s up… these cats are loud. Really, really loud.

In Conclusion: Unless you have the right environment suited to these cats, a lot of patience, insane amounts of energy, and enough money to keep up with their eating habits (and hunting of your furniture, pets, neighbour’s dog or neighbour) – and a lot of experience dealing with wild cats – this is one adorable kitty you should pass on.

The Appeal: From the critters on this list, hedgehogs are probably the ones who are most often actually kept as pets – and who can blame their owners? They look deceptively fluffy, and they have the most adorable little faces. There’s also a lot of information available on keeping them as pets. They’re also known to bond closely with their owners, making them a loyal and cute little friend.

The Reality: They may look fluffy, but you’ve got to understand that those are still prickly spines that cover their backs. They don’t shoot them like porcupines (and hedgehogs are not rodents), but that doesn’t mean that they are any less sharp, especially when they’re curled up in little balls – and apparently, they’re not all that easy to unfurl either. They also groom their spines with spit, which might be a little ‘gross’ for some.

You also have to socialize your hedgehog and keep him active – they love to eat, and can suffer from obesity. They’re also nocturnal little critters. Hedgehogs are not silent, either. They snuff, grunt, squeal, whistle and even purr. They also scream, mainly when in pain. Most importantly, Hedgehogs can carry diseases which are contagious to people – including salmonella, ringworm spores, etc. They need to be kept clean, and owners need to be very hygienic.

In Conclusion: You need to give your hedgehog a lot of time and care. You need to be prepared to deal with the hygienic requirements and to spend time socializing your hedgehog. And you definitely have to be prepared to get pricked a few times. But if you’ve got what it takes, hedgehogs can make really rewarding pets.