Walk On The Wild Side With The Best Wildlife Tours Of 2024
If you love wildlife and want to venture to far-off places to see lions, tigers, bears, or even monkeys, lemurs, and orangutans in their natural environment, here are some of the best wildlife tours to take in 2025. Walk on the wild side and explore the natural world from a safe distance, led by knowledgeable guides and wildlife experts. Bring your camera—and a long lens—and enjoy the stunning beauty of our world. All tour costs are in USD and include flights.
The Desert & Delta Of Botswana
Sprawling desert lands, grasses swaying in the breeze, the warm sun hitting your skin. A pride of lions, only six feet away. Explore the Kwahi region of Botswana as stunning herds of impala are visible at dusk and dawn. Alongside hippos, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and elephants, you'll never be disappointed on a Desert & Delta of Botswana tour.
The tour prices begin at around $6,600 for 10 days, including your flights.
Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Madagascar's Lemurs
Everyone loves the adorable lemur—the tail, those big eyes, their ever-cute little faces! How could you say no to a tour involving many different types of lemurs, including mouse lemurs, who are so small that they fit inside an egg cup? Go lemur-watching inside Madagascar's Ranomafana reserve, where you may even catch a sighting of the ultra-rare Golden Bamboo Lemur.
Tour costs begin at $7,055 for 16 days, including flights.
Explore Namibia's Skeleton Coast & Etosha Pan
Imagine what the world might look like if a sci-fi film were shot entirely in a desert? That's part of what you'll experience during your tour of Namibia's Skeleton Coast and Etosha Pan region. Watch out for elephants striding across the vast desert, and the outcrop of antelope against the world's tallest sand dunes. Thanks to Namibia's small population, wildlife haven't retreated as much into the wilds, meaning you might still see rare sightings like a black rhinoceros.
Tour costs (including flights) begin at $10,639 for this 17-day safari.
Sonse, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
See South Luangwa National Park In Zambia
This 9,000-square kilometer park is the pride of Zambia's natural paradise. For birdwatchers, this 10-day birding holiday is the perfect escape to an exotic land filled with spectacular birdlife. You'll spend your time exploring the incredible South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, going on multiple bird-watching excursions, including an optional night-watching safari looking for Pel's Fishing Owl and the Pennant-winged Nightjar.
Tour costs (including your flights) begin at $5,713 for this 10-day birding extravaganza.
Geoff Gallice, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tanzanian Delight
Tanzania is one of Africa's most popular sites for safaris—possibly the definition of a classic African tour, including the world-famous Serengeti National Park, where stunning sights of herds of wildebeests, cheetahs, gazelles, African buffalos, and hippopotamuses roam freely. All of this, set against the stunning backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, makes for some fantastic landscape and wildlife photography.
This tour of Tanzania's most famous wildlife spots will cost $10,633 for a 15-day holiday at the stunning Serengeti National Park.
Thomas Fuhrmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mountain Gorilla Majesty In Uganda
Whether you've seen David Attenborough's BBC Earth documentary where he met Poppy the Mountain Gorilla or not, you'll be amazed by these majestic creatures in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. There are also journeys to the Kibale Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park to see the chimpanzees and other elusive mammals that inhabit the wilds of Uganda.
This tour of Mountain Gorilla majesty will cost $8,775 for the 14-day holiday, including flights.
A Birdwatching Tour Of Nepal
Transferring from the sprawling plains of Africa to the stunning serenity of Nepal, this 11-day birdwatching tour takes you to Nepal's most stunning national parks and wildlife reserves, beginning in the stunning Kathmandu Valley. Exploring the valley's cultural and architectural hotspots is first on your list, before transferring to the incredible Chitwan National Park and the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, where you'll keep your eyes peeled for stunning exotic birds, as well as water buffalo and nilgai.
The tour costs $6,545 for the 11-day excursion, including flights.
Creepanta, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Get In Touch With Tigers In India
Exploring both Pench National Park and Kanha National Park, you'll be in the heart of India's tiger country. Listen first—you may hear the alarming call of a deer or monkey, who know the tiger is close before they even see it, thanks to their incredible senses of smell. Your chances of seeing a tiger are almost guaranteed in the middle of tiger country. You may even get lucky enough to see this magnificent animal hurtling toward its prey.
