The world is full of incredible wildlife adventures to experience. For animal and wildlife lovers, these adventures make travelling very interesting. For travellers, it is different experiences and reasons for different people. Many travellers crave a mixture of wildlife and comfort and so they include wildlife visits to their travel itinerary.
For some, adventure without comfort might be the key, where the animals come with a white-knuckle ride. Others just love culture and historical places where some of these animals are found. While some people simply want to see as many species of common animals as birds, or mammals, butterflies etc; others only seek special animals, such as Tigers, sharks, dolphins or gigantic ones like the Elephant.
Irrespective of your reasons for wildlife travels, we have compiled a list of amazing places for you, as long as you love to site-see animals.
Safari in Africa
Africa boasts so many exotic animals in their natural habitat – in the form of parks and game reserves amidst the dust-swathed multi-coloured savannah and exotic African bush
Years ago, safaris were exclusively for the rich, because of how expensive it can be. However, these days there are all kinds of flexible budget options too which make the dream a possibility to a far wider range of animal-loving holiday makers.
The aim of most safari goers is animal-spotting – sightings of the ‘Big Five’ which include lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros .
The main safari destinations in Africa are Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Snorkel with Whale Sharks – Yucatan Coast, Mexico
Whale sharks are the planet’s largest fish – growing up to 40 feet long and weighing up to 20,000 pounds. Off the Yucatan coast in Mexico, around the tropically idyllic island of Holbox, these gigantic creatures gather from June to September. However, the best months are July & August, when their populations are highest.
Tours aplenty are offered all around this region to take you by boat to catch a glimpse of these beautiful giants with their distinctly spotted skins and huge soaring fins, swimming and feeding just beneath the surface.
Sightings from boats are magnificent but nothing matches the experience of plunging into the water with snorkel gear to swim alongside or above them. Whale sharks are filter-feeders which means they suck up microscopic plankton and baby fish with their giant mouths. This makes them similar to whales, although technically they are from the shark family. For this reason, humans are safe around them. This is what makes snorkelling popular and full of fun in places like, on the Yucatan coast, Mexico. Places like the Philippines, and South Africa, also have snorkelling activities around Whale sharks.
Diverse Wildlife Experience in Finland
Finland is one of the most popular wildlife destinations in Europe and for good reason. Brown bears, wolves, lynx and beavers all live in the forests, which cover 86 per cent of the country. Bear spotting is one of the most popular wildlife tours in the Scandinavian country. Elimyssalo Nature Reserve is a place where you can spend the night in one of the specially made bear spotting hides.
Finland also has fantastic opportunities for bird watchers, and is home to six different species of owl. Kussamo in the east and Oulu in the west are both famous bird watching areas and are breeding grounds for hundreds of species of birds.
Some trips allow you to sit up in a specially converted shelter and wait for the animals to appear so that you can observe and take pictures safely.
Organised tours provide accommodation, usually in cabins or wooden lodges, as bear and lynx tracking will take you deep into the forest. There are a few dedicated eco-hotels, but why not embrace the cold and book a night’s stay in Finland’s Ice Hotel, which, as the name suggests, is carved out of ice and snow.
You can also sight see wolves, reindeer, moose, elk, and wolverines
Cold Wildlife Experience in Alaska, USA
In the heart of Alaska, winter starts in October and doesn’t end until May.
With bald eagles soaring overhead, humpback whales flashing their flukes in the water, and hungry bears stalking rivers in search of salmon, Alaska offers a feast of wildlife travel adventures.
Denali National Park is a good place to spot Alaska’s version of the African Big Five: moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, and grizzly bears. Alaska actually contains about 70% of the total North American brown bear population and the majority of the grizzly bears. as well as black bears and Kodiak bears.
Many visitors come on cruise ships through the Inside Passage, where you can often see marine animals such as sea otters, Steller sea lions, harbour seals, and various types of whales.
