Wildlife conservation tours offer an ideal way to support animal protection, whether you’re whale watching in Maui or tracking endangered gorillas in Rwanda. However, it’s essential to choose an ethical tour operator.
Some operators use the word ‘conservation’ as a hook to attract tourists, yet their true motivations may be dubious. Watch out for photos showing travelers feeding cute animals – this practice does not constitute ethical or sustainable conservation efforts.
Volunteer at a Sanctuary
Sanctuary trips provide you with an insider look into animal rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The goal is to return animals back into their wild environments or give them temporary homes until they can be adopted; the experience can be both enriching and useful as it allows you to determine if it’s something that interests you professionally going forward.
Volunteering on a wildlife conservation tour should take place at an established sanctuary that cares for a wide range of animal species, providing you with firsthand evidence of our impact on them as humans while teaching you all kinds of practical skills from feeding and cleaning kennels and cages to making connections with like-minded people who share your love for these majestic creatures and desire to protect them.
There are various kinds of animal sanctuaries you can visit. While some specialize in direct care for at-risk animals, others focus on community and educational initiatives. Whatever type of sanctuary you visit, make sure it is a responsible organization and that your help will make a real difference in the lives of at-risk animals.
Wildlife conservation tours offer exciting adventures in Africa, where safaris and visits to lion or elephant sanctuaries are popular options. You could also travel Australia and Asia in search of endangered orangutans or Argentina with the aim of conserving its puma population.
Before booking any wildlife experience, take time to carefully review each tour operator’s websites and social media pages. Some will feature glossy photos showing travelers feeding adorable lion cubs – an obvious red flag. Also be wary of any tour operator claiming 100% success rate in seeing wild animals; feeding animals may be used as bait for tourists to attract visitors – something which harms both wildlife and human volunteers involved in volunteering efforts.
Take part in Marine Research
Marine ecology offers an amazing way to experience and explore intriguing marine creatures up close, making it an amazing and fulfilling career path. Marine ecology involves studying marine organisms and their environments, from microplankton and zooplankton to giant cetaceans up to 32 metres (82-105 feet). You will most often work in coastal habitats like estuaries, coral reefs, kelp forests, and seagrass meadows near seamounts or thermal vents, but your work could also include exploring open ocean (pelagic) zones that remain unknown and mysterious!
Wildlife conservation tours give participants a chance to work alongside experts to preserve wildlife habitats while simultaneously learning more about their wider ecosystems. The best trips combine hands-on volunteering with research that gives an in-depth knowledge of our planet – creating an experience both rewarding and educational!
While improper tour operators can tarnish the industry, wildlife tourism can play an essential role in saving at-risk species. Shark tourism has proven more financially advantageous to keep sharks alive than dead; and community conservancies allow local people to manage lion, cheetah and black rhino populations while simultaneously safeguarding their habitats.
As part of our wildlife conservation vacations, whether tracking elephants by foot, tagging marine species, or volunteering at a sanctuary with animal care – our wildlife vacations give you the skills and confidence to make a real impactful difference in the world. Plus we’ve put together some helpful top tips so that you can select the appropriate trip.
Not sure if our adventures are the right fit for you? Not a problem – there are many more adventures available!
Track Gorillas in Uganda
Uganda and Rwanda offer gorilla trekking as a popular tourist activity, and visitors should do their part to support conservation efforts when touring these lush rainforests. When booking a tour, be sure that your provider has partnered with the National Park Authority so that proceeds from your tour go toward park preservation efforts. Also consider choosing an environmentally-conscious lodging like Kyambura Gorge Lodge that practices sustainable practices. The lodge does amazing work to help support the local Batwa community that was dispossessed when Bwindi Impenetrable Forest became a national park. They’ve built a village, helped run a dance group (to aid integration into wider Uganda), and established a vocational training centre.
At the start of any gorilla tracking experience, your guide will give an extensive briefing on gorilla behavior and safety guidelines. Pay careful attention—this part of the experience should not be skipped!
Once you find a gorilla family to track, it will be fascinating to observe them as they go about their daily business – grooming, foraging and napping without fear or care of humans. Bear in mind though, that gorillas are keen observers so be wary when approaching too closely; remembering to stay at least 10 meters away. This ensures they won’t pick up diseases from you by touching their fur or skin!
When you need a break from watching these amazing animals, there are numerous other safari activities you can enjoy in their natural habitat—from chimpanzee trekking and bird watching to whitewater rafting, cultural visits, and much more! Remember that gorillas are just one species among many others living here!
Prepare for a long hike through the rainforests to make the most of your gorilla trek. Before your tour, practice hiking for several days in parks or nearby forests to build strength and endurance and feel prepared for what can often last up to six hours.
Explore Antarctica
An Antarctic expedition is an unmissable dream for nature lovers. Marvelous glaciers, rugged mountains, extreme coastlines and mysterious volcanoes provide a stunning setting for an abundance of wildlife, from birds such as penguin species (gentoo and Adelie to chinstrap) and elephant seals to aggressive male elephant seals who protect their harems from predators. Whales may prove most captivating; magnificent humpbacks swim in waters rich with krill while smaller orcas and porpoises also play in the waters rich with krill; with luck perhaps even seeing one or two rare and mysterious sperm whales!
At the South Shetland Islands, you will encounter an array of fascinating mammals, from leopard seals lumbering across icebergs to wandering albatrosses soaring high overhead. Not to mention penguin rookeries filled with their residents!
Antarctica’s austral summer, from October to March, offers the optimal time and conditions to visit this frozen continent. Wildlife activity reaches its height as penguin chicks hatch and their parents tend to their offspring. Furthermore, you’ll get to witness breathtaking landscape views along Deception Bay or through Gerlache Strait and Lemaire Channel – making your Antarctica visit truly remarkable!
As you sail, you will be guided by expert naturalist guides and an expedition team with decades of Antarctic experience. Together you will explore more of Antarctica than you ever could have imagined: its mountains, cliffs and ice shelves as well as some of its more remote corners if weather permits.
Take away an unforgettable life-changing experience as well as a greater appreciation of our fragile world with you, becoming a steward for its preservation. By doing this you’ll leave having made a more positive contribution towards conservation efforts – truly fulfilling travel! To learn more about these life-altering tours and how you can get involved contact Wayfairer now.