23 Aug We’d Fly Across the World for These Animal Encounters
We are animal lovers, completely and utterly obsessed with all kinds of creatures (our little Elodie too). But long-distance wildlife trips for specific animal encounters depend on timing, location and an understanding of where animals are likely to be during different seasons. Seeing wild animals in their natural habitats means choosing destinations where specific migrations, breeding seasons, or feeding events take place. Adventurous travellers may plan an entire trip around one species or a particular stretch of coastline, forest or tundra.
Crossing continents for a single wildlife experience can take travellers to places where those animals are seen in conditions that cannot be replicated in captivity. Remote polar colonies in the Southern Ocean and high-altitude cloud forests in Central America are just two examples of habitats shaped by very different species and seasonal patterns. Visiting them means checking local conditions, conservation rules and transport logistics before setting out.
The Best Animal Encounters Around The World
Antarctica: Emperor Penguins Nest at Snow Hill Island
Snow Hill Island lies off the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula in the Weddell Sea, surrounded by extensive sea ice. Its breeding colony numbers around 8,000 emperor penguins, the largest living penguin species. During October and November, adults continue feeding growing chicks on the sea ice before the young birds fledge later in the season. Ever since our friend Alex visited, we’ve been dreaming of experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime animal encounter (including some of his images for you below).
Reaching the colony requires specialised transport because heavy sea ice can prevent expedition ships from getting close to Snow Hill Island. On helicopter-equipped expeditions, the thickness and extent of the ice determine how far the vessel can travel before passengers transfer by helicopter to a safe landing area and continue towards the colony on foot. When comparing some of the best Antarctica cruises available, check that Snow Hill Island and helicopter access are included in the itinerary, while keeping in mind that weather and sea-ice conditions can still affect landings.
Once on the ice, visitors follow routes set by the expedition team and must maintain a safe distance from the penguins. IAATO currently requires a minimum distance of five metres from Antarctic wildlife, including when an animal approaches. From that distance, visitors may see adults feeding chicks, moving across the sea ice and communicating through their distinctive calls.
Rwanda: Trek to Wild Mountain Gorilla Families
Volcanoes National Park protects the misty slopes of the Virunga Mountains in northwestern Rwanda, part of a transboundary habitat that supports more than half of the world’s remaining wild mountain gorillas. Rainforest and bamboo vegetation cover these volcanic slopes, where habituated gorilla families live at elevations reaching more than 4,000 metres.
Treks begin at the park headquarters in Kinigi, where rangers assign small groups to specific gorilla families based partly on fitness levels. From there, visitors hike through bamboo forest and dense vegetation, following expert trackers who locate the gorillas using signs such as nests, footprints and recently disturbed plants. Trekking times vary considerably depending on the location of the assigned family. To minimise disturbance and reduce the risk of transmitting human illnesses, access is strictly controlled, with only 8 visitors permitted to visit each gorilla group per day.
Coming face-to-face with a silverback leading its family through the forest offers an intimate glimpse into the gorillas’ social dynamics, and it still remains to be one of the most exciting animal encounters, very high up on our Wanderlist. Visitors spend one hour with the habituated group, watching juveniles play in the understorey as adults forage on leaves, shoots and other vegetation. The experience is carefully regulated, but those 60 minutes provide a rare opportunity to observe one of the world’s most endangered great apes in its natural habitat.
Galapagos: Giant Tortoises Found Nowhere Else on Earth
The Galapagos Archipelago, around 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, is home to giant tortoises found nowhere else in the wild. Millions of years of isolation across the volcanic islands contributed to noticeable differences between populations, including their distinctive shell shapes. Saddleback tortoises, such as those associated with the drier island of Española, have raised shells and long necks that help them reach higher vegetation, while dome-shaped tortoises are more typical of larger, greener islands.
On Santa Cruz Island, visitors can encounter giant tortoises roaming freely through the humid highlands, where they move between grassy pastures, pools and forested areas. Exploring Santa Cruz can also be combined with wildlife experiences across the wider archipelago. Curated Galapagos Island vacation packages can simplify the logistics of arranging guides, inter-island transport and visits to protected sites.
Conservation efforts have played an important role in restoring Galapagos tortoise populations. At the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center beside the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz, tortoises are bred and raised before suitable animals are reintroduced into the wild. Seeing these ancient reptiles in their native landscape also brings visitors close to one of the animals that fascinated Charles Darwin during his visit to the islands in 1835 and later contributed to his thinking about how species change over time.
Alaska: Brown Bears Catch Salmon Mid-Leap at Brooks Falls
Katmai National Park and Preserve in southwestern Alaska offers one of North America’s most dramatic animal encounters (and still number 1 of Stevo’s Wanderlist). Every summer, sockeye salmon swim upstream through the Brooks River to reach their spawning grounds. In July, brown bears gather around Brooks Falls, where salmon attempt to leap over the roughly six-foot waterfall.
Some brown bears position themselves at the lip of the falls, catching salmon in mid-air, while others hunt in the pools and shallows downstream. National Park Service viewing platforms along the river allow visitors to watch the action at close range while keeping a safe distance from the bears.
Most visitors reach Brooks Camp by flying from Anchorage to King Salmon, then continuing by small aircraft or floatplane. From camp, trails and elevated walkways lead to the viewing areas, where travellers can watch massive brown bears compete for productive fishing spots in the rushing water.
Costa Rica: Sloths and Quetzals Share the Same Canopy
Costa Rica’s varied elevation zones allow remarkably different wildlife to thrive within a relatively small area. High in the cloud forests of Monteverde and the Savegre Valley, resplendent quetzals move through mist-covered trees, their iridescent green plumage and long tail feathers making them one of the country’s most striking birds. Wild avocados form an important part of their diet.
At lower elevations around La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio, forests provide habitat for both brown-throated three-toed sloths and Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths. Often camouflaged among the branches, these slow-moving mammals can be difficult to spot without the help of a guide and spotting scope.
Travelling between Costa Rica’s cool mountain forests and warmer lowland rainforests reveals how dramatically altitude shapes wildlife habitats. Within a single trip, visitors can search for quetzals in misty highlands and sloths beneath the dense tropical canopy.
Which Encounter Would You Fly For?
Planning a long-haul trip around animal encounters means matching travel dates with the seasons that shape animal behaviour. From salmon running up Alaskan rivers in summer to emperor penguin chicks gathering on Antarctic ice, timing can make the difference between witnessing an extraordinary natural event and missing it entirely. Permits, guides and specialist transport may also need to be arranged well in advance.
Careful planning makes even remote wildlife encounters achievable. Travellers can research the best season to visit, support responsible conservation initiatives and choose experiences that minimise disturbance to the animals and their habitats. Ultimately, the right destination comes down to one question: which wildlife encounter is worth crossing the globe for?
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