Diverse Animal Spotting in Kenya
Kenya is home to numerous animals and offers various wildlife experiences. The most popular wildlife experience in Kenya is visit to the safari – most common being the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Other top wildlife experiences in Kenya include Lake Nakuru. It’s home to thousands of flamingos that flock to the lake to cool off from the summer heat in January and February.
You can also travel to Kenya’s beautiful coastline and spend an entire day snorkelling and diving at Watamu Marine Park. There you’ll find endangered sea turtles, whale sharks, and spinner dolphins!
Visit the National Parks in India
Journey deep into the heart of India to spot the regal stripes of the Bengal tiger. There are four national parks to explore in this unique wildlife destination, giving you the best chance of spotting this majestic big cat as well as other endemic wildlife including sloth bear and sambar deer.
Head to Tewa Lake to spot Mugger crocodile lurking in the shallows and on a jeep safari through Kanha National Park we hope to see guar, mongoose and leopard.
Unique Animals of Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador brim with fascinating wildlife. Ecuador has a vast biodiversity and is in fact one of the most wildlife rich countries in the world, due mainly to its range of different habitats. Located far away from modern-day life, the animals in Galapagos are less fearful of humans, and so the chance of a close-up encounter is great.
The Galapagos Islands, made famous by Charles Darwin’s study of plants and animals and his theory of natural selection, is considered one of the world’s foremost destinations for animal viewing.
Some of the more famous residents unique to these islands are the Galapagos tortoise with a lifespan of 170 years, the only living Marine Iguana left on earth, Galapagos finches which played a huge role in Darwin’s theory, Galapagos penguin the smallest and only penguin north of the equator, and much more.
A Date with Komodo Dragons – Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Komodo National park was founded in 1980 to help in protecting the world’s largest lizard- the Komodo dragon, and in the following year it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Park is home to about 5,700 giant lizards. These lizards weigh up to 150lbs and can get up to 10 feet long. Komodo Dragons are an endangered species. Seeing these magnificent lizards in the wild on their home island in Komodo National Park is such an adventure to behold.
The Park actually covers several of the islands in the Indonesian archipelago and the mighty Komodo dragon lives on several of these.
Fun fact, Komodo Island is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
However, most of the tour operators will ferry you by boat – typically from Flores or Lombok – to either Komodo or Rinca (or both) to head out on a hot and sweaty trek in search of the world’s largest lizard.
Snorkel to see Manatees in Florida
Florida is home to the world’s largest population of endangered manatee during the winter season. It is a great location to see them bobbing in the warm water. Florida is the only place in the US where you can swim with manatees legally. Also known as the “Cow of the Sea”, manatees are a sweet and sensitive animal. There are many eco-friendly tour options in Florida to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.
Having the chance to encounter these curious, gentle giants in their natural habitat is an adventure that anyone will never forget!
Places like Crystal River have several resident manatees year-round. The best and most notable manatee swimming area in Crystal Springs is Kings Bay. Here, you’ll find around 10% of Florida’s overall manatee population. During these months, tons of manatees travel to the state to take advantage of the warm spring waters gushing out.
Discover an unrivalled experience on the Island of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a hot spot for some of the finest wildlife in South Asia. It has a wide variety of animals including big game and marine life.Leopard, elephant, sloth bear, blue whale, and sperm whale – are known as the country’s great wildlife attractions. These species are just some of the country’s plethora of wild species of fauna. Sri Lanka’s wildlife crown jewel is the Sri Lankan leopard. Yala National Park is celebrated as the best place on Earth to see leopards as its leopard density is unmatched
It is also renowned as a birder’s paradise with an array of endemic, migratory, and resident avifauna found in its 70 Important Bird Areas strewn across its diverse landscape. Sri Lanka is also famous for its abundance of exotic flora.
Sri Lanka is also where you’ll find Mihintale – the world’s first reserve that was created in the third century BC! Fast forward to the present, and the country boasts over 100 areas of protected land for its wildlife.