10 Incredible Hotels Around the World Where You Can Wake Up to Wildlife

For years, the only way to get close to nature and wildlife was to take a rugged camping trip or safari. However, there are countless hotels and resorts around the world today where guests can eat with giraffes, watch wolves play, and admire entire ecosystems at work.

Whether you’re searching for a tropical climate, a desert getaway, or a cool-weather environment, there’s a hotel that will let you watch wildlife roam freely.

1. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Thailand

Starting Nightly Rate: $1,912

Surrounded by lush greenery, Anantara Golden Triangle is a mountain sanctuary for guests looking for a place to unwind and find peace. From the property, you can see 3 countries: Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. However, the best views are of the elephant camp.

The hotel has an elephant caretaking village, which serves as a research and conservation center. Guests are welcome to visit the center and even sponsor an elephant. You can also immerse yourself in the jungle setting at the hotel’s spa during some of the resort’s excursions, like a Mekong River cruise.

For a truly unforgettable experience, book the exclusive Jungle Bubble experience, which includes all-night immersion in nature. Spend the night in a luxuriously furnished clear pod bubble so you can watch the scenery come to life. You can even enjoy a gourmet breakfast and dinner with Thailand’s elephants.

How To Book: This hotel can be booked through American Express’ Fine Hotels + Resorts program, which is available to cardholders of The Platinum Card^® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express. The standard benefits like breakfast for 2 and a $100 property credit are offered, though booking through Amex FHR will also give you a free one-way airport transfer.

2. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island in Maldives

Starting Nightly Rate: From $9,999 nightly or 120,000 Hilton Honors points

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is a top vacation spot for lovers of the water and all the animals that live in it. There are multiple accommodation options to choose from, each of which gives visitors a chance to see the local wildlife up close. The water villas give you the opportunity to see fish swim by, while the beach villas and suites have a great view of the thick trees.

This hotel even goes the extra mile to put guests in touch with nature by offering a literal under-the-sea experience with its The Muraka residence. It’s the first ever underwater hotel suite, which contains an upper level above water and a section that is completely circled by water.

There’s also an underwater restaurant where guests can dine while watching fish, stingrays, and sharks swim by. Wildlife excursions, like nature walks and diving, are also hosted.

How To Book: The standard guest rooms at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island can be booked from 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night. You could score an upgrade to a water villa with Hilton Honors elite status, and cards like the Amex Platinum card offer complimentary Gold status upon enrollment.

3. Giraffe Manor in Kenya

Starting Nightly Rate: $2,336

Very few people can say they’ve eaten not just among giraffes, but with them. However, that’s the experience that awaits you at Nairobi’s Giraffe Manor. The property isn’t just home to a luxurious boutique hotel but a herd of giraffes, as well.

There are no barriers at the manor, so they’re able to roam freely and are known to join guests for breakfast or dinner in the hopes of getting a treat. During the day, they’re usually in their wooded sanctuary area, but they can sometimes be seen roaming the hotel grounds, too.

Since Giraffe Manor lets you get up close and personal with wild animals, there are a few rules to follow during your stay. It’s encouraged to be calm and quiet when the giraffes are around to avoid spooking them. You’re also asked to request assistance from the staff before taking a close-up picture or petting the animals.

How To Book: When booking boutique hotels such as the Giraffe Manor, paying for the reservation with a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® will ensure you’ll still earn bonus points. Fortunately, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers 3x Ultimate Rewards points on all travel purchases.

4. Lapa Rios Eco Lodge in Costa Rica

Starting Nightly Rate: $1,305

Located in Costa Rica’s tropical lowland rainforest, the Lapa Rios Lodge immerses guests in nature to curate a luxury experience that also promotes environmentalism. From the lodge’s suites, you can see wild macaws, frogs, monkeys, and more living in their natural habitat.

In addition to the animals you can see just from staying on the property, Lapa Rios has a number of on and off-site activities. Whale watching, zipline tours, and night walks are just a few popular excursions offered by the resort to bring travelers up close to nature.

There’s so much to see and do here that it’s recommended that guests stay for at least 4-5 nights to ensure they can enjoy the resort’s protected Rainforest Reserve and the rest of the peninsula. For the best chance of seeing Costa Rica’s wildlife, book the treetop Matapalo Suites or the Deluxe Bungalows.

How to Book: The Lapa Rios Lodge is a Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel, but it’s not one that currently participates in World of Hyatt. For the best chance of seeing Costa Rica’s wildlife, you should book the treetop Matapalo Suites or the Deluxe Bungalows.

5. NIHI Sumba in Indonesia

Starting Nightly Rate: $1,605

Located on Sumba Island, NIHI Sumba is self-described as “on the edge of wildness.” Many of the hotel’s villas are right on the edge of the lush forest. So it’s not uncommon to catch sight of wild animals roaming past, especially in the quiet hours of the early morning and late night.

There are notably no barriers separating the resort from nature, so animals can be seen on the grounds, as well. The Mamole treehouse is the most immersed villa, so it offers the most opportunities to see the local wildlife in action.

For an even closer look at nature, book one of the experiences. The spa safari mixes adventure and relaxation by taking you on a trek to the spa treehouse to enjoy a day of relaxation. A trip to the Lapopu waterfall also brings you close to the local wildlife.

