By
Holly Foat, responsibletravel.com
Not much can come close to that feeling when you spot an animal in the wild, especially when you’re not expecting it: awe-inspiring, breathtaking and wonderful and always a moment you will never forget.
It’s no wonder that wildlife vacations are so popular. Watching wildlife is a great way to get back to nature and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With so many wildlife vacations on offer in so many fabulous locations it’s hard to decide where to go or what animals to see.
So we’ve put together our top ten favourite wildlife watching vacations in various locations around the world, some in the very remote wilderness and some closer to home.
So whether you have 3 weeks to spare or 3 days there’s a wildlife vacation to suit you. As many of the species featured on this list are endangered or protected species we make sure that these trips are run responsibly and respectfully. Many of our tour operators are actively involved in conservation projects so you can rest assured that your wildlife vacation will be run to look after the wildlife as well as you.
1. Gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda
Watching gorillas is often the most popular and life changing of all wildlife experiences. Being face to face with a wild gorilla is on many people’s ‘must do before you die’ list. Whether it’s because of their intimidating size combined with their unexpected gentle grace or because they behave so much like us, it’s easy to see why gorilla watching is such an amazing experience. Whether you want to see lowland gorillas in the Bwindi impenetrable forest or mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains we have a great responsible trip for you. Take a look our
gorilla safaris here.
2. The big five safari in Africa
Africa is one of the places that you either love or hate and most people absolutely adore it! And why not? It’s almost impossible not to enjoy a safari in this beautiful country full of zebras, elephants, lions and wildebeest. The big five animals tend to take centre stage on safari but don’t forget that the smaller, less famous animals (like hyenas and impala) can be just as fun and exciting to see. Check out our
African safaris here.
3. Polar bears in the Arctic
Polar bears are now the iconic species that symbolises climate change and puts a cuddly face to the ugly problem of global warming. With the recent media frenzy over the conservation status of the polar bear it is more important than ever to make sure that your bear watching vacation is run responsibly.
That’s why all our polar bear watching vacations have to adhere to our criteria so that you know that your vacation is run to minimise environmental impacts to help conserve these magnificent creatures. Have a look at this
polar bear watching vacation in Churchill, Manitoba.
4. Tigers in India
This endangered species is one of the most elusive which means that a tiger watching vacation can be a very rewarding experience. With nearly 30 tiger reserves, India is a country that is making a great effort to conserve their tigers and is definitely well worth a visit. We have vacations in some of the best of these reserves including Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Ranthambore. Check out all our great
tiger watching vacations here.
5. Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are one of the most ecologically diverse areas on the planet and a must for any wildlife enthusiast. The Island’s most famous tourist, Charles Darwin began to form his theory of natural selection here and it’s easy to see why. With a huge range of birds and animals found no where else on earth, the Galapagos Islands are an experience of a life time. Take a look at our selection of
Galapagos cruises here.
6. Whale watching
Watching as an enormous whale throws itself into the air, pounding the surface and disappearing back to the ocean depths with a splash really can take your breath away. Whale watching is an increasingly popular activity and very widespread with boat trips operating wherever the whales are.
From Norway to Newfoundland or Iceland to Italy, all our whale watching vacation are run responsibly, ensuring that whilst you get close enough to take great photos, the only footprints left behind are the whales’. Whether you want to see playful orcas or mighty humpbacks we have
a range of trips and one to suit you.
7. Grizzly bears in the Rockies
Grizzly bears, a subspecies of brown bears, are amongst the eight remaining bear species on the planet. Many of the bear species, such as the sloth bear, are endangered or vulnerable but brown bears aren’t among them, so hopefully spotting one shouldn’t be too tricky! Watching a creature so huge and powerful can be an awe inspiring experience and if you go to the right place at the right time of year you might just be lucky enough to spot some little bear cubs out to play. Take a look at our
bear watching vacations here.
8. Watching orangutans in Borneo
Watching orangutans in the wild is often on peoples ‘things to do before you die’ list, and with good reason. Watching orangutans can be a magical experience and one you will never forget. With the many threats to orangutans including deforestation and habitat destruction for palm oil plantations, it’s more important than ever to make sure that orangutan tourism helps towards their conservation. All our tour operators abide by a code of conduct and most operators include visit to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in their itineraries, which houses and then releases injured orangutans back into the wild. Have a look at our selection of
orangutan vacations here.
9. Antarctica 
Antarctica is a vast white continent and the last true wilderness. Officially uninhabited and owned by no one, it is a place like no other on earth. Home to penguins, seal colonies, whales and albatrosses, it’s a great place to get away from it all and have a vacation of a lifetime. We have a selection of
vacations in Antarctica here.
10. Wildlife in Europe You don’t have to travel too far from home to find a great wildlife experience. Even in Europe there are some great wildlife vacations just waiting for you. Whether you want to see
birds or
bears or
wolves or
whales we have a range of wildlife encounters in Europe. Take a look at all our
Europe vacations here.
For more exciting experiences, check out our wildlife vacations Don’t forget that all of our wildlife watching vacations have to meet our criteria for environmental, social and economic responsibility which means that they minimise their environmental impact, benefit the local community or provide employment in the local area. They also abide by strict codes of conduct so not to distress the wildlife (for example not getting too close and ending encounters when animals leave rather than following them). Also, many of our wildlife tour operators regularly donate to and support conservation projects to protect and preserve endangered wildlife. You can find our
criteria here and the
campaigns we support here.
