I’m a list person, always have been. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I have a wildlife bucket list as well as a travel one. Even though I’ve worked with some of these species hands-on, I still don’t consider them ticked off this list unless I’ve seen a wild one in their natural habitat.

And of course, like all the others, this list will continue to get longer and longer as more amazing species come to my attention.

Click here to read about my favourite wildlife encounters (so far).

Mammals:

  • Aardvaark – CCF Reserve, Namibia, September 2024
  • Aardwolf – CCF Reserve, Namibia, May 2025
  • African wild dog
  • African wildcat – CCF Reserve, Namibia, November 2023
  • Arctic fox
  • Bat-eared fox – CCF Reserve, Namibia, December 2023
  • Bear
    • Black bear – Riding Mountain National Park, Canada, August 2019
    • Brown bear
    • Giant panda
    • Moon Bear
    • Polar bear
    • Sloth bear
    • Spectacled bear
    • Sun bear
  • Beaver – Elk Island National Park, Canada, August 2019
  • Bengal tiger
  • Bison – Elk Island National Park, Canada, August 2019
  • Blue monkey
  • Capuchin monkey – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, May 2021
  • Capybara
  • Caracal
  • Caribou – Churchill, Canada, July 2019
  • Cheetah – Etosha National Park, Namibia, September 2024
  • Chimpanzee
  • Civet – Liwonde National Park, Zambia, November 2016
  • Coati – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, May 2021
An elephant eating, Zambia
A female American Bison with calf in Elk Island National Park, Canada
The beaver is the national animal of Canada
A female caribou in the mist, Canada
  • Colobus
  • Echidna
  • Elephant
  • Elk – Banff, Canada, August 2019
  • Ethiopian wolf
  • Fennec fox
  • Genet – South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, August 2016
  • Giant anteater
  • Giant otter
  • Golden jackal
  • Golden lion tamarin
  • Gorilla
  • Grey wolf
  • Groundhog – Québec, Canada, September 2018
  • Hippo – Marakapula, South Africa, May 2012
  • Honey badger – South Luangwa National Park, Zambia August 2016
  • Howler monkey – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, May 2021
  • Hyaena
    • Brown hyaena – CCF Reserve, Namibia, June 2025
    • Spotted hyaena – South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, August 2016
    • Striped hyaena
  • Jaguar
  • Kangaroo – New South Wales, Australia, March 2015
A herd of elk on the lawn of the golf course in Banff, Canada
Reflected hippos in Zambia
A koala and baby in a tree, Magnetic Island, Australia
A howler monkey hangs from a tree by its tail in Costa Rica
A moose - one of the most recognisable Canadian wildlife species - hidden in thick bushes in Elk Island National Park
A platypus swimming in the river in Eungella National Park, Australia
A leopard in Zambia
A quokka mother and her baby on Rottnest Island
A curious raccoon peaks out from its bed at the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre, Canada
A tiny tarsier stares straight at the camera in Bohol, Philippines
A black rhino runs through the bush in Malawi

Marine:

A friendly beluga whale coming up to a boat in Churchill, Canada
A dugong in the waters at Monkey Mia, Australia
A green turtle swimming underwater

Terrestrial Reptiles/Amphibians:

A rare Golfo Dulce Poison Dart Frog sits on a leaf in the jungle in Costa Rica
Komodo Dragon, Indonesia
A giant tortoise opens its mouth wide, greenery hanging from its lips
Close up of two marine iguanas cuddling, one of many unique animals you can see while solo backpacking in the Galapagos

Birds:

A bald eagle sits in fog, near Churchill, Canada
Emu on the beach at the Ningaloo Coast, Australia
A vibrant Scarlet Macaw picking at fruit in a tree in Costa Rica

What animals are on your bucket list?