10 Animal Inspired Adventures for Traveling Couples

For animal-loving couples planning a romantic getaway, either a honeymoon or to celebrate an anniversary, you should consider a holiday that allows you to meet and greet your four-legged friends. Thankfully, there are numerous destinations worldwide where you can connect and observe incredible wildlife in their natural habitat. 

If you are wondering where to go, refer to these animal-inspired adventures for traveling couples.

Horseback riding is undoubtedly the most authentic way to explore stunning Mongolian landscapes. Horses play a significant role in the culture and daily lives of Mongolians. In fact, there are more horses in Mongolia than humans. It’s their mode of transport and serves as an invaluable help for herding sheep and goats.

Depending on your preferences, your horseback riding adventure would vary, from a couple of hours walking along a scenic river to a week-long adventure across the vast steppe. It’s worth noting that horses are not at their best after a long and harsh winter, so it is best to schedule your horseback riding adventure in Mongolia from late spring onwards.

Mongolian horses can carry all shapes and sizes, and a horseback riding adventure is suitable for beginners and more experienced riders. They are different from a typical horse since they have shorter necks and legs and are almost similar to ponies. 

You will be with a Mongolian horseman who will be your guide as your horse gallop on Mongolia’s vast open steppes and meet local nomadic tribes who will warmly welcome you into their villages.

Tanzania is the second largest country in East Africa and one of the top destinations for a safari. It lies along the idyllic coast of the Indian Ocean, sharing borders with other popular safari destinations, such as Kenya and Uganda. When seeing the Big 5 in Tanzania, the best place is the Ngorongoro Crater. Here, you’ll find a large concentration of the animals that make up the Big 5 – lions, leopards, black rhinos, elephants, and buffaloes. 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Crater is a breathtakingly beautiful area created about two to three million years ago when a massive volcano exploded and collapsed, creating a natural amphitheater. Over 30,000 animals now live in the Ngorongoro Crater, making it the best place for an African safari, where you’ll have higher chances of seeing the Big Five in their natural habitat.

Another highlight of your safari in the Ngorongoro Crater is seeing the crater up close. It’s the world’s largest unbroken crater, occupying an area of over 100 square miles with walls about 2,000 feet deep.

While India is more famous for its majestic temples, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine, it’s also one of the world’s best places for a safari, especially for couples who want to see tigers up close. India has been a success story in tiger conservation and has the world’s largest concentration of wild tigers, home to almost 3,000. So, it comes as no surprise that it’s the best place for a tiger safari.

There are numerous tiger habitats across India, but you will have a good chance of seeing them in Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan or Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh. You can also visit the country’s only private tiger reserve, the Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary, where you will sleep in a local lodge or homestay. Another alternative is to camp at the edge of Corbett National Park or in Kanha Tiger Reserve. There are also some lavish tours around India, providing the perfect way to see more of this beautiful country in one trip. 

When going on a tiger safari, you will ride in an open jeep, capable of carrying four to six people. There are also minibusses for bigger groups.

There are many places to enjoy close-up encounters with elephants in Thailand. But when visiting these places, choose those that apply ethical practices. One of these is Elephant Nature Park, one of the best-known elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, set on the edge of a rainforest close to the northern city of Chiang Mai.

It’s an elephant sanctuary established by conservationist Lek Chailert and has over 75 elephants roaming freely, each with a heart-breaking story. Many came from torturous camps exploiting elephants for tourism or logging purposes and other abusive situations.

Aside from elephants, the sanctuary also offers refuge to other animals, such as dogs, cats, warthogs, horses, water buffalos, etc. While most visitors come here on a day trip, you can also choose to stay overnight and even become a volunteer. As a volunteer, you will help prepare food for the elephants, such as fruits and vegetables. If you book a stay in one of their accommodations, you can spend time and play with these gorgeous creatures, which is a fascinating experience, especially for couples who are fond of wildlife.

Seychelles is a popular destination for a honeymoon, home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. But beyond its lush tropical foliage, powdery white sand beaches, and crystal-clear waters, Seychelles is also home to slow-moving giant tortoises. 

Also called Aldabra Tortoise, the giant tortoises of Seychelles belong to an ancient group of reptiles that started walking on Earth some 200 million years ago. They have an average length of 48 inches and weigh over 450 pounds at full maturity. Moreover, these fascinating creatures are considered the longest-lived animal on the planet. Some can live over 200 years!

One of the best places to see tortoises in Seychelles is Bird Island. It’s where you’ll find a tortoise named Esmeralda, estimated to be 175 years old and listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the heaviest living tortoise, weighing over 800 pounds! 

Curieuse Marine National Park on the island of Curieuse in Seychelles is another place to see tortoises in Seychelles. The sanctuary houses over 200 tortoises roaming freely on the 700-acre ground. You can also visit a nursery that houses the baby tortoises before they get released into the wild. 

