Our wildlife viewing dreams take us all over the globe in search of some incredible animals! If you crave seeing wildlife in their natural habitats, all while supporting ethical tourism, then you’ll want to manifest these travels alongside us. We have always loved the process of physically writing down our wildlife travel bucket list and setting our goals for discovering animals ethically in the wild. Compare our dream list of wildlife adventures to yours for 2022 and beyond!
Our 12 Wildlife Travel Dreams
Argentina’s Wildlife Extravaganza
Though the Amazon Rainforest gets all the attention, the wetlands of Argentina’s Iberá National Park offer unparalleled wildlife viewing. The vast freshwater marshes and dotted forests are teaming with iconic species that can be viewed on foot and by boat for an epic South American wildlife safari. Iberá National Park and Rewilding Argentina are working tirelessly to reintroduce charismatic species like macaws, giant anteaters, and jaguars to reinforce the biodiversity of this iconic ecosystem.
Species to Spot: Jaguar, Maned Wolf, Capybara, Giant Anteater, Caiman, Macaws, Giant River Otter
Churchill’s Bear Congregation
Each fall, hordes of massive white bears congregate in Churchill, Manitoba. They form the earth’s largest concentration of polar bears, earning it the title – “polar bear capital of the world.” The viewing opportunities are unrivaled as the bears wait patiently for the ice to form for seal hunting season to begin. However, our dream of seeing these massive bears is threatened as the effects of climate change have shifted these seasonal behaviors. Seeing this Arctic wonder of nature before it becomes disrupted is top on our bucket list.
Species to Spot: Polar Bear, Snowy Owl, Arctic Fox
Mexico’s Monarch Migration
Each winter one of nature’s most astounding wildlife events occurs in the central Mexican highlands. Millions of monarch butterflies fly south to overwinter in the Sierra Madre Mountains, in the only known butterfly migration on Earth. Seeing this spectacular display of countless orange and black wings take to the sky at once is the definition of a bucket list experience.
Species to Spot: Monarch Butterflies
The Last Mountain Gorillas
The country of Rwanda has redefined wildlife tourism. Their ambitious model ensures that tourist dollars spent on gorilla trekking are returned to the local communities. Hiking the mountainous forests of Volcanoes National Park in search of your specifically assigned family troop is an experience many say is unparalleled. Visitors are only allotted a set number of hours they can spend near the gorillas, but every breath would be unforgettable. The value that Rwanda places on preserving its wildlife and habitats earns its spot on our list of travel dreams.
Species to Spot: Mountain Gorilla, Golden Monkey, Rwenzori Turaco
King of Penguin Viewing
The long journey to the remote Falkland Islands off the southern tip of South America is royally rewarded with fascinating marine life. Our sights are set on the world’s most accessible king penguin colony in the world, at Volunteer Point. But don’t worry, in this case, accessibility doesn’t mean shoulder to shoulder tourists. As nature would have it, the Falkland Islands are home to far more penguins than people. This wildlife destination is far from overrun with tourists. Volunteer Point hosts well over 1,000 breeding pairs of king penguins, meaning we would be pleasantly outnumbered by these black and white beauties.
Species to Spot: King & Gentoo Penguins, Elephant Seal, Orca, Commerson’s Dolphin
Wild America’s Safari
The world’s original national park still reigns king as the ultimate wildlife viewing destination of the continental United States. Yellowstone National Park is a hub of biodiversity, specifically of free-roaming American megafauna. The park’s intersection of predators and prey provides an authentic circle of life storyline where the hunter and the hunted intertwine. We hope to soon witness this tale of nature unfold with our own eyes in the iconic Yellowstone National Park.
Species to Spot: Bison, Grizzly Bear, Gray Wolf, Elk, Pronghorn, Black Bear
Strand Feeding Orcas
We are familiar with the famous strand feeding dolphins of South Carolina but imagine an animal that weighs 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) feeding this way. Valdes Peninsula in Argentina is known for some unbelievable behaviors, orcas that strand feed for sea lion pups. Getting to see this incredible feeding style in action would be mind-blowing. Especially considering just one pod of orcas have perfected stand feeding in the world.
Species to Spot: Orca, Elephant Seal, South American Sea Lions
Indian Striped Safari
Ranthambore National Park is often considered India’s premier tiger viewing destination. Tourists flock to catch a glimpse of a striped cat meandering out of the underbrush to quench their thirst from the Indian heat. The arid habitat of Ranthambore is home to more than its famous tigers. Our binoculars are equally as focused on the park’s cast of Jungle Book characters including sloth bears and leopards.
Species to Spot: Bengal Tiger, Sloth Bear, Leopard, Axis Deer, Striped Hyena, Nilgai
Grizzly Scenes of Katmai
Flying into Katmai National Park by floatplane transports visitors to this land of bears. This true Alaskan wilderness is the source of the iconic photos of bears swiping at leaping salmon. The rushing waters of Brooks Falls are where all the action occurs, and visitors can watch it unfold from the elevated viewing platforms. Once autumn arrives, devouring salmon is the only goal the bears have, they need to get ready for the long Alaskan winter. There are few other places on earth that have comparable viewing opportunities to observe the hundreds of grizzly bears that converge to Katmai for spawning salmon.
Species to Spot: Grizzly Bear, Moose, Sea Otter, Gray Wolf
Giants of Asia
Chitwan National Park is home to three iconic Asian species we’ve dreamed of encountering in one place – rhinos, tigers, and elephants. This national park is found directly on the Nepalese and Indian border and encompasses a massive 800 square mile sanctuary for Asia’s megafauna. Most notable, Chitwan National Park has had superb conservation success in protecting and boosting endangered wildlife numbers, especially for rhinos!
Species to Spot: Bengal Tiger, One-horned Rhino, Asian Elephant, Sloth Bear, Gaur
Hop to Kangaroo Island
Coined the “The Galápagos of Down Under,” this scenic island paradise hosts all manners of Australian animals. Our vision of being surrounded by iconic Aussie creatures could come true with Kangaroo Island’s furred, flippered and feathered inhabitants. Just off the coast from Adelaide, this accessible wildlife hub is calling our names.
Species to Spot: Koala, Kangaroo, Wallaby, Australian Sea Lion, Echidnas
Madagascar, the Eighth Continent
A world apart on its own, Madagascar is a kaleidoscope of diverse ecosystems. Over 80% of the island’s species are found nowhere else in the world, making it a hard-to-top wildlife viewing destination. Close encounters with unusual species aren’t uncommon, given that the local wildlife are more than accustomed to visitors.
Species to Spot: Over 100 Lemur Species, Radiated Tortoise, Fossa, Ploughshare Tortoise, Tenrecs