How To Book: This hotel participates in the Leading Hotels of the World program, which is a transfer partner of Citi ThankYou Rewards. Guest rooms start at roughly 15,000 points per night depending on the season, and you can transfer Citi points at a ratio of 5:1.

6. One&Only Gorilla’s Nest in Rwanda

Starting Nightly Rate: $4,350

With multiple accommodation options, including a forest treehouse and an immersive silverback suite, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest in Rwanda brings the country’s nature to your window.

Due to its vicinity to the Mountain Gorilla Sanctuary, you’re able to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience by seeing gorillas in their natural habitat. You can also see other wild animals from your windows or lodging balcony or patio since the resort is completely surrounded by nature.

Since gorillas are native to this area, you can easily head out on a gorilla trek. Just make sure to purchase a permit before your arrival. Keep in mind that though One&Only hosts hikes to Volcanoes National Park to scout out gorillas and other exotic animals, permits must be purchased by you personally.

You can also book a special insider park tour with one of the wardens.

How To Book: The One&Only Gorilla’s Nest participates in the Amex FHR program. With the Amex Platinum card specifically, did you know you can receive up to a $200 prepaid hotel credit on eligible bookings every year? That can help save money on an otherwise pricey stay at this amazing hotel.

7. Parc Omega in Canada

Starting Nightly Rate: $81

Parc Omega is one of Canada’s premier safari parks, which lets visitors encounter the country’s wildlife, like elk, bison, and bears, in their natural environment. While many people visit the park for a day trip, it’s also possible to stay overnight, especially if you want to see more roaming animals.

All of the lodging options let you get a closer look at Canada’s wildlife. Staying in one of the park’s pods lets you observe nature from the comfort of a mini cottage, while the ready-to-camp tents offer an immersive sensory experience.

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, book the Sleeping with the Wolves accommodations. It’s located right in the middle of where the wolves tend to venture, so you can see them explore and even observe you through the lodging windows. Remember, the animals are wild, so stay inside or at a distance if you see them.

How To Book: The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is a great alternative to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card but with a much more affable $95 annual fee. It still earns 5x points on Chase Travel bookings and 2x points on all other travel purchases.

8. Paws Up in Montana

Starting Nightly Rate: $2,556

Located on a working Montana ranch, Paws Up Montana, guests can experience the typical ranch experience. That includes occasional wildlife encounters. Since cattle require a lot of space, the ranch has acres of land to explore, including woods, rivers, and even ridges and hills.

If you want to increase your chances of seeing Montana’s wildlife, book a stay at the luxury camping or luxury home lodgings. They’re tucked away in nature, so you can see animals scurrying by your window or door, especially in the evenings and mornings. Paws Up is also a great starting point for hikes, ATV tours, or other excursions that take you out in nature.

The hotel is open all year, so you can experience all 4 seasons and see the different animals that call this part of the U.S. home. Just remember that resort activities change seasonally.

How To Book: The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is one of our favorite premium travel credit cards not only due to its stellar earning rates, but because of its access to a luxury hotel collection known as The Edit by Chase Travel. Booking the Paws Up Resort through this platform will confer elite-like benefits to guests, such as daily breakfast, property credits, and more.

9. Pondoro Game Lodge in South Africa

Starting Nightly Rate: $1,113

Set in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, the Pondoro Game Lodge offers a luxurious hotel experience with the added bonus of being able to watch wildlife roam. Every suite on the property has a private deck area where you can relax and enjoy the scenery, which might include a wandering animal or 2.

For the most immersive experience, stay at the Treehouse Hide. It overlooks the bush and a popular watering hole, so you’re even more likely to see birds, mammals, and more in their natural habitats. The hide is only an overnight experience, though. You’ll be taken to the treehouse in the evening and picked up again the following morning.

You can also go on a game-viewing experience if you really want to fill your day with spotting animals you’ve only ever seen in captivity.

How To Book: The One Key Rewards program is a great way to earn rewards even on boutique properties, like the Pondoro Game Lodge. As a general member, you can earn 2% in OneKeyCash on hotel reservations booked through Expedia or Hotels.com.

10. The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana

Starting Nightly Rate: $2,583

The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana gives visitors a chance to experience the natural beauty of Montana’s wilderness. It’s an all-inclusive luxury resort with over 30 lodging options, many of which put you in touch with nature.

For the best chance of seeing wild animals from the comfort of your accommodations, stay at the glamping cabins. They’re more secluded to offer a slightly more rugged experience, so you’re likely to see deer walking by or eagles soaring overhead if you keep an eye out.

The Ranch at Rock Creek’s luxury cabins are a good choice if you want to catch sight of local wildlife scurrying across the meadow or heading to the creek. They’re also a good starting point for heading out on a nature hike. This hotel is open all year, so you can see how Montana’s flora and fauna change from season to season.

How To Book: As another Amex FHR property, guests will enjoy an excellent range of benefits, such as 12 p.m. check-in and a room upgrade (both upon availability), daily breakfast for 2, a $100 property credit, and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.

Final Thoughts

No matter where you are in the world, there are hotels that let you get in touch with nature without giving up the comforts and luxuries you’re used to. Hopefully, this list has inspired you to plan your own trip to a hotel where you can see animals in their natural habitats.