Top 10 Wildlife Tourism Destinations From Around the World

Whether you’re a wildlife lover, an animal conservationist or just interested in the natural world, here are some of the top places with animals from around the globe.

Few destinations are more famous for their wildlife viewing than Kenya’s Masai Mara, which is a hot spot for seeing the wildebeest migration each year.

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1. Kenya’s Masai Mara

Kenya’s Masai Mara is one of the world’s most famous wildlife destinations, with its legendary collection of wild animals and mind-blowing wide open landscapes that seem to stretch as far as the eye can see. This incredible reserve also boasts a superb year round climate and internationally acclaimed accommodation that ranges from luxury tented camps to safari lodges.

Travelers can expect to encounter safari heavyweights like lion and leopard as well as popular species such as zebra, giraffe, hyena, eland, and gazelles. The annual wildebeest migration is a highlight that cannot be missed.

Other activities include nature walks, bush meals, and sundowners. Visits to traditional Maasai villages are another popular experience that gives visitors a fascinating insight into the unique lifestyle and culture of this nomadic warrior tribe.

2. South Africa’s Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is South Africa’s most famous and arguably greatest tourist attraction, offering a sublime fusion of natural beauty and thrilling adventure. Spanning a huge region, bigger than some countries (including Mozambique and Zimbabwe), it’s home to incredible diversity of flora, fauna and animal life including the Big 5.

Staying in one of the official rest camps within the park is a great way to experience the park in a more intimate and less commercialised way. It’s also more affordable than staying at a private lodge within the park. Staying in the far north section of the park is a favourite as it has a really wild feeling and offers great herds of buffalo, zebra and wildebeest. This is leopard country so look up in trees and on the ground for these elusive creatures!

3. Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest

The world’s largest rainforest boasts unimaginable biodiversity. Even small protected areas contain a mind-blowing number of species. Visitors can see monkeys, reptiles and birds in their natural habitat. They can also visit canopy towers to scan the forest for animals that spend their lives high in the trees. Other popular activities include river cruises, which provide an ideal way to spot wildlife in the flooded forests of the Amazon and its natural oxbow lakes.

Guests can take part in educational jungle treks and animal spotting at the lodges of the Amazon, or they can explore its rivers, like on the Tucano Cruise, which navigates through flooded grasslands and tributaries teeming with wildlife. They can even witness one of nature’s wonders at the Meeting of the Waters near Manaus, where the black Rio Negro meets the brown Amazon River to create a striking visual.

4. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a nature lover’s dream with its pristine forests, diverse wildlife and volcanic scenery. Its secluded beaches and coral reefs are a marine biologist’s paradise, while the country’s national parks showcase its tropical forest biodiversity.

The untamed beaches of Arenal Volcano are breath taking, especially during sea turtle nesting season (May – December). Other wildlife highlights include the Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and a visit to Tortuguero National Park.

Marino Ballena National Park in Uvita is a whale-watcher’s paradise, with migrating humpbacks visiting between December and April. Tours from nearby hotels ensure you see these giants in their natural habitat. Float through the Sierpe Terraba mangrove forest on the Osa Peninsula and spot crabs, caimans, crocodiles, tree frogs, white-faced capuchin monkeys and more. Costa Rica’s volcanoes also beckon adventurers, with hikes to Arenal Volcano and Rincon de la Vieja offering stunning views and heart-pounding excitement.

5. Alaska

Alaska is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise with its vast landscape of rugged coastline, soaring mountains and Arctic tundra that provide habitat for many species. The state’s four largest national parks, including Denali, boast breathtaking scenery of wild peaks, glacier-draped icefields and pristine wilderness areas that serve as a grandiose outdoor playground for hiking, paddling and fishing.

The largest national forest in the United States, Tongass, is a biodiversity hotspot and is a great place to spot everything from Sitka black-tailed deer and brown bears to moose and Dall sheep. Whale watching is also popular here, especially May through September when the humpbacks frequent the waters near Juneau.

