Safari vacations are not exclusive to Africa. While I’d never dismiss the iconic African savannah experience—it’s a bucket list trip for a good reason—I’ve had similar adrenaline-pumping moments of awe and wonder while enjoying safari-style vacations elsewhere in the world. Thrilling moments that compete with my African safari experience: tracking one-horned rhinos in the jungles of Nepal; swimming with wild penguins in Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands; following bouncing kangaroos while on a 4WD safari in Australia’s Outback.
These experiences have made me an advocate for looking beyond Africa when seeking immersive, wildlife-centric vacations. With that in mind, below is a curated a collection of destinations to add to your safari-going bucket list. A few won’t even require a dramatic time zone adjustment.
BRAZIL
Where to go: The Pantanal
Wildlife: jaguars, caimans, capybaras, anteaters, tapirs, monkeys, more than 600 bird species (including hyacinth macaws and jabiru storks)
The Pantanal is a flourishing ecosystem that straddles the country’s border with Bolivia and Paraguay. Overshadowed in popularity by its famous cousin to the north, the Amazon, the Pantanal is one of Brazil’s biggest open travel secrets. At 42 million acres (80 percent of which reside in Brazil), it’s the world’s largest wetland, making it a fertile destination for wildlife and a fabulous setting for safaris that include overnight stays in treetop jungle lodges. Jaguar safaris are popular here, as the region is home to South America’s highest concentration of this majestic big cat.
Pro-Tip: Add a few nights in the Amazon rainforest for an even more comprehensive South American safari.
NEPAL
Where to go: Chitwan National Park
Wildlife: rhinos, sloth bears, monkeys, hyenas, guar (Indian bison), jackals, leopards, crocodiles, fresh-water dolphins, more than 500 bird species
Widely known for its breathtaking mountain ranges and epic hiking trails, Nepal also offers a rich tapestry of wildlife encounters in Chitwan National Park. Located in the southern lowlands of Nepal, it spans 360 square miles of fertile valleys and subtropical broadleaf forests at the foot of the Himalayas. Traditional jeep tours, jungle hikes, elephant rides, and canoeing are among the ways to get ruggedly intimate views of its wildlife. The most popular animal here is the one-horned rhino; however, keep an eye out for elusive royal Bengal tigers that also make rare cameos.
Pro-Tip: This is a great safari adventure to pair with a trekking holiday in the Himalayas.
ALASKA (USA)
Where to go: Denali National Park and Preserve, Katmai National Park & Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, Glacier Bay National Park
Wildlife: grizzly bears, brown bears, wolves, caribou, orcas, whales, otters, puffins, bald eagles, polar bears
Alaska is home to 8 national parks and 16 national wildlife refuges that offer a pristine and rugged wilderness setting in which to see bears, caribou, eagles and much more. The modes of guided travel in which to take these wildlife excursions—such as flightseeing, snowshoeing, canoeing and kayaking—are sometimes just as exciting as the wildlife you’ll spot amidst a landscape of glaciers, mountains, and forest. For those seeking an even bigger adventure, multi-day polar bear viewing trips are available in Alaska’s Arctic region.
Pro-Tip: The best opportunity to spot bears catching salmon from Alaska’s rivers is from June to August, when bears are fattening up for winter hibernation.
SRI LANKA
Where to go: Udawalawe National Park, Yala National Park, Bundala National Park, Wilpattu National Park
Wildlife: Elephants, leopards, monkeys, sloth bears, jackals, water buffalo, crocodiles, sea turtles, blue whales, peacocks
This tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean is home to 26 national parks that are packed with incredible wildlife. The flat, open grassland of Udawalawe is ideal for elephant spotting; while Yala is home to one of the highest densities of leopards in the world and boasts a coastline that is visited by all five globally endangered sea turtles: the leatherback turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, and green turtle.
Pro-Tip: Bundle together a few different parks so that you’re able to experience not only Sri Lanka’s diverse wildlife, but also its diverse accommodation options, ranging from jungle lodges to tented camps to seafront hotels.
ECUADOR
Where to go: Galapagos Islands
Wildlife: giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, iguanas (marine and land), sea lions, fur seals, frigate birds, hammerhead sharks, finches, flamingos, penguins
These islands roughly 600 miles off the coast of mainland Ecuador are teeming with some of the most unique wildlife in the world—a menagerie of animals that famously inspired Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. The best way to experience the Galapagos Islands is by joining a naturalist-led, multi-night boat expedition that will string together the more remote islands in this archipelago. Guided hikes and snorkel swims will bring you up-close—like, really close—to animals often just as curious about us as we are of them.
