The 11 Best Wildlife Experiences in the World

From the red dust of the savannah, to the craggy cliffs of Europe, here’s our guide to the best wildlife experiences in the world.

The Best Wildlife Experiences in the World

I thought it went without saying that ethical tourism is important. But the level of exploitation around the world reminds me that it’s not.

So, here are responsible, ethical wildlife experiences. Ones that will set your heart on fire and leave you feeling good about it afterwards. After all, responsible animal tourism is one of the best ways to help save endangered animals.  

In other words, it’s important to make wild animals worth more alive than dead. 

So, bookmark this article and start planning a wildlife holiday of your own. It’s time to talk about the best wildlife destinations in the world.

Disclosure – if you book or buy through any of the links on this page, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Cheers and enjoy your wildlife adventure!

Take a Big Five Safari in Africa

“The plane trembles like a bumblebee with vertigo as it lilts and lifts through the sky cavity around Joburg. The ground, a blurred marble of ochre and olive, continues on. And on. And on. It’s only a short hop by air from Johannesburg to the Madikwe Game Reserve in African terms, but of course, for those of us from smaller isles, it’s hard to believe just how much space there is out there on the ground.”

Searching for the big five in Africa surely rates as one of the most thrilling wildlife adventures in the world. The red dust of the savannah and the silent stillness. The flicker in the lion’s eyes right before the kill. 

When it comes to wildlife travel destinations, Africa comes up top trumps with so many different wildlife holiday options. But where should you go?

The Best African Safari Spots

• Tanzania – combine a wildlife holiday with the snows of Kilimanjaro and the flamingo-flecked lakes of the Ngorongoro Crater.
• South Africa – mix city life and wildlife by heading to Cape Town first to fill up on the history of Mandela and the stunning silhouette of Table Mountain before heading on safari. You can find out more about what to do in Cape Town here.
• Kenya – take short flights between protected rhino sanctuaries, hotels where giraffes join you for breakfast and even visit the place that inspired Pride Rock.

Top Tips for a Safari Trip

• Safari wildlife tours usually take place at dawn and dusk on a vehicle.
• It can get cold! Wear layers.
• You need to stay quiet for long periods of time.
• There are age limits for children for safety and viewing (typically 8, sometimes 12 years old.)
• Luxury and budget options abound.

Glide Along the Okavango Delta, Botswana

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is the largest delta in the world. Home to elephants, impala, giraffes, hippos and warthogs, its watery nature means that there are virtually no roads, making it one of the best places in the world to fully immerse yourself in nature. 

The only ways of getting around are by boat or by plane – or by mokoro, the traditional wooden carved canoe. What makes this one of the best wildlife experiences in the world is the natural beauty of the water itself, the calmness in the reeds, and the elephants that wander past at sunset.

Top Tips for Visiting the Okavango Delta

• Okavango Delta safaris take place either on foot or in a mokoro (canoe) instead of a jeep.
• The age limits for children are stricter than jeep safaris.
• Botswana’s high cost, low volume tourist policy means that few budget options are available and it’s a good idea to arrange your trip in advance.
• To arrange this independently, travel to Maun in Botswana and take a short flight to whichever safari village has a vacancy. 
• You won’t see the big cats here, but it is a great place to see hippos, elephants, warthogs and giraffes. 

Search for Chameleons and Lemurs in Madagascar

Forget (if you can) the Karma-chameleon song and embrace the real thing in this jewel of an island on the east coast of Africa. Chameleons range in size from thumbnail to forearm-size, changing colours with remarkable authenticity to suit their surroundings. As for the cheeky fellow pictured above? He just strolled along our hotel balcony railing in Madagascar’s second largest city, Diego Suarez. If close encounters with endemic species aren’t enough to get you excited about Madagascar, I don’t know what is. 

Madagascar’s unique flora and fauna combination stems from its split with mainland Africa many, many, many years ago. 

In addition to chameleons, you’ll also find lemurs flying through the air and rock formations like cathedrals in the midst of the dense jungles.

Top Tips for Visiting Madagascar

• You won’t see the big game here but you will see plenty of wildlife.
• Madagascar’s infrastructure and dense forestry means that travel times can be long.
• In addition to wildlife viewing, Madagascar has some of the best beaches in the world.

Hang with Orangutans in Borneo

Malaysian Borneo is one of the few places that provides shelter for the endangered, lovable orangutan (the Malay word for man of the forest.) Numbers are in decline, thanks to the destruction of their rainforest habitat for palm oil plantations, but places like the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre are doing their best to turn things around. Next door, you can find the cute but dangerous sun bear, and almost everywhere else in the jungle, you’ll spot monkeys. 

