The World's Best Wildlife Experiences

One of my most favorite travel experiences is to observe wildlife in their natural habitat.  On my first safari to Kenya many years ago, I was so stirred by seeing animals roaming freely in the wild, interacting and communicating with each other in such fascinating ways. It sparked a passion for  wildlife travel where every day brings a new surprise - here are my favorites!

The Great Migration in the Masai Mara

August is a wonderful time for viewing the Great Migration in the Masai Mara as thousands of wildebeest crowd vast plains and move in unison towards new pastures.  While every traveler hopes to watch a river crossing, it does take a bit of luck (and a skilled guide) to be in the right place at the right time. A river crossing is a treacherous endeavor for wildebeest as there are inevitably crocs lurking in the river waiting to pounce. After much deliberation, one brave wildebeest launches down the riverbank, unleashing the rest of the herd to follow in its path. While one unlucky wildebeest usually has to pay the price of crossing to the resident crocs, it is truly an amazing spectacle to see. 

Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking held a prominent spot on my bucket list for many years, and it did not disappoint! Gorilla trekking can be done in Uganda or Rwanda. The treks can range in difficulty and length of time, depending on where the gorilla families settled the previous evening. Scouts head out early in the morning to locate the gorilla families. Small groups of travelers are then assembled (based on perceived physical ability) and sent out to find a family to observe, along with a guide and an armed ranger. The treks can be strenuous and last several hours. My trek lasted around 2 hours and was up a fairly steep incline. One has the option of hiring a local porter to assist, which is well worth it not only to make the trek more comfortable but also to provide a day's earnings for the porter. Once we neared the family, the guide slowly approached the gorilla family and made some grunting noises. To my utter amazement, the alpha male grunted back in communication with the guide, establishing that it was safe for us to approach. The guide chopped back some foliage with his machete and the gorilla family came into view. It was truly a goosebump moment, seeing these massive creatures going about their daily business. Three young gorillas wrestled with each other while the adults picked through the vegetation for a snack, stopping to discipline the unruly youngsters every so often. Observations usually last around an hour which never feels long enough, but the memories will last forever!

Uganda also offers chimpanzee trekking. Similar to the gorilla trekking, travelers are separated into small groups and head off to locate the chimps. This can be challenging as the chimps sometimes settle high in the trees and move around. While we saw a few females and babies at a distance, we were really hoping for a closer view. Our guide told us that if we could locate the alpha male, the rest of the troop would follow him. We listened to the howls intently and our guide suddenly started running with the rest of our group in hot pursuit!  We spotted the alpha male and sure enough, several members of the family followed him. The chimps settled in a clearing - some foraged for fruit, others groomed their family members, while others just relaxed. It was fascinating to watch their mannerisms which were so human. While we remained still, the chimps moved around us, sometimes brushing up against our pant legs. Reluctantly after our one hour of observation, we trekked back down the mountain to share the stories of our adventure.

Kayaking with Orcas in British Columbia

The beauty of British Columbia has always beckoned to me and the opportunity to combine that with viewing orcas in the wild was a deal clincher! We joined a small kayaking group at a glamping site on Swanson Island, just off the east coast of Vancouver Island. We were very comfortable in our tent with actual beds and the wood-fired hot tub overlooking the ocean was hard to resist at the end of the day. Our days started early in the morning when we were treated to breakfast overlooking the sea. We geared up, hopped into our kayaks, and ventured out in search of the majestic orca and humpback whales that frequented this particular area. There is nothing more thrilling than seeing an orca poke its head out of water or seeing the spray from a humpback, knowing that it would soon surface. Going to bed in the evenings was a treat, as we lay awake listening to the sounds of the orcas swimming in the ocean close by. 

Polar Bears in the Arctic

With polar bears facing increasing climate challenges, a trip to the Arctic was high on my list. I chose to explore the archipelago of Svalbard on a luxury expedition cruise. We set off from the port of Longyearbyen on our Arctic adventure with no set itinerary, but just a plan to follow the wildlife and good weather! We were fortunate to spot polar bears on two occasions, one rolling in the snow and the other walking through delicate purple flowers as the sun set - both such vivid memories. Norway enforces strict viewing protocol in Svalbard so the boat cannot approach too closely but it was still thrilling to see these majestic creatures. We were also treated to close encounters with walruses, reindeer, and a wide array of birdlife. The icy Arctic can be explored by daily zodiac boat expeditions or by kayak launched from the boat - both provide a very intimate encounter with this vast expanse. 

Another great location to see polar bears is in Churchill, Manitoba. These land based excursions, either by tundra buggy or guided vehicle, provide an opportunity to see polar bears up close in October/November as they gather on the tundra, waiting for the Hudson Bay to freeze.

African Safari

Africa offers so many opportunities for incredible safari experiences - narrowing down a destination can be challenging! South Africa offers many wonderful luxury safari lodges which can be combined with a visit to the world class city of Cape Town with its culture, beautiful coastline and winelands. Zimbabwe offers safaris combined with the magnificent Victoria Falls while Namibia offers the desert adapted animals as well as stunning desert dunes and authentic cultural interactions with the Himba tribe. Kenya is a wonderful destination for a pure safari experience and can be combined with a stay at a beautiful beach resort. Botswana offers a unique safari experience with water-based activities to explore the game rich Okavango Delta or perhaps explore it from above in a helicopter! In Tanzania, descend the high walls of the Ngorogoro Crater (a volcanic caldera) to find an abundance of animals and birdlife, including the Big Five. Due to the high walls of the crater, the animals tend not to migrate, which makes it a great safari location all year round.  Regardless of which experience one chooses, every safari is life changing.