Luxury Family Wildlife Trips made for you
Start PlanningPrivate family treks through wildlife-rich regions
Spotting wildlife in its natural habitat is a wonderful experience to share as a family. Venture into rainforests, national parks and remote wetlands on private treks led by naturalists and wildlife experts. Stay in handpicked luxury lodges, including properties that can be reserved exclusively for your family.
Borneo is home to the ‘forest five’: orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, rhinoceros hornbills and saltwater crocodiles. Explore the rainforest on private walks and treks tailored to younger children. We especially recommend a boat safari along the Kinabatangan River, where you can look for proboscis monkeys, hornbills and pygmy elephants along the riverbanks.
Look for leopards and black bears in Bhutan’s Phobjikha Valley, or enjoy tiger safaris in India‘s national parks. In Brazil, venture into the vast Pantanal wetlands with an expert wildlife guide in search of jaguars.
Costa Rica is one of our favourite destinations for a first-time family wildlife trip. Look for sloths and toucans on short nature walks and canopy tours. In Corcovado National Park, venture into the rainforest with a naturalist guide to observe anteaters, a variety of birds and four species of monkey.
Australia‘s Daintree Rainforest is home to crocodiles and cassowaries. Observing these animals in the wild and learning about their behaviour is a fascinating experience. In Western Australia you might see curious quokkas before snorkelling at Ningaloo Reef, where turtles, dugongs and whale sharks inhabit the waters. Or visit Kaikōura in New Zealand to spot fur seals, little penguins and rare Hector’s dolphins in their natural habitat.
Get in touch with our travel specialists to start planning your next family wildlife adventure.
Experiences picked by our wildlife specialists
Explore the Galápagos Islands by Zodiac
Set out on a small-group excursion aboard a panga or Zodiac boat, keeping an eye out for Galápagos penguins, sea lions and giant tortoises.
Track tigers with a private guide
Head out on a private tiger safari in India’s Ranthambore National Park. Explore the park’s forests and lakes, where Bengal tigers roam among ancient temples and historic ruins.
Look for jaguars in Brazil
Spend time with a jaguar habituation team in Brazil’s Pantanal, learning about their work as you track these elusive big cats on foot. You can also explore the waterways by boat, keeping an eye out for jaguars along the riverbanks.
Observe orangutans in Borneo
Explore Sabah’s Deramakot Forest Reserve on a private safari drive and guided forest walks, looking for orangutans among the trees. After dark, venture into the rainforest in search of elusive clouded leopards.
Experience the cloud forest at night
During your stay at El Silencio head out on a private nighttime walk through the surrounding cloud forest. Keep your eyes and ears open for tree frogs, lizards, insects and sloths.
A word from one of our experts
There’s nothing quite like watching a Bengal tiger cross your path on a private safari in India, or seeing sloths and monkeys in Costa Rica’s rainforests. These experiences spark curiosity about wildlife in children and teenagers, creating memories they'll carry with them for years.
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Luxury family accommodation for wildlife tours
There are many incredible places to stay on a luxury family wildlife trip. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our safari experts:
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Family wildlife trip inspiration
Get inspired with our family wildlife example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure
Where to go on a luxury family wildlife trip
Australia
Australia’s vast and diverse landscapes provide habitat for incredible wildlife. In Daintree, believed to be the world’s oldest rainforest, trek with Kuku Yalanji guides to seek flightless cassowaries and koalas. Look for black-necked storks and brolgas in the wetlands of Kakadu National Park. And go on a marine safari in the Great Barrier Reef.
Borneo
The rainforests of Borneo provide crucial habitat for wildlife including orangutans. On private tours with naturalist guides and local experts, look for the primates and the rest of the ‘forest five’: proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, rhinoceros hornbills and saltwater crocodiles.
Brazil
Brazil is a country of incredible biodiversity. Go birdwatching in the Brazilian Amazon, home to around 1,500 different species. Or go on day and night safaris in the Pantanal, the world’s largest freshwater wetlands area. You might observe jaguars and other rare animals including giant otters and maned wolves.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a wonderful destination for families of all ages. Choose between gentle rainforest walks and more adventurous treks for older children. In Corcovado National Park, you might see all four of the country's native monkey species: howler monkeys, Geoffroy’s spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys and white-faced capuchins.
Galapagos
This remote archipelago provides crucial habitat for unique wildlife, including marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises. On an expedition ship or private family boat tour, go snorkelling to look for hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles and sea dragons, between others.
India
Wildlife tours in India include tiger safaris for families and boat trips along the waterways of Kerala. Look out for great hornbills, Indian elephants and lion-tailed macaques. Head into national parks like Ranthambore and Bandhavgarh, each a prime destination for spotting Bengal tigers.
New Zealand
New Zealand is home to incredible wildlife. Look for endemic kiwis on a nighttime tour of the Zealandia sanctuary in Wellington. Spot wild dolphins in Marlborough Sounds, observe yellow-eyed penguins on the Otago Peninsula and, from Kaikoura, take land and boat tours to see fur seals and Hector’s dolphins.
The Svalbard Islands
Explore the Svalbard archipelago, scattered across the Arctic Ocean between Norway and the North Pole, on an expedition cruise. Head out on snowmobiles, search for humpback, minke and beluga whales on boat trips past glaciers, and look for Arctic foxes, reindeer and polar bears alongside experienced naturalist guides.
The best time for family wildlife trips
The best time to see wildlife depends on the destination and the species you’re hoping to spot. Dry seasons are often ideal for spotting larger mammals and predators as they gather near remaining water sources. And green seasons can be particularly rewarding for birdwatching.
Visit Borneo between March and October for generally drier conditions, rainforest hikes and opportunities to observe wild orangutans. Head to Brazil’s Pantanal between July and September for some of the best chances of seeing jaguars. The Galápagos Islands offer wildlife experiences year-round; we recommend booking cruises and expeditions well in advance.
Swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef
March–July
Spot wildlife in Costa Rica's rainforests
May–November
See wild orangutans in Borneo
May–August
Search for jaguars in the Pantanal
July–September
Travel guides
Plan your bespoke family wildlife tour
Whatever you want from your luxury family wildlife tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Don't take our word for it
Your trip, your story
We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.
Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.
