If you love animals as much as I do and you are looking for an awesome destination to experience a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter, this article is for you.
After traveling around the world for more than a decade, visiting over 90 countries across 5 continents, I have decided to compile a list of my favorite wildlife encounters that I think you should experience once in your life.
From the crazy monkey city of Lopburi in Thailand to the anacondas of the Amazon rain forests, here are the 10 best wildlife destinations you should put on your bucket list:
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10 Best Wildlife Destinations You Have to Experience Once in Your Life
- The Big-5 at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
- Gorilla Encounters in Uganda
- Witness Orangutans in Sumatra, Indonesia
- Seeing the Blue Whale in Sri Lanka
- Swim with Whale Sharks in Donsol, the Philippines
- Monkey City of Lopburi in Thailand
- Showering Elephants in Thailand
- Witness the Komodo Dragon in Indonesia
- Experience the Unbelievable Wildlife on Galapagos Islands in Ecuador
- See Anacondas with your own eyes in the Amazon Rainforest
- Further Reading for Inspiration
10 Best Wildlife Destinations You Have to Experience Once in Your Life
1. The Big-5 at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
First and foremost, let's begin with one of the most sought-after wildlife experiences out there: tracking down Africa's iconic Big Five, lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, and rhinoceros, on a safari trip.
Thanks to Disney classics like "The Lion King", these majestic creatures have been capturing our imaginations since we were kids, sparking our love for the wild, and if you are looking to fulfill that dream, one of the best places to visit is Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
Best known for its sweeping savannahs covering more than 14,000 square kilometers, teeming with over 2 million animals (3,000 lions live in the national park alone), and the massive annual migration of wildebeest and zebra, there is no better place to see the big-five than in Serengeti.
While the safari tour around the Serengeti may come with a slightly higher price tag than other destinations, it's well worth it for the incredible diversity of wildlife you'll encounter. Beyond just the big five, you'll have the chance to see hyenas, hippos, baboons, and much more.
I spent around 5 days exploring the Serengeti and its surroundings, and we managed to spot all the big five throughout the trip. It was an amazing experience, and if you've ever dreamed of roaming the African savannahs in search of the big five, this is definitely the place to be.
If you are looking for a great website to find safari tours, I highly recommend you check out SafariBookings.com. I used them for all my African safari trips and they were great!
2. Gorilla Encounters in Uganda
There is a reason why East Africa remains one of the best places to witness wildlife. The region is home to many rare animals, including gorillas, our close evolutionary cousin, which can only be found in 3 countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
Out of all the 3 countries, Uganda is the cheapest with the permit costing about 800 USD per person. The gorillas reside in the impenetrable forest of Bwindi, where you can trek through the forest and have a close encounter with a few of the 400 gorillas that reside in the forest.
I did this during my trip around East Africa in 2022, and being able to see the gorillas with my own eyes, mimicking the behaviors of humans, was so surreal, it is hard to explain in words. It's almost like you are observing another species of humans, if that makes sense!
Once you track down the gorillas, you are only allowed about an hour with them before you are ushered back to your camp, which I think is really awesome as it will keep the experience sustainable and not disturb the gorillas too much. I really think they do enjoy hanging out with us humans. Gorillas are, after all, a social animal, just like us.
If you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter in Africa, witnessing the gorillas in Uganda is hard to beat. It can be quite expensive, with most tours costing around $1,800 USD, but for such a unique experience, I think it's worth the price tag.
3. Witness Orangutans in Sumatra, Indonesia
For a more affordable encounter with another of our close evolutionary cousins, witnessing orangutans in Sumatra, Indonesia, is another one of my favorite wildlife experiences.
Thanks to the rich rainforests in Bukit Lawang, Sumatra is home to over 10,000 orangutans. You can go on a one-day or multi-day trek with a local guide who will take you deep into the thick jungle of Sumatra to witness orangutans in their natural habitats.
On the tour, you will have the opportunity to see not just orangutans but also other species, such as gibbons and Thomas Leaf Monkeys. I did the 3D2N orangutan trekking in Bukit Lawang, and we saw around five orangutans, several gibbons, and Thomas Leaf Monkeys, all on our first day. How awesome is that!?
