The Best Animal Encounters Around the World

I really enjoy being with animals in their habitat, observing them and experiencing something unique. There is something so pure about the simplicity of animal life that resonates with my human nature.  We are lucky to have been able to interact with so many animals in our travels and at home. Here’s our list of the best animal encounters around the world. 

Disclosure: I have never quite mastered water photography, so many of my favorite water encounters in the wild are undocumented. But with the help of AI, we were able to create some images based on my memories and some very pathetic “iPhone in a baggie” underwater shots. These are just for context to go along with my stories and for reading enjoyment. 

Elephants in Thailand

One of my favorite memories of all time is the day we spent with elephants in Thailand. There are several fantastic and ethical companies dedicated to enjoying and caring for elephants. We visited Baan Chang Elephant Sanctuary and loved our experience there! The staff was so knowledgeable and made us feel comfortable, even when our 3-year-old tried to take a baby elephant home with us. Asian elephants are the largest land mammal on the continent- they are social and intelligent with a long memory. As big and powerful as they are, the elephants are gentle and seem to enjoy the attention of being washed and played with. I even got a hug and a kiss from this special gal. 

Whale Sharks in La Paz

Whale Sharks are the largest ocean fish, and the largest shark on the plant. They are filter feeders, docile, and can live up to 150 years! People can get up close and swim with these giants in several places around the world, as they are a slow migratory species. We got to swim with Whale Sharks in La Paz, Mexico. They come here to feed in the winter on the abundantly rich plankton in the Sea of Cortez. The seas were more choppy than usual on the day we went, so AI helped me clear this yucky GoPro image to something more fun to look at. However, the memories will always be dear to me. Getting in the water with a 25 foot animal, feeling the power of its fin as it pushes through the water, was really astounding. They are magestic creatures I am so lucky I got to see up close!  

Bulls in Spain

Every year, millions of people take part in the Running of the Bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain. It is a culturally significant and immersive experience that we thoroughly enjoyed. For the seven days of San Fermin, participants can line up each morning to participate in the half mile run of the bulls from their pen to the bullfighting arena. One morning, Colby and I woke up early and lined up with thousands of other people in the staging area. It was rammed, and when the starting horn blew it quickly turned to chaos. Colby could see much more clear than me, over the heads of the crowd, and he said he could see the sea of people parting on the road below us, and giant bulls crashing through the masses. He called out to me; “RUN!” And so we did. When Colby could feel the bulls gaining on us, he threw me against a sidewall, covered me with his whole body and whispered, “don’t move.” He thought he was going to take a sharp horn in the back for me. What a great husband! We didn’t die, and the memory is still exciting to this day, so we recommend you try it! 

Manatees in Florida

Manatees in Florida are a sub species of the West Indian Manatee, which can be found in the waters from Florida to South America. They area about 9-13 feet long, weighing between 1000 and 3500 pounds, with a flat paddle tail and leathery skin. Also known as “sea cows”, these gentle giants munch on sea plants and aquatic grasses for about 8 hours a day! They spend about half the day sleeping in the murky brackish and salt waters off the coast, but in the mornings and evenings they can be found traveling up and down rivers and springs in search of fresh water to drink. And there is no better place to see them than the gulf coast of Florida! The river was stunning. Crystal clear waters cocooned by tunnels of lush vegetation, tall palms, and few houses dotting the banks. There were areas of crowds with boats and river toys gathering to play and barbecue on the sandbanks, but there were far more areas of peaceful solitude. After about an hour paddling up river and enjoying the scenery, we were graced with our first glimpse of a Manatee in the wild. They are quite agile for their size and reputation, swimming upside down, rolling, and generally moving quickly, so it was hard to keep up with them! Thankfully, there were several sets of Manatees seeking out the cool, refreshing fresh water of the spring, so we got to take our time enjoying them.

