Elephant in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

The Top 10 Countries in the World to View Wildlife

September 1, 2017

Rothschild’s giraffes at Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda

Scientists estimate that there are 8.7 million species in the world. However, over 80 percent of Earth’s species have yet to be fully described, and cataloguing them all could take more than 1,000 years. Nonetheless already know about over 1 million species.

A bengal tiger in India

For most persons on earth though, unless they pay a visit to a local zoo, the only species that they might see on a regular basis are household pets and the regular farm animals.

Elephant in Namibia

Even you go to a local zoo, you still do not get to see the creatures in their natural habitat. We put together this list of 10 countries that are amongst the best to see wildlife in the world. There are our selection of best wildlife destinations in the world. Visiting these 10 countries allows you to see many unique species of animals spread across the world, in their natural habitat.

10. Venzuela

See Amazon river dolphins, and Orinoco crocodiles up to 22 feet in length when you visit Venezuela. See the Venezuelan Troupia and over 1,400 other species of birds when you visit this country.

River dolphin

Orinoco crocodile in Venezuela

9. China

China is the most biodiverse country outside of the tropics in the world. The country has taken steps to protect many threatened species including 25 different primate species with four of them being found nowhere else.

The giant panda, also known as panda bear or simply panda, in China

8. Philippines

The waters surrounding the Philippines is one of, if not the most biodiverse places on earth. The Crocodylus mindorensis is the most threatened crocodile in the world. Along with those there are more than 52,000 different species of animals in the Philippines.

Philippines Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)

Philippine tarsier

7. Madagascar

This island’s extreme isolation means that about 80 percent of all animals found here are endemic. The island boasts more than 300 species of frog along with aye-ayes, flying foxes, fossas and mongooses and many species of lemurs.

A flying fox

Flying fox

Red ruffed lemur in Madagascar

6. India

Over 500 wildlife sanctuaries make it easy to see a variety of wildlife in India. These include Asian elephants, bengal tigers, lions, black bear and monkeys. India is home to more than 172 threatened species along with 1,300 bird species including 42 found nowhere else.

Bengal tiger in India

5. Brazil

Brazil has the highest diversity of primates and freshwater fish in the world. It is also home to more than 680 mammal species and over 1,800 bird species. You could see snakes that over 30 feet long in this South American country.

Iguana lizard in Brazil

Marmoset (monkey) in Brazil

Parrot in Brazil

4. Trinidad

Over 10,000 leatherback sea turtles weighing up to 2,000 pounds may cover the beaches in Trinidad. This country may be home to the world’s largest caterpillar and the world’s largest centipede. Travel to see howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys and over 11 species of bats along with 100 species of butterflies in this Caribbean island.

Capuchin monkey

3. Uganda

The small East African country of Uganda is home to more than 500 species of mammals. More than 50 percent of the world’s population of mountain gorillas live here. Some of the other species that you can track in Uganda are chimpanzees, elands, zebras, bushbucks, giraffes, buffalo, elephants, hippopotamuses and kobs.

Zebras in Uganda

Hippopotamuses in Uganda

Giraffe in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

Elephant in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

2. Borneo

Located in the geographical center of Southeast Asia, there are at least 44 species of animals living in Borneo that are found nowhere else on earth. Additionally, the extremely tall rainforest is home to 10 primate species, 150 species of reptiles and amphibians and 350 bird species. This country is one of only two where rhinoceroses, elephants, orangutans and tigers live in harmony.

Orangutan (great red ape) in Borneo

Proboscis monkey in Borneo

1. Nambia

Located on Africa’s southwest coast, Namibia boasts the largest African population of free-roaming black rhinoceroses along with the largest population of cheetahs in the world. It is also home to unique species of elephants (desert elephants), which have thinner bodies and wider feet. Travelers may also see lions and zebras when they visit this dry country.