| While a zoo definitely has it's place in animal | | | | While a zoo definitely has it's place in animal |
| watching, it doesn't compare to seeing animals in | | | | watching, it doesn't compare to seeing animals in |
| their own natural habitat. After a recent visit to | | | | their own natural habitat. After a recent visit to |
| Yellowstone National Park, this felt especially true | | | | Yellowstone National Park, this felt especially true |
| for me. A traffic jam caused by young buffalo | | | | for me. A traffic jam caused by young buffalo |
| calves and their mothers crossing the road is an | | | | calves and their mothers crossing the road is an |
| experience not to be missed. It made me wonder | | | | experience not to be missed. It made me wonder |
| about other places that would be conducive to | | | | about other places that would be conducive to |
| viewing wildlife in a natural setting. From my | | | | viewing wildlife in a natural setting. From my |
| research I have come up with a list of some of | | | | research I have come up with a list of some of |
| the best places to visit if viewing animals in nature | | | | the best places to visit if viewing animals in nature |
| is your objective. | | | | is your objective. |
| In the United States, national parks are the best | | | | In the United States, national parks are the best |
| place to start. For viewing sea animals, the best | | | | place to start. For viewing sea animals, the best |
| places include the Channel Islands off the coast of | | | | places include the Channel Islands off the coast of |
| California. The islands are surrounded by sea lions, | | | | California. The islands are surrounded by sea lions, |
| seals, gray whales and humpback whales. There | | | | seals, gray whales and humpback whales. There |
| are also numerous tide pools that house creatures | | | | are also numerous tide pools that house creatures |
| such as sea urchins and anemones. Another area | | | | such as sea urchins and anemones. Another area |
| great for water animals is Glacier Bay in Alaska. | | | | great for water animals is Glacier Bay in Alaska. |
| Humpback whales and sea lions are in abundance | | | | Humpback whales and sea lions are in abundance |
| off shore and on land bears and moose are often | | | | off shore and on land bears and moose are often |
| times available for viewing. For a different spin on | | | | times available for viewing. For a different spin on |
| water creatures, visit the Florida Everglades, the | | | | water creatures, visit the Florida Everglades, the |
| last remaining everglades on the planet. There you | | | | last remaining everglades on the planet. There you |
| will see crocodiles and alligators co-exists along | | | | will see crocodiles and alligators co-exists along |
| with turtles, dear, manatees and bobcats. The | | | | with turtles, dear, manatees and bobcats. The |
| everglades contain large viewing towers that are | | | | everglades contain large viewing towers that are |
| devoted especially to wildlife watching or you can | | | | devoted especially to wildlife watching or you can |
| be a bit more daring and take a canoe ride in | | | | be a bit more daring and take a canoe ride in |
| croc-infested waters. | | | | croc-infested waters. |
| Other national parks that make the list for best | | | | Other national parks that make the list for best |
| wildlife viewing are Denali National Park in Alaska, | | | | wildlife viewing are Denali National Park in Alaska, |
| Glacier National park in Montana, Rocky Mountain | | | | Glacier National park in Montana, Rocky Mountain |
| National Park in Colorado and Theodore Roosevelt | | | | National Park in Colorado and Theodore Roosevelt |
| National Park in North Dakota. Denali, Glacier and | | | | National Park in North Dakota. Denali, Glacier and |
| Rocky Mountain offer animals such as dall sheep, | | | | Rocky Mountain offer animals such as dall sheep, |
| grizzlies, caribou, wolves, mountain goats, elk, | | | | grizzlies, caribou, wolves, mountain goats, elk, |
| dear, bighorn sheep and marmots. Theodore | | | | dear, bighorn sheep and marmots. Theodore |
| Roosevelt is a less well known park and therefore | | | | Roosevelt is a less well known park and therefore |
| offers great viewing of bison, wild horses, deer | | | | offers great viewing of bison, wild horses, deer |
| and elk without all the crowds. | | | | and elk without all the crowds. |
| Outside of the US, there are more exotic | | | | Outside of the US, there are more exotic |
| animals available for viewing at places such as | | | | animals available for viewing at places such as |
| Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica, the | | | | Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica, the |
| Komodo Islands in Indonesia, Tanjung Puting | | | | Komodo Islands in Indonesia, Tanjung Puting |
| National Park in Borneo, Polar Bear Observation in | | | | National Park in Borneo, Polar Bear Observation in |
| Canada, and of course a Kenyan Safari. | | | | Canada, and of course a Kenyan Safari. |
| The Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica is a | | | | The Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica is a |
| brilliant rain forest that contains over 100,000 | | | | brilliant rain forest that contains over 100,000 |
| acres of land and 5,000 acres of marine habitat. | | | | acres of land and 5,000 acres of marine habitat. |
| The park is home to 116 species of amphibians | | | | The park is home to 116 species of amphibians |
