You can find some unique wildlife in the USA. The U.S. offers diversity in both natural life and landscapes. So much so, that travelers often miss out on lesser-known areas that are actually teeming with wonderful flora and fauna. So, without further ado, here are 10 unexpected places in the USA for wildlife lovers.

Unexpected Places in the USA for Wildlife Lovers

1.Wild Mustangs

Watch a galloping, huge herd of actual wild mustangs on the outskirts of Salt Lake City in Utah. You’ll see horses in every possible shade of brown beautifully backdropped by the awesome Oquirrh and Wasatch Mountains. Seeing these mustangs makes many equestrian enthusiasts and wildlife lovers understand just what it really means to run wild and free and what life on the open range is like.

Exit Highway 172. Drive roughly 10 miles past the old pony express sign. Make a right onto the dirt road. Drive patiently until you spot them.

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Prairie Dogs

The original range of prairie dogs has shrunk because of the 1862 Homesteading Act and the 1887 Dawes Act which permitted settlers to use a lot of their habitat for farms, ranches, and homes.

You can see them in the wild within the area of Badlands National Park and the Great Plains. Park on any shoulder outlook and keep an eye on the landscape for movement in the burrows.

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Bald Eagles

The yearly Eagle Festival in Alton, Illinois in January. The chilling temperatures never prevent these birds from flocking to their selected seasonal roost close to the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers annually. The festival celebrates their winter migration. It’s held in the Audubon Center. Every year more than one thousand bald eagles come here along the well-known Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, found right outside St. Louis Illinois.

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Pronghorn Sheep

The best place to see endemic pronghorn sheep is in Wyoming’s Wind River County. The Wyoming Scenic Byway Highway 191 actually crosses an important one of their most important migration routes. The pronghorns have been using this place for a long time.  

Every winter, they travel many miles from the famous Grand Teton National Park in Northern Wyoming to the well-known Red Desert along Colorado’s border. The Red Desert is a popular refuge for the largest pronghorn herd. Your best bet is to watch for them from the byway during winter when they stand out against the white snow.

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Wild Dolphins

One reason to visit Florida’s family-friendly Panama City Beach is to see dolphins in the wild. Indeed, many different species of dolphins live in the water here. The most common is the bottlenose dolphin.

The always warm gulf water and other marine life make this a great place for dolphins to live. They are very intelligent and playful so could very well get close to your boat and even put on a show. Large pods of dolphins feed close to the shore. The best way to see them is to charter or rent a boat and head toward Shell Island.  

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American Buffalo or Bison

South Dakota’s Custer State Park is the home of North America’s largest bison herds so it is obviously the best place to see them outside of famous Yellowstone National Park. Although they were hunted to near-extinction in the 17 and 1800s, during the last 100 years, special reintroduction programs–such as the one run in Custer State Park—have led to a herd of between 1,300 and 1,400 you can see all year.

The best time to visit though is during the spring when you can see all the cute baby bison too.

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Sandhill Cranes

Gibbon, Nebraska is where you’ll find one of the most significant epic bird migrations in North America. The best way to see these birds is to sit in a little bird blind with windows that are just big enough for cameras and binoculars. There are millions of them along the local Platte river.

They forage for food in the numerous cornfields during the day and roost by the river at night. You can see them on their migration route approximately 20 miles east of Kearney from March to the middle of April at sunrise or right before sunset.  

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Wild Manatees

Manatees inhabit the water in Citrus County, north of Tampa, Florida from roughly April through October. This is the planet’s biggest natural winter refuge for these sea cows and is nicknamed “the Manatee Capital of the world.” They are drawn here by the many freshwater springs and the approximately-70-degree-temperature water. There are numerous observation points here. It is also one of the few places in the state where you can get up close and swim with them.  

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The Sage Grouse

The large, chicken-like Sage Grouse generally blends in with the sagebrush in Idaho and Colorado. They are famous for their unique Spring mating dance which they perform every year when they return to their mating grounds to breed. It is a ritual that reportedly is one of the world’s “top wildlife wonders.” Literally, dozens of males flock together at sunrise in the open spaces to perform for females and compete for the opportunity to mate with a female.

