This is an ongoing guide, so check back often to see new animals (updated 5/10/19).

The world is full of amazing places with amazing creatures!  Everywhere I go I seem to seek out opportunities to see or interact with some of the world’s most iconic animals.  Sometimes in zoos, sometimes in preserves, and sometimes in rescues.  I often get asked about all the experiences I’ve had with these animals, so I thought I’d start an ON GOING GUIDE to where you too, can go to experience different animals of the world.  All of the following pictures are ones I’ve taken personally or are of me.  They are all personal experiences.

Before we get started let me say that I’m picky about the experiences I have.  I research them, explore them, and make sure that there is NOTHING that will harm the animal before I participate.  I’ve had a few regrettable experiences that I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND TO ANYONE.  I don’t believe in abusing animals wether it be mentally, physically, or through the use of drugs.  Animal abuse is wrong.  Now that we have that out of the way, lets get started!

Alpaca/Lama

Although not the same thing, for our purpose they will be lumped together.  Used in Peru and South America as pack animals there are still wild and large herds found in the Andes Mountain range.  The ideal setting to see wild Alpaca is along the Inca Trail in Peru.  They can be seen scattered along the trail, grazing on the local plants as they go.  You can find them roaming around in the ruins of lost Inca cities making for some pretty spectacular picture taking opportunities. Getting a picture of these animals is quite easy as they don’t have a lot of fear of humans.  They are protective however and getting too close could result in a bite, kick, or being spit at.  Lesson here is keep your distance.

Bat (flying fox)

I’m sure you’ve seen bats before, maybe even some large ones.  They are common all around the world.  However, if you want to see some truly impressive bats you need to head to South East Asia or Northern Australia.  The flying fox is a very large bat that lives in the city limits of Cairns.  In the evenings the skys come alive with thousands of these 5′ wide bats flying in formations around the city.  They are not harmful to humans, but can be scary the first time you see them.  Remember when you walk down the streets in Cairns to look up, you never know what you might see.

Bear (grizzly)

If you want to see a grizzly bear you have quite a few zoo style choices.  But if you want to witness them in the wild you have very few choices.  The easiest to access from the mainland United States is found at the far north side of Montana.  Glacier National Momument spans northern Montana and spills into Canada.  Its one of the most beautiful places in the world.  And it has a boat load of grizzly bears.  Obviously you can’t pet them.  But then should you want to pet a grizzly bear?  ha ha!  You can observe them in their natural habitat, and encounter them while hiking.  Just be careful and take your bear spray.  Remember these animals aren’t for show, they are wild and for real.

Camel

There are two main types of camel.  One hump and two.  Or dromedary (1) and bactrian (2).  Single hump camels are usually found in North Africa and the Middle East.  While two hump camels are mainly found in Asia.  Of the two neither are all that fun to ride.  They are bumpy and difficult to control and known to swing their heads around and nip or spit at the riders.  However, there is one amazing opportunity to ride a camel.  The quintessential camel experience is found in Egypt.  Not much can beat the hour long camel ride along the backside of the Great Pyramids of Giza.  It is an experience that although very touristy, is worth the time and effort to get there.  Most people don’t take this ride, but instead opt for the short one in the back or front, the long one in the backside is worth it!

Crocodile

There are so many different types of crocodile.  The big ones are the salt water crocodile, fresh water crocodile, alligator, Nile crocodile and caiman.  Salt water crocodiles (salties) are found in northern Australia, and some places in south east Asia.  They are known to be the most vicious of all crocs.  The best place to see them is on the banks of a river, basking in the sun on the beach, or by visiting Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure.  If you go I would recommend the big croc feeding experience.  You’ll learn a new respect for how powerful and fast these animals truly are.  Not to mention they do a lot of educating and conservation there.   Hartley’s is also the place to see fresh water crocs (freshies).  In the wild you can see fresh water crocodiles all across southern Asia including several places in India and Nepal.  Nile crocs are only found in the southern parts of the Nile as they have been removed from the northern Nile for safety, so if you want to see them outside of a zoo, that’s your best bet.  Alligators are found in south western United States.  There are many places to see them first hand, the most predominate of which is the Everglades of Florida.  Caiman is found in central and south America and can be found in all along the amazon for best viewing.

