Australia tops global list of ‘best’ wildlife destinations, beating South Africa and Kenya
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While Aussies might be setting their sights on Africa for an ultimate wildlife-spotting holiday, it turns out the rest of the world is heading Down Under for the same thing.
A new study has found Australia is the most sought-after destination for travellers keen to spot unique wildlife, with people pivoting away from the traditional ‘Big Five’ often seen on safari.
Australia has amazing biodiversity. iStock
For decades, wildlife travel has focused on the Big Five – the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo – which can be spotted on safari in countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Botswana.
But according to research from Explore Worldwide, travel habits are changing, and there’s an updated list of animals that tourists are booking holidays to see in their natural habitats.
Surveying more than 2000 people across the globe, the ‘world’s new Big Five’ are the panda, elephant, kangaroo, koala, and whale.
And when asked where they most want to go to see wildlife? Australia topped the list.
Chosen by over a third (38 per cent) of survey participants, Australia is officially the most in-demand country for wildlife experiences, and home to three of the top five animals listed above.
Even outside of those, we’ve got amazing biodiversity to rival most other places on Earth. Tourists can spot wombats and wallabies, saltwater crocodiles and quokkas, even the elusive Tasmanian devils.
According to Explore Worldwide, there have been over 32,500 searches for wildlife trips to Australia in the past year alone.
Our wildlife is both on land and in the ocean. iStock
After Australia, South Africa came in second place on the ranking for wildlife-spotting destinations, showing that the classic safari holiday is not dead.
Beyond the safari parks, the country’s wildlife is just as diverse. In Cape Town, travellers can see African penguin colonies and whale migrations at Hermanus, the whale watching capital of the world.
Kenya, another destination synonymous with safari, came in third place on the list. The country is home to the famous Great Migration, where over two million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle constantly circle the landscape, following seasonal rains for fresh grazing.
The Great Migration is amazing to witness in real life. iStock
Canada came in fourth place. Home to a wide range of species, including bears, moose, elk, marmot and mountain lion as well as many species of birds.
Fifth place went to China, an unexpected addition, but with plenty of wildlife to be spotted. Along with its animal mascot, the giant panda, China also has red pandas, snow leopards, Siberian tigers and dolphins.
Global wildlife wish list: The full top ten
- Panda
- Elephant
- Kangaroo
- Koala
- Whale
- Tiger
- Penguin
- Wolf
- Lion
- Giraffe
