When most travellers envision a safari, the images are unmistakable: lions prowling across the African savannah or giraffes stretching to reach the treetops. While witnessing Africa’s Big Five remains an undeniable bucket list experience, the world of wildlife safaris extends far beyond these creatures. For seasoned safari-goers ready to venture beyond traditional game drives or wildlife enthusiasts seeking something beyond the typical, we’ve handpicked alternative safari experiences that offer encounters with other animals in their natural habitat - experiences that may rival any African adventure!

Unlike traditional safaris where wildlife viewing happens from a safe distance, the Galapagos Islands offer an entirely different approach to animal encounters. What makes the Galapagos extraordinarily special is the remarkable fearlessness of its wildlife. Due to the islands’ isolated geography and lack of predators, the wildlife here never developed a fear of humans.

On our Galapagos Islands Adventure, snorkel alongside playful sea lions and witness masses of marine iguanas basking on volcanic rocks completely unfazed by your presence. Encounter endemic species found nowhere else such as blue-footed boobies, rare Galapagos penguins and the ancient giant tortoise at the Charles Darwin Research Station. At times, you will literally need to watch your step to avoid native wildlife!

You may know Africa’s legendary Big Five: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo, but did you know Alaska boasts its own alternative “Big Five” that deserves equal space on any wildlife bucket list? These animals are brown bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves. These incredible species roam one of the world’s last wildernesses, offering an entirely different wildlife encounter to the African savannah.

Our Alaskan Wilderness Adventure holiday takes travellers deep into the heart of Denali National Park, where wildlife walks unfold in the shadow of North America’s highest peak. Denali is home to an estimated 500 brown bears, 2,000 moose and 160 wolves along with over 160 bird species! Unlike conventional tours and other tourists, we venture into Alaska’s wild and untamed backcountry, camping far from civilisation for the best opportunities to see these animals. The adventure also extends beyond land with an optional scenic cruise into Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park - home to whales, otters, steller sea lions and puffins!

For adventurous travellers, Madagascar offers a species that can be found nowhere else in the world: lemurs! The Land of the Lemur combines extraordinary trekking in Madagascar’s striking national parks with endemic wildlife encounters. From heavily forested canyons to Peak Boy (Imarivolanitra) the second highest peak in Madagascar, travellers are likely to spot several species of lemur along the way. The large island's unique geography means travellers will pass through multiple different climates and distinct environments, each with their own ecosystem and plant and animal life. Andringitra alone is home to over 100 species of birds and 50 species of mammals, while the Perinet National Park is home to Indri Indri lemur, the largest living lemur species found nowhere else on the island. It is likely that travellers hear their haunting calls through the forest before you see them!

Our Costa Rica Walks and Wildlife holiday offers the perfect alternative to traditional African safaris. This holiday takes travellers to lesser-known places away from crowds and mainstream tourism routes. Instead of game drives, travellers trek through wildlife-rich rainforests, some of which are the most biologically intense places on Earth. Look out for howler monkeys, colourful toucans, hummingbirds, parrots, sloths and peccaries in their canopy habitat.

On this wildlife holiday, KE travellers will spend three nights in remote Drake's Bay, where simple accommodation places you in the heart of untamed wilderness for a true wildlife immersion. This isn't just a land-based safari, boat trips reveal dolphins and snorkelling opportunities allow encounters with sea turtles, tropical fish, sea urchins, lobsters and giant conchs in coral ecosystems.

This 8-day Svalbard cruise takes you into one of Earth's most remote and harsh environments that's only accessible for just a couple of months each year. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife opportunity during a fleeting window to witness polar bears, Arctic foxes, Svalbard’s unique subspecies of reindeer as well as seals, walruses and spectacular birdlife in their untouched habitat. The expedition remains flexible, following wildlife movements and weather patterns to ensure the best chances for polar bear sightings along remote coastlines. It’s an Arctic wilderness few will ever experience.

While Sri Lanka is famous for its ancient temples and tea-covered hills, it also hides a wilder side of national parks teeming with biodiversity and endemic species. Our Temples and Tea Trails of Sri Lanka adventure begins in Wilpattu National Park, a quieter and less-visited reserve where the pace is relaxed but the wildlife viewing is exceptional. On a morning game drive, you’ll search for wild buffalo, sloth bears, leopards, fishing cats and a wide range of bird life from bee-eaters to kingfishers.

On this walking holiday, travellers will also spend 2 nights in an eco-lodge surrounded by wildlife both day and night. This isn’t just a place to sleep but to watch for over 60 species of birds, 15 of which are endemic. The journey continues to Udawalawe National Park, one of Asia’s best spots to see wild elephants and is also home to jackals, spotted deer and if lucky: the elusive leopard.

The Amazon Riverboat Adventure is an extraordinary wildlife focused holiday through Pacaya-Samiria, Peru's largest national park aboad a traditional riverboat deep in the heart of the Amazon. Early morning excursions will reveal the rainforest awakening. The animals to look out for include iguanas, river turtles, cormorants, jacanas, monkeys, sloths and numerous bird species. Along the banks of the Ucayali River, scan the waters for the pink Amazon River dolphin, giant otters and the rare Amazonian manatee.

While many safaris end at sunset, on this wildlife holiday travellers will board small boats to search for creatures that only come out at night. As darkness falls the rainforest transforms completely as travellers will look out for bats, capybaras and poison frogs. With luck, a torch may even reflect the ‘red eye shine’ of the black caiman or show the glowing yellow eyes of a jaguar.

For those seeking wildlife encounters beyond the traditional Big Five, the Ultimate Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla Safari offers something different. While travellers will still encounter lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes and hippos across pristine national parks, the real magic lies in tracking endangered mountain gorillas in their misty forest habitat, this is an experience that goes far beyond conventional game drives.

The adventure begins in Uganda, a country brimming with wildlife that's never too far away. From guided bush walks to encounter Southern White Rhinos, game drives along the shores of the River Nile and boat safaris down the Kazinga Channel (home to the world’s largest hippo concentration!) to chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and searching for the rare tree-climbing lions on game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, this wildlife holiday ticks every bucket list box. Yet, arguably one of the world's most humbling wildlife experiences remains the face-to-face encounters with mountain gorillas. Tracking these magnificent giants must be one of the most exciting and profound wildlife experiences on Earth...