Elephant (Indian and African)

I’ve had numerous opportunities to interact with elephants both Indian and African.  First you should know that African elephants are MUCH larger and not domesticated in any way.  If you want to view them I had the best luck in Kenya near the border with Tanzania in the shadow of Kilimanjaro.  A park called Amboseli.  Indian elephants are found in Asia and have largely been domesticated.  There are still wild ones, but they are increasingly hard to find as the Asian population explodes.  I was able to ride an elephant up to the Amber Fort in India.  There is also an opportunity to paint the elephant before riding, feed him, and interact with him.  These opportunities also present themselves in Thailand and across south east Asia.  Just be careful that the elephants are treated well before interacting with them.  It is widely known that many elephants are abused in these situations.  I saw it in Nepal where it broke my heart.

Jaguar

This species of big cat can be found all over central and South America.  They are smaller than lions and tigers but bigger than the linx or bobcat.  If you desire to see them in the wild, its going to be tough.  You need to head to Bolivia, to some of the more remote locations.  However, if you want an up close and exciting experience with them then its a simple trip to Belize.  The Belize zoo is more of a rescue than a zoo.  They have several big cats for you to see and a few of them to interact with!  Ranging from petting one through the bars of a cage that YOU are in to being licked by one on the forehead.  The Belize zoo offers an unique and exciting experience to those who are willing to pay a little extra.

Koala

You can see Koalas in the wild in southern Australia.  Along the south coast you can find them hanging in trees.  Usually pretty secluded and shy these cute little guys hang out way up in the trees.  Mostly found past Melbourne on the Great Ocean Road.  There is also a really fun preserve found just south of Melbourne on the east side of the bay called the Koala Conservation Center on Phillips Island.  This offers you an opportunity to walk along the boardwalks and get up-close to their natural habitat.  These Koalas are not coaxed into staying, they may come and go as they please.  Usually its easy to find them there, but keep your eye to the sky as there will be more of them high in the trees.  Opportunities to pet or hold these cute cuddly creatures are very limited.  The best opportunity for that can be found in the north part of Australia near Cairns.  Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures offers people the opportunity to hold and take pictures with Koala bears.  They are not drugged, sedated or coaxed into taking these pictures.  Should the koala not feel like taking pictures that day it doesn’t happen.  Its a great experience, and a once in a lifetime chance.  There are less than 10 places in the world where you can do this, and Hartley’s is one of the best.

Kangaroo

Obviously you can see kangaroos in many zoos around the world.  If you want to see them in the wild there is one place that provides an amazing opportunity to camp, spend time in the ocean, and see kangaroos in their natural habitat.  Its located on the south side of Australia, and called Pebbly beach.  There are some very interesting kangaroos there sometimes swimming in the surf.  A great quiet place to go and see them.  To pet a kangaroo head back to the north side and visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure.  Here you can see them, pet them, feed them and interact with them.  If you’re lucky you’ll even be able to take a selfie with one.  You maybe also offered the opportunity to interact with the smaller version, the wallaby.  Super cute and lots of fun these little guys are about the most adorable thing going.

Manatee

These big guys can be found tooling around on the Caribbean coast of Central and North America.  There are ample opportunities to see and swim with these gentle large animals.  Florida offers many opportunities however you will be taking your chances that they will be in clear water.  Often times the rivers they are found in can be murky and difficult to swim in.  A better and more exciting opportunity is in Belize.  Along the coast there are several places where snorkeling with manatee can be easily accomplished.  The water is warm and crystal clear.  Plus it will afford you a chance to see a beautiful reef at the same time.

Monkey

Pretty much spanning the globe, monkeys are easy to spot and watch.  However monkeys in the wild can be aggressive, mean, and will actively seek out people with food or backpacks and bags.  Watch them from a distance.  There are so many different types of monkeys around the world to see its impossible to talk about them all here.  One unique place to see them is on Mt Emei in China.  They frolic around the trees and accost strangers for food.  They are known to run in ‘gangs’ around there.  But it offers an opportunity to see them in a cold weather environment with plenty of scenery.  Another place is Central America, where the howler monkeys and spider monkeys make quite a racket.  There are places around that you can interact with them, but remember that they are wild creatures and should be treated with respect.  Never approach a wild monkey.  Never feed a wild monkey.  Only hold monkeys in the presence of their trainer and only when the monkey hasn’t been abused.

