Nature & Wildlife Adventures for Every Travel Style

My most frequent travel companions are my family. Every one of us considers ourselves to be an "outdoors person," but, like snobby sommeliers, our tastes vary quite a bit. Take our recent trip to Africa, for example, where we spent a lot of time outside.

If you ask my father what his favourite outdoor moment was, he will likely tell you about our boma dinner in Botswana, where groups of giraffes and elephants joined us for a toast under the moonlight, drinking from the waterhole next to our eco-lodge. My mother, meanwhile, will tell you about the sleeping leopard that surprised her and my father on their nature walk in South Africa. 

This trip was a reminder of where the magic and inspiration of nature- and wildlife-focused adventures come from: nature's complex diversity.

Nature- and wildlife-focused tours are for everyone, no matter your travel style. They can cater to almost any interest, hobby, and comfort level. They inspire children and adults to see the world in a new way. And they can help preserve our planet and redefine travel with sustainable practices.

Goway boasts over five decades of planning these kinds of fully customized, bucket-list worthy wildlife vacations. Goway's nature- and wildlife- focused journeys are developed under our wider sustainability roadmap, which works to protect wildlife, support local communities, and encourage responsible travel so future globetrotters can experience the wild side of our planet for generations to come.

Here are five of our favourite wildlife- and nature-focused experiences that prove there's a wildlife adventure ready to spark wonder and create unscripted moments you will remember for a lifetime.

Feasts Among Flora & Fauna: Wildlife Food & Wine Tours

It's always a good idea to get in a good meal before exploring the great outdoors. Luckily, the world is full of bucket-list-worthy wildlife and nature experiences that will leave you fully satisfied.

The Americas, from North to South, are home to some of the best, yet perhaps unexpected, wildlife and culinary experiences. For example, imagine cruising through Ecuador's magnificent Galapagos Islands, where encounters with dancing blue-footed boobies, pensive giant tortoises, leaping humpback whales, and the other incredible wildlife that make the archipelago one of the most naturally diverse areas of the world are paired with gourmet Ecuadorian dinners under the ocean stars. You may find yourself in the heart of Alaska's rugged wilderness, looking out at burly grizzly bears as you dine aboard the Alaska Railroad's Goldstar Railcar. Or, you may prefer to sample Chilean and Argentinian wines as you sail across the Drake Passage en route to your meeting with the penguins of Antarctica.

There are extraordinary wildlife experiences, delicious regional cuisine, and unforgettable outdoor dining available worldwide. But like the hottest restaurant in the city, getting a reservation might be tricky. Don't worry, Goway's Destination Specialists can help you reserve your spot.

Traditions Born in the Wild: Cultural Wildlife Tours

There may be no greater or more profound foundation of human culture than nature. Before language, art, and storytelling, there was the sun, the moon, the oceans, and the land. Every human culture and society is moulded to a certain extent by the natural environment in which they exist, meaning some of the world's greatest cultural travel experiences are found outside.

One of the greatest examples comes from the Sámi people in the Arctic regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The Sámi are the indigenous inhabitants of the Sápmi region, formerly known as Lapland. The Sámi people are renowned for their traditional reindeer herding expertise and comprise a diverse group of communities with distinct languages and traditions. Some of Finland's Sámi communities, for example, welcome you to learn about their culture and traditions firsthand through thrilling Arctic husky sledding, peaceful reindeer sleigh rides, and other unforgettable cultural excursions into the beautiful Arctic landscape that has shaped Sámi culture for millennia.

Outdoor Exercise: Active Safari & Wildlife Vacations

Globetrotters seeking adrenaline-filled wildlife adventures that get their heart pumping should look to Africa.

The world's second-largest and oldest inhabited continent is home to some of the most spectacular natural and wildlife spectacles you will ever encounter. You can track mountain gorillas in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, which is also home to 120 other mammal species, 354 bird species, 200 butterfly species, and 160 tree species. You can feel the thunderous march of over a million wildebeests as they cross the Serengeti into the Masai Mara during the Great Migration on a safari in Kenya and Tanzania. Or, you could leave the mainland behind and search for lemurs playing in the trees of Madagascar.

Goway's Destination Specialists and GroupsOnly team—North America's largest dedicated group travel division—make experiencing Africa's untamed natural beauty and wildlife a breeze. Our team makes booking experiences that book up months in advance, like the Great Migration in Kenya, easy and fully customizable. Travelling with Goway means leaving all of the unexpected surprises to your group safaris of 10 or more people, your romantic balloon ride over the Mara, or your family beach vacation in Kenya, not the planning process.

Romantic Reefs: Wildlife Vacations for Couples & Honeymoons

Is there anyone more romantic than Mother Nature? It often takes a lifetime of dedication for the world's most talented artists to capture the romance of the fiery sunsets, starlit skies, and dancing ocean waves that grace our planet every day.

The South Pacific region is full of destinations where couples and honeymooners can elevate their romantic escapes by embracing the beauty and wonder of the natural world. In Australia, you can enjoy romantic wine tastings in the iconic Barossa Valley before visiting the koalas and kangaroos of the outback and waddling penguins on Phillip Island. Or, you can settle in for a romantic longstay on the Gold Coast, where ancient rainforests and the vibrant Great Barrier Reef are within your reach. Globetrotters looking for a truly unique and off-the-beaten-path experience can even find romance in Papua New Guinea, where remote villages along the scenic Lake Murray, immersive cultural exchanges with the Huli wigmen of Tari, and a Karawari River cruise create a special, unforgettable adventure.

Wild Meditation: Health & Wellness Wildlife Tours

A key foundation of wellness involves connecting with nature, and Asia offers some of the most restorative wildlife settings in the world. China's Sichuan province is where you will enjoy a calming trip to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, embracing the quiet atmosphere of the bamboo forests. In India's renowned reserves, such as Ranthambore National Park or Bandhavgarh National Park, your early-morning tiger safaris are balanced by downtime at forest lodges designed for rest and reflection. Farther south in Malaysian Borneo, guided walks in Kinabatangan's lush rainforests and peaceful river cruises deliver immersive nature without the rush. Asia proves that meaningful wildlife encounters are as rejuvenating as they are enjoyable, no matter how you define wellness.

Before You Go

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with Goway’s Good Traveller Guide before embarking on your wildlife vacation. It is full of tips and guidance to help you support local communities, respect wildlife, and leave every place a little better than you found it.