If you've always wanted to see a tiger outside of the zoo, then this incredible nine-day "Tiger Direct!" tour is your chance. It starts at only $3,986 for nine days, with the option to extend the tour and visit two national parks (pre-tour and post-tour).
Davidvraju, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Blue Whales Off The Sri Lankan Coast
Have you ever wanted to see the largest mammal ever known to have lived? That's what you'll get with a visit to the waters surrounding Sri Lanka—one of the most reliable spots on earth to see the magnificent blue whale. Yala National Park is the second part of the tour, concluding your visit to Sri Lanka with sights of the stunning leopard.
Starting at $3,986 for 10 days, the blue whale isn't a sight to be missed.
Dan Lundberg, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Experience The Endangered Orangutan In Borneo
You may have heard that Orangutan is presently endangered due to the exploitation of palm oil for resources. However, there are still pockets of the hairy, red apes in Borneo, which is where you'll be exploring—attempting to catch a glimpse of these incredible animals. Experiencing the Sepilok Rehabilitation Center and the incredible Darum Valley Conservation Area, you'll have to keep your eyes peeled for them. You'lle also explore the imposing Gomantong Cave system, searching for bats and proboscis monkeys.
Spend an amazing 11 days in Borneo for the price of $7,181.
A Trip To Remote India
This tour will take you to some of India's most sparsely-populated regions as you hunt for the Ladakh snow leopard, a highly-elusive creature that used to be as rare a sighting as a Yeti. Ladakh is also home to blue sheep and the Asiatic ibex. An optional four-day extension can be had to see India's famous Ranthambore tigers.
Explore the remotest parts of India and (possibly) see the incredible Ladakh snow leopard for a cost of $6,383 for the full 14-day tour.
T. R. Shankar Raman, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Black Panther Paradise
Like the Ladakh snow leopard, the black panther is one of the most elusive creatures on the planet. The black panther morphed from the leopard and has remained almost mythically unseen. On this excursion, you'll travel to the Nagarhole National Park and the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary to try and catch a glimpse of the panther.
The cost of the trip to catch a glimpse of this incredible and elusive creature is $5,976 for a stunning 10-day excursion. Even if you don't see the black panther, you may still see tigers, dhole (wild dogs), and Asian elephants.
Davidvraju, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Amazing Antarctica
Antarctica is one of the most impressive landscapes on earth. It's remote, cold, and otherwise inhospitable, but you'll get to visit it with the Antarctica, The Falklands and South Georgia tour. A stunning boat tour of the Antarctic waterways, experiencing all of the incredible wildlife that Antarctica has to offer.
This stunning tour is offered for an incredible 24 days at a cost of $24,707 per person.
Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Explore The Wilds Of Scotland
The picturesque peninsula of Ardnamurchan in Scotland could be easily mistaken for a sandy Caribbean island, minus the ample Scottish wildlife you'll see on this tour: otters, pine martens, red and roe deer, hen harriers, and short-eared owls aplenty. This tour includes a trip to Ardnamurchan Point, the westernmost point of mainland Britain.
This eight-day Spring tour of the birds and mammals of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula will cost about $3,000, not including your flights.
Explore Spain's Most Coveted Wetland
One of Spain's most coveted wetlands is the Coto Donaña and it is here that your nine-day birdwatching tour will focus on, a world away from the populated Spanish centers of Madrid and Barcelona. It spans the southern Spanish wetlands and the steppes of the "Extremuda", a Spanish autonomous community. The area is teeming with wildlife, from flamingoes to the rare crested coot and marbled duck, Spanish imperial eagles, and other birds.
Get away from the crowds on this nine-day excursion for a cost of $2,645 per person.
Search For The Iberian Lynx In Andalucia
Another Spanish wildlife tour not to be missed is the hunt for the world's rarest cat: the Iberian lynx. Your tour will take place in the Coto Donaña and the Sierra Morena—the last refuge of the endangered and vulnerable Iberian Lynx. Take turns watching for the elusive cat from multiple viewpoints in the wetlands and the foothills on this incredible six-day excursion.
The cost of searching for one of the world's rarest-seen cats? $1,981 per person.