The Manatees don’t look like much at first, since you only get to see the top of their scarred back from above. The barnacles and algae adhere to their flakey skin and they really look like a submerged rock until you look closely. But once you get underwater with them, you can see how adorable their little faces are as they munch away, and watch them use their front flippers to “walk” along the river bottom. Manatees are a distant relative of the elephant and they use their upper lip to pick up items to eat. We were able to put on our snorkel masks and float in tandem until they got tired of us and moved along, it was such a joy!

Great White Shark in La Jolla 

In San Diego, La Jolla Cove is one of our favorite places to hang out. We love the baby waves perfect for surfing, we love the food choices, we love the La Jolla Shores hotel, but we REALLY love kayaking in the cove! Frequently, we kayak and see leopard sharks spawning, sea lions basking on the rocks, and tons of orange Garibaldi and other fishies. The cove is stunning for wildlife and sightseeing, with cliffs of sandstone bordering the deep blue waters, and many caves to explore. One day, on Colbys birthday, we went out to kayak on a particularly rough day. The swells were much bigger than normal and it took us an unusual amount of effort to get out past the break. However, once we did clear the break, we got an unexpected visitor. A 9ft juvenile great white shark came to inspect us, showed us his belly, and dove back under the kayak. As he was coming, I said to Colby, “see that? It’s a shark. A big shark. Oh wow, that’s a big shark.” He responded, “yes I see it, stay calm.” I said, “Were going back,” and turned the kayak around so quickly, he barely had time to adjust. However, halfway back, we capsized on the big waves and then we were IN the water with the shark. It was terrifying. I basically ran across water to get to shore and left Colby to salvage our kayak and paddles on his own. AI helped make this rendition for us and it is such a fun way to preserve this memory. 

Camels in Morocco

Camels have been a part of Moroccan culture for generations. Camel caravans have served as the backbone of the Trans-Saharan trade of goods, as well as supporting military and nomadic lives of the people. Today, camels are still widely relied upon in Morocco for milk, meat, leather and tourism. There are many ethical camel tour companies in Morocco that treat the animals respectfully while offering tourist the unique opportunity to ride them. We visited Morocco and were tickled to be able to ride camels on the beach. It was so exciting! I imagined it to be like riding a horse, but I could not have been more wrong. They are tall and lumbering, and they have a heavy sway when they walk. They are docile and strong and really fun to be around. I especially loved visiting the babies- whom bleated at me like a big goat! 

Sloths in Costa Rica

 Slow moving sloths just put me in a happy mood. They are so cute and squishy looking, with a perpetual smile. We took a fantastic tour of Manuel Antonio National Park, and the guide told us a story about a sloth battle that had taken place the week before. He said several males were fighting over territory, one male would push another off a branch at it would take hours- sometimes a whole day- for the fallen warrior to climb back up the tree and re-engage with his opponent. The battle raged on for several days until finally a victor was proclaimed. One time we saw a sloth upside-down climbing across some power lines to get from one side of the street to the other. On my birthday, we were near Puerto Viejo, and a huge boy sloth was sitting low in a tree staring straight at me for such a long time that we made friends. Such a close and fun encounter! 

Monkeys in Barbados 

Did you know that Barbados is home to a unique species of Green Monkey? They were brought from West Africa on slave ships and evolved to the Caribbean environment. You can observe them feeding at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, which brings you eye to eye with a large playful group. Their long curling tails and soft fluffy fur makes you itch to pet them. But they aren’t that friendly, and you might get your hand bitten off! We especially loved observing the playful babies rolling and wrestling. I could enjoy their show every day. 

Highland Cows in Scotland

Everyone has seen the famous highland coos memorialized in photographs around the globe. Naturally, on our trip to Scotland I couldn’t wait to get up close and personal with these fluffy cattle. We chose to have tea with the cows at Quila Cridhe Tearoom, located on Loch Ness. Tea was fantastic, the usual fare of sandwiches and scones served with yummy canapés. We got to feed the cows little bread tidbits and spend as much time with them as we wanted. They are just as amazing as expected, with long horns and gentle countenance. They were intelligent and friendly and in ranging sizes up to 1800lbs! I loved our encounter with Highland cows, and I hope to get on on our own ranch someday!

