Wildlife Holidays & Safari Tours

Head to Africa and beyond to discover our planet's amazing wild creatures

Take a walk on the wild side and enjoy close encounters with some of the world’s most incredible creatures. Whether it's tracking tigers in India, spotting mountain gorillas in Uganda, admiring bathing elephants in Sri Lanka or watching cute and clumsy giant pandas in China, our wildlife holidays will get you to the heart of the action.

For the classic animal adventure, it's hard to look beyond an African safari. Africa is home to an abundance of wildlife including the Big 5 - lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo. A large swathe of the continent is covered in national parks, and we offer both camping safaris and lodge accommodated safari tours which visit reserves including the mighty Serengeti in Tanzania, Chobe in Botswana and the Masai Mara in Kenya. We have a number of itineraries suited for wildlife lovers, where your trip is based around spotting wildlife. On other trips there's the opportunity to spend time in national parks whilst still taking in the main sights of interest in a country, so there's plenty of animal encounters available for culture vultures as well.

The best of African wildlife

Home to a host of unique species and icons of our natural world, Africa is the ultimate wildlife destination, with safaris the favoured method of exploration. Check out some of the incredible animals you can expect to see on our Africa holidays.

Addo Lions- Africa Overland Safaris - Africa Lodge Safaris - Africa Tours - On The Go Tours

Lions

The undisputed King of the Jungle, lions actually live out in the open African plains and grasslands in large prides. On our overland safaris, you'll have a great chance of spotting a pride hanging out in the shade or playfully rolling around with their cubs.

Recommended Tour:
Great African Expedition

Herd of elephants - Africa Overland Safaris - Africa Lodge Safaris - Africa Tours - On The Go Tours

African Elephant

One of the Big 5, there's nothing quite like seeing a beautiful herd of elephants in the wild, trumpeting loudly and spraying water over thier backs to keep cool. Chobe National Park in Botswana has one of the greatest concentrations and is our top pick for an elephant safari.

Recommended Tour:
Falls to Jo'burg

Leopard - Africa Overland Safaris - Africa Lodge Safaris - Africa Tours - On The Go Tours

Leopard

It's not easy to spot a well-camouflaged leopard, but keep your eyes focused on the trees and the long grasses of the bush, and head out at night for the best chance to spot this elusive big cat. We recommend Kruger in South Africa and Samburu in Kenya.

Recommended Tour:
Kenya to Kruger

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Black Rhino

Sadly, the Black Rhino is critically endangered, though conservation has improved the species' situation. The best chances to spot them come at Hluhluhwe Umfolozi National Park in South Africa and Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe where they can be found grazing peacefully.

Recommended Tour:
World in One Country

Buffalo - dreamstine - On The Go Tours

Buffalo

Rounding out the Big 5 is the beautiful buffalo. Famously aggressive and often a match for lions, these bad-tempered giants can be found grazing in huge herds across southern and eastern Africa, from the Okavango Delta in Botswana, to the Serengeti in Tanzania and Kruger in South Africa.

Recommended Tour:
Kenya and Tanzania Trails

Hungry Hippo Okavango

Hippo

Hippopotamus comes from the Ancient Greek "River Horse", and Africa's waterways are a great place to spot this largely herbivorous but aggressive animal. Lake Naivasha in Kenya is our recommended place to spot them in the wild.

Recommended Tour:
Best of Kenya & Tanzania

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Mountain Gorillas

Get up close and personal with these gentle giants of the jungle in their natural habitat - the central forests in Uganda. We have a number of trips where you can go trekking in search of the mountain gorilla.

Recommended Tour:
Gorilla & Game Trek

Running Cheetah - Africa Overland Safaris - Africa Lodge Safaris - Africa Tours - On The Go Tours

Cheetah

Sprinting in short bursts at over 100 km per hour, the impressive speed of the cheetah sets it apart from all other big cats. The open grasslands of Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara are great for sightings.

