Ridiculously cute and full of funny, almost-human antics, it’s hardly surprising that meerkats have captured the imaginations of many worldwide. They’re endemic to the semi-arid regions of Southern Africa – such as the Kalahari and the Karoo – and can be difficult to spot in their natural habitat.  At De Zeekoe Guest Lodge just outside Oudtshoorn you can join a special habituated wild meerkat tour at sunrise that will allow you to witness these adorable critters rising to greet the day.

Accompanied by a local guide, you will arrive at the meerkat burrows just before dawn where you will enjoy a hot cup of coffee while sitting on a lightweight aluminium chair. During the next two- to three hours, you will be able to witness them leaving their burrows, interacting with one another and going about their morning routine without invading their space. In season, the minimum age limit for tours is 10-years, but they are open to lowering that to 6-years out of season.

After spending the summer months in the far Southern Ocean feeding close to Antarctica, Southern Right Whales migrate north in the winter to breed and calve in warmer waters. For some reason, these gentle giants seem particularly drawn to the southern Cape’s coastline, many converging on Hermanus and surrounds. Between May and December every year, you’ll see them frolicking in protected bays and putting on quite the show. While watching these whales from land can be pretty damn amazing, viewing them up close during a Dyer Island Cruise with our partner Marine Dynamics is even more exhilarating.

The 5-star boat trip is the perfect marine outing for the whole family to enjoy and apart from whale watching, you will also get the opportunity to spot African Penguins, Cape Fur Seals and possibly even Great White sharks. Marine Dynamics is Fairtrade Tourism certified and does a whole lot of amazing ocean conservation work. Among other things, they run an African Penguin conservation programme and opened the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary rehabilitation centre in 2015. If you’re interested in supporting what they do, visit the Dyer Island Conservation Trust website.

There is nothing quite as heart-wrenching as seeing a magnificent big cat kept in cruel captivity – whether it be in a circus or as an exotic family pet for the rich and famous. Panthera Africa is an environmentally-friendly sanctuary just outside Stanford that provides a beautiful home for captive bred big cats that have been rescued from their circumstances. Since captive-bred big cats cannot be reintegrated into the wild successfully, as they would not have the necessary skills to survive, Panthera Africa offers a protected environment where they can play and prosper free from human cruelty, interference and petting.

One of their main purposes is to be an educational platform for creating awareness about the dire conditions big cats face in captivity and how animal welfare organisations can play a vital role in rescuing them. Importantly, they do not offer any cub petting, pursue any form of breeding programme or engage in trade. You can visit Panthera for an educational tour or opt for a sunset visit to see the big cats come to life as night falls.

Like many other wildlife-rich countries in Africa, Kenya suffers greatly under the scourge of poaching. Because mostly adult animals are targeted, this leaves many babies and juveniles orphaned and vulnerable  Since its establishment in 1977, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has put a lot of resources into rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned animals - but especially elephant and rhino – with the goal of reintroducing them into the wild again once they’ve healed from any injuries and emotional trauma. They run an elephant nursery in Nairobi National Park, which is open to visitors for an hour between 11am and 12pm every day. During this time, you can witness the adorable calves return from their adventures on the large property to enjoy a mud bath and midday meal. No contact is permitted between visitors and the orphans to ensure that they do not become overly accustomed to humans.

Image: Ben Capellacci

Topping the bucket list of many-a wildlife lover, gorilla trekking in Uganda is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one your family will hold dear for many years to come. While this adventure will take you right into the heart of gorilla territory, there are extremely strict rules to ensure minimal behavioral disturbance to the gorillas and the risk of their exposure to human-borne diseases. A few of these include: a keeping at least a 7-metre distance from gorillas at all times; no flash photography; no loud talking and no smoking, eating or drinking while in their presence. Children under the age of 15 are normally not permitted to join a trekking group, but there are certain exceptions.

Image: Dan Dickinson

Interested in one of these ethical animal encounters? Contact Destinate Travel to design your own experience OR simply book one of the above experiences with us. Come travel with us. We do it differently.