| and reptiles, 139 species of mammals and more | | | | and reptiles, 139 species of mammals and more |
| than 400 species of birds. There are no roads into | | | | than 400 species of birds. There are no roads into |
| the park, only hiking trails. Unless you are an avid | | | | the park, only hiking trails. Unless you are an avid |
| hiker and have excellent map-reading skills, a guide | | | | hiker and have excellent map-reading skills, a guide |
| is recommended. In addition to the trails, there | | | | is recommended. In addition to the trails, there |
| are also viewing platforms built atop massive ajo | | | | are also viewing platforms built atop massive ajo |
| trees. | | | | trees. |
| The Komodo Islands in Indonesia house the | | | | The Komodo Islands in Indonesia house the |
| world's largest population of Komodo dragons. | | | | world's largest population of Komodo dragons. |
| These animals can grow to be over 300 pounds | | | | These animals can grow to be over 300 pounds |
| and up to nine feet in length. These islands are | | | | and up to nine feet in length. These islands are |
| now an Indonesian national park and permits and | | | | now an Indonesian national park and permits and |
| tour guides are required, but they make the | | | | tour guides are required, but they make the |
| experience much more user-friendly (Komodo | | | | experience much more user-friendly (Komodo |
| dragons aren't in petting zoos for a reason). In | | | | dragons aren't in petting zoos for a reason). In |
| addition to land tours, you can also take a sea | | | | addition to land tours, you can also take a sea |
| kayak around the park and see coral reefs, fish, | | | | kayak around the park and see coral reefs, fish, |
| dolphins, whales and sea turtles. | | | | dolphins, whales and sea turtles. |
| Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo is one of | | | | Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo is one of |
| the last places to see orangutans in their own | | | | the last places to see orangutans in their own |
| natural habitat. Through an elaborate network of | | | | natural habitat. Through an elaborate network of |
| hiking trails, you can see the orangutans up close, | | | | hiking trails, you can see the orangutans up close, |
| swinging from branch to branch, suckling their | | | | swinging from branch to branch, suckling their |
| young, or building nests to sleep. There are also | | | | young, or building nests to sleep. There are also |
| orangutans in captivity which can be viewed. They | | | | orangutans in captivity which can be viewed. They |
| are being rehabilitated before being returned to | | | | are being rehabilitated before being returned to |
| the wild. There are other jungle species as well | | | | the wild. There are other jungle species as well |
| that can be viewed in the orangutan jungle, | | | | that can be viewed in the orangutan jungle, |
| including clouded leopards, civets, Malaysian sun | | | | including clouded leopards, civets, Malaysian sun |
| bears, deer, numerous species of birds, and | | | | bears, deer, numerous species of birds, and |
| butterflies. | | | | butterflies. |
| Nowhere can you see polar bears so up-close | | | | Nowhere can you see polar bears so up-close |
| and personal as you can in Churchill, Manitoba. | | | | and personal as you can in Churchill, Manitoba. |
| When Hudson Bay freezes, between October and | | | | When Hudson Bay freezes, between October and |
| November, this town is overrun with polar bears | | | | November, this town is overrun with polar bears |
| as they travel their migration path. In early winter, | | | | as they travel their migration path. In early winter, |
| they even stop to dine on the region's seal | | | | they even stop to dine on the region's seal |
| population. For more up close views, you can take | | | | population. For more up close views, you can take |
| a tundra buggy (a converted school bus) into the | | | | a tundra buggy (a converted school bus) into the |
| migratory packs for a quick day-trip. For longer | | | | migratory packs for a quick day-trip. For longer |
| exposure, there are tundra lodges that provide all | | | | exposure, there are tundra lodges that provide all |
| day exposure to the bears in their native | | | | day exposure to the bears in their native |
| environment. | | | | environment. |
| One of the most famous places to view wildlife | | | | One of the most famous places to view wildlife |
| is Kenya, and what better way to see it than on | | | | is Kenya, and what better way to see it than on |
| a safari. Safari's can take you through the likes of | | | | a safari. Safari's can take you through the likes of |
| Masai Mara National Park, Amboseli Game | | | | Masai Mara National Park, Amboseli Game |
| Reserve and Mt. Kilimanjaro to view lions, | | | | Reserve and Mt. Kilimanjaro to view lions, |
| leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, flamingos, | | | | leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, flamingos, |
| black rhinos, giraffes and elephants. Safari's range | | | | black rhinos, giraffes and elephants. Safari's range |
| from less expensive options starting around | | | | from less expensive options starting around |
| $500.00 for an 8 day excursion to very luxurious | | | | $500.00 for an 8 day excursion to very luxurious |
| safaris costing up to $9,000. Either way, you get | | | | safaris costing up to $9,000. |
| to see what you like mals. | | | | |