It may well be the most iconic image of Bonaire: a group of pink flamingos wading in a shallow salt flat, with a white salt edge and a clear sky in the background. That image is no coincidence. Bonaire is home to one of the largest flamingo populations in the Caribbean, and the birds live here in the wild, right in the landscape.

The best-known places are Gotomeer in the north and the salt flat at Pekelmeer in the south. Early in the morning is the most beautiful: the light is soft, the heat has not yet built up, and the birds are active. You can just see them from the road, without a detour or a gate.

Keep your distance. Flamingos are sensitive to disturbance, especially during the breeding season.

Did you know: a flamingo completely loses its pink color if it doesn't get enough carotene from its food? Young flamingos are gray-white at birth. The color only really develops after a year or two.

The green iguana is everywhere on Bonaire. On walls along the road, in cacti, on rocks by the water. They lie in the sun, look at you and only move when you really come too close. Even then they do so with a certain nonchalance.

Males can grow quite large, sometimes more than a meter from head to tail. They have a prominent throat fan and during the breeding season, some males develop an orange-ish hue. You see them most active in the early morning, as they warm up in the sun.

How snorkeling in Bonaire, she sees sooner or later: sea turtles that float calmly along the reef, a few meters below the surface. They are hardly bothered by snorkelers as long as you give them space and do not chase them.

In Bonaire, mainly the hawksbill turtle and the green sea turtle are found. Both species nest on the island's beaches. These nests are protected, so if you see a turtle on the beach at night, keep your distance and let them go about their business.

This is one that surprises many visitors. On Bonaire, wild donkeys roam freely, a legacy of the time when they were used as work animals. You will encounter them along the road, at the edge of Washington Slagbaai and sometimes just in a parking lot.

For those who want to see them up close: Bonaire has a donkey sanctuary, the Donkey Sanctuary, where more than 800 donkeys, including injured, sick, and orphaned ones, are lovingly cared for. You can visit the animals and they are tame enough to pet, providing a special experience for young and old.

Smaller than the iguana, but just as present. On Bonaire, there are several species of smaller lizards, including anoles. You can see them on stone walls, among rocks, and along paths. They move quickly and are small, but if you take a moment, they are everywhere.

Males regularly display: they nod their heads and unfold their strikingly colored throat fans to claim territory. Small creature, big drama.

For those who have never snorkeled or dived next to a shark: the nurse shark is a good introduction. These sharks often lie still on the bottom during the day, under coral overhangs or in a sandy spot. They are slow, peaceful, and not at all interested in people.

They are regularly found along the reef on Bonaire. They can grow up to two meters long, but in most cases, they can simply be observed. However, keep your distance and never touch them.

Brown pelicans are a regular sight in the harbor of Kralendijk. They sit on posts, hang around fishing boats, and dive into the water with a splash when they spot a fish. They are not shy, and on a good day, they come remarkably close.

Along the coast of the island, you will also see them flying: low over the water, in small groups, just above the waves. It is an image that belongs to Bonaire.

Did you know that: a pelican does not swallow its catch immediately? The large throat pouch acts as a strainer: the bird squeezes the water out and then swallows the fish. The whole process takes only a few seconds.

No guarantees, but the chance is greater than you think. Along the coast of Bonaire, dolphins are regularly seen, both from the shore and during boat trips and diving trips. Bottlenose and striped dolphins are the most common.

If they surface next to the boat, you won't forget it quickly, even if you've experienced it more often. You can't plan it, but that makes it all the more fun when it does happen.