Wildlife watching is not only a passion, it is a way of getting close to nature and all its beautiful wonders. There are several wildlife destinations we talked about (Wildlife Watching In The Great Smoky Mountains, Exploring Montserrat’s Amazing Wildlife And Plant Life, Top 2 Wildlife Watching Destinations In France, Best Wildlife Watching Spots In British Columbia, Best Wildlife Watching Spots In Alaska, Best Wildlife Watching In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Best Wildlife Watching In Tanzania, Best Wildlife Watching In Canada, Best Wildlife Watching In Norway, Best Wildlife Watching Opportunities In Scotland, Wildlife Watching In The Philippines, Wildlife Watching In Jasper National Park) and almost every country in the world has a great destination for those who want to admire and discover the wildlife, so we decided it is time to create a list of the best wildlife destinations in the world. This is a great starting point for those who want to plan their first wildlife watching adventure or for those who want to discover more wildlife destinations in the world that can be added on their must-visit list.
Kalahari Desert, Namibia
Kalahari Desert is an amazing wildlife destination for those who want to admire beautiful big cats. From ferocious lions and curious hyenas to gorgeous cheetahs, Kalahari Desert is the place to be if you are a fan of the felines.
Meerkats are also inhabitants that can be seen in the Kalahari Desert.
Trinidad
Trinidad is a wildlife destination where about 10.000 Leatherback Sea Turtles can be found. This turtle species is considered the largest turtle species in the world. If you want to see turtles that weigh up to 907 kilograms, Trinidad is the place to be.
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Located northwest of Mexico City, Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is a paradise for those who love the orange and black butterflies. Monarch Butterflies are migratory butterflies who spend their winter in the reserve. If trees covered in butterflies sound like a dream to you, you should definitely visit this wildlife destination.
The Danum Valley, Borneo
From butterflies we move to our closest mammal relatives, orangutans and gibbons. Seeing these beautiful animals in their natural habitat is an extraordinary experience for wildlife enthusiasts. Danum Valley, a hot and humid tropical forest in Borneo, is home to gibbons, cicadas and orangutans, but also endangered species like the Sumatran rhino and the clouded leopard.
Madagascar
Home to more than 100 lemur species, Madagascar in the only place on Earth these amazing animals can be admired in their natural habitat. As we said, lemurs cannot be found in a different place in the world so if you want to see a lemur, you have to plan a trip to Madagascar.
Shark Bay, Western Australia
Shark Bay is the place to be for those who want a marine wildlife experience. Wild dolphins, dugongs and many turtles can be discovered in Shark Bay, a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site.
Falkland Islands
Almost 70% of the world’s black-browed albatross population finds shelter in the Falkland Islands between hatching and the first flight of the new generation. Obviously a great destination for bird watchers, Falkland Islands is great for those wildlife enthusiasts who love to do some serious birding from time to time.
Yellowstone National Park, US
Yellowstone National Park is no question a top destination for wildlife watchers. The beautiful views from the park are considered some of the best in the world and the park is also famous for its wildlife that include grizzly bears, moose, bison and wolves that were successfully reintroduced in the area.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
Located in south-western Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park shelters almost half of the mountain gorillas population in the world. Besides the Bwindi gorillas or mountain gorillas, the rich ecosystem is also home to colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and many endangered species of plants. This sanctuary is definitely a great place for both wildlife enthusiasts and botanists.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
A wildlife enthusiast will surely love what Uganda has to offer – from the mountain gorillas found in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to tree climbing lions, elephants and hippos in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Many African bird species can also be found in this world biosphere reserve. The lakes, forests, savannah, volcanic crates and the wonderful lagoons make this place amazing for all nature lovers.
Shetland Islands, Scotland
The Shetland Islands are home to puffin colonies, beautiful birds with bright, striped beaks. These birds can be seen throughout the entire region of Shetland Islands but they love high cliffs so they like to spend a lot of time at Foula and to cover the highest cliffs. Bird watchers and wildlife watchers will surely love the opportunity to meet this beautiful bird species.
Canaima National Park, Venezuela
We talked about Canaima National Park when we talked about the 6 Top tourist Attractions In Venezuela, but we had to include the Venezuelan park in our best wildlife destinations in the world list as well. This time we are looking past Angel Falls (not an easy thing to do) and we are going deeper into the wild to discover the wildlife. Besides the mammals and various bird species we mentioned in our previous article, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is also home to giant tarantulas.
Al Hajar Mountains, Oman
Wildlife enthusiasts can discover endemic species and mountain life in the Al Hajar Mountains that may include rare mountain goats, sunbirds, Indian rollers, nimble mountain gazelles and the endangered lappet-faced vulture. The mountains are also perfect for trekking and hiking adventures so if you like these mountain activities, Al Hajar Mountains are the perfect destination for you.
Vuntut National Park, Canada
Annually around 130.000 caribou (reindeer) herds migrate through Canada and Alaska. These members of the deer family can be found in most Canadian territories, but watching their migration in the Vuntut National Park and seeing the herds moving across is a great chance to learn more about these animals’ behavior. Wildlife watchers will certainly enjoy this opportunity.
