If your kids are anything like ours then animals come high on the wish list when planning a family holiday. Here then are some of our favourite family-friendly hotels for a true Dr Doolittle experience, from hugging sloths in Panama and washing elephants in India to feeding goats in The Philippines, releasing baby turtles in Sri Lanka and riding camels along the beach in Oman…and many more. Binoculars at the ready!
1. Swim with an Elephant in India
What more could a child ask for than a safari in an open jeep searching for tigers, followed by a meeting with Tara the elephant and a swim with her in the river? Scrubbing clean a docile Tara lying in the water is a priceless experience and the photo of the year for parents. Take a look at Kipling Camp, Madhya Pradesh.
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2. Ride Horses in Peru
Sol y Luna Lodge and Spa in Peru is known for its handsome Peruvian Paso horses, a unique breed to Peru that have an unusual, fluid gait. Every day the gleaming lawns outside Wayra (their ‘ranch’ restaurant) are temporarily transformed into a dressage ring and four elegant horsemen enter the arena to the beat of Mariera, one of Peru’s best known dances. At the end of their performance guests are invited to try a lap themselves. Take a look at Sol y Luna Lodge & Spa, Urubamba.
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3. Hug a Sloth in Panama
The owner of this friendly B&B adopted two three-toed sloths when their mother broke her neck in the wild and they are now the property’s star attractions. Did you know that sloths only go to the bathroom once a week? And that they dig a hole with their tail before doing so? They say that experiences bring people more happiness than possessions and how right they are; if there is one reason why you’ll love Casa Mariposa it is to have a cuddle with a sloth. Take a look at Casa Mariposa, El Valle de Anton.
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4. Feed Baby Goats in The Philippines
La Chevrerie is a wonderful place for families with grassy lawns, hammocks and inflatable rings for floating around the swimming pool. But possibly the best activity for kids is feeding the resident baby goats. Take a look at La Chevrerie Resort & Spa, Mabini.
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5. See Snakes in Panama
Bring your bird book and binoculars, this is the place to explore jungle life! Take a tour of the hotel’s own ‘ecological exhibits’ including an impressive collection of colourful butterflies, a small aquarium, an orchid farm and – my kids’ favourite – a snake house! Take a look at Gamboa Rainforest Resort.
6. Watch Whales Breach in Mexico
Forget the mega-resorts and glitzy malls of Cabo San Lucas and come here to see magnificent Humpback whales breaching the ocean waves. From late December to late March hundreds of whales migrate from the frozen waters of the Arctic for some winter sun choosing the warm, calm waters surrounding the Baja Peninsula to birth and rear their young. Take a look at The Bungalows, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California.
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7. Ride a Camel in Oman
The hotel boasts several wonderful swimming pools, a lazy river, a pirate ship and water fountains as well as a kids club. Our favourite hotel highlights, however, are the daily camel rides along the beach. Take a look at Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat.
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8. Search for Rhinos in India
The early morning elephant safari is a must do and suitable for the whole family. You will get within metres of the great Indian rhinos and hopefully spot some of the other 34 major mammals including wild elephants, swamp deer, wild buffalo and gaur. Take a look at Diphlu River Lodge, Assam.
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9. Release Baby Turtles in Sri Lanka
Near to this beautiful hotel are a handful of turtle hatcheries, established to help conserve these wonderful creatures, and visitors are more than welcome. Kids can see turtles’ eggs buried in the sand, hold baby turtles and then help release them into the ocean. Take a look at Club Villa, Bentota.
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10. Go on a Tiger Safari in India
This eco- and family-friendly camp, run by award-winning naturalists, is truly a wonderful place for kids. The focus is on educating children to appreciate wildlife and the importance of conservation; their motto is “seek the tiger, find the jungle”. There are dozens of fun, educational activities for kids, plus, you might spot a tiger! Take a look at Jim’s Jungle Retreat, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand.
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We’d love to visit all of these places, our boys would be amazed. My eldest has Africa and The Galapagos Islands on the list. Hopefully one day!
My eldest is also desperate to go to the Galapagos. I like how they choose the most expensive destinations!! Thanks for commenting – KG
Oh my, what a fantastic list – I pretty much want to experience every single one – especially the sloth and watching humpback whales in Cabo San Lucas. I can’t even imagine what a breathtaking sight that would be. Thanks so much with linking up with #MondayEscapes
Thanks so much. I don’t think my children will ever forget their hug with that sloth and i know Katja feels the same about her whale watching trip. Certainly experiences that stay with you for life!
We went to see sloths in Costa Rica recently, but we were not able to hold them. So jealous!!! Great pics and post!
Thanks so much. You will have to come to Panama for your next holiday and visit this b&b. I don’t think they’ll be going anywhere for a while, apparently sloths can live for up to 40 years!
I just love this list AND your website!
Thank you so much! We are big fans of your site too, love a luxury hotel that caters to families 🙂
They all look amazing! But my favourite one is Club Villa, Bentota, Sri Lanka! We love petit turtles!! Great list!
Thanks! Have you seen baby turtles anywhere? They were a huge hit with our kids too!
I really, really want to hold a sloth. !!!
Me too!! Victoria and her kids got to cuddle sloths, I really want to! – Katja
These are such great places to stay. We will have to check out this list for our future adventures. My kids love staying places where they get to interact with animals.
Ours too! And if there’s animals AND a swimming pool then we are in family holiday heaven 🙂
Wow! so many of these experiences are still on my list! Great ideas for planning the next bucket list trip.
Thanks! Animals are high on the list when we’re planning a trip – we’re hoping to get to the Galapagos Islands soon for the ultimate animal adventure 🙂
Great article 🙂 An inspiring list of places to visit!
Thanks so much!
love the disclaimer!
Ha ha! 🙂
Love this article and will retweet! Doris the donkey at Fawakay Villas obviously remains a star in her own right and is very popular with the guests!
Thanks so much Mary. We can’t wait to meet Doris!
I love this list! The picture with the sloth is just too cute. This list is definitely inspiring some travel around here.
Thanks so much Tamara. My children loved their cuddle with the sloths! I just read your post on Monterey, CA and that sounds like a great destination for animal lovers too – victoria