Recommended Tour:
Kenya to Cape

Wildebeest Migration - Africa Overland Safaris - Africa Lodge Safaris - Africa Tours - On The Go Tou

Wildebeest

For something truly spectacular, time your visit to Africa around the Great Migration when thousands upon thousands of wildebeest migrate across the plains of the Serengeti and Masai Mara in eastern Africa.

Recommended Tour:
Kenya Wildlife Week

Zebra and Baby - Africa Overland Safaris - Africa Lodge Safaris - Africa Tours - On The Go Tours

Zebra

Few things are more recognisable than the black and white stripes of the zebra and you'll see large concentrations in the Masai Mara in Kenya, typically alongside lots of wildebeest.

Recommended Tour:
Zebras & Zanzibar

Giraffe and baby- Africa Overland Safaris - Africa Lodge Safaris - Africa Tours - On The Go Tours

Giraffe

Possibly the most likeable of all African animals, you're bound to see lots of giraffe lazily munching the leaves off tree tops on most safaris in Africa with Etosha in Namibia being top of the list.

Recommended Tour:
Cape to Falls

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Flamingos

It's a special moment seeing a flamboyance of flamingos with their pink shimmering reflections at the water's edge and it's hard to see past Lake Nakuru in Kenya as a top spot to do so.

Recommended Tour:
Wildlife, Falls & Beaches

Wildlife from around the world

Africa's not the only place you'll find wildlife with every continent on the planet offering a unique selection of animals from the north to the south poles and all four corners. Here are some of our top picks of wildlife elsewhere in the world.

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Tigers

Head to one of India's many national parks for a chance to spot tigers in wild, supporting conservation along the way.

Recommended Tour:
Shere Khan

Leopard in Yala

Leopards

Surprising but true, Sri Lanka's Yala National Park has the largest concentration of leopard in the world.

Recommended Tour:
Wild About Sri Lanka

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Asian Elephants

With smaller ears than their African cousins, see Asian elephants in Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and further East.

Recommended Tour:
Colombo Caves & Kandy

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Pandas

Come face to face with China's favourite mascot at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Recommended Tour:
Great Wall & Pandas

South Georgia Island - Antarctica - On The Go Tours

Penguins

Head to Punta Arenas in Chile, Boulders Beach near Cape Town in South Africa or the wilds of Antarctica.

Recommended Tour:
Santiago to Patagonia

Svalbard Explorer main image - Polar bear on the pack ice - Svalbard - Norway

Polar bears

The remote Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is home to more polar bears than people!

Recommended Tour:
Svalbard Explorer

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Toucans

These vibrant natives of South America and Central America are bound to add colour to your adventure.

Recommended Tour:
Ultimate Costa Rica

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Iguanas

Take a cruise around the pristine Galapagos Islands, a nature lover's paradise and home to the marine iguana.

Recommended Tour:
Galapagos Encounters

MachuPicchu-Llama

Alpacas & Llamas

What better way to cap off your trek to Machu Picchu than by sharing the incredible view with a llama or alpaca.

Recommended Tour:
Lima to La Paz

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Arabian Oryx

Visit Shaumari Wildlife Reserve in Jordan to see rare Arabian Oryx as you enjoy a thrilling jeep safari.

Recommended Tour:
Jordan Wildlife & Nature

Coquerel's sifaka - Madagascar

Lemurs

The forests and national parks of Madagascar are home to around 60 species of lemur, many endangered.

Recommended Tour:
1000 Views of Madagascar

Feeling inspired? Get in touch with our expert team to start planning the holiday of a lifetime!

Further reading on the world's wildlife

Want to know more about the animals and destinations featured here? Check out our handy resources to get you started:

Africa Safari Wildlife Guide - where to see Africa's wildlife and when best to go
Spotting Africa's Big 5 - where you'll find lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo
The Great Migration - all you need to know on Africa's greatest wildlife spectacle
Spotting tigers in India - the best national parks to find Shere Khan for yourself
Visiting pandas in China - where you can see them and what's being done to save them

And if that wasn't enough, how about these great websites?

World Wildlife Fund - protecting animals across the globe
Ranger Diaries - the latest news from rangers working in Africa
Wildlife Extra - online wildlife magazine for those who like wildlife