Elephant Seals in California

Just north of San Luis Obispo lives a healthy colony of Elephant seals. They have called this beach home for so long that an official visiting area has been created with organized parking and dedicated volunteers that can educate the public. At the Elephant Seal Vista Point, anyone can stop off the side of the Hwy 1 and observe the giant seals in their habitat. They are loud, territorial, blubbering masses of muscle- flopping around and shouting at each other. It’s madness and so entertaining, absolutely worth the stop!  

Pink Dolphins in the Amazon  

I really thought pink river dolphins were mythical when I first heard of them. Amazonian folklore describes them as shape-shifters that can turn into humans at night. However, these unique species of whale do exist, and they are incredible. They travel in small groups or on their own, and the older they get the more pink they become. While staying on the Amazon river, we went out on several boat excursions and always kept our eyes peeled for these elusive creatures. One evening at sunset, our guide brought us to a convergence in the river, cut the engine, and we just sat listening to the quiet sounds of nature. Suddenly, we heard the distinctive blow spout of a pink dolphin, and there he was! He circled around us several times before continuing on his way, and it was magical. I wish I had gotten a picture, but this AI rendition will have to do as an illustration. 

Sea Bass in Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is home to over 10% of the worlds fish species. Actually, I have never seen so many fish in one single place in all my life, outside of a Disney movie. It’s truly incredible to dive alongside massive coral towers and experience the world beneath the waves. On my adventure, a giant sea bass came right up to my face and just sat there making fish lips at me. Before descending, my guide had given explicit instructions not to touch anything, no matter what. So we just sat there, the fish and me, staring at each other until he got bored and swam away. I loved every second of it. 

Wallabies in Australia 

The Australian outback is known for some pretty amazing marsupials. Kangaroos, Koalas, Wombats, Tasmanian Devils, and Wallabies all give birth to underdeveloped babies and carry them in an external pouch on the mothers body. Although all of these mammals are cute and fuzzy, our favorite is the Wallaby. They are like a tiny kangaroo, hoping around and getting into mischief. They are playful and most of the time unafraid of humans, which makes them especially fun to find in the wild. We visited Granite Gorge Nature Park where we found a colony of Wallabies to observe and feed. Watching them bounce around off the rocks and hippity hop towards us like we were besties was possibly the cutest animal interaction I have ever had!

Giraffes in Charlotte

Just north of Charlotte, North Carolina, is a small zoo guests can get up close and feed several species of animal. We spent most of our time there with these gentle giraffes and their extra long tongues. Giraffes get most of their water from their food, only drinking every few days, so they consume up to 75kg of food per day! A group of giraffes are called a tower, and all of their spot patterns are different. Giraffes remind me of my cows with their intelligent brown eyes, except taller! 

Sea Lions in Mexico

When I was a teenager, my dad took me to Mexico with him in the summers. I would surf or ride my motorcycle while he would windsurf in the deeper waters. The beaches were very deserted deep off the coast of Baja, and sometimes there was nobody around for many miles. One year, there was a bloom of sea grass, and it was almost impossible to see below the surface. I was minding my own business laying on my board waiting for the next set, and a massive sea lion popped his head up right in front of my board. It absolutely scared the life out of me! I screamed so loud my dad heard me from his off-shore position and came speeding over on the windsurfer laughing at the situation. Ill never forget how the curious sea lion just shook his head at me. AI helped to make this rendition from my memories!

