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Where to go on a family wildlife vacation

Whatever the age or stage of your family, there’s a wildlife vacation that will have every member giddy with excitement. From classic African safaris, to something even more unusual – snorkelling with sea lions in the Galapagos, anyone? If you’re wondering where to go on a family wildlife vacation, here are 10 tempting destinations for an unforgettable adventure.

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Where to go on a family wildlife vacation

The world’s most exciting wildlife, guaranteed to have children of all ages gripped, doesn’t tend to live on our doorstep, so be prepared for a chunky flight to reach it. While some wildlife hotspots are compact (Costa Rica springs to mind), many lie in out of the way corners of remote and often huge countries, so you may also need to take internal flights or sit through lengthy drives to reach the birds and beasties. Where possible, family wildlife vacations incorporate fun ways to travel, too, with river cruises, canopy walks and snorkelling all giving a new perspective on wildlife.

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Our Family wildlife Vacations

1. Azores
2. Borneo
3. Botswana
4. Brazil
5. Costa Rica
6. Galapagos Islands
7. India
8. Namibia
9. South Africa
10. Tanzania

Azores

1. Azores

This scattering of islands in the mid Atlantic, belonging to Portugal, is one of the best places in the world to see whales and dolphins, with a third of all species recorded in these waters, including sperm whales and enormous blue whales. Family trips are carefully designed to suit children, combining amazing sightings with the chance to learn about marine conservation and explore on land, too.

Azores

Borneo

2. Borneo

Orangutans are always the star of a family wildlife vacation to Borneo, and rehabilitation centers in Sabah and Sarawak make the viewing easy. Sumatran rhinos, pygmy elephants, monitor lizards and proboscis monkeys, looking like someone’s alcoholic ginger uncle, also wait to be spotted, on jungle hikes and river cruises. Add in traditional tribes, beaches, canopy walks and bubbling hot springs and you have a true family adventure.

Botswana

3. Botswana

Home to a range of habitats, from the channels and islands of the Okavango Delta to the dry plains of Savuti, Botswana is a dream family wildlife destination, simply because there’s so much wildlife to see. In Chobe National Park alone you’ll find vast herds of elephants, often 80-strong, as well as hundreds of zebra and buffalo – for even the most unimpressible teen or tot, that’s a lot of ‘wow’.

Botswana

Brazil

4. Brazil

Any family with naturalist notions should make for the Pantanal in Brazil, a wetland region the size of France. This is the best place on the planet to spot jaguars, plus a supporting cast of curious creatures, including jabiru storks, giant otters, comical capybaras, anteaters, armadillos and even tapirs. Kids will also love the chance to stay on a working ranch, learning from the resident cowboys.

Costa Rica

5. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is small, but packs a punch when it comes to wildlife. Amazingly biodiverse, there’s everything from rainforest and cloud forest, to mangroves and reefs, supporting a huge range of wildlife. Kids can see nesting turtles, exotic quetzal birds, sloths, monkeys, crocs and toucans, often up close, and enjoy ziplines, canopy walks, hikes, rafting and kayaking – an exhilarating blend of nature and adventure.

Costa Rica

Galapagos Islands

6. Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos are overflowing with wildlife, and it’s all harmless and unafraid of humans, making this a perfect place for kids. Punky marine iguanas that snort sea water are just the start; there are giant tortoises, sharks and the chance to snorkel with sea lions. A land based trip makes it easy to explore and avoids the potential seasickness or cabin fever of a cruise.

India

7. India

When it comes to wildlife in India, we’re all thinking the same thing: tigers. Multiple game drives in a handful of parks produce the best chance of a sighting, with lots of chital, sambar, monkeys and peacocks to enjoy, plus sloth bears and Indian bison if you’re lucky. There’s usually no age restriction on tiger safaris, but be sure little ones can handle chilly morning game drives, and understand that sightings are not guaranteed.

India

Namibia

8. Namibia

If you family prefers its big game complemented by adventure sports and startling desert landscapes, pick Namibia. Game viewing is fabulous here. Animals cluster around the water holes in Etosha National Park and elsewhere you’ll come across everything from gemsbok to seals and flamingos. Visit the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre to see cheetahs, and in between, scale giant sand dunes and camp in the desert.

South Africa

9. South Africa

South Africa has everything families could wish for. Amazing game – including the Big Five and rare wild dogs and white rhino – and numerous parks, many of which are malaria free. There are adventure sports to keep active teens chipper, too, from treetop canopy tours to rafting. You can also team a safari here with a beach break in Mozambique or Mauritius.

South Africa

Tanzania

10. Tanzania

Flamingos and tree climbing lions in Lake Manyara, the Big Five ‘trapped’ within the Ngorongoro Crater, and the vast Serengeti plains where huge herds of wildebeest migrate – Tanzania delivers some of East Africa’s iconic wildlife sights. Lovely lodges with pools and the chance to learn about wildlife, conservation, land pressures, climate and local life completes the trip for young explorers.

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More about Family wildlife

Best time to go on a family wildlife holiday

Best time to go on a family wildlife vacation

The best time to go on a family wildlife vacation is, obviously, during the school vacations.

Family wildlife vacations guide

At Responsible Travel, we don’t support zoos; we believe spotting wildlife in the wild is the best way to see it.

Top 10 family wildlife vacations

Introducing the kids to the world’s wildlife is easy on a specialist family vacation that teams animal spotting with exciting activities and plenty of downtime.

Family safaris

African safaris bring you close to extraordinary wildlife, from elusive leopards to huge herds of wildebeest.

Tiger safaris

Tiger safaris with children are not only possible, usually from about five years upwards, but also potentially one of the most exciting family vacation you can hope for.

Watching Orangutans with the kids

Seeing orangutans is a surprisingly family friendly option, but only if you do your research and read up on the best places for watching orangutans with kids, especially if the children are young.

Family wildlife vacations on land & sea

Family wildlife vacations that take in a range of habitats can deliver the biggest mix of sightings, while keeping the itinerary varied and active enough to amuse children.

Family wildlife vacations advice

From seeing orangutans in Borneo to packing for an African safari or keeping teens happy in Costa Rica, we have lots of family wildlife vacations advice, straight from our expert suppliers and tour operators.

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Written by Joanna Simmons

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: Nadezhda1906] [Azores: Angela Compagnone] [Borneo: JP Bennett] [Botswana: Wynand Uys] [Brazil: Marinelson Almeida - Traveling through Brazil] [Costa Rica: travelmag.com] [Galapagos Islands: Paul Krawczuk] [India: Bernie Catterall] [Namibia: Alan James Hendry] [South Africa: Matthias Mullie] [Tanzania: Martin Olsen]

Where to go on a family wildlife vacation