Best Countries to Visit: Animal Lovers

Vacation isn't always just beaches and relaxation. People go on trips for a million different reasons and seeing exotic animals is one of them. Animals go beyond just cats, dogs, bunnies and birds- traveling gives you the opportunity to see animals that you wouldn't see at home. Zoos are fun, and yes you're able to visit animals that aren't native to your area but animals in captivity aren't nearly the same thing as watching majestic beings in their natural habitat.

The type of animals you'd like to see will dictate where you will be traveling too. Here I'll be giving you ideas where to go depending on what majestic being you're looking to spend your time with.

Me in Freeport, Bahamas- swimming with the pigs

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a beautiful, lush land that is filled with different species of animals. An animal lovers paradise. The colorful jungles and top tier wildlife gives everyone a reason to set foot in Costa Rica. But the most known mammal in this country are sloths- cute yet they mind their own business and known for their slow and sleepy lifestyle. Costa Rica has gone to extensive lengths to protect their wildlife and their rainforests. So sloths tend to blend in but they thrive in the ecosystem surrounding them.

Australia

Two animals people dream of seeing- kangaroos and koalas. Australia is one of the best places to spend time looking at different animals for weeks on end. Hike through the forests or go to a unique sanctuary where you can interact and feed the indigenous animals. More than 80% of frogs, reptiles, plants, mammals are unique to Australia.

Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya

The Big Five as they're known: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhinos and buffalo. You can camp out in the wild or stay at a beautiful resort. Extreme diversity that roam the savanna. Safaris give you a chance to see all of these animals, especially if you plan a trip during the great migration. Between the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, they protect the greatest and most varied collection of land animals on Earth.

There are plenty more countries in Africa that you can go to see other animals, the three mentioned above just happen to be the most popular. You can go to Rwanda and Uganda to see endangered mountain gorillas. You can travel to Zambia to see the 40,000 strong population of hippos. And Zimbabwe is flourishing with Zebras.

Bahamas

Beautiful waters aren't the only reason people flock to the Bahamas. Bohemian people give tourists opportunities to get up close and personal with pigs of all ages. Pet them, feed them and even swim with them. They're super friendly and love when you give them apples. Freeport, also known as Grand Bahama is a huge hotspot for swimming with the pigs.

Brazil

One of the most biodiverse countries in the world and home to the largest rainforest- the Amazon. Over 2,000 jaguars as well as anacondas, tortoises and toucans. Most are seen during the dry season for hunting which occurs June to Nov. This vibrant land is also home to pumas, ocelots, tapirs, capybaras, and numerous monkey species, including the famous howlers. It would take me all day to name almost all 700 species of mammals that inhabit the outstanding land. Brazil is also a famous bird watching destination and If you go to the coast there might be a chance to spot a rare pink dolphin.

China

The panda has became a symbol of China and probably the most powerful symbol of conservation in the world. The cute but clumsy animals reside in China's bamboo forests but they are vulnerable in the wild. China is also home to a panda sanctuary that breeds and rescues the cuddly animals on a 165-acre base. Currently, there is less than 1,900 panda bears left in the wild- and 300 of them are in captivity- so that puts these sweet, squishy, fluffy bears on the brink of extinction.

South Africa

While South Africa is also a good spot to see African wildlife, this is also a hot spot for great white sharks. Yes, they live across the world but there is something special about the sharks that make south African waters their home. These sharks jump out of the water when they hunt. It's one of the only places in the world that they do so. Five miles off the coast of South Africa is known as Shark Alley for a reason- rich with sea lions, turtles, penguins- sharks have ample reason to stick around. The beautiful water gives you a chance to see sharks- whether you prefer diving or relaxing on a boat.

Antartica

When you think of the continent, most people don't think of Antartica as one to visit for animals, but it's actually one of the top wildlife destinations in the world. The frozen tundra and this frozen wonderland is known for the diverse waters that are home to thousands of species of animals. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the vast array of animals that call this unique continent home. In fact, expect to see up to six types of penguins, five different types of whales, six different type of seals, and maybe 320 different species of fish.

Galápagos Islands

Beaming with animals that are only found on these islands, it's a top destination for animal viewing. One of the most famous animals that resides on the islands is the tortoise that lives up to 170 years. As well as the only marine iguana left on earth, and the Galápagos penguin- the smallest north of the equator. These animals aren't accustom to human interaction but the one thing they don't have is fear. Going to the Galápagos Islands almost guarantees you coming face to face with one or more of the most majestic animals in the archipelago.