Top 21 Unique Wildlife Encounters Worldwide

Our Best Animal Encounters

We’ve had the privilege of having many animal encounters around the world, and we are still holding out hope that we’ll make it to central Africa one day soon. We are convinced it will happen.

While we dream of seeing gorillas one day, we take a moment to cherish and remember all the amazing wildlife encounters we’ve had on all seven continents. If you are planning on traveling and having your own animal encounter abroad, these are our suggestions of ones you cannot miss!

1. Polar Bears in Canada

Seeing the polar bears in Churchill was our greatest wildlife watching dream. It finally came true last summer with Churchill Wild. We boarded a small twin otter plane to a remote lodge on the Hudson Bay where we spent three days exploring the tundra in search of polar bears.

Not only did we see polar bears, but we also had the honour of walking with polar bears.

2. Big 5 in Kenya

When we first visited Africa in 2007, we spent five months on the continent and never experienced a true Big 5 safari. We always regret not doing a proper safari before our flight home from Cape Town. Luckily, we’ve had the chance to revisit Africa a couple of times, and the first adventure on our list was a safari in Kenya.

We spent two weeks going on safari after safari, having countless wildlife encounters. Lake Nakuru was all about seeing the rhinos, buffalos, and flamingos.

3. Orangutans in Borneo

One of the first animal encounters we ever had was visiting the Orangutan sanctuaries of Borneo. We went to both the Semenggoh and Sepilok rehabilitation centres of Borneo where we watched orangutans come in for a feeding. This was a magical experience as the orangutans here are rescues that are slowly rehabilitated into the wild. They are free to come and go as they please, and feedings are simply a way to ease them back into living on their own.

4. Pandas in China

I don’t think there is a cuter gentle giant than China’s giant panda. When visiting Chengdu, the top attraction for us was visiting the Giant Panda Research Centre. Pandas are endangered, and the panda research centre is doing its best to keep the species alive. Pandas don’t move much or take up a lot of space, but they do eat a lot—up to 40 kilos (88 pounds) of bamboo a day! Walking through the centre allows you to see pandas lazing in trees and munching on bamboo. There are baby pandas and red pandas too!

5. Penguins of Antarctica

Antarctica is a spectacular wildlife destination for animal encounters unlike anywhere else on earth. Wildlife in the Antarctic don’t see a lot of humans, so when you land on the island or paddle around the peninsula, animals come out to see what’s up. Penguins are the most curious creatures; if you remain very still, they will waddle right up to you and peck at your clothes. They may smell awful, but the penguins of Antarctica are the cutest of all the animal encounters we’ve ever had.

6. Leopard and Weddell Seals of Antarctica

Other animals you’ll see in Antarctica are also pretty spectacular. Whales will surface right in front of your zodiac or kayak, and seals will ignore you as they bask in the sun while you float by in silence. When we camped in Antarctica, we had a huge leopard seal sleeping less than 20 meters from our camp. We heard it gurgling and burping all night long.

7. Tortoise in Galapagos

Next to Antarctica, the Galapagos is the next best place for up-close and personal animal encounters. The wildlife in the Galapagos is also the most unique on earth. It is here that you’ll see species that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

8. Marine Iguana The Galapagos

The marine iguana is a one-of-a-kind iguana found only in the Galapagos. The Galapagos shark is native only to these islands, and the only place you’ll find the flightless cormorant is here. There are penguins, blue-footed boobies, and more! But for us, the best animal encounter was seeing the giant Galapagos tortoise. It’s the largest tortoise in the world, living up to 170 years old.

9. Whale Sharks in Mexico

They are the largest fish in the sea, and swimming among these gentle giants is an experience you’ll never forget. Whale sharks can grow to 12 meters (40 feet) in length. They migrate off the coast of Mexico from June to September, and tours take people out to their feeding grounds where you can jump in the water for a closer look. Whale sharks swim fast, so it’s work to keep up with them, but it’s worth the effort. Even if it is chaotic above the water, it’s serene and silent underneath as whale sharks silently swim through the sea.

10. Great White Sharks in South Africa

Staying in the water, another spectacular animal encounter we had was in South Africa when we went cage diving with great white sharks. We dove with White Shark Projects, who are very concerned about conservation and preservation. Sadly, sharks are the most misunderstood creatures in the world. Almost 40 million sharks are killed each year for their fins alone to feed the Asian market’s desire for shark fin soup. Diving with sharks helps you realize that humans are not the sharks’ first choice in food, and you can see just how intelligent and beautiful they are.

11. Sharks in Belize

Outside the cage, we’ve also had our share of shark encounters. From scuba diving in Mexico to snorkeling with the Galapagos shark. However, it was our first experience in Belize that sticks with us. Swimming with sharks and manta rays in Shark Ray Alley is an unforgettable experience.

