Best time to go on a wildlife vacation


Our Wildlife Vacations
Sri Lanka tour & beach vacation
Tropical island paradise with cultural tour
Namibia safari and vacation
A fabulous small group guided trip in Nambia
Whale watching in the Azores
Classic whale watching trip in the Azores archipelago
Complete Uganda vacation, tailor made
Gorillas, Chimpanzees, 6 National Parks and Jinja Adventure
Spitsbergen wildlife cruises
Encounters with glaciers, polar bears and icebergs.
Costa Rica highlights vacation & beach
Short highlight itinerary covering city, forests and beach.
Sweden vacations, Wolves, Moose and Beavers
Wildlife vacation in Sweden with full focus on large mammals.
Madagascar in depth, small group tour
Madagascar's unique wildlife and off the beaten track gems
Borneo vacations, tailor made
Rainforests, orangutans, beaches tailor made
Trinidad and Tobago vacations
All the main highlights of Trinidad & Tobago
Galapagos & Amazon wildlife vacation, Ecuador
The ultimate wildlife trip to the Amazon and Galapagos
Swaziland wildife and culture tour
Explore Eswatini, one of the smallest countries in Africa
Kayaking vacation in Indonesia
Sea kayaking to some of the most remote beaches on earth
Small group vacations to Madagascar
Experience the best of this enigmatic island continent
Sweden wildlife vacation, Ecolodge short break
Wildlife break at Sweden's most primitive hotel.
Wolf spotting in France
Wolf vacation - Mercantour National Park - South of France
Self drive vacation in Costa Rica, Pacific Coast
Self-drive Costa Rica's Pacific coast, away from the crowds
Borneo tailor made vacations, wildlife & beaches
A luxury tour of the best wildlife & beaches of Sabah
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
Galapagos Islands vacation
Home to many interesting species of endemic wildlife
Gorilla and game safari in Uganda
The great Silver back Gorilla & wildlife all in one package!
South Africa safari vacation, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
Cape to Windhoek Namib desert camping safari
Camping safari from Cape Town to Namibia, Sossusvlei, Etosha
Whale & dolphin research in Ligurian Sea, Italy
Whale and dolphin conservation trip
Madagascar small group safari
Exceptional journey, expert guides & staggering diversity
Sri Lanka wildlife and whales tour
Whales and the wildlife of Yala National Park
Wolverine photography tour in Finland
Photograph & watch wild wolverines, a very elusive species
Bird watching tours in Hungary
Visit Bukk N.P. with a birding specialist
Gorilla safaris & chimpanzee tracking
Tigers
Tigers are always present in the national parks of India and Nepal, but weather extremes – particularly in India – affect the best time to see them. In India, monsoon closes the parks from July until early October. Sightings are more common in March to June as the heat soars, vegetation dies back and the creatures seek water – but be prepared for temperatures over 40°C. Nepal is pleasantly cooler.Siberian tigers are best observed in winter, when you can follow their tracks in the snow. February is one of the best months.
Whales
You can see up to ten different whale species off the Sri Lankan coast, including fin, Bryde’s, minke, humpback, sperm, and a plethora of dolphins, between late November and mid April. However, mighty blue whales are most likely to be seen between February and mid March.Dolphins and sperm whales can be seen in the waters around the Azores all year round, while March is best for blue whale sightings. Up to 10 other whale species are present from February to October, with April to August the peak months.
Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula is the place to see grey whales in Baja. They migrate here from mid January to late March to give birth in the lagoons, and are known as the ‘friendly whales’, thanks to their keenness to approach tour boats.
Snow leopards
November to March is the time to head to Ladakh in India to see snow leopards prowling the Himalayas. The snow makes it easier to see their tracks, and the icy weather forces them down to lower altitudes.Orangutans
You can see orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra at any time of year – especially in the many sanctuaries in Malaysian Borneo If you’re hoping to see them in the wild, however, you may want to come in the drier months of May to September.Polar bears
Cruise around Spitsbergen in the Arctic summer months of May to September, when the pack ice begins to melt, to see polar bears on these northerly Norwegian islands.Late October into November are the best months to see these creatures in Canada’s polar bear capital, Churchill.
Our top Wildlife Vacation
Galapagos land based adventure vacation
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater
2019: 19 Dec, 21 Dec, 28 Dec
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Dolphins
Unlike whales, dolphins are not generally migratory. Choosing when to go on a dolphin watching vacation, therefore, is more about the weather and water conditions. Take boat trips out to see them all year round in Egypt’s Red Sea – although December to February may be a little too chilly for swimming and sunbathing. Being in the open Atlantic can mean choppy waves and strong wind, so come to the Azores in May to September for the best conditions. The Ligurian Sea, part of the Mediterranean north of Corsica up to Italy, is more sheltered; March to October should be fine.Bears
Bears hibernate, of course – so you’ll need to seek them out in summer. May to September are when you’ll find all your bear necessities in Finland, Romania, Northern Greece and Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Canada’s bear season extends through to October, while the Arctic state of Alaska is best for brown and black bears in June to August.African safaris
Bird watching
With migrants heading here from both North and South America, there is always something to see in Trinidad and Tobago – and November to April are peak nesting months. Trinidad’s national bird, the scarlet ibis, is present all year round but most numerous in January to March. In Tobago, look out for red-billed tropicbirds offshore in November to March, along with northern migrants. Southern migrants will appear from May to September. Read more in our guide.Hungary is a haven for birdlife in summer – with late April to early June the best time to see visiting migrants and nesting species.
Some 236 of Sri Lanka’s 400 species of birds are resident on the island, meaning that you can take bird watching vacations here all year. For winter migrants, October to April are the best months. It’s a similar story in India, whose varied landscapes and climates mean that you can see birds all year round – so perhaps time your trip based on the best time for hiking, tiger safaris or avoiding the monsoon, for example. Winter, again, is best for migrants.
Russian Far East
Kamchatka and Chukotka are bursting with wildlife, usually observed via expedition cruises. You’ll need to come here in the short summer season from May to September; May and early June are best for bird watching while September is when brown bears lounge along the shoreline. Look out for walrus, whales and orca, too. If you’re lucky, you may spot polar bears on remote Wrangel Island in July and August.Lemurs
Endemic to Madagascar, lemurs can be seen throughout the year, but in October to December you’re most likely to see ring-tailed lemurs with their babies. On Ile Sainte-Marie, babies are born in June and July – which are also the best months to see humpback whales around this offshore island.Costa Rica
December to April are the best months to visit Costa Rica for cooler – but still warm – temperatures and drier weather. Look out for abundant birds, monkeys, iguanas and sloths at any time; August to October is when sea turtles nest on Tortuguero National Park’s beaches.Responsible Travel recommends
“If you are looking to go to the Kinabatangan River area, I would avoid going earlier than about March or April, or in December, because the weather is atrocious. The rain is so heavy. It can be a year-round destination but when the rain is at its heaviest it can really hinder your experience. It can be really humid. Peak is probably from end of April through to October, so it’s perfect for a summer vacation destination – but it does get really busy.”
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