Night safaris swoosh along the river, following the shadows and looking for the curiously-nosed proboscis monkey amid smaller but still biting crocodiles. 

Top Tips for Visiting Orangutans in Malaysian Borneo

• Numbers are so fragile that you are unlikely to find orangutans by yourself. Instead, head to a recognised and reputable wildlife sanctuary like the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre.
• Check the latest travel advice as there have been some disturbances in the region. 
• Don’t miss the other highlights of Sabah, like her cooking classes, sea turtles rescue centres and underwater world.

See Tigers in Ranthambore National Park, India

Ranthambore National Park in India counts as one of the world’s success stories when it comes to saving endangered species. A former hunting ground for maharajahs, this Rajasthan park has worked hard to make tigers worth more alive than dead.

The park itself consists of golden long grasses and tall, willowing trees and dry leaf-laden earth that crunches underfoot.

Tigers are still scarce but most visitors have a good chance of seeing at least one during a 3 day safari trip. 

Top Tips for Visiting Tigers in Ranthambore

• Like the big safaris in Africa, you’ll need plenty of patience and warm layers. 
• Safaris leave in the early morning and again at dusk as this is the best time to catch a glimpse of the animals in residence. It can get very cold in the morning and sweltering by mid-day. Pack appropriately!
• Ranthambore Park is only 130km from the key city of Jaipur, making it reasonable to fit into a trip around northern India, including the Taj Mahal.
• Even if you don’t see a tiger, enjoy the monkeys and pelicans and look out for the snakes. I loved this calm, restful place.

Rest with Panda Bears in China

The good news is that panda bears are no longer critically endangered. The bad news is that they are still vulnerable to extinction.

The Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding is just one part of China’s successful efforts to save the cuddly looking bear and WWF Icon. Through a well-organised programme to end deforestation, promote breeding and ban hunting, nearly 2000 panda bears now live in the wild offering memorable opportunities for an up-close encounter. 

But for travellers to find them, it’s best to head to a sanctuary, and the most accessible one is in Chengdu. There you’ll find plenty of pandas, and cubs, chewing bamboo in their natural environment. You’ll also be able to learn more about the ecosystem in which they live, from the red pandas to local birds. 

Top Tips for Visiting Pandas in China

• Follow the instructions at the Chengdu sanctuary carefully. The place exists primarily to save pandas, not to serve you. 
• Have a well charged camera or phone (and don’t use flash.) 

Soar with Puffins on Skomer Island, Wales

Roam around the raw and rugged cliffs of Britain’s only Coastal National Park in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

There, puffins mingle with manx shearwaters and seals splash around the shore. 

For an alternative look at this explosion of British wildlife, try coasteering along the Preseli Hills. To the uninitiated, coasteering involves putting on a wetsuit and climbing along a cliff. It doesn’t matter if you fall off, that’s all part of the fun. If that sounds a little on the dangerous side, I should probably point out that you need to do it with a trained instructor and, obviously, listen to every word they say. 

• Recommended reading: 15 brilliant things to do in Pembrokeshire 

Top Tips for Visiting Puffins in Wales

• Puffins are surprisingly sociable creatures. You will walk through fields of them, they’ll dive bomb from overhead and pose for photos. 
• You need to join a group to take the short boat trip out to Skomer Island. The rest of Pembrokeshire can easily be explored independently.
• Stick VERY closely to the paths. Nesting birds dig holes on the island and it’s easy to slip into one and break an ankle if you’re not careful. Not that the staff will care. They will be furious that you may have hurt one of the nesting birds. Don’t risk it.

Whales Around the World

When it comes to whale watching, you have a choice between fields of icebergs or sweaty sunshine and topping up your tan. The key thing for whale watching wildlife holidays or vacations is to check the season: whales migrate and in many places in the world, you will only be able to see them for a few months of the year.

Watching the tail of a mighty wale sink and splash down beneath the waves is one of the best wildlife adventures in the world. And, happily, you can see this in many places on earth. 

Whale-Watching Hot Spots

• Cruising through Alaska is the perfect icy setting for whale watching.
• If you’re particularly interested in humpback whales, Hervey Bay in Australia is usually a safe bet. 
• Between the popular beach resort area of Nosy Be and Madagascar’s further flung islands is a key whale migration route. Great for people who love warmer weather. 
• The Canary Islands in Spain have many pilot whales along their coast.
• Moby Dick was inspired by the whaling capital of the world: Nantucket. Sadly, the whaling industry decimated numbers around this picturesque part of Cape Cod but numbers are returning. Recent reports place whales visible from even Manhattan again now. 