12. Bears Feeding on Salmon in Alaska

In Ketchikan, Alaska, seeing black bears feeding on salmon is one of the greatest animal encounters we’ve ever taken. Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world, and within the protected environment of the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, wildlife is thriving. Take a float plane out to Neets Bay to see salmon spawning in the stream to watch bears fatten up for their winter hibernation.

13. Moose in Canada

My favorite Canadian animal is the moose. They appear huge and awkward. However, don’t let their gangling appearance fool you; moose can be vicious, and when encountering them in the wild, you must show respect and keep your distance. The best way to view moose in the wild is definitely by canoe. In Algonquin Park, Ontario, moose are plentiful, and if you go with the right guide, you’ll see dozens hanging out on the water’s edge or even swimming in the water at sunrise and sunset.

14. Beluga Whales in Canada

Paddling with beluga whales playing under our boats in Manitoba was the most uplifting animal encounter we’ve ever had. They were little darlings rubbing their noses on our boats, popping up whenever we sang, and swimming all around us. The more you sang, the more curious they became. If you paddled hard, they would play in your wake and follow you everywhere.

15. Swimming with Dolphins in Australia

We were a little nervous to swim with dolphins in South Australia, considering we just went cage diving with great white sharks the day before. Our dive master put on an electric transmitter that apparently keeps the sharks away and told us not to stray too far from him. Moreover, the water was freezing—about 16 degrees Celsius (60 Fahrenheit). However, once we were in the dolphin experience in Baird’s Bay, it was the best we’d ever had. We couldn’t believe how playful these little guys were. If they’re having fun, they’ll stick around.

16. Vultures in Spain

We didn’t expect to have an incredible animal encounter in Europe. It’s not the first place that comes to mind when thinking of wildlife. But in the Pyrenees of Spain, we visited a vulture hide where we could watch these birds of prey feed in their natural habitat. Hundreds of vultures were feasting on goat meat.

17. Wolves in Canada

In our home province of Ontario, Canada, there is a wolf sanctuary in Haliburton Forest. It’s an amazing way to observe wolves in their natural environment. There is no interaction with the wolves; they roam freely in a large sanctuary while you look on from inside a building behind a glass window.

18. Wolf Dog in Alberta

They may not be wild, but the Yamnuska Wolf Dog Sanctuary in Alberta offers an uplifting animal experience. The sanctuary rescues wolf dogs, rehabilitates them, and tries to find new homes or sanctuaries for them. Visitors can go into their habitat and sit with the wolf dogs, and if they feel comfortable, they may come and let you pet or feed them for just a moment.

19. Grizzly Bears in the Yukon

We finally saw a grizzly bear in the wild in the Yukon. We were on a base camp adventure with Canada Parks, and all week, we had seen grizzlies in the distance. Just as we were about to catch our bush plane out, a grizzly mama with two cubs walked right by our camp and spent a good 15 minutes swimming, burrowing, and frolicking with her cubs. It was magnificent.

20. Koalas and Kangaroos in South Australia

South Australia was a fantastic place for wildlife encounters. We saw nearly every unique species of the continent, including seals, sharks, and dolphins. Kangaroo Island features a bird sanctuary and an abundance of kangaroos. However, we couldn’t get enough of the cute koalas.

21. Crocodiles in South Africa

It takes a bit of courage to get close to a crocodile. That’s what we told ourselves when kayaking in a crocodile-infested river in South Africa. It was an adrenaline rush, but what a memorable experience.

22. Sea Turtles in the Maldives

Who doesn’t love sea turtles? They resemble cute little old men. We’ve snorkeled with sea turtles a few times, but it was in the Maldives that we had the best sea turtle encounter ever. On a reef just offshore from Cinnamon Dhonveli, we snorkeled with sea turtles for about an hour, seeing nearly a dozen sea turtles during our time on the reef. It was wonderful.

23. Toucans in Brazil

We’re not particularly interested in birds. However, the Bird Sanctuary at Iguazu Falls was surprisingly awesome. They rescue birds from traffickers and the black market, giving them a sanctuary to live out their days. While seeing all the amazing birds like parrots, macaws, and parakeets, it was the toucan that excited us the most. Observing them up close was a beautiful experience, but watching them in the wild over Iguazu Falls was spectacular.

24. Tanzania Safari

I don’t think there is a better place on earth for a wildlife safari than in Tanzania. The Serengeti provides every African animal sighting you’ve ever dreamed of. From leopards leaping up trees to lions lounging in trees and ostriches mating, we’ve never experienced so many unique animal sightings in one trip as we’ve had in Tanzania.

So there you have it. Our best wildlife encounters since our first travels began in 2003. We’ve visited many places and seen a lot of wildlife, and these experiences are our favorites. We still want to see the gorillas, and we’d love to observe the Komodo Dragon. However, having dreams is what keeps life exciting. We can’t wait to add more to the list!