An African safari is a quintessential experience for animal lovers. Visiting famed destinations like Serengeti to witness the Great Migration or Kruger National Park for the Big Five exemplifies classic wildlife viewing. While these locations offer incredible chances to see iconic species like lions, elephants, and zebras, there are other parts of the world that have equally exhilarating opportunities to spot animals in the wild. Whether it’s snorkeling Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, tiger tracking in Nepal, traversing the jungles of Costa Rican, or cruising down the Amazon River, these experiences will leave an indelible mark. Remarkable trips like these also allow visitors to see, learn about, and have a desire to protect endangered species, including polar bears, giant tortoises, and orangutans.

Wildlife tourism generates crucial revenue for the communities working hard to conserve animals and reinforces the belief that preserving nature benefits everyone. “We believe it’s our responsibility to ensure that the trips we arrange for our guests have an enduring positive impact. We love to work with people on the ground who are fully committed to conservation in their region,” says Alex Malcolm, Founder of Jacada Travel. “They bring with them a level of commitment and passion that helps to ensure that these spectacular places and wildlife remain healthy and thriving, both for the people who live there and those who visit.”

Jacada Travel, part of the Wilderness group since 2020, provides one-of-a-kind journeys that help immerse guests in the culture, beauty, and life of more than 70 countries. The company embraces the ethos of travel with purpose, ensuring that their journeys, whether in Brazil, Nepal, or Australia, benefit the clients as well as the destinations.

Below are destinations to consider going on safari outside of Africa.

8 Brazil

About 60% of the enormous Amazon basin lies in the South American country of Brazil. This biodiverse hotspot provides habitat to millions of wild animals, many of which can be seen on an Amazon River safari.

“Depending on which part of the river you find yourself cruising along, look out for the Amazon’s legendary pink dolphins, black caiman, river turtles, and anacondas,” says Malcolm. “Look to the shoreline and sky, and you may spot parrots, herons, storks, macaws, and hoatzin. In parts, you may also discover the treeline alive with primates like capuchin, howler, and squirrel monkeys.”

Apart from the river, Brazil is also home to the largest wetlands and flooded grassland area on the planet: the Pantanal. Located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, this vibrant ecosystem is home to hundreds of species, and the main wildcat attractions are the jaguars and pumas. Macaws, toucans, tapirs, maned wolves, howler monkeys, and capybaras are among the other wildlife found in the area, many of which can be seen on a jeep safari, canoe, or trekking adventure.

7 Galápagos Islands

Located 600 miles west of mainland Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, the Galápagos archipelago is a wildlife lover’s paradise. These remote volcanic islands are teeming with unique wildlife, like the endemic Galápagos giant tortoise, marine iguana, Galápagos penguin, and the flightless cormorant. Either on land or in the sea, wonders abound, from colorful iguanas and crabs to sea lions, hammerhead sharks, and manta rays. On hikes along the rocky shorelines, unfold the whimsical and comical courtship cotillion of blue-footed boobies and the giant albatross. Pelicans and frigate birds put on an air show, while snorkeling and diving excursions reveal a magical underwater world of myriad marine creatures and dazzling coral reefs. Giant tortoises crawl the highlands of Santa Cruz, as if stuck in a time capsule.

The best way to experience the natural splendor is on a cruise, which allows visitors to see as many islands as possible. Metropolitan Touring, a leading tour outfitter in Latin America, provides yacht and small ship cruising on multi-day voyages with an Expedition Leader on board. Each guided group averages 12 to 13 guests and stops in Santa Cruz, Santiago, Genovesa Island, Santa Fe, and Baltra Island. The Charles Darwin Research Center provides information on the namesake scientist’s evolution research and conservation progress.

Related: Here’s An Essential Guide For Visiting Galapagos, Ecuador

6 Costa Rica

The Central American country of Costa Rica is a paradise replete with mystical cloud forests, lush jungles, sunny beaches, and towering volcanoes. This sustainable nation is also a fantastic place to see a magnificent array of animals on land and in the water. In Manuel Antonio National Park, the smallest yet mightiest of all national parks in the country, visitors can see two and three-toed sloths, anteaters, iguanas, as well as spiders and white-faced monkeys up close. In Tamarindo, a beach trek under cover of darkness reveals the miracle of birth as giant Pacific green sea turtles venture ashore to lay their eggs.

The wild and rugged Osa Peninsula, located in the southwest, is home to capuchin monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, and pumas, along with humpback whales and dolphins, says Lily Bunker, Senior Latin America & Antarctica Travel Designer at Jacada Travel, who can help organize an unforgettable trip to the land of pura vida. Visitors can go snorkeling or diving in Isla del Cano, hit the hiking trails in Corcovado National Park and go whale and dolphin watching in Golfo Dulce.

