Meet the World’s New Big Five: The Wild Animals Travellers Most Want to See | News
New research from travel experts Explore reveals the wild animals people want to see when travelling
Pandas top the list as the most popular wild animal experience, followed by elephants and kangaroos
Research also reveals a 211% increase in Google searches for ‘wildlife holiday’
Australia has been crowned the world’s number one wildlife destination
The iconic ‘Big five’ (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) has defined wildlife travel for decades, with people travelling far and wide to see them in the wild. However, new research from adventure travel experts, Explore, has revealed a new people-powered Big Five.
Surveying 2,400 people across 12 countries, the research identifies the five wild animal’s travellers most want to see in their natural habitats – offering an alternative to the popular safari experiences.
The world’s new Big Five
Panda (41%)
Elephant (32%)
Kangaroo (32%)
Koala (30%)
Whale (29%)
Pandas top the list, with 41% of travellers hoping to catch a glimpse of them in the wild. With their distinctive colourings and behaviour, these loveable animals are high on many travellers’ lists. Notably, only one species from the original Big Five, the elephant, makes the cut, ranking second, showing that today’s travellers still want to see one for themselves.
Australia’s iconic animals rank strongly in the study. Kangaroos (32%) rank in third, followed by Koalas (30%) in fourth, with travellers hoping to spot them when they travel down under. Whales round off the top five, with travellers hoping to catch sight of them in the open ocean.
Seeing wildlife is a travel motivator for many
Google search data from the past 12 months shows a shift in the importance of seeing wildlife while travelling, with a 211% increase for ‘wildlife holidays’. The research also revealed that wildlife is no longer a nice to have for travellers but more of a deciding factor, with almost three-quarters (72%) of global respondents saying wildlife is at least somewhat important when choosing a holiday destination.
South Africans (95%) were the most likely to have wildlife encounters influence their travel decisions, followed by travellers from Chile (81%) and Italy (79%).
Australia crowned the world’s number one wildlife destination
When asked which country they would specifically travel to for a wildlife experience, respondents ranked Australia far ahead of all the others, with over a third (38%) choosing it as their top destination. South Africa follows in second with 11%, closely followed by Kenya (9%), Canada (7%), and China (6%).
Luke Judd, travel expert at Explore says:
“Wildlife has always been one of travel’s greatest draws, but what this research shows us is which animals people want to see for themselves. Today’s travellers aren’t just dreaming of the classic safari; they’re looking beyond it, to pandas in bamboo forests, whales breaching on the open ocean, and kangaroos at dawn.
“The fact that 72% of global travellers now factor wildlife into their destination choices tells us this isn’t a niche interest, it’s a defining part of how people want to experience the world. At Explore, we’ve seen this shift first-hand, and it’s why we’re passionate about connecting travellers with these moments in a way that’s responsible, meaningful, and genuinely unforgettable.”
More information on the study can be found online here: https://www.exploreworldwide.com.au/blog/the-worlds-new-big-five-animals
