Guidelines for wildlife watching
Our Wildlife Holidays
Bird watching tours in Hungary
Visit Bukk N.P. with a birding specialist
Self drive holiday in Costa Rica, Pacific Coast
Self-drive Costa Rica's Pacific coast, away from the crowds
Blue Whale tour in the Azores
Visit the Azores at the best time to see Blue Whales
Sri Lanka wildlife and whales tour
Whales and the wildlife of Yala National Park
Borneo tour, Great Apes and Beach escapes
Explore bustling cities, lush jungles and paradise beaches.
Churchill polar bear tour in Canada
A unique opportunity to encounter polar bears
Trinidad and Tobago holidays
All the main highlights of Trinidad & Tobago
Costa Rica wildlife holiday
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
Gorilla and game safari in Uganda
The great Silverback Gorilla & wildlife all in one package!
Whale watching in the Azores
Classic whale watching trip in the Azores archipelago
Galapagos Islands holiday
Home to many interesting species of endemic wildlife
Whale & dolphin research in Ligurian Sea, Italy
Whale and dolphin conservation trip
Costa Rica highlights holiday & beach
Short highlight itinerary covering city, forests and beach.
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica cruise
The Ultimate Antarctica Experience!
Gorillas and big game, Nairobi to Kigali tour
See classic African game and gorillas
Galapagos cruise options, tailor made
The greatest wildlife experiences tailor made
Cape to Windhoek Namib desert camping safari
Camping safari from Cape Town to Namibia, Sossusvlei, Etosha
Kayaking holiday in Indonesia, Komodo Dragon tour
Sea kayaking to some of the most remote beaches on earth
Galapagos & Machu Picchu holiday in Ecuador and Peru
Discover Peru's Machu Picchu and the Wildlife-rich Galapagos
Gorilla Safari & the Masai Mara
Superb safari and trip to see gorillas
Madagascar in depth, small group tour
Madagascar's unique wildlife and off the beaten track gems
Rajasthan cycling holiday with Taj & tigers
Enjoy cycling tour in Royal Rajasthan with Taj and Tiger.
Ten day wildlife safari, South Africa
Award winning wildlife safaris in South Africa
Galapagos cruises
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on sailing boats and yachts
Galapagos land based adventure holiday
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater
South Africa safari holiday, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
Camping safari in Southern Africa
Camping safari highlights of Zimbabwe, Botswana & Kruger
Tiger tour in India, land of the Tiger tour
Wildlife tour through India
Namibia small group guided holiday and safari
A fabulous small group guided trip in Nambia
Rules & regulations
1. Read the rulesAsk your guide, tour leader, park authority or holiday company for the local regulations on watching wildlife. Most national parks and game reserves have them, as do many areas for seeing whales and dolphins. The guidelines will help you watch wildlife responsibly, and you can ensure your guide adheres to these regulations. If the guidelines are not available, ask why.
2. Follow the rules
Respect the times of day at which the regulations permit you to watch wildlife. In most national parks and reserves, nighttime safaris are not allowed. If this is something that interests you, seek out a protected area where this is permitted. If you are driving yourself, keep to the permitted speed limit and maintain your distance from the animals. Be sure to keep to designated roads or tracks and respect any rules regarding off-road driving.
Other rules are likely to forbid feeding or touching wildlife, dropping litter (take all waste with you if possible), damaging the habitat (be careful not to damage plants and don’t pick flowers, take shells etc) and starting a fire unless you are specifically allowed to do so. Keep pets away from wildlife, or keep dogs on a lead with wildlife that is more accustomed to people.
3. Stick to designated viewing areas
Many game parks and reserves will clarify how game should be viewed – whether on foot, from vehicles or other locations. If there is a hide or platform it is probably there for a reason. Do not wander away from this or leave marked trails unless you are advised it’s permissible.
4. Respect your guides
Many guides report incidences of clients putting pressure on them to ‘get a big closer’ or drive off road to see wildlife. There is a power imbalance between clients and guides (who might benefit from tips). Never put pressure on your guide to break regulations, and help support them if another guest asks them too.