The best part about these tours is spending two nights in the jungle, sleeping at camps by rivers, and having plenty of time to fully immerse yourself in the untamed nature of Sumatra. This experience is unlike any other orangutan encounters elsewhere. If you want to see orangutans the proper way, I highly recommend visiting Bukit Lawang in Sumatra, Indonesia, and going on one of these jungle trek tours.
4. Seeing the Blue Whale in Sri Lanka
Another affordable and epic wildlife encounter you can have in Asia is seeing the Blue Whale, the largest mammal in the world, with your own eyes in Sri Lanka.
Blue whales are often found just off the coast of Mirissa, a seaside town in Sri Lanka, between November and April. From Mirissa, there are plenty of organized tours you can choose from. They will often pick you up from your hotel, take you to the pier, usher you onto a boat, and you'll spend half a day scouring the ocean in search of these magnificent creatures.
The tour will have a dedicated scout who will keep an eye out for misty sprays from whales breathing out hot air through their blowholes. From there, the boat will follow them from afar, and you'll be able to see them come out of the water to breathe several times before they dive.
Even though you may not see the entire body of the whale, since much of it is submerged most of the time, you might be able to catch a glimpse of its tail when it dives, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.
It was an incredible experience and extremely affordable, with a tour costing only $65 USD. If you're planning to visit Sri Lanka, make sure you align your visit with the whale-watching season.
5. Swim with Whale Sharks in Donsol, the Philippines
Another memorable wildlife experience I had in Asia, this time in the Philippines, is swimming with whale sharks. No, not the one in Cebu where they lure them in with food to let tourists take photos for Instagram, but the one in Donsol where you actually take a boat out, track them down and swim with them in their natural habitats.
I strongly oppose the practice in Cebu concerning whale sharks. It disrupts their natural migration patterns and exposes them to painful sunburns on their backs due to prolonged exposure to shallow waters.
In Donsol, you are actually hiring a local fisherman to take their boats and you will be spending half a day tracking down whale sharks and swimming with them without interrupting their migration pattern.
You are also helping the local community by hiring local people and relying on their expertise in navigating the sea. It's a win-win situation, in my opinion, and a better way to experience the whale sharks without impacting the environment. If you care about nature, go to Donsol to swim with whale sharks and avoid supporting bad practices in Cebu.
6. Monkey City of Lopburi in Thailand
If you're up for something truly wild, consider visiting the Monkey City of Lopburi, where wild monkeys roam freely and coexist with the local people... for the most part.
Now, why would anyone want to visit a city where the monkeys run wild? Well, from my first-hand experience, I can tell you that it's not as bad as the media painted it to be, and after spending 4 days there, the monkey craze becomes more of a charming part of Lopburi rather than annoyances.
A lot of tourists like to come here to get photos of themselves with the monkeys. The monkeys are always on the lookout for food here, so if you want to take a photo with them, you will have to lure them out with food and prepare to get harassed by them for the photo.
Lopburi is not only known for its wild monkeys but also for being an ancient city with a rich history. There are plenty of beautiful 13th-century ruins spread across the city center, waiting for you to explore. If you're looking for a unique destination in Thailand with crazy wildlife encounters and historical treasures, be sure to check out Lopburi.
7. Showering Elephants in Thailand
Unlike African elephants, Asian elephants are among the most intelligent and friendly animals out there. Despite their intimidating size, elephants are often extremely playful much like children when interacting with humans and if you have never experienced one up close, there's no better place to experience this than in Thailand.
There are several ways you can interact with elephants in Thailand. The best way is to visit a real ethical elephant sanctuary, often located in Chiang Mai, where they rehabilitate elephants, let them roam freely in a large area without putting them in cages, and you can shower with them in the river.
With these types of places, you will be able to interact with elephants in a way that is both ethical and sustainable, unlike places that allow you to ride them or feed them while they are locked up in cages. I hate places like this and I highly recommend you stay away from them.
