The world is home to an array of incredible animals, from leafcutter ants in the American tropics to the great elephants of Africa. It’s easy to become fascinated by the animal kingdom given the vast array of wildlife programmes available to watch at home. However, nothing can beat seeing wild animals in their natural habit with your own eyes. If you have dreamt of a wildlife adventure holiday and are currently working out which animals to see, read on for a little inspiration.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica has beautiful waterfalls, stunning beaches and a massive diversity of wildlife

Deforestation was a major problem in Costa Rica until the early 1990s, when the government decided it needed to protect its forests and the wildlife that lived within them. An incentive was set up that paid local communities to protect the natural ecosystems and encouraged the replanting of trees. The incentive became a huge success and in 2021 Costa Rica received the Earth Shot Prize.

Thanks to the tropical forest regeneration and protection, Costa Rican wildlife is thriving, with over 500,000 species of animals, including monkeys, turtles, toucans, crocodiles and butterflies.

Sloths are a common favourite with visitors to this lush, green country and it’s not hard to see why. Both the two-toed and three-toed types can be seen relaxing in the trees as you explore this magnificent country and all it has to offer.

Borneo

Rafflesia, or the ‘Corpse Flower’

The third-largest island in the world, Borneo is home to some fascinating animal and plant species. One of which, the parasitic rafflesia, recently featured on the BBC docuseries ‘The Green Planet‘. This huge flower, which can grow up to one metre in diameter, is reddish-brown but comes with a potent smell that gives it the nickname ‘the corpse flower’.

There are also three species of orangutans. All of them can be found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra – and they’re the only places you’ll find them in the wild. However, orangutangs are classed as critically endangered, with only around 100,000 Borean orangutans left in the wild due to deforestation and hunting.

Borneo is also home to some of the smallest animals. The Borean pygmy elephant and the Bornean sun bear are the smallest elephant and bear species anywhere in the world. Another animal that can only be found in Borneo is the unusual-looking proboscis monkey, with its very long nose.

Africa

Cheetahs in the Masai Mara

A visit to Africa isn’t complete without taking a safari. Travelling with a guide through the national parks that Africa has to offer provides the opportunity to witness animals in their natural environment – species that you are guaranteed not to see in the UK wilderness. The Masai Mara in Kenya, for example, is home to cheetahs, elephants, rhinos and lions.

Heading to Uganda for a trek through the lush vegetation may provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see gorillas at home in their natural environment.