Few experiences on vacation capture the imagination like seeing a magnificent animal in the wild. Spotting a cheetah racing across the African savannah in the hunt for a Thompson’s gazelle. Watching as a migrating humpback whale breaches the ocean waters. Cruising in a zodiac to see a massive colony of thousands of emperor penguins in the frozen reaches of Antarctica. These are memories that will stay with you forever and they belong on any traveller’s bucket list.
But where can you go to make these bucket list memories? Keep reading as we break down some of the world’s bucket list safari and wildlife destinations.
Antarctica
A vacation to Antarctica is a chance to spot orcas and humpback whales passing through the frigid waters, massive elephant seals dozing on the shoreline, and leopard seals hunting alongside icebergs. Oh, and penguins. So many penguins. A trip to Antarctica brings with it the chance to see almost every species of penguin in its natural habitat, from diminutive Adelie and chinstrap penguins to larger emperor and king penguins. An Antarctic vacation is a bucket list experience, regardless of whether you love wildlife or not. But for wildlife lovers, it’s truly unforgettable.
Australia
From laughing kookaburras to hopping kangaroos, Australia is bursting with animal life that is endlessly fascinating to wildlife lovers. If you’re looking to snap a selfie with the world’s happiest critter, the quokka, which only lives on Rottnest Island in Western Australia, or are searching for that rare glimpse of a platypus in the wilds of Tasmania, head on a trip to Australia. Don’t forget about the marine life, too, from the whale sharks of the Ningaloo Reef to the green sea turtles of the Great Barrier Reef. The world’s natural home to marsupials remains one of the world’s all-time wildlife destinations.
Brazil
In terms of pure wildlife wattage, it’s hard to top Brazil. The South American nation is home to around 60% of the Amazon rainforest, which is the world’s largest jungle. There are likely thousands of undiscovered species in the Amazon, which gives you a sense of just how many remarkable animals live there, from jaguars and howler monkeys to river dolphins and the adorable capybara. But the Amazon is not the only place to see animals on a trip to Brazil. The Pantanal in Brazil’s southwest is the world’s largest tropical wetland and home to countless birds, mammals, and reptiles.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica lies at the meeting point of both the north and south migratory routes, which makes it one of the most biodiverse nations on the planet, despite its modest size. Head on a Costa Rica vacation to spot the abundance of tropical birds, from keel-billed toucans to scarlet macaws to the resplendent quetzal. Of course, there are also adorable sloths (both two- and three-toed), squirrel monkeys, and critters of all kinds to see as you explore Arenal Volcano or the coastal rainforest of Manuel Antonio on a Costa Rican vacation.
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands is one of the most remarkably unique places on the planet. Animals on the Ecuadorian island chain essentially evolved in a bubble, cut off from related species in other parts of the world. This means that the animals you see here are only here, which truly makes a Galapagos Islands vacation a bucket list trip. Among the species that inspired Charles Darwin are blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, marine iguanas (there are even half-marine, half-land iguanas that are marvels of adaptation), and the Galapagos penguin.
India
Wildlife isn’t likely the first thing you associate with India, but the country is bursting with beautiful animals. Tigers are the calling card here and you can head on an Indian vacation to Ranthambore National Park to see them in remarkable numbers. But tigers only scratch the surface of this country that’s home to so many animals, especially colourful birds that will have birders bursting with joy. Peafowl (peacocks to the layman) are the most obvious endemic bird, but everything from cuckoos to kingfishers to the gorgeous Indian roller make a trip to India a natural delight.
Kenya
As one half of the most famous safari countries in the world (see directly below for the other), Kenya is the ideal destination for an African safari. Maasai Mara National Reserve is the epicentre of the nation’s game viewing, with massive herds of wildebeest and zebra crossing back and forth over the border with Tanzania in the Great Migration. But you don’t need to stick to the Maasai Mara on a Kenyan safari to see the Big Five and more birds than you’ve ever seen in your life. Amboseli National Park is home to the big tusker elephants living in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, while Lake Nakuru offers a chance to see massive flocks of flamingos feeding on the algae living in the soda lake.
Tanzania
Animals don’t respect national borders, which is why you can’t talk about Kenya without also mentioning Tanzania. The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti are one contiguous plain for the migrating wildebeest and zebras to explore, so animals you might find in Kenya one month, you’ll find in Tanzania in another. The Serengeti is positively bursting with wildlife even beyond the migration, including cheetahs, ostriches, and the massive kori bustard, the world’s heaviest flying bird. The Ngorongoro Crater is also an incredible spot for an African safari, as the volcanic crater offers a mind-boggling number of animals within a dense, easily explorable landscape. A visit to the Ngorongoro Crater on a Tanzania safari offers perhaps your best chance to see rhinos, which are among the most elusive of the Big Five (despite their size).
Thailand
Thailand is such a delightful place for cultural encounters and foodie explorations that it sometime doesn’t get the credit it deserves as a wildlife destination. But Thailand is flush with incredible animals. Head on a Thai vacation outside Chiang Mai in the country’s north to visit elephant sanctuaries and learn about the profound connection between the local villagers and the world’s largest mammals. Explore the southern rainforests to hear gibbons singing in the morning (gibbons are the most vocal of ape species). And snorkel the waters of the Gulf of Thailand or the Andaman see to spot colourful parrotfish, manta rays, and even the rare dugong.
Uganda
Uganda has many of the same iconic safari creatures as other countries in East Africa, but that’s not the main reason people head on a trip to Uganda. Rather, they go on a Ugandan vacation to spend a sacred hour with mountain gorillas, who live deep in rainforests on the slopes of the Virunga mountains, namely in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Uganda has over half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. A mountain gorilla trek is the definition of a bucket list wildlife experience, so plan to visit Uganda if you want to share the forest with these great apes.
You might say that Aren was destined to become a globetrotter after his family took him to Germany two times before he was four. If that wasn’t enough, a term spent in Sweden as a young teenager and a trek across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand confirmed that destiny. An independent writer, director, and film critic, Aren has travelled across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. His favourite travel experience was visiting the major cities of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, but his love for food, drink, and film will take him anywhere that boasts great art and culture.
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