11 Top National Parks for Wildlife Spotting
The United States has its’ share of beautiful national parks, each with its unique environment and wildlife. If you’re an adventurist or a nature lover like me, you’ll want to explore these countries where wildlife sightings can be found.
Please remember to be mindful of your surroundings, respectful towards the wildlife, and do your part to preserve their natural habitats when visiting any national park. It is worth noting that some national parks will offer guided tours by park rangers while others may provide third-party tours. This can be the safest way to see some of Mother Nature’s wildlife.
Here are the worldwide national parks, where wildlife sightings are available with some offering up close and personal wildlife encounters.
1. Galapagos National Park, Ecuador
The Galapagos National Park is located near Ecuador. This national park will boast of giant tortoises, sea lions, flamingos, tropical penguins, marine iguanas, tanagers, crabs, whale sharks, the Galapagos hawk, and the famous blue-footed boobies.
Fun Fact: If you see a blue-footed booby, you will easily be able to distinguish between the adults and the juveniles. The blue-footed booby is not gifted with their blue feet until they mature as adults.
Whenever you’re ready to see the world’s largest giant tortoise, the Galapagos National Park is where to adventure, this giant tortoise weighs in at most 400 pounds! Their lifespan far exceeds ours by at least 150 years at best. This gentle giant crosses the century marker for living their life to the fullest.
2. Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, Brazil
This national park not only shares with the world some of the most pristine waterfall views and canyons but, an array of wildlife you may not find in most other national parks.
The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is a hidden gem to many. It is the home to jaguars, macaws, tapir, capybaras, anteaters, maned wolves, and giant armadillos, to name a few. Toucans make an appearance in this national park as well. So, get your cameras ready for some epic shots! This is definitely, a national park to add to your bucket list.
3. Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
Corcovado National Park is not only the largest in the country but, is noted by National Geographic as “The most biologically intense place on earth.” This paradise provides a home to both marine and land wildlife in abundance. Here you have the option of exploring in the water or on land.
There is a good chance of seeing an appearance from the parakeet, three-toed sloth, anteater, spider monkey, humpback whale, spectacled caiman, scarlet macaw, or the endangered Baird’s tapir during your visit. A variety of wildcats live here as well. Think jaguars, pumas, ocelots and cougars. The likelihood of encountering the wildcat species is rare given the nature of their lifestyle.
4. Glacier National Park, Canada
The Glacier National Park is shared between Montana and Canada. It is otherwise known as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Both sides of this national park share in their sightings of wildlife. There is no shortage of grizzly and black bears, moose, bighorn sheep, elk, mountain goats, wolverines, timber wolves, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot a golden eagle. Noting the list of wildlife found in this national park, you could say this is a predator’s homeland.
5. Yosemite National Park, California
It’s no surprise that Yosemite National Park made the list you could venture to explore wildlife sightings located right here in the United States. This national park boasts millions of people visiting to experience the grand views and trails amongst the wildlife. From my experience in Yosemite, it’s quite common for wildlife to approach you with no fear.
A mule deer walked up to me with zero hesitation. If you travel to this national park, know that this is highly likely, and again, please respect the wildlife and their natural habitats. Some wildlife you can expect to see in Yosemite National Park are mule deer, gray and red foxes, black bears, coyotes, bighorn sheep, bobcats, marmots, and beavers.
6. Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia
Welcome to Australia. Home of the famous koalas and kangaroos. In the Grampians National Park, you can expect to see the red-neck wallaby, the brush-tailed rock wallaby, emus, bats, platypus, gang-gang cockatoo, and the shingleback lizard.
This national park will have you in the outback of Australia with wildlife and landscaped views that will take your breath away. For bird lovers, you are likely to see cockatoos, parrots, magpies, and possibly the famous kookaburra.
7. Chobe National Park, Botswana, Africa
You may have heard that Africa is where wildlife safaris exist. This is true for good reason. The Chobe National Park lacks no variety or sightings of wildlife that can be seen, and it is beyond your wildest imagination! When visiting the national park, get a ticket for the river safari ride.
This will let you get closer to the wildlife than on foot. When visiting this national park expect to see elephants, hippopotami, giraffes, leopards, wild dogs, cheetahs, lions, warthogs, zebras, rhinoceros, African buffalo, and the water monitor. If you’ve never witnessed a herd of elephants, head to the Chobe National Park for your first sighting! Guaranteed to be a memorable one!
8. Masoala National Park, Madagascar, Africa
The Masoala National Park resides in Africa and contains a rainforest within its territories. The national park provides nature lovers with more wildlife sightings than anywhere else. Visitors will get a taste of both marine and land wildlife sightings. If you’re looking to explore marine life, you’ll have the opportunity to see sea cows (manatees), humpback whales, sea turtles, and dolphins.
If you’re a bird watcher and love to study the different types of birds, this is the national park for you. Masoala National Park provides spectators with approximately 90 different tropical bird species in this park alone! They also boast of the large variety of lemurs and chameleons. Between the rainforest, marine, and land explorations, you’re guaranteed to leave this park feeling fulfilled.
9. Etosha National Park, Namibia, Africa
Etosha National Park is a must-see if you’re looking for the ultimate wildlife sightings in Africa! This national park provides visitors with over 110 mammal species. You are destined to experience all the wildlife sightings you could dream of in this national park. The national park offers a safari excursion as well.
This is an epic and adventurous way to get up close and personal with some of the largest mammals in Africa and the world. Here, you’ll see giraffes, the tallest elephants in Africa, foxes, hyenas, zebras, ostriches, hippopotami, impalas, and elands. Don’t forget if you’re a cat lover, then this is the national park for you. In this national park live some of the most well-known wildcats of the world: lions, cheetahs, leopards and so much more.
10. Tsavo West National Park, Kenya, Africa
No country can supply the nature-lover with as much wildlife as in Africa. The Tsavo West National Park is in Kenya and gives you a different taste of the wildlife you’ll experience and see.
At Tsavo West National Park you will see kudu, buffalo, giraffes, elephants, hyrax, klipspringers, zebras, waterbucks, and gazelles. The list goes on, but you’ll need to book a trip and see for yourself! Bird lover? You’re going to love it here. There are over 500 species of birds you may see during your visit. Take your pick!
11. Virunga National Park, Congo-DR, Africa
Our last stop in Africa leaves us in the Virunga National Park. This national park is known for being the home to the mountain gorilla among its’ smaller counterparts, such as olive baboon, grey monkey, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, and chimpanzee, to name a few.
You may find yourself monkeying around with the monkeys in this national park. There is also an array of birds for the bird-watching lovers in our world. Again, Africa is the country to visit to see the largest mammals and most wildlife.