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Gray Wolves

Remote Voyageurs National Park in Northern Minnesota borders Canada and is home to the timber (a.k.a. gray) wolf. While the state is home to almost 3,000 wolves, 50 or fewer live in the park. These animals are quite skittish and difficult to spot. The water-locked, smaller park, however, makes the task easier than searching for them elsewhere. 

If you visit in the summer or spring, take a kayak or boat and look for them on the lakes’ shorelines. Experts report that the best time to see them here is in the winter. In the winter you might spot them walking across the park entrances or traveling along the frozen shores while hunting. If you plan on looking for them along the shores though, rent an ATV so you will be able to cross the frozen lakes.

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We got the message!  You love animals and we do too!  So without further ado, here are 15 wildlife wonders everyone must see!

1.  Swim with the Turtles, Queensland

Did you know that female turtles initially mate with as many male turtles as they can then save all the sperm before self-fertilizing every breeding season?  It’s true.  If you want to witness the frenzied hot turtle love then visit the famous Great Barrier Reef any time between November and March,  You can book a day trip that leaves from Bundaberg.

You can also go swimming or snorkeling with them if you wish.

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Gorilla Trekking, Uganda

If you go ape over gorillas, then don’t monkey around with your next travel itinerary,  Book a flight for Uganda and head for the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest,  After all, this country is the home of half of all the mountain gorillas on the planet.

Additionally, at least 17 gorilla families have actually been relocated here so you will see them . . .sooner or later.  Take an ecologically sensitive eight-guest tour.  This maximizes your chance to see them up close.  Be careful though as this adventure is not for those who are faint of heart.

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Search for Snow Leopards, Himalayas

Taking a trip to the frozen Himalayas to get a gander of the over 6,000 snow leopards living in Central Asia is not that different from venturing deep into the backstreet bowels of some far-off city in search of the perfect mate.

After all, snow leopards are not your average felines.  For example, they have biologically built-in snowshoes.  Thus, an expedition to see snow leopards in the desolate destination of Ladakh over the rugged alpine ranges and snow-capped peaks will be absolutely unforgettable albeit challenging.

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Go Bird Watching, Brazil

Brazil is the home of over 6,000 different species of birds.  It’s also the place where you will find the planet’s largest concentration of jaguars, and lots of piranhas, and anacondas as well.  In recent years animal-loving travelers have forgone the usual Amazon “jungle” experience to visit this 150,000 square kilometers of wetlands instead.

You will see plenty of wildlife including lots of colorful birds, like the popular jabiru and zigzag heron.  Choose from a horseback tour or a river cruise.

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Search for Polar Bears, Svalbard

If your list of tour essentials includes mittens, balaclava, and “rescue insurance” then you might just be searching for polar bears.  Indeed, the popular Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is not the usual place for an average vacation.

Race over the snow past great glaciers, and frozen river landscapes as you go in search of the near-majestic polar bears.  If you visit between February and May, you can sign on to take a 10-hour trip between Longyearbyen and the icy east coast .

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See Seals, Australia

If you want to see seals in South Australia, take a trip to popular Seal Bay Conservation Park, on famous Kangaroo Island’s south coast.  Sea lions are all over the place.  See them serenely sunning themselves in the sand and rocks.  Watch them goof around in the water, too.

Binoculars are not needed to get a good look at the more than 1000-member colony.  The park even offers guided tours.  Not enough for you?  You can also sign on for a four-day 3WD tour with a private company.

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Marveling at Marine Iguana, Galapagos Islands

Some might think the marine iguanas on the Galapagos Islands are hideous and yet rumor has it that these residents of this archipelago roughly 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador aided Charles Darwin with his theory of evolution.

There are reportedly around 300,000 marine iguanas living on these islands.  Local businesses offer an assortment of expeditions focused on special interests such as family-friendly tours and photography trips.  You may see other animals who live there as well such as fur seals, sea lions, and the famous Galapagos penguins

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Stalk Lynx, Finland

The lynx is rumored to be “the black sheep” of the feline family.  These cats live like vagabonds in the frozen recesses of Lapland.  Travel across the deep Nordic snow via snowmobile beneath the world-famous Northern Lights in search of these evasive, wild cats during a five-night safari.