Moose in Alaska 

 Everything in Alaska is BIG. It’s the largest state of the USA, it has the biggest coastline, and the largest area of National Parks. The Last Frontier is home to glaciers, mountains, vast wilderness, and abundant wildlife. Alaskan moose is are massive creatures, standing 6 to 7 feet tall and weighing up to 1600 lbs. We were hoping to catch a glimpse of a moose on our trip to Alaska and we were not disappointed! We got to see many moose just off the side of the road and in the wild, living their lives. However, the coolest experience was had by Colby and Clara, when they were sitting in the hot tub at our rental house. They were enjoying the view of the surrounding woodland and the ocean, when they started hearing rustling. The next moment, a massive bull moose came along, munching the brush. It gave them a curious look, then swung his wide antlers and carried on along his way. What a cool wild animal encounter! 

Reindeer in Finland 

 There are more Reindeer in Finland than human inhabitants. They are mostly semi-domesticated, raised for their meat and hides. Reindeer herding is a livelhood of the historic Sami culture and Northern Finnish people. They grow antlers, have hollow fur hides, and have specialized hooves to improve their ability to live in the harsh arctic climates. We got to visit a farm-stay in Finland that was home to a heard of these beautiful white reindeer. It was so extraordinary to get up close to them, feed them, and admire them in their social herd. 

Deer in Croatia

In southern Croatia, just off the coast of the island of Korcula, lives a colony of deer on an otherwise uninhabited island. A short boat ride will bring you from Korcula town to the shaded pine forest island, and some new besties. These fearless deer love to be fed and pet, and we were lucky to experience them. 

Alpaca in the Sacred Valley 

In Peru, the area of the Sacred Valley is known for its large population of Alpaca. Historically, ancient Andean culture saw them as sacred beings, in addition to being valuable livestock and providing textiles. Today, many herds of Alpaca are still semi-domesticated and carry on the tradition of the Andean way. Alpaca wool textiles are a major export and source of tourism for Peru. We got to experience many alpaca on our visit to the Sacred Valley. We had to stop our car and wait for herds of alpaca to cross the road, and we got to pet and snuggle alpaca in the hills of the Rainbow Mountains. These gentle fluff-balls are one of my favorites! 

Turtles in Hawaii 

It may sound cliche but swimming with turtles in Hawaii is a real bucket list experience. Although there are several species of turtles living in the Hawaiian islands, the Green Sea Turtle is my favorite. They are the largest and live closest to shore, so snorkelers can observe them up close. I have loved snorkeling with turtles in Hawaii since I was a young girl, and it was so fun to share the experience with my own girls on our mother-daughter trip. 

At Home

At home, we live on a small ranch. Since Colby and I couldn’t have any more human babies, he said I could have “as many animals” as I wanted- and I took that to heart. One year, we had a baby black sheep that was abandoned by his mom and needed to be bottle fed. He lived in the house with a diaper and even went camping with us in our motorhome. I got so tired of waking up to feed him a bottle every two hours that I started bringing him in bed with us. You can imagine Colbys enthusiasm to waking up with a sheep in his face. One spring it got really cold so we brought all the babies into the house. Chicks chirped and ducks slapped their feet on the tile, while baby goats kick jumped off the couch and baby pigs snuggled under the coffee table. Seriously.

We have had  chickens, goats, pigs, donkeys, horses, a turtle, a hedgehog, alpaca, and cattle. Along with cats and dogs of course! There have been dozens of births here, and quite a few tragic deaths. The babies make all the effort worth it! We’ve gotten to bond with the baby donkey and cow the moment they were born, and snuggle the ducks and piggies, it’s the best. 

One of my favorite ways to start the day is watching the sunrise as I throw out hay to the animals, while the donkeys lovingly push up against me. Nothing helps build a marriage like the phrase, “sorry about what I said when we were moving cows.” 🙂 It can be stressful on the ranch, especially when Colby is on shift and I have to deal with blood or guts or extreme weather on my own. It’s messy and dirty, mucking stalls and using it to create our own compost for the gardens. It’s complicated keeping the animals and gardens and orchards fed and watered and cared for on a schedule. But those quiet moments in the sunrise or sunset when we get to sit and enjoy the life we created- that is perfection.