The USA is a country known for its diversity in both natural wildlife and flora. The USA is full of wildlife reserves where you can experience the most amazing mountainscapes, forests, marine life, glaciers, and so much more. You can find yourself face to face with exquisite wildlife like mountain leopards, bald eagles, buffalo, whales, and dolphins.
You can choose to explore the USA’s natural world by visiting their National Parks to experience the animals in their most natural habitat, or you could choose the slightly more commercial route of visiting sanctuaries and rescue centers. Your choice totally depends on how much you and your traveling companions are willing to rough it out. We’ve put together a list of some of the best wildlife safaris in the USA.
1. Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most well-known wildlife success stories in the wildlife community. Yellowstone chose to attempt to reintroduce wolves into the park as a way to rebalance the ecosystem because they had a shortage of predators. The mission was a great success, and now the park is a thriving, diverse ecosystem that leaves all who visit absolutely breathless.
Another thing to note about Yellowstone National Park is that it is the oldest National Park in America, having been established in 1872. The visitors to this wildlife reserve are graced with stunning geysers, mountains, forests, and almost 60 mammal species. You can also expect to see spectacular birdlife with fan favorites like bald eagles, trumpeter swans, ravens, and sandhill cranes.
2. Katmai National Park, Alaska
Alaska in the North is known for its rugged country and rich wildlife; the Katmai National Park is where you’ll have the absolute best experience of all this state has to offer. The most notable of all is the brown bears that hunt for salmon in the icy cold rivers.
Some visitors to Katmai National Park claim that it is actually the best place in the world for watching brown bears. Unfortunately, you have to fly to a nearby town to access the area as the park has no roads leading to it. This means that the cost of visiting this incredible park adds up.
3. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
This stunning and rich wildlife reserve is named after the USA’s famously wild-loving president, Theodore Roosevelt. In fact, Roosevelt was the president who instituted and founded 5 of the National Parks. This particular park consists of 3 sections of the badlands in North Dakota (North Unit, South Unit, and Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is jam-packed with the amazing American bison and about 160 kilometers of trails that are guaranteed to leave you wowed. You can also expect to spot coyotes, prairie dogs, elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and wild horses. This spot is definitely one of the very best places to go on safari in the USA.
4. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
The Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia are a specular sight that is home to the Shenandoah National Park. These valleys and peaks are home to some of America’s most cherished wildlife. You can expect to find rolling hills, stunning streams, gorgeous waterfalls, magical forests, wooded areas, and stark, rocky cliff faces. It simply does not get better than this when it comes to an abundance of untouched natural habitats.
On your visit to the Shenandoah National Park, we suggest you keep an eye out for black bears, white-tailed deer, coyotes, beavers, and raccoons. Check out Skyline Drive for an epic safari route, and try out your boots on some of the park’s many trails. Another thing to be aware of is that this park is, for the most part, dog friendly. So, if you have a well-behaved pup that knows how to handle himself around wildlife, put them in the car and bring them along.
5. Virgin Islands National Park, U.S. Virgin Islands
If you are more into marine life adventures, the USA has something that will definitely tickle your tastebuds. The Virgin Islands National Park is a tropical area in the eastern Caribbean, known for its snorkeling, swimming, and scuba diving. The rich coral reefs and white, sandy beaches make the perfect summer trip.
The Virgin Islands National Park is incredibly rich in marine life, and it is home to more than 300 species of fish and 50 species of coral. This park has some of the world’s first signposted underwater snorkeling trails for your safety and convenience. It would be a complete shame to miss out on the vibrancy that the natural world here exudes.
6. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, and Tennessee
The final place on our list of the best wildlife safaris in the USA is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This incredible reserve has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it sure does live up to its name. It is WILD out there. If you are on a mission to spot an insane amount of wildlife, this is the place to be.
The Great Smoky Mountains are full of deep forests, breathtaking mountainscapes, and fresh, cool rivers and streams. You’ll find 65 mammal species (including the black bear), more than 200 bird species, 67 native fish, and over 80 reptiles and amphibians.