I was told not to look them in the eyes. Be non-threatening. Turn off my camera’s flash. Stay at least 5 m away at all times. I was able to experience something so few people will ever experience in their life. I came face to face with a community of mountain gorillas in Uganda and I watched them in their natural habitat for over an an hour. Similarly, I sat down on a glacier in Antarctica and watched as thousands of penguins marched around me. I took a selfie with one of them and he inquisitively looked at me for more than a minute before continuing on his journey. This year’s bucketlist has included some of the most wild animal encounters of my life. I trekked wild gorillas and chimpanzees, swam with whale sharks and tons of other marine life, took selfies with penguins, watched hippos, lions, zebras and crocodiles in their natural environment, watched whales, dolphins and seals swim alongside my ship, fed giraffes from my hand, rode a camel and horses and searched for tree climbing lions. It’s been one wild ride, but my animal side is just getting piqued. Encounters with wild animals are the most adrenaline-filled adventures. Regardless of how in control you feel or how prepared you are, you can’t control a wild animal, especially when you are a guest in their home. Here are 10 wild bucketlist encounters to add to your list and fantastic places to give them a try.
10 Wild Bucketlist Encounters
1. Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mexico
(Usually takes place between May-September)
2. Diving with Great White Sharks in Mexico with Islander Charters
3. Trekking Gorillas in Bwindi National Park, Uganda with Africa Adventure Safaris
4. Trekking Chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Uganda with Africa Adventure Safaris
5. Searching for Polar Bears in Manitoba, Canada with Churchill Nature Tours
6. Taking Selfies with Penguins in Antarctica with Bark Europa
7. Swimming with Manta Rays in Hawaii with Fair Wind Cruises
8. Swimming with Stingrays in Grand Cayman with Captain Marvins
9. Self-Driving on an African Safari in Namibia with ATI Holidays
10. Swimming with Pigs in Exumas, Bahamas
Done two of those but I am not yet ready to try the shark adventure. Don’t you think it’s dangerous?
The shark dive is in a cage and they have never had an incident. I actually think it’s pretty safe. I’m not ready to get out of the cage just yet but maybe someday. Which two have you done?
Done two of those but I am not yet ready to try the shark adventure. Don’t you think it’s dangerous?
The shark dive is in a cage and they have never had an incident. I actually think it’s pretty safe. I’m not ready to get out of the cage just yet but maybe someday. Which two have you done?
These trips look amazing!! A girl can dream right? My husband was a scuba diver and #1 and 2 would be a great trip for him.
I did #1 last month and I will do #2 next week. I bet #8 would be his favorite. 🙂
Are any on your list?
#9 looks like fun to me.
They all sound dreamy, but I think I’d like gorilla trekking the most. I didn’t think it was real. I had to follow the link and check for myself. I can’t believe that anyone can do it.
Amber
I had to do the exact same thing when I heard about people gorilla trekking. As soon as I knew it was real, I knew I had to do it. 🙂
They all sound dreamy, but I think I’d like gorilla trekking the most. I didn’t think it was real. I had to follow the link and check for myself. I can’t believe that anyone can do it.
Amber
I had to do the exact same thing when I heard about people gorilla trekking. As soon as I knew it was real, I knew I had to do it. 🙂
You are insane! Most of these are crazy. Don’t you worry about getting attacked or worse?
Most of the situations were quite safe. The extra ones like cage diving with great whites includes a cage so I don’t feel like there is a major risk there and the gorillas and chimpanzees have undergone “habituation.” This refers to the process where through daily, peaceful contact with humans, gorillas have slowly lost their fear of humans and have learned to view them as neutral beings in their environment. Of course there are risks but ones I’m more than willing to take for the experience of a lifetime.
You are insane! Most of these are crazy. Don’t you worry about getting attacked or worse?
Most of the situations were quite safe. The extra ones like cage diving with great whites includes a cage so I don’t feel like there is a major risk there and the gorillas and chimpanzees have undergone “habituation.” This refers to the process where through daily, peaceful contact with humans, gorillas have slowly lost their fear of humans and have learned to view them as neutral beings in their environment. Of course there are risks but ones I’m more than willing to take for the experience of a lifetime.
Great list! I’ve shark dived in the Bahamas, but they were nurse sharks so no real danger. Still pretty creepy, though.
It still sounds like a fun experience. What is the name of the company you dove with? Have you tried any of the others? What are some that you’d like to try?
Great list! I’ve shark dived in the Bahamas, but they were nurse sharks so no real danger. Still pretty creepy, though.
It still sounds like a fun experience. What is the name of the company you dove with? Have you tried any of the others? What are some that you’d like to try?
We’ve trekked gorillas in Rwanda (recently got around to writing about it) and traveled to Antarctica but alas did not get a penguin selfie;) Great list- you’ve given us some good ideas!
We’ve trekked gorillas in Rwanda (recently got around to writing about it) and traveled to Antarctica but alas did not get a penguin selfie;) Great list- you’ve given us some good ideas!