The Best Animal Encounters Around The World
August is THE month for appreciating all creatures great & small. And - no matter where your summer holiday takes you - you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to experiencing these amazing animals.
August is THE month for appreciating all creatures great and small, what with national days dedicated to lions, elephants, lizards and orangutans! And - no matter where your summer holiday has taken you - you are bound to be spoilt for choice when it comes to experiencing these amazing animals. You’ll soon see what we mean!
1.Cage dive with sharks in … South Africa
Granted, this one might not be for everyone, but if you want to get up close and personal with these deadly creatures, you can do so - safely - in a solid metal cage, courtesy of experiences all over the world but most famously Cape Town. You don’t even need any diving experience to do so - cool, huh?
Ready to experience an interactive aquarium? Book here!
2.Go on safari in … Africa
It doesn’t really matter where you are in Africa; the ‘Big Five’ (and, indeed, the ‘Ugly Five’) can be experienced almost anywhere - the Serengeti (straddling the border between Tanzania and Kenya) and Kruger just a few of the main players. And - no matter where you choose - believe us when we say it’s an experience you will never forget, turning the most apathetic into die-hard animal lovers.
Head out on early-morning game drives to spot the majestic zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, buffalos, rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, hippos, giraffes, antelope, crocodiles, vultures, warthogs and hyenas … phew! The list is truly endless. And - if you’re big fans of The Lion King (like we are), you may even just squeal every time you spot Simba! Nala! and Pumbaa! (No? Just us? Ok then.) If you want to watch the migration of the wildebeest (without a tragic lion murder - sniff, sob), then there’s no better time to visit than between December and March or May and November. It’s the stuff dreams (and Disney movies) are made of.
Experience the ultimate Pilanesberg Safari
Book a Johannesburg to Kenya Tour
3.Trek with mountain gorillas in … Rwanda
David Attenborough once described this experience as one of the most exciting animal encounters of his life. We shouldn’t really need to say much more, but … we will.
Head deep into the forests with an experienced guide and spend up to an hour quietly observing a family of gorillas (typically one male and several females - lucky him, hey?) in their natural habitat. A mind-bending, adrenaline-charged, once-in-a-lifetime experience that will stay with you forever.
Get close to the gorillas in this epic 27-day African tour
4.Saddle up a llama in … Yellowstone National Park
One of the best ways to see the scenic beauty of Yellowstone National Park is on board a llama, soaking up the lakes, canyons, waterfalls and wildlife this 900,000-hectare landmark has to offer.
5.Marvel at dragons in … Indonesia
The islands of Komodo National Park are justifiably famous for their dragons (the largest species of monitor lizard on earth), and participating in a guided hike as these menacing creatures watch on is a sure-fire way to get the adrenaline pumping.
6.Swim with humpback whales in … Australia
These gentle giants will change the way you think about whales and a guided encounter tour with these creatures - having arrived from Antarctica on a marathon migration - is the perfect way to experience it.
7.Get hip with the hippos in … Botswana
Watch these iconic creatures bask, play and yawn in their thriving 40,000+ population.
8.Meet the world’s most unique and unusual wildlife in … Galapagos
When it comes to legendary, never-before-seen wildlife, we don’t really know where to begin. We could talk about the one-of-a-kind marine iguana found only here, or the Galapagos shark native only to this remote, beautiful, magical paradise in the Pacific Ocean, or the penguins, or blue-footed boobies, or sea lions, or giant Galapagos tortoise (the largest in the world, living up to 170 years old!). We can’t choose - so we won’t!
Experience this animal lovers’ paradise for yourself
9.Appreciate the panda in … China
Take a trip to Chengdu’s famous Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to learn all about these cuddly bears. With less than 2,000 left in the world, you’re not spoilt for choice if you want to meet these shy creatures in person, but you could do a lot worse than here - where you’ll be taught how to safely interact with them before being allowed to feed them bamboo in their preserve, as well as interacting with the young cubs.
10.Get the lynx effect in … Romania
(Sorry. Couldn’t resist.)
The 1,500m stretch of Carpathian Mountains through Central to Eastern Europe not only offers stunning hiking trails but also provides a habitat for the largest European populations of brown bears, wolves and lynxes.
It’s not just anywhere you can witness the beauty of lynxes, and with around 1500 in Romania, this is definitely the place to do it!
11.Go wild for tigers in … India
Few creatures offer the power and grace of the endangered tiger, and few places offer an in-the-wild encounter quite like India - home to over 75% of the world’s tiger population.
Wildlife haven, Bandhavgarh, is one of India’s premier tiger parks, boasting a healthy population of about 60-70, while the 1,300 square-kilometer stretch of Ranthambore National Park is another great sanctuary.
12.Swim with Manatees in … Florida
Created to protect the endangered species, the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is the only place worldwide where you can go swimming with them!
13.Look after elephants in … Thailand
The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is just one of those things you just have to do while in Thailand.
Established in the 90s to provide rescue and rehabilitation for mistreated Asian elephants (once used as working animals and now forced to carry tourists in the blazing heat), you’ll learn all about these remarkable creatures, feed them fruit and join them for a splash in the river. You’ll see that it is possible to have fun with these beauties - in a way that is mutually enjoyable.
14.Play with penguins in … Antarctica
If the thought of these cartoon-cute creatures waddling up to you and pecking at your clothes gets you excited, then you’ll probably want to head to Antarctica, pronto! Six of the world’s 17 species can be found here, equating to an estimated 12,000,000+, and with no indigenous population, they don’t experience human interaction very often, which means they’re more than likely to peer closely at you to satisfy their curiosity.
Book the Best of Antarctica tour
15.View the vultures in … Spain
If you’re in the Pyrenees anyway (we highly recommend), you can visit a vulture hide and witness these birds of prey feasting on goat meat - if you’re into that kind of thing, that is.
16.Mosey on down with the moose in … Canada
The best way to see these dopey dudes in the wild is by canoe, and in Canada, the options are endless.
17.Keep up with the Koalas & Kangaroos in … Australia
You already know Australia’s famed for these adorable animals, so there’s not much more we can say other than … definitely consider a trip here if spotting these iconic cuties is high up on your bucket list! You will not be disappointed.
Have breakfast with the koalas
Book a Kangaroo At Sunrise tour
18.Snorkel with sea turtles in … The Maldives
Just a truly wonderful experience. ‘Nuf said.
19.Spend time with toucans in … Brazil
If you’re in Brazil, you must spend some time at the Bird Sanctuary in Iguazu Falls. As well as the spectacular toucan, you’ll also see parrots, macaws and parakeets.
Book an Argentina & Brazil tour
20.Go horse riding in … Turkey
Cappadocia, also known as the ‘Land of Beautiful Horses’, certainly lives up to its name, boasting some of the richest horse riding history in the world. Today it is still a hugely popular experience - not only for the quality of the horses but for the region’s distinctive scenery - made up of centuries-old churches and traditional villages carved out of soft rock - backdropped by honeycombed hills.
21.Chill out with puffins in … Iceland
Boasting the largest puffin colony in the world, Iceland certainly has something to shout about, and you can choose between heading out to the islands to interact with them or heading to one of the colonies on the mainland instead. April through to September is the best time to see them, so be mindful when booking!
22.Move it move with lemurs in … Madagascar
Yes - Madagascar is more than just a Dreamworks movie starring lemur lead, King Julien (well, they had to get the inspiration from somewhere, didn’t they?!) With 33 species of lemur on this exotic island, a truly epic experience awaits, but due to its remote nature, you’d be wise to join a specific tour to help you get the most from your visit.
Ready for a wild ride? All that’s left for you to do is choose where to go first!
