Hello, fellow travel lovers. I’m Bridget, founder of World Class Adventures. For me, travel is about more than where you go, it is about how you go. That is why I believe it is time to rethink wildlife tourism and to choose experiences that are better for animals, local communities and the places you visit.
I will be honest. In the past I took part in animal tourism that I would not choose now, without fully realising what was behind it. Awareness changes things. This is not a lecture, only a prompt to look more closely at the choices we make and at what better wildlife travel looks like in practice, especially on wildlife and nature holidays built around responsible viewing.
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Why wildlife tourism needs rethinking
Wildlife tourism has changed a great deal over the years. What was once widely accepted can now look very different when viewed through the lens of animal welfare, conservation, and community impact. That shift matters. A wildlife experience should never come at the expense of the animals themselves.
The most rewarding wildlife encounters are often the least intrusive. They allow animals to remain wild, they respect natural behaviour, and they support the people and ecosystems that help protect them. That is the direction I believe travel should keep moving in.
How to choose responsible wildlife experiences
Responsible wildlife tourism starts with asking better questions. Look for experiences that put animal welfare first, avoid unnecessary interaction and place conservation ahead of entertainment. Wildlife sanctuaries, rehabilitation centres and conservation tours can all play a part when they are run responsibly.
A good rule is simple. The closer an experience gets to performances, handling, feeding, bathing, posing, or forced encounters, the more cautious you should be. The best wildlife experiences usually involve watching from a respectful distance and letting the animals set the terms.
- Avoid rides, tricks, shows, and hands on experiences with wild animals
- Avoid venues that encourage animals to pose, perform, or interact unnaturally with visitors
- Be cautious of photo opportunities that rely on baiting, chasing, or crowding wildlife
- Choose operators that explain their welfare standards clearly
- Look for experiences rooted in conservation, education, and habitat protection
What better wildlife travel looks like
Better wildlife travel is about more than avoiding harm. It is about contributing to something positive. That might mean supporting endangered species protection, habitat restoration, local guiding, or community led conservation initiatives that create long term value for both people and wildlife.
I am especially interested in experiences where local communities have a real voice and where ecological knowledge is respected. That is one of the reasons I value the Wildlife Heritage Areas programme, run by World Animal Protection and the World Cetacean Alliance. A destination qualifies only when it has an active community steering committee with the authority to manage how people and wildlife live together, and when wildlife experiences are managed with the animals’ needs ahead of commercial interests. Areas listed so far include the Whitsundays in Australia, Madeira in Portugal and Plettenberg Bay in South Africa.
This kind of travel fits with my wider approach to Responsible Travel. It should leave you with a better understanding of the place and its wildlife.
A few practical examples
Some wildlife experiences raise the same concerns again and again. These are the three I see most often.
Elephants
The best way to see elephants is in the wild, or in observation-only places where welfare comes first. The ABTA animal welfare guidelines, which UK travel companies can adopt, class elephant riding, bathing and shows as unacceptable.
For elephants, avoid: rides, tricks, bathing experiences, and any venue that encourages close interaction or performances.
For elephants, choose: observation-only sanctuaries and places that focus on welfare, conservation and education.
One example I admire: ChangChill in Chiang Mai, which takes a no shows, no rides approach and allows elephants to behave naturally. Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary in Sukhothai is another venue on the same list. Both appear in World Animal Protection’s elephant-friendly venue guide, which lists venues where elephants are not ridden, washed or made to perform.
Big cats
Walking with lions and cub petting can look harmless, but the ABTA guidelines class contact with big cats, feeding them and walking with them as unacceptable. A guided game drive in a well-run reserve lets you watch lions and leopards behaving naturally, which is the better experience as well as the better choice. See my safari holidays.
Whales and dolphins
Swimming with wild dolphins and whales can sound magical. Whale and Dolphin Conservation explains that these encounters can be intrusive and stressful for the animals, can disrupt feeding, resting and socialising, and can put mothers with calves at risk. Most countries that regulate whale watching prohibit or discourage swim-with tours. A well-managed boat trip that watches from a distance is the better choice, and the Whale Heritage Areas in Australia, Portugal and South Africa show what that looks like.
If you are unsure about any attraction, ask yourself:
- Are animals kept in conditions that restrict their natural movement?
- Are they expected to perform, pose, or interact with visitors?
- Are wild animals being baited, handled, or chased for the sake of the experience?
- Does the venue explain its welfare and conservation standards clearly?
- Is there a barrier or distance between visitors and the animals?
- Do guides limit group sizes and the time spent near the animals?
- Is the venue listed by an independent body such as World Animal Protection?
If the answers are vague, walk away.
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How I help
I help vet wildlife experiences, check what is really responsible, and plan trips around the ones that pass. As a travel agent I have 30 years of adventure travel experience, and I have visited around 80 countries myself, so my advice comes from experience and not from a brochure. Your holiday is financially protected through ABTA, and through ATOL where it includes flights.
My Animal Welfare Policy sets out the standards I apply, and you can use my free Sanctuary Checklist to assess a facility yourself. For where to go and when, see How to Plan a Wildlife Holiday.
For a deeper connection to the wildlife you encounter on your travels, you might also enjoy TJ Allen Wildlife Art, which creates beautiful pieces inspired by the natural world.
If this topic interests you, I also recommend the film Blackfish, about orcas in captivity, which you can rent online, and The Last Tourist, about tourism and host communities. Both are reminders that the choices we make as travellers matter.
Call or WhatsApp 0117 452 1159 or email bridget@worldclassadventures.co.uk.
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