5 India

Tigers are one of the most endangered animals, and it’s an honor and privilege to see them in the wild. The good news is that conservation efforts over the past decade are paying off, and this big cat population is on the rise. Their numbers have increased by 40% since 2014 and went up to 5,500 individuals in 2021. Those dreaming of seeing these striped beauties can do so in several reserves and national parks in India.

“Kanha Tiger Reserve and Panna National Park [in Madhya Pradesh] are among the best places for an Indian safari, promising sightings of not only tigers but also deer, sloth bears, leopards and hyenas,” shares Rachel O’Leary, Senior Asia Pacific Travel Designer for Jacada Travel. She recommends Ranthambore National Park, a vast wildlife reserve in Rajasthan, to witness wild tigers wandering through ancient temple ruins.

4 Nepal

Known best for the tallest mountain in the world – Mount Everest – this small republic northeast of India is a haven for many endangered species, such as Asian elephants, Royal Bengal tigers and the one-horned rhino. Situated along the base of the Himalayas lies Nepal’s first national park, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chitwan National Park. Travelers can embark on a safari in search of the one-horned rhino in the subtropical lowlands, one of its last strongholds. Conservation projects brought the animal back from near extinction – just 100 to today’s number of around 752. The park also provides opportunities to see the Bengal tiger, native sambar deer, Asian elephant, and the monkey species of rhesus macaques and gray langurs.

On a visit to Nepal, in addition to visiting Chitwan, Keith Jarman, Asia Pacific Travel Designer for Jacada Travel, recommends Bardia National Park in the Western Terai for the best Bengal tiger viewing. “It offers a raw and untouched wilderness where you’re also likely to spot elephants, leopards, crocodiles, and even dolphins.”

Related: When To Visit Nepal And What To Do During Each Season

3 Australia

Similar to the Galápagos, wildlife in Australia evolved on its own, and the continent is now home to unique wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas, dingoes, and the endangered Tasmanian devils. The sun-dried Land Down Under features a vast arid, red interior with sweeping landscapes and endless clear skies. A perfect place for a safari to witness hopping red kangaroos, wandering dingoes, and unique critters like the thorny devil is the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the outback. Known for its namesake attraction, Uluru, the park features a red monolith of historic and spiritual significance to its Indigenous people. In other parts, the remote Top End, Daintree Rainforest, and the Great Ocean Road all provide animal-filled adventures.

The Great Barrier Reef is among the country’s most-visited natural attractions. Rightfully so, the largest reef system in the world features a variety of fish species, sharks, rays, and turtles that inhabit the 2,900 individual reefs and coral cays. Climate change is a threat to the health of the Great Barrier Reef, and scientists warn that it could be gone as soon as 2050. The ideal way to experience the reef is on a boat tour from Cairns, the Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

2 Canada

The Great White North is vast and diverse enough for a number of different wildlife viewing experiences. Elk Island National Park in Alberta is one of the best places to see heritage animals such as bison; the park rivals Serengeti when it comes to hoofed mammals. In the eastern province of New Brunswick, a mile-long islet called Machias Seal Island bears a single lighthouse, but is home to 5,000 pairs of Atlantic puffins that come to nest in April. On Canada’s west coast, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge in British Columbia offers a grizzly bear safari in Great Bear Rainforest through non-motorized boats and walking tours with guides certified by the Commercial Bear Viewing Association of BC.

To the north lies the polar bear capital of the world: Churchill, Manitoba. Located on Hudson Bay in the far north of the province, Churchill is famous for having more polar bears than humans, and humans take this fact seriously and protect these iconic mammals. Travelers to Churchill also get to see the rest of Canada’s Big Five megafauna: black bear, moose, beluga whale, and bison. Frontiers North Adventures, a family-owned and operated tour company, offers exciting wildlife-viewing trips throughout the year.

Related: More Than Polar Bears In Manitoba: What Else The Province Known For?

1 Borneo

The world’s third-largest island is vibrant, with abundant rainforests and varying landscapes. Borneo is among the few places on the planet to see the critically endangered orangutan in the wild, which resides in the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. The forests of the island are also home to gibbons, proboscis monkeys, flying lemurs, clouded leopards, and the Bornean pygmy elephant, as well as around 300 bird species. Those looking to learn about orangutan conservation can head to Sepilok Nature Rehabilitation Center in Sandakan to meet rescued animals.

A night safari in an open-top 4×4 from the Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Danum Valley Conservation Area in south-eastern Sabah offers sightings of proboscis monkeys, sambar deer, and giant squirrels. The area is also prime habitat for orangutans, sun bears, Sumatran rhinos, pygmy elephants, and the clouded leopard.