Pro-Tip: If you don’t want to be sleeping on a boat or cruise ship, base yourself at a hotel on the islands of San Cristobal or Santa Cruz, respectively, and take daytrips to nearby islands.
AUSTRALIA
Where to go: Kakadu National Park and Daintree Rainforest are among the many options in this massive country
Wildlife: kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, echidnas, platypus, dingoes, sea turtles, dolphins, sea lions, sharks, more than 800 species of reptiles (lizards, snakes, crocodiles), more than 800 species of birds (such as the barking owl, the little penguin, and the laughing kookaburra)
Australia’s wild places are as diverse as they are vast. Two areas to consider weaving into an itinerary: Kakadu National Park and the Daintree Rainforest. Enjoy a Crocodile Dundee-inspired adventure at Kakadu, where its savanna woodlands, floodplains, and tidal mudflats are home to wallabies, saltwater crocodiles, and much more. Take 4WD and riverboat safaris into the Daintree Rainforest, the oldest rainforest on the planet, where striking animals such as the Southern cassowary and the Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo reside. Because this rainforest stretches out to the Coral Sea, home to the Great Barrier Reef, you can pair a stay here with some ocean exploration, too.
Pro-Tip: Weave in Aboriginal experiences (such as Dreamtime Walks led by Aboriginal guides) into your itinerary for extra layers of meaning.
INDIA
Where to go: Ranthambore National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Jim Corbett National Park, Kanha National Park, Gir National Park, Hemis National Park, Singalila National Park
Wildlife: Royal Bengal tigers, Asiatic lion, elephants, leopards (including the elusive snow leopard), monkeys, sloth bears, gaur (Indian bison), red pandas, more than 1,300 species of birds
The jungles of India inspired Rudyard Kipling’s masterpiece, The Jungle Book. While the tome featured a menagerie of animals, one remains the top safari draw in India: the Bengal tiger. Most escorted safari adventures will include one or two tiger-centric parks in the itinerary, but it’s worth exploring some of the lesser-visited parks to spot other globally endangered animals in the wild, such as the red panda (Singalila National Park) and snow leopard (Hemis National Park).
Pro-Tip: Ranthambore National Park is close to the popular “Golden Triangle” area of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, making it among the most popular places to experience a tiger safari.
BORNEO (MALAYSIA)
Where to go: Danum Valley, Kinabatangan River, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Deramakot Forest Reserve, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Kiabalu Park, Bako National Park
Wildlife: orangutans, pygmy elephants, monkeys, flying squirrels, macaques, crocodiles, more than 600 species of birds
Borneo’s most famous inhabitant is the orangutan. In fact, this is one of just two places in the world where you can still spot these tree-dwelling apes with distinctive red fur. (The other is the Indonesian island of Sumatra.) Safari vacations that take you into the rainforests on the Malaysian side of Borneo are popular because wildlife hotspots are relatively close together. Join guided hiking excursions into the lush rainforest of the Danum Valley and river safaris down the Kinabatangan River, keeping eyes up for orangutans swinging in the treetops, building nests for sleep and munching on wild fruit.
Pro-Tip: End the safari adventure with some R&R on a white-sand beach, such as those found in nearby Bali.
ANTARCTICA
Wildlife: penguins, whales, seals, sea lions, more than 40 species of birds (albatrosses, petrels, diving petrels, swans, etc.)
Largely untouched by humans, Antarctica is an intrepid traveler’s playground. Colonies of penguins and pods of whales will wow you against a vast landscape of icebergs and glacial tundra. Most multi-night, expert-led cruise expeditions boast an immersive itinerary that is flexible to what weather conditions will allow. Expect educational lectures, Zodiac boat tours, kayaking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, photography lessons—and sometimes, even camping and the opportunity to take an Arctic plunge.
Pro-Tip: Most Antarctica expeditions leave from Ushuaia, the southernmost city Argentina, and make the 50-hour voyage to Antarctica by crossing the Drake Passage. If you’re insanely wealthy, however, you could visit Antarctica in one or two days by booking roundtrip flights to completely bypass the journey by sea.
