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Travel & Experiences

15 vacations for animal lovers

This is not your cookie-cutter luxury hotel. Sure, the stately manor boasts terraces, luxury rooms, an on-site massage therapist and gardens. But the surrounding grounds are home to a herd of giraffes who love to pop their heads through the windows and see what's going on inside. Guests may also enjoy sharing a meal with locals. Thesafaricollection.com

This is not your cookie-cutter luxury hotel. Sure, the stately manor boasts terraces, luxury rooms, an on-site massage therapist and gardens. But the surrounding grounds are home to a herd of giraffes who love to pop their heads through the windows and see what’s going on inside. Guests may also enjoy sharing a meal with locals.

Thesafaricollection.com

  (Martin Harvey / Getty Images / Gallo Images)

By Lauren Hill
Chicago Tribune

Swimming with dolphins is so passe. Enter, sunning with pigs. And drinking wine with a giraffe. And taking a selfie with a flamingo. There are a ton of trips and tours perfect for animal lovers of all kinds around the world, and we’ve handpicked 15 of the best zoological adventures you’re sure to go wild for.

Wild horses in Maryland

Assateague Island National Seashore is home to two herds of feral horses and plenty of photo opps. The island allows for all sorts of activities, such as camping, biking, hiking, kayaking and swimming. Read our story with more details here.

Nps.gov

  (The Washington Post / Getty Images)

Grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park

To get your animal fix a bit closer to home, Yellowstone National Park Lodges offer guided hikes through the park’s natural wonders. Along the way, visitors are likely to see elk, bison, bears, wolves and other wildlife.

Yellowstonenationalparklodges.com

  (Jim Urquhart / AP)

International Wolf Center in Minnesota

Wolf enthusiasts can enjoy a three-day, free admission pass to the International Wolf Center. It includes private lessons about wolves, private viewing time before and after the center closes, a hike in Superior Natural Forest and more.

Wolf.org

  (Mark Sauer / AP)

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Flamingos in Aruba

On the tropical shores of Aruba sits the private Flamingo Beach where local flamingos come to hang out amongst the tourists. Visitors can feed and, of course, take selfies with the birds.

Arubaprivateisland.com

  (Federico Cabello / Getty Images)

Manatees in Florida

Rent a kayak or canoe at Blue Spring State Park, and take a three-hour guided tour exploring St. Johns River on the lookout for manatees.

Sjrivercruises.com

  (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel)

Buffalos and more in South Dakota

Black Hills Badlands visitors can take a guided tour through the backcountry of South Dakota to see its free-roaming wildlife — buffalo, burros, sheep and prairie dogs. The two-hour trip also includes a little history and a few scenic stops.

Blackhillsbadlands.com

  (Jame Eli Shiffer / Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Peacocks in California

Peacock Cafe in Arcadia, Calif., is known for its rose gardens, flowering trees, cacti and, of course, its peacocks. Guests can take a relaxing tram ride or walk through the gardens in hopes of seeing the colorful birds.

Peacockcafearcadia.com

  (Alexandra Rudge / Getty Images)

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Sloths in Costa Rica

At this particular sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica, visitors can see rescued sloths, take a guided boat tour to see wild sloths, and even go behind the scenes to see baby sloths in the nursery.

Slothsanctuary.com

  (Rodrigo Arangua / AFP / Getty Images)

Travel & Experiences
Lauren Hill

Lauren Hill has worked for the Chicago Tribune since 2014. She currently works as a digital editor for Entertainment, Travel and Books. She also writes about movies and other Entertainment topics. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in film studies.

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