Panda

One of the most rare and amazing creatures in the world.  There are so few of these animals left that seeing one in the wild is likened to winning the lottery.  They are beautiful and incredible.  You’re best chance at seeing these amazing creatures is in China.  They live in the Chengdu area, and there are several panda centers there.  Visiting the panda centers is the best way to see them.  At the panda rescue center you can have the opportunity to be a panda keeper for the day.  This allows you to get a back stage look at what it takes to care for these animals, and the chance to feed one.  Beyond that for an extra fee you can take a picture with a panda.  They are VERY particular about how these animals are treated and taking a picture with them is a chore to say the least.  First the panda must be open to it.  If the panda doesn’t want to, isn’t happy, or generally doesn’t like anyone he may walk away.  Secondly the concern about disease is crazy.  And finally if you do anything wrong, threatening, or abusive you will be kicked out.  Petting the panda was truly a highlight of my life.  These animals are still wild.  They are not friendly after the age of 2 and will rip your face off.  Do not approach a panda.

Rhino

There are many types of rhinos around the world.  Two horns, one horn, black, white and more.  One of the most amazing experiences dealing with rhinos can be had in Nepal.  The walking safari inside Chitwan National Park is truly something not to be missed.  How close you are able to get to the rhinos is incredible.  A good zoom lens will get you those amazing shots that will make your friends question your sanity.  They are focused on conservation here, as the rhino population has been declining as of late.  There are also many other wild animals here, including crocs, tigers, deer, and a wide variety of birds.  I can’t recommend the elephant events here.  They simply don’t honor the animal.

Sea Turtle

There are lots of different kinds and you can see them all over the world in tropical regions.  However the greatest concentration of the different varieties can be found off the great barrier reef outside of Cairns, Australia.  You don’t need to be a scuba diver to see them as you can snorkel most of the trips that the scuba tours do.  Its a quick hour boat ride out to the reef where you can see everything from sharks to turtles.  Make sure to go with an experienced guide as they will know where to take you to get the best viewing.  Remember it is illegal to touch sea turtles as they are protected.  For a different experience you can volunteer in El Salvador with a sea turtle research group!  You can get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures!

Taper

An odd looking little animal related to horses, this fun little guy lives in Central and South America.  Seeing them in the wild can be done in most of the National Parks, particularly in the jungles.  Many people think that they are related to ant eaters, but they are more closely related to horses.  Their long noses can grab and reach for food.  Just be careful as they will slime you when they take food out of your hand.  If you want a more personal experience head to the Belize Zoo.  More of a rescue than a zoo, they offer several opportunities for interactive experiences.  One of them is with a very friendly taper.  You can feed and pet the cute little guy as he reaches up with his long nose.  It is truly a fun experience!

Tiger

These incredibly majestic animals are a sight to behold!  They are everything you imagined that the would be in person.  Seeing one for the first time outside of a zoo is almost a religious experience.  As you watch the tiger prowl you can get a feel for how large and powerful this cat truly is.  It’s humbling, intimidating and yet oddly exhilarating.  You can see tigers in several places around the world.  One amazing place to go is Ranthambhore national tiger preserve in India.  This is the area that The Jungle Book was based on!  The preserve has a large fort in the center, but the real jewels are the monkeys, peacocks and yes tigers.  Chances of you seeing a tiger anywhere in the wild are not great, but here they are better than most.  Remember to plan in advance, take the jeep and not the canter, and book the most popular areas months beforehand.  There are other places where you can pet tigers and interact with them but those places are not normally recommended as they usually have to sedate the tigers or discipline them in order to keep them from eating you.

Wolf

Located just west of Colorado Springs in the mountains of Colorado there is one amazing wolf sanctuary.  its called the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center.  Although wolves have been extinct from Colorado for many years, this small sanctuary is dedicated to taking in rescue wolves that have either grown too large for homes, been seized by the government, or have been abused.  The large pens give the wolves room to walk, run, howl, and hide from people as they enjoy their days in the Colorado sun.  There are even a few opportunities to interact with the wolves, petting them and howling with them.  The wolves are never drugged or forced into interactions with humans.  There is much to learn from this well run sanctuary.  To see wolves in the wild you need to go to Yellowstone.  The pack there is growing larger.  They are not easy to see and may require you doing a lot of asking around and multiple days of looking.

Wombat

What an odd ground dwelling creature.  Round and full of bristly fur he has a tough skin and big teeth.  Perfect for the Australian outback the wombat is cute in his own way.  His big claws do a great job at digging out the ground around him.  The place to get up close and personal with this little guy is Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure in Cairns, Australia.  There you can, for a price, see, pet and even hold this adorable little guy.  He is much heavier that you thing he is going to be though, so make sure you are strong enough to hold him, or sit with him.