The state’s capital, Anchorage, is a perfect base camp for adventure and offers a wide array of tours, including scenic boat trips and the famous zoo. Other activities include exploring Kenai Fjords National Park, catching salmon at Crescent Lake or observing polar bears wandering the Arctic villages.

6. Botswana’s Okavango Delta

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta is one of the most unique landscapes on earth. With its winding waterways and palm islands, it’s a bird-watcher’s paradise. Look out for jewel-like malachite kingfishers, slaty egrets and spoonbills, ground hornbills and the elusive lilac-breasted roller.

Luxury camps and lodges in the area offer a range of activities to explore this pristine wilderness. Boat and mokoro safaris are a great way to experience the delta’s channels and lagoons, while walking safaris let you encounter wildlife in their natural habitat. Chobe’s Savuti Marsh is renowned for its big cat action, with the legendary Marsh Pride being particularly impressive in their hunts of elephants. It also hosts a heronry where visitors can see some of Africa’s largest heron species. The tawny-coloured sand dunes of Chief’s Island in Moremi are also worth a visit.

7. Borneo

Borneo features some of the most biodiverse jungle on Earth - and as such, it’s teeming with wildlife. While seeing orangutans in the wild is not guaranteed, you will have a good chance of getting up close with other iconic endemic species such as proboscis monkeys, Hose’s langur monkeys, hornbills, and jungle cats.

Stroll above the jungle canopy on one of the island’s famous canopy walkways. The 300m-long walkway strung between native ‘ironwood’ trees at Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre is a highlight, while the canopy walk in Mulu National Park and Danum Valley Conservation Area are also worth visiting.

Learn about the diverse cultures of the island at Sarawak Cultural Village. Here you can see the traditional houses of different ethnic groups – Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Iban, Penan, Melanau, and Malay – and watch a dance or sample traditional blowpipe hunting.

8. Brazil’s Pantanal

The Pantanal is the world’s largest freshwater wetland and a haven for wildlife. Expect to see capybaras, anacondas, peccarys, hyacinth macaws and ocelots amongst many others as well as a staggering array of bird species.

The northern Pantanal can be easily accessed from Cuiaba, while the southern area is best entered through Campo Grande. Most safari lodges here are cattle ranches and you can leap into the saddle to herd and feed cattle while learning more about local life with a terere (ice-cold tea drunk through a metal straw from a gourd).

June to September is the best time to visit as flood waters recede, allowing creatures to cluster around lakes and lagoons. Combine a stay in the southern Pantanal with a trip to Bonito, a surprisingly under-the-radar region known for crystalline water caves and waterfalls.

9. Madagascar

The island of Madagascar enchants visitors with its stunning natural beauty and rich history. The island’s pristine beaches and mystical forests evoke romance and intrigue. Its iconic Avenue of Baobabs, with its 2 rows of towering trees forming a natural path is a must-see. It is especially breathtaking during sunrise or sunset when the trees glow in hues of orange and pink.

Its untouched rainforests and secluded beaches are home to rare wildlife. At Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, visitors can embark on immersive rainforest treks to observe lemur species and exotic birds and flora.

Other popular attractions include the natural swimming pool at Isalo where travellers refresh themselves after a hot monkey filled hike. And in Antananarivo, visitors can explore the palaces and summer house of the Merina dynasty that once ruled the island. The city also has a number of art galleries and museums to admire.

10. Svalbard

Stunning Arctic scenery and the polar bear reign supreme here, but Svalbard has more to offer than just nature. Discover the history of the archipelago’s early settlers at the North Pole Expedition Museum, where original film footage, telegrams, pictures and artifacts showcase their stories.

The best time to visit is in summer (May to September), when it’s easier to get out and explore the wild landscape on a glacier-spotting cruise or a hike with proper safety precautions (remember, this is polar bear country). This is also when the sun stays up longer, giving you plenty of opportunities to see the northern lights. Alternatively, come in winter for some snow activities or simply to marvel at the Arctic landscapes under the stars.