Turns Out, We Were Right All Along About Wildlife Travel!
Ask any South African what makes a holiday worth remembering, and wildlife will often come up before the third sentence.
It is not a coincidence, and it is certainly not a surprise to anyone who has sat in an open vehicle, in the Kruger National Park, at first light, waiting for movement in the long grass.
Research from adventure travel company Explore found that 95% of South Africans say wildlife is the greatest determining factor when deciding where to travel locally, the highest figure recorded anywhere in the study.
That puts the country ahead of Chile and Italy.
The data comes from the responses of 2 400 travellers across 12 countries, first reported locally by Cape Town Etc.
Globally, 72% of respondents said wildlife plays some role in their destination choices, a sign that nature-focused travel has settled firmly into the mainstream.
What Travellers Around the World Are Chasing
The elephant followed close behind, tied with the kangaroo, and the only Big Five animal to reach the global top five.
This is what the data showed:
| Rank | Animal | Percentage of travellers wishing to see it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panda | 41% |
| 2 | Elephant | 32% |
| 3 | Kangaroo | 32% |
| 4 | Koala | 30% |
| 5 | Whale | 29% |
Second in the World, and Rightly So
Australia claimed the number one spot as the world’s favourite wildlife destination, yet South Africa held onto second place, chosen by more than one in ten respondents as their first pick.
That places the country ahead of Kenya, Canada and China, and perhaps a reflection of all the good work the country has put into its approach to conservation.
The Kruger National Park is quite likely the best place in Africa to see elephants, the second most sought-after animal sighting, and spanning close to 2 million hectares along the Mozambique border and remaining one of the largest, it is the most accessible reserve anywhere on earth.
And those who visit the Kruger are right on the doorstep of the Panorama Route, a corner of South Africa absolutely worth visiting.
With God’s Window and Blyde River Canyon known for having some of the most photographed views in the country, and Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre giving travellers a rare, close look at the endangered species conservation teams work so hard to protect, adding these two destinations to a Kruger safari only amplifies the number of wildlife sightings one can have in a single trip.
Google search data backs this up too.
Searches for “wildlife holidays” rose 211% over the past year, a change that Luke Judd of Explore puts down to travellers expanding their bucket lists well beyond the traditional safari.
Wildlife, he says, has become one of the main reasons people choose a destination, not simply a bonus once they arrive.
Making the Most of a Wildlife-Focused Trip
If you’ve always wanted to see the Big 5, this is the best way to approach your planning so that you can get the most out of your holiday:
Book both a morning and a night drive.
Different animals move at different hours, and nocturnal sightings often surprise first-time visitors the most.
Choose a smaller vehicle over a large group tour.
Fewer passengers means a better vantage point and a guide who can actually explain what you are looking at.
Pair your safari with the Panorama Route.
A full day covering both waterfalls and wildlife gives a far fuller sense of the Lowveld than a single game drive alone.
Ask your driver about the area, not just the animals.
Guides who grew up in the bush tend to know the land, the history and the local stories that turn a transfer into part of the trip itself.
GAP Tours & Transfers has spent years guiding small groups through the Kruger, along the Panorama Route and to Moholoholo, with drivers who treat every guest as a person rather than a number on a manifest.
South Africa did not need a survey to know how deeply wildlife is woven into its travel identity.
What this one confirms is that the rest of the world is finally catching up, and there is still no better place to watch it unfold than right here in the Lowveld.
Source: Cape Town Etc
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are South Africans considered the most wildlife-obsessed travellers in the world?
A 2026 global survey found that 95% of South Africans say wildlife influences their travel choices, the highest percentage recorded among the 12 countries surveyed.
Which country ranks as the world's top wildlife travel destination?
Australia ranks first as the world’s preferred wildlife destination, with South Africa in second place, chosen by more than one in ten survey respondents as their top choice.
What makes the Kruger National Park a leading wildlife safari destination?
The Kruger National Park covers nearly 2 million hectares along South Africa’s border with Mozambique, ranking among the largest and most accessible game reserves on Earth.
Is it worth combining a Kruger safari with the Panorama Route?
Yes, combining a game drive with the Panorama Route in a single trip gives travellers both wildlife sightings and views of God’s Window and Blyde River Canyon within one region.
How has global interest in wildlife holidays changed recently?
Google search data shows a 211% increase in searches for wildlife holidays over the past year, reflecting a broader shift toward nature-focused, conservation-minded travel.
