We love experiencing wildlife whilst travelling and it is such an important part of our holiday. Of course, the best thing is watching animals in their natural habitat, creating lasting memories for us all but taking time out from a bustling city to visit a zoo or aquarium, can be great too. Joining tours or visiting attractions which help to support conservation and rehabilitation projects is always a priority.
A few of our most memorable experiences of animals in the wild:
Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
A visit to Khao Sok National Park was a truly magical experience. With our brilliant guide, we started our adventure with a 5km trek into the jungle. As you venture into the rainforest, you will be amazed by the sounds of humming, chirping and screeches from birds, gibbons, frogs and the loudest of all – ghost bees. With an experienced eye, our guide found chameleons, spiders and lizards as well as beautiful birds. We were even lucky enough to watch gibbons swinging through the high canopy. With the intense humidity, a stop for a dip in the river surrounded by waterfalls was lovely and refreshing.
Whale watching, Santa Barbara
Our trip to California offered many opportunities to learn more about the native wildlife – from condors flying overhead in Pinnacles National Park to the Elephant Seals of Año Nuevo State Park. Watching the incredible whales in Santa Barbara had to be the best though.
We booked a 2.5-hour boat trip with Condor Express which departed from the harbour. The guides were so friendly and informative and we managed to see several humpback whales. After migrating to the tropical waters of Mexico to breed and give birth, the whales make their way back to Alaska to spend the summer months where they feed. Watching the mother and calf swimming close to our boat was an amazing sight. Staying further up the coast in Pismo Beach, we could see these mighty creatures swimming up the coast from our balcony too.
Elephant Nature Park, Thailand
We were all very keen to spend some time with Thailand’s wonderful elephants but wanted to make sure we booked the right tour and not one where they still promote riding them. The Elephant Nature Park, situated around an hour from Chiang Mai, is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre. The park also cares for other animals including dogs, cats and buffaloes.
We were collected by minibus from our hotel in Chiang Mai and on arrival, started our visit by feeding the elephants (including some very cute babies) their morning fruit snack. We were then taken around the park to meet some of the rescued elephants and hear all about their heart-breaking stories. Then we walked with our guide to watch them from a distance enjoying a bath in the river – no getting in with them or riding on them, just watching them having fun in the water and mud.
Our favourite zoos and aquariums:
Oceanogràfic, Valencia
Once you reach the final stretch of Jardin del Turía, you are met with the futuristic wonder that is the City of Arts and Sciences. Located in the southernmost building, the Oceanogràfic aquarium has to be the best we have visited in Europe with a spacious setting and plenty of outdoor areas ideal for warm, sunny days when you don’t want to be cooped up inside for too long. The complex is divided into different climate zones and also features a dolphin show which is always a favourite with the children. We hadn’t seen Beluga whales before so this was a wonderful opportunity – they were so beautiful and peaceful. The sharks swimming overhead were pretty incredible too.
Bioparc, Valencia
After visiting many zoos in Europe, this has got to be one of the best. It concentrates solely on the African continent and its animals and landscapes. As you wander, you are taken from the equatorial forest, Madagascar and large wetlands to the savannah. Habitats are recreated to give a real picture of how the animals coexist in the wild. The design is what makes it stand out from your typical zoo. The landscape and enclosures have been created to give an illusion that the animals are roaming free with no obvious fences. Sitting in the café overlooking the giraffes, you could be mistaken for being on safari.
Amsterdam Zoo
Set in beautiful gardens with blossoming trees and blooming tulips, the zoo was founded in 1838 and many of the 19th century buildings are still here today. As well as all the usual zoo animals including zebras, giraffes, elephants and chimpanzees, the Artis Zoo is home to an aquarium, planetarium and butterfly pavilion. You can easily spend a whole day here as there is so much to see and pleasant gardens to relax in with a picnic. There are several play areas including a large adventure playground with a café nearby so parents can chill whilst the children play. For older children, the ARTIS-Micropia museum next to the Zoo offers an interesting insight into the microscopic world.
Lisbon Zoo
Attractive gardens with all sorts of animals from African mammals to stunning flamingos and a children’s farm, we had a great day out here. The dolphin show is not to be missed along with the cable car rides giving you a great view of the animals – hanging over the hippo enclosure was a little nerve racking though.
Zoomarine, Algarve
With a zoo, waterpark and theme park in one, kids will love it. Our children loved the dolphin and sealion shows and my son was so chuffed to catch the ball tossed into the audience. The tropical bird show was also very entertaining. You got the feeling that the zoo keepers really love the animals.
Monterey Aquarium, California
A fantastic aquarium with an exceptional collection of species – you can easily spend most of the day here exploring the different sections. The kids loved touching the beautiful stingrays and there were regular screenings in the auditorium on different topics. The tentacles section had the most fascinating octopus and squid and the jellyfish were very impressive. The incredible shoals of shimmering sardines were mesmerizing too.
Interested in visiting any of these amazing places? Check out my page for full itineraries in each destination to give you some more inspiration.
I’d love to hear all about your most memorable wildlife experiences to inspire me for future trips. Please comment below if you’d like to share them.
Fam Full of Wanderlust 