Frank Vassen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Camargue Is Christmas For Naturalists
If you're a naturalist, you'll surely have heard of France's Camargue wetland? No? Well, if not, now's your chance to experience one of Europe's most famous wetlands for yourself. Greater flamingos are a Mediterranean bird species that flock to the Camargue in great numbers during spring mating season. Pink outlines of the magnificent bird stretch as far as the eye can see. Also included in the tour is a visit to a Roman amphitheater in Arles.
The cost of this five-day tour is $1,848. Seeing a greater flamingo, though? Priceless.
A Romanian Wildlife Tour De Force
Running over 10 days, both of these incredible trips are a Romanian wildlife tour de force as you experience the beauty of the Danube Delta and the Carpathian mountain ranges. Search for Nutcrackers and Wallcreepers in the mountains before a day's drive to the Danube Delta and the Black Sea coast, where you'll find pelicans, cormorants, and herons aplenty.
Costing $3,829, this Romanian wildlife tour could be an excellent addition to a broader holiday in the home of Count Dracula.
A Tour Of The Somerset Levels
Somerset is a region in southwestern England where huge skies give way to grand populations of birds. In particular, starlings—which number over half a million. Long-legged birds like the great egret, bittern, and common crane can also be seen.
If you're a bird lover in the Somerset area of England, you can catch this three-day tour for $655.
Mark Robinson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Spectacular Spitsbergen Archipelago Of Norway
For those needing a bite of northern cold, and who yearn to see animals such as polar bears, walruses, arctic foxes and puffins, you simply must go to the Spitsbergen Archipelago off the coast of Norway. Swapping the ice breaker for a Zodiac boat and the frigid open waters to get closer (but not too close!), this 12-day trip in the Spitsbergen Archipelago is not one to be missed.
The overall cost of a wildlife tour in the spectacular Spitsbergen Peninsula? An eye-watering $11,515! Although, you'll get to see polar bears in their natural habitat—so, there is that.
Arturo de Frias Marques, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Butterfly Heaven In The Swiss Alps
For those who love wildlife of a smaller size, a July trip to Wengen in the Swiss Alps is sure to satisfy. These massive expanses of mountain flowers attract copious amounts of butterflies in July each year, with a hike into the uplands of the Alps necessary to view them in all their glory. From snowbells to lady slippers, you (and the butterflies) will be in heaven.
Running for eight days, the cost of a butterfly haven in the Swiss Alps is $3,569.
Just Jaguars In Brazil
The Pantanal of Brazil is one of those rare areas on earth where you're more likely than not to spot a jaguar. Normally elusive, secretive, and shy, these cats are a dime-a-dozen at the heart of South America's largest wetland. You might also spot a giant otter, giant anteater, and a hyacinth macaw on your trip.
Spending 12 days in the stunning surroundings of the Pantanal, hunting for the elusive jaguar will cost you $9,000.
Bart van Dorp, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Gorgeous Galapagos Islands
If you've been searching for a remote island filled with exotic birdlife, look no further than the Galapagos Islands. You can cruise around the isolated islands—900 kilometers from the coast of South America—and take photographs of the stunning Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, finches, and mockingbirds that were Charles Darwin's great muse.
Tours of the glorious Galapagos Islands can be had over an extraordinary 20 days, including a two-week cruise around the island, for a staggering $13,775.
Stunning Northern Argentina
Northern Argentina, a realm of high mountain passes and stunning waterfalls—as well as rare birds like the dotterel and the rare camelid, the guanaco (featured attempting to escape a Puma in the 2024 Wildlife Photography of the Year Competition). You can also spot flamingoes and the black-and-white Andean avocet. Northern Argentina is an often unexplored, remote region of South America that is teeming with wildlife—take your tour of this incredible part of South America today.
The cost of a tour in North Argentina, over the course of 14 days can be had for $7,688.
Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Colombia: Bird Capital Of The World
Colombia is home to more birds than anywhere else on Earth and is one of the best destinations for birding enthusiasts the world over. Explore the capital of Bogota and try and get a peek of the Andean "cock-of-the-rock"—seriously, that's its name.
Exploring the avian capital of the world, however, won't come cheap. 14-day tours of Colombia start at $7,691.
Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Whale Watching & Dolphin-Dazzled On California's West Coast
The magnificent blue whale isn't the only game in town in Baja, California—you can also swim with a "mega-pod" of hundreds of dolphins, or can get very close to the great gray whale. You might even spot the largest known mammal in the ocean, since swimming with whale sharks is a very real possibility, as is snorkeling with smaller, colorful, less bite-y fish in calmer waters.
Daredevil or not, you'll love experiencing California's west coast. Tours begin at $11,393 for 14 days.
Merrill Gosho, NOAA, Wikimedia Commons
Spring Forward At Yellowstone National Park
Whether you're a Daylight Savings Time person or not, spring is the perfect time to be in Yellowstone National Park, as multiple animals emerge from hibernation. See the incredible pronghorn antelope in full flight, or the majestic North American bison and the "If not friend, why friend-shaped?" grizzly bear. You might also spot gray wolves, big horn sheep, and Rocky Mountain elk in the northern half of the National Park.
A visit to one of America's most spectacular National Parks, including this safari-style tour, will cost $10,613 for 14 days.
Hummingbird Heaven In Costa Rica
For those who love the small buzzing sound of a hummingbird, look no further than Costa Rica. It's home to dozens of species of the bird, and several other delightful bird species—hummingbird heaven can doubtlessly be found here.
T. R. Shankar Raman, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Final Frontier: Alaska
Jean-Luc Picard didn't quite have it right in Star Trek. "The Final Frontier" is, in fact, Alaska. It's America's largest state. It's also one of the most sparsely populated states in the US, leaving plenty of room for the wildlife to move in—and move in it has! Wildlife lovers are spoiled for choice by Alaska: grizzly bears, black bears, gray wolves, caribou, Dall sheep, snow owls, and many seabirds are among your wildlife viewing options in the spectacular expanse of the Alaskan wilderness.
Exploring the stunning state won't come cheap: Wildlife tours are available from $14,600 for a 14-day trip around Alaska.
The Birds Of New York City
I bet you never thought NYC would be a hotspot for birding, eh? Well, due to its position on the Atlantic Flyway (a migratory bird route), it sees up to 100 different bird species in the spring. Highlights can include northern cardinals, mourning doves, Blackburnian warblers, American goldfinches, and many more.
Explore the Big Apple and see the beauty of the city whilst keeping a keen eye out for its many birds.
ZeroOne, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The World's Largest Herds Of Asian Elephants At Udawalawe National Park
The largest herd of Asian elephants in the world can be found at Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka, and spending 10 days in Sri Lanka's stunning southern region can be integrated with a wonderful train tour around the country's southern tea plantations and waterfalls.
At a cost of around $2,500, it's one of the most spectacular ways to see Sri Lanka and the unique Asian elephants in their vast numbers. It's popular at Christmastime and at the turn of the year—so book soon!
Mstyslav Chernov, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Visit Nagano Snow Monkey Park In Japan
If you're considering heading for Japan, then a visit to the Nagano Snow Monkey Park is a must—the Nagano Snow Monkey Park is home to the largest conservation area of Japanese macaques in the world. Multiple one-day tours of the Nagano Snow Monkey Park are available and the area is a must-see for those visiting Japan, with a love of the natural wildlife.
Swim With Whale Sharks In Papua New Guinea
West Papua and New Guinea are home to the awesome whale shark—it is the largest living extant fish, reaching up to 20 meters long! Although a shark, it is generally accepted that whale sharks aren't interested in eating humans, making it much safer to free-dive with them in West Papua.
Experience the very best that the island in the southwestern Pacific has to offer and spend a day with their underwater inhabitants.
FGBNMS/Eckert, Wikimedia Commons
Wildlife Exploitation Scandal Rocks Wildlife Tourism
While enjoying yourself on your wildlife tour is of paramount importance, recent years have seen a marked increase in wildlife tour companies exploiting wildlife for their own benefit, based on a report from World Animal Protection, an animal welfare advocacy organization. In 2023, the organization commissioned a study from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom. Certain tour companies were pinpointed as "selling harmful exploitative wildlife experiences across a wide range of wild animal species". In one instance, interactions with a chained animal were offered on a tour in Thailand.
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