You will probably spot moose and reindeer too before retiring to your welcoming tented camp.

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A Fantastic Flamboyance of Flamingos, Bonaire

These pink-feathered friends are favorites on Instagram.  Why else would there be more than 4.3 million “flamingo” tags from folks following them all over assorted cozy Caribbean beaches?  Ah, but if you personally prefer your fantastic flamboyance of flamingos feeling free, relaxed, and “influencer-free”, travel to the popular Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary, Bonaire.

This island is surrounded by a coral reef in the charismatic Caribbean Sea.  More importantly, it’s one of the few flamingo breeding sites in the area.  Would you like to see them up close and personal?  Book a four-hour tour to see not only the sanctuary but other island sights as well.

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Waddle with the Penguins, Antarctica

Look, we know the rugged seventh continent is not everyone’s favorite vacation location.  It can be an adventure just getting to Antarctica, especially if you want to see the penguins.  You will set sail from the port of Ushuaia, at the southernmost tip of South America,

From there you cross the dangerous Drake Passage prior to your arrival in this chilling, sub-zero land of ice and snow.  There amidst the endless blue horizons and tall peaks, you will find large colonies of both Adelie and emperor penguins.  You may also spot albatrosses, seals, and whales.  You can even go kayaking and ice camping here if it strikes your fancy.

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Get Grizzly with Bears, Canada

No one’s afraid of Winnie, but the famous North American brown bear isn’t called a grizzly for nothing!  These animals can hibernate for roughly five to seven months then run faster than an Olympian even when they’re hungry.  In fact, these bears have even been known to eat each other!  Of course, you can Google grisly grizzly facts any time of day but if you want to really see them, head for the wilds of British Columbia.

There you can sign up for two viewing sessions daily through a local lodge.

See Albatross soar, New Zealand

Sir David Attenborough was a big fan of visiting Dunedin in New Zealand’s stunning South Island.  It is here you will find the world’s only official breeding colony of the well-known royal albatross.  These noble birds grow large enough to have a recorded wingspan of over three meters.  They are a favorite sight of many birdwatchers.

Be sure to stop in at the Royal Albatross Centre where you can also see the nesting birds feeding their little chicks you can watch the nesting birds incubating their eggs or even feeding their chicks.

 Watch the Great Migration, Tanzania and Kenya

We can’t confirm it but apparently, some travel writers say that you haven’t truly “lived until you’ve experienced the great wildebeest migration.”  Specifically, we’re referring to over 2 million wildebeest, gazelles, and zebras  – and even an opportunistic predator or two – traveling through the Maasai Mara and Serengeti in search of greener pastures.  If you wish to witness some of this organized chaos in person, visit from July to October to watch the animals cross the nearby Mara River.

Visit from December to March and see them on the southern section of the Serengeti.  You can even sign up for a two-week Kenya and Tanzania safari.  That way you will get to see the Big Five and who knows what else?

 Eye Elephants, Botswana

If seeing a pair of pachyderms playing in a shallow, little river isn’t enough for you then book a trip to Chobe National Park.  For it is there you will discover approximately 120,000 Kalahari giants holding court in a place with herds of hippos, zebra, and buffalo.  While the elephants are here all year long, veteran visitors say that the very best time to get a good look at them is during the official dry season which is from late May to October 31st.

This is generally when a lot of them gather by the river.  You can take a traditional game drive or a boat trip at the park.  Spend the night at the superb Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero and you will also be able to go on a water safari in a specially-adapted motorboat.

Hang with Orangutans, Borneo

These surprisingly gentle red-orange Bornean orangutans actually share almost 97 percent of our DNA.  Nevertheless, the small difference, means among other things, that their natural habitat is in the verdant, tropical jungle near a handy river.

If you really want to find out how they’re hangin’ then you can sign on for a wildlife tour. It begins with a stop at mighty Mount Kinabalu and moves on into the Danum Valley where these orangutans reside at the popular Sepilok Sanctuary.

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