Snap Piranhas in the Amazon

Visiting the Amazon rainforest is one of the best wildlife adventures I’ve ever experienced. Sure, I didn’t get to see the reclusive big cats (think panthers and jaguars) but I did see plenty of other wildlife, and this unique wilderness is in the running for my favourite place on earth. 

In a way, the trees are the star of the show here, along with the birds and insects they maintain and the way that local natives and tribespeople (they’re not the same thing – and both terms were the one chosen by the people I spoke to) live and work in harmony on the river. 

Monkeys, toucans, egrets and armadillos live beneath the leaves but it was the piranha that made the biggest impact on me. Not literally, thankfully. Nor the anaconda. Read more on the wildlife experiences of the Amazon rainforest here.

Top Tips for Visiting the Amazon Rainforest

• The Amazon Rainforest itself crosses nine countries but the vast majority (over 60%) lives in Brazil. Manaus is the easiest gateway city with easy flight connections to Sao Paulo and Brasilia. 
• It goes without saying (?!) that you will need a knowledgable guide, bug spray and long sleeved tops and trousers. Find a full list on what to wear in the Amazon rainforest here. 

Sail the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The pristine ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands barely needs an introduction. This is the land that inspired Charles Darwin to pull together his theory of evolution with a fervour that changed the world. 

It’s also one of the best wildlife experiences in South America (and the world, for that matter) on account of the variety of land and sea-based creatures you’ll find. Seals, turtles, giant tortoises and bird species galore. 

But the star of the show in this top travel wildlife destination is the characterful blue-footed booby. 

Top Tips for Visiting the Galapagos Islands

• Shore excursions are strictly limited for conservation reasons. Unfortunately, this means you’ll rarely have the place to yourself and will be in small groups of 10 – 30.
• You will need to participate in one of the many boat trips on offer to cruise the Galapagos, although you can spot the blue footed booby by hopping in a kayak near the big town of Puerto Ayara on the main island of Santa Cruz. 
• It’s definitely worth visiting more of the country, from Quito to the iconic cloudforests of Ecuadors.

Swimming with Manatees in Florida

Somewhat unflatteringly known as the “cows of the sea,” manatees are gentle sea giants who cause little to no harm. While they range over a wide area in the Americas, these marine mammals cluster into one place during their migration: Crystal River in Florida. 

The area has drastically increased the numbers of manatees in their water through one simple measure: instituting a speed limit for local boats. Manatees navigate through echolocation and the noise and disruption from the faster motors confused them, leaving many to become lost at sea. 

Florida itself is a popular destination for marine wildlife, with refuges and sanctuaries dotted across the state. 

But swimming with the manatees in the wild is still an approved educational practice, as long as it’s done right. You can find out more about how to swim with manatees ethically here. 

Top Tips for Swimming with Manatees in Florida

• You don’t really swim. You float with a snorkel and wait for them to reach you. 
• Manatee numbers are seasonal, so check before you book. 
• Make sure you head out with a reputable company and travel guide (as with all these wildlife adventures.) The Crystal River Plantation runs eco-approved excursions and also makes for an interesting place to stay. 

The Top Wildlife Experiences in the World: A Summary

Like all such lists, this one has its flaws. There is an open bias towards wildlife experiences and holidays that I’ve actually completed myself so that I can provide you with honest information.

However, you may also want to look into the following trips and ideas. I certainly will be!

• Polar bears in Churchill, Canada.
• Swimming with whale sharks.
• Catching up with Yogi bear in Yellowstone National Park.
• Tracking down brown bears and grizzlies in Canada (I did try but no luck!)
• Trekking through the National Parks of Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and Thailand. 
• Trekking to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda in their natural habitat.

More About the Destinations in This Article

• What Safari Guides Really Fear in Botswana’s Okavango Delta
• The Best Beach and Safari Holidays Across the World
• What to Wear in the Amazon Rainforest: Your Jungle Clothing Packing List
• The Best Beaches in Madagascar
• Your Borneo Food Guide and The 3 Recipes You Need to Know
• Your China Bucket List: 13 Unmissable Things to Do
• Unusual Things to do in Pembrokeshire, Wales
• What do the Words Galapagos Mean?
• Is it Ethical to Swim with Manatees?