
Animal Encounters Around the World
We’ve experienced many animal encounters during our road-tripping journey across the world.
Whether it’s a pride of lions in the wilds of Africa, garden birds flitting around, or cats and dogs we’ve looked after on house-sits. We love them all.
Of course, our love affair with Africa is with its amazing wildlife. We’ve come face to face with a growling leopard, stumbled on the endangered and rare pangolin... twice, and we were absolutely delighted to experience so many incredible animal and bird sightings in the five months we spent in the South African bush.
We also loved every moment of our volunteering experience with monkeys. So much so, that we plan to take part in many other volunteer programs when we return to Africa.
Elsewhere in the world, we’ve spent precious time with puffins, reindeer in Sweden, apes in France, seals, gannets and kites in Scotland and are always on the lookout for any wildlife experiences that come our way.
As a reader, you may know we save a lot of money by using Trusted Housesitters for free accommodation. We’ll also be adding stories from our housesitting escapades here.
Additionally, you can find many of our wildlife photos for immediate download at extremely reasonable prices in our Etsy Store here.

Most Popular Animal Encounter Posts
Newburgh Seal Beach: Discovering Scotland’s Wildlife
A wildlife highlight in Aberdeenshire, Scotland has to be watching the 400+ grey seal colony at Newburgh Seal Beach, it certainly was for us.
Birds in Kruger National Park – Winged Wonders
Spending 3 months watching the birds in Kruger National Park was an unforgettable experience. We share the images and the stories behind them.
Animals in Kruger National Park: A World of Beauty and Brutality
Animals in Kruger National Park; Nowhere is life’s impermanence so visual, so beautiful yet brutal amongst the animals of the African bush.
Unbelievable Rare Pangolin Sighting in Kruger
The story of an extremely rare pangolin sighting is unique enough … but what were the odds that it could happen twice in no less than three months?
Volunteering with Monkeys in South Africa: How-to Guide
All about volunteering with animals in South Africa – a guide to choosing ethical projects, what it’s like and what may be involved.
Conversation with a Leopard and Life in Klaserie
Living amongst the wild animals of Klaserie Nature Reserve in South Africa you can expect adventures …but I wasn’t quite expecting this one.
Monkeyland Plettenberg Bay: Furry Friends Afoot (Videos inc.)
Discover the world of monkeys at Monkeyland Plettenberg Bay, South Africa – with cute monkey photos, videos and information all about these fabulous primates.
African Wildlife Photography – Our Story
We share our favourite African wildlife photography images and talk about our choice of cameras and lenses that we use for our 4wd overlanding Africa adventure.
Skomer Island Puffins: Everything you need to Know (inc. Videos)
We get up close and personal with the Skomer Island puffins. Find out all you need to know on visiting the Island and these colourful characters.
Or … Find Something that interests you from these Categories:
Wildlife Photography
African Wildlife Encounters
- Volunteering with Monkeys in South Africa
- Animals in Kruger National Park
- Birds in Kruger National Park
- Conversation with a Leopard in Klaserie, South Africa
- Unbelievable Rare Sighting of a Pangolin … Twice
- An Australian Take on Life in the South African Bush
- The debate of Rhino Dehorning
- Monkeyland experience, South Africa
- Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, South Africa
Birdlife
- Skomer Island Puffins, Wales (with video)
- Gannets Galore at Troup Head, Scotland
- Tollie Red Kites, Scotland
Other Animal Encounters
- Newburgh Seals, Discovering Scotland’s Wildlife
- Macaque Barbary Apes at Ouzoud Falls, Morocco
- Nature Reserve, Porto, Portugal
- Reindeer at Nutti Sami Siida, Sweden
WILDLIFE PHOTOS

White Rhino, Kruger

Puffins, Skomer Island

Tawny Eagle, Kruger

Leopard, Kruger National Park