In order to tame elephants for rides, they have to go through a torturous process that is just terrible for the livelihood of the elephants. Not to mention, the fact that you have to hit them with hooks to control them is just terrible. If you want to have close encounters with elephants, be sure you pick the right place to do so.
8. Witness the Komodo Dragon in Indonesia
Of course, if you're visiting Southeast Asia, you've got to go to Indonesia and see the Komodo Dragons. They are the largest lizard species in the world, capable of growing to a maximum length of 3 meters (9.8 feet) and weighing up to 70 kilograms (150 pounds), which is why they are called Komodo Dragons.
These massive lizards resided on 3 islands in the Indonesia archipelago (Komodo, Rinca, and Padar), and to see them, you have to fly into Labuan Bajo, a tourist town in Flores, where you can then find a organized tour to take you to these islands.
Rinca Island is probably where you will see the most Komodo Dragons in Indonesia. Here, you can witness them up close and take photos with them in designated areas. If you're lucky, you might even see them fighting each other or devouring their prey.
Most Komodo tours will also take you to other places, including Manta Point, where you will be able to swim with Manta Rays and more. If you're looking to see the Komodo Dragons and enjoy the ultimate underwater experiences, be sure to visit Komodo National Park in Indonesia.
9. Experience the Unbelievable Wildlife on Galapagos Islands in Ecuador
I think I experienced an entire decade's worth of wildlife in just a week at the Galapagos in Ecuador. The Galapagos is the epitome of wildlife adventures with an incredibly diverse array of rare animals like the Blue-footed booby, equatorial penguins, and the ancient tortoises that you can encounter up close.
For real, the animals in the Galapagos couldn't care less that you're there watching them. They are so used to not having predators that they don't even flinch when you're right next to them. I've never experienced anything quite like it before.
The Galapagos isn't just one island but a collection of islands, with each island being home to different kinds of animals that are unique to that particular ecosystem. The best way to see these animals is to go on a liveaboard boat tour, which will take you to all the remote islands such as Isla Isabella, Isla Fernandina, and more.
It's definitely expensive, but visiting the Galapagos Islands is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, unlike any other place. I'm glad I decided to bite the bullet and pay for it when I was visiting Ecuador. Many of my friends regretted not doing it when they had the chance, so if you're visiting Ecuador and still on the fence about it, go for it. Trust me, you won't regret it!
10. See Anacondas with your own eyes in the Amazon Rainforest
While you are in South America, also be sure to visit the Amazon Rainforest, the world's biggest rainforest, home to millions of species of plants, insects, birds, and other life, including many species that are found nowhere else in the world.
One of those species is the Green Anaconda, the largest, heaviest, and the second-longest snake in the world. The Amazon Rainforest is massive, spanning across nine South American countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and more.
The best places to visit the Amazon are Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador, where accessibility and tourist infrastructure are more readily available compared to other destinations.
I visited the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador and spent 4 days exploring its wonders. We encountered all sorts of weird-looking animals, and insects, and even interacted with the local tribespeople.
On our last day, we were lucky enough to witness an anaconda attempting to devour a turkey just outside our accommodation. It was a young one, yet it measured more than 3 meters long. I can't even imagine how much larger they grow when fully grown! If you are looking to see some really wild animals, be sure to visit the Amazon Forest.
Further Reading for Inspiration
Looking for more articles to help inspire you to travel more? Here is a collection of articles you might like:
- Hiking to the Everest Base Camp is one of the most memorable epic moments of my life. Here's a long-read piece about my experiences hiking the Everest Base Camp: On My Way To Everest Base Camp.
- Want to travel the world but you are on a shoestring budget? Start with these countries: 10 Cheapest Countries to Visit.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Ever wondered what it is like to travel the world on a third-world passport? Check out: Traveling The World On A Third World Passport.
- Here's why I always celebrate turning a year older with a hike: Climbing Kilimanjaro on My 33rd Birthday.
- Looking for off-the-beaten-path destinations to visit this year? Check out: 8 Best Off-The-Beaten-Path Destination to Visit.
- For more inspiring articles like this, visit my Inspiration page.
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