Aside from tortoise sightings, Curieuse island is a fantastic place for hiking in Seychelles. There are marked nature trails around the island that take you to secluded beaches for swimming and snorkeling.

Over half of the world’s 1,000 mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda in Central Africa. So, if you have ever dreamed of witnessing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, consider a gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda. These gorillas are protected by rangers, with 10% of the revenue from gorilla trekking permits given to conservation and community development. Therefore, when you book a gorilla trek in Rwanda, you are helping in preserving these majestic creatures and the local communities. 

The best place for seeing mountain gorillas in the wild is Volcanoes National Park in northwest Rwanda, about 105 kilometers from Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. Currently, there are 12 habituated mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. During your trek, they will divide you into groups and allocate a specific gorilla family to each group. 

While it’s possible to track gorillas in Rwanda at any time of the year, the best time for gorilla trekking is from June to September. During this period, the jungle is less muddy, and the trails are not slippery, although you can still expect rain regardless of the time of your visit. It is best to avoid the wettest months, from April to May, since the trails are muddy and tricky to navigate.

For couples who are avid birders, you should go to New Zealand and try bird watching. Many of the country’s birds are among the rarest in the world. Due to the country’s isolation and the evolutionary patterns that developed, due to its isolation, you will find many bird species in New Zealand that you won’t find anywhere else on earth. In addition, there are migratory birds that visit the country at certain times of the year, so it will make a difference what you can see whether you visit in the winter months or visit from July onwards. 

Several tourism operators in New Zealand offer seabird tours to places like Stewart Island, a superb destination for bird watchers. It has a wealth of seabirds you can see on a boat tour. Stewart Island also offers easy access to Ulva Island, a protected bird sanctuary home to several unique bird species. Among the highlights are the tiny native robins that are surprisingly fearless. When you scratch the ground gently, they will hop right into your feet, offering a truly unique and unforgettable experience.

Stewart Island is also famous for its nighttime kiwi-spotting tours, where you explore the wild to see kiwis, which New Zealanders take as their identity symbol. You could be lucky to spot them in the wild as they forage deep into the bush at night or on remote and often inaccessible beaches.

Costa Rica is said to have more monkeys than humans, making it the best place to visit if you want to learn more about these primates and see them in their natural habitat. The country is home to four monkey species, Howler, White Face, Squirrel, and Spider. 

Howler monkeys are some of the most common varieties that you’ll find in various parts of the country. You can spot Howler Monkeys in Manuel Antonio National Park, Osa Peninsula, Nicoya Peninsula, and the Caribbean coast. They are in almost every area in the country except in places with higher elevations.

White Face monkeys are native to Central America and are known for being extremely intelligent. They are highly active and often live in troops. You will find them in places like Osa Peninsula and Manuel Antonio Park.

Squirrel Monkeys are said to be the smallest primates found on the coasts of Costa Rica and Panama. They are omnivores and are highly vulnerable due to deforestation. These monkeys are in the Osa Peninsula, Manuel Antonio National Park, and Corcovado National Park. Meanwhile, Spider Monkeys are among the biggest monkeys, weighing as much as 9 kg. You’ll find them at the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park.

Water buffaloes are a familiar animal in various countries in Asia, including Vietnam. These animals help farmers in the countryside and have become a significant part of the local life in the country. Hoi An is the best place to see buffalos in Vietnam, a charming old town in Central Vietnam, about 30 km south of Da Nang.

As an agricultural nation, farming plays a significant role in Vietnam’s economic development, and the buffalos have proven beneficial for farmers plowing the fields of Vietnam. Buffalos help with harvesting crops and help carry heavy loads for their owners. When you travel to Vietnam’s countryside, you’ll see these animals almost everywhere, assisting farmers with their work or simply standing on the side as their companions in daily fieldwork.

In the culture of Vietnam, buffalos are a symbol of being hardworking, one of the virtues of the Vietnamese people. These animals can work for longer, even under the scorching sun.

The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the unique and diverse ecosystems of animals, making it a top destination for traveling couples who love wildlife. A trip to this fascinating archipelago could mean seeing lizards, giant tortoises, and other incredible animals in their natural habitat.  

One of the best places to visit in the Galapagos is Tortuga Bay, on the island of Cruz Island. It’s home to the spiky marine iguanas, which you’ll find swimming and walking along its shores. At the tip of Tortuga Bay, you’ll find a stunning turquoise lagoon home to different varieties of birds. It’s also one of the best places to spot tortoises, sea lions, manta rays, and white-tip reef sharks. The best way to see these animals is by snorkeling or kayaking.

Galapagos is home to an incredibly diverse range of birds, many of them you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Some birds you’ll spot on the archipelago are the blue-footed boobies, pelicans, flamingos, albatross, and frigatebirds.