Minimise disturbance
Minimise disturbance by being quiet or speaking in a low voice when watching wildlife. Remain calm and try not to make sudden movements. If the wildlife you are watching appears to be disturbed or stressed by your visit it might very well be. Ask the warden or your guide for their opinion, and withdraw if appropriate.
“Do not try to interact with wild animals, for example by seeking to attract their attention or touch them. Also, try not to surround animals, whether on foot, in boats or in cars/safari vehicles, as this can be stressful for them.” – Dr Matt Walpole
6. Keep an eye out for baby animals
Be especially aware of parents with young. The bind between the two is very important and can easily be disturbed, especially in the early days. It can also be dangerous for you if you are standing between a mother and baby, for example.
7. Report incidents
If you find a dead or dying animal, report to the authorities – unless the cause of death is predation, for example.
8. Consider when you travel
“The astounding growth of nature tourism over the last decade now means that in some countries, nearby cities empty into the countryside during the numerous holidays and festivals. This is when the reserves and lodges are filled to capacity and often means a less wild experience as you jostle with jeeps and people on your game drives. If you have no choice over your travel dates, use these high days and holidays to explore outside the parks.” – Julian Matthews
Beyond the wildlife
Be careful to ensure that any souvenirs you buy – including shells, coral, feathers, bone or ivory – are not creating a market to destroy the very thing you came to see. Do not buy souvenirs made or hard woods or other natural resources that might result in habitat destruction. In addition, trade in some of these items may be restricted, in which case they could be confiscated or you could receive a fine or worse. If in doubt, don’t buy!
10. Research your accommodation
If you are staying overnight in or near a protected area, choose accommodation with a responsible tourism policy that minimises waste, water and energy use and supports the local community.
“The growth in tourism has created a development boom around many parks. As a result, what you think will be a fabulous wilderness experience can leave you disappointed. Even worse, it could be compromising the long-term health of the parks and the communities who live there.” – Julian Matthews
11. Support local communities
“Communities that coexist with wildlife or live adjacent to national parks often bear a cost for little reward; much of the tourism dollar goes elsewhere. Finding ways to maximise benefits for, often very poor, local communities and local enterprises is part of responsible travel and can help to increase local support for wildlife.” – Dr Matt Walpole
Most wildlife viewing takes place in protected areas. In certain destinations, communities who once lived in these areas, or relied on these areas as a resource are now prohibited from doing so, in order to promote conservation and to make way for tourists. These communities are often very poor and may also suffer damage to their crops, homes or even lives, as a result of living alongside dangerous wildlife.
It’s very important that they derive some financial benefit for facing these ‘costs’. By thinking local (guide, accommodation, food etc) or booking a trip with a holiday company committed to responsible tourism, you can ensure local economic benefits are maximised.
“The animals may be the main draw, but the most memorable parts for many travellers often come from the interactions with local people. A great guide can turn an average nature holiday into an extraordinary one. They’re worth every penny, so don’t compromise – ask for the best you can get. They’ll focus on the star attractions, but get them to show you the ‘little five’ too: go on a nature walk, learn about animal tracks, bizarre insects or the colourful birdlife. For kids especially, this bit is the ‘real wild show’.” – Julian Matthews


Sharing the benefits
12. Spread the wordShare your knowledge about responsible wildlife viewing with friends and other travellers. Report any cases of irresponsible behaviour.
13. Know what’s right – and what’s not
The following things are NOT responsible: captive orca and dolphin shows, petting or walking with lion cubs, animal selfies.
14. A longer legacy
Consider joining a wildlife conservation organisation, where you can learn more about, and support, conservation issues and campaigning. Some of them, such as The Wildlife Trusts in the UK, also run expert talks and day trips to see local wildlife. Alternatively if your accommodation or holiday company has links to good, local conservation organisations in the place you’ve visited, consider supporting them.
15. Volunteer
Invite your friends and colleagues to join you for a day out conservation volunteering. At Responsible Travel we do this each year.
16. Support conservation
Find out if there is a conservationist or conservation program nearby that you can visit. There is nothing like meeting a real expert to learn about wildlife, I’ve had some of my best ever wildlife experiences this way, and you might consider ways to support their work.