There’s a particular kind of wonder that only arrives when you’re quiet enough to notice what’s not meant for you.
Not staged. Not summoned. Not arranged for your convenience.
Just there.
World Wildlife Day sits quietly on the calendar, and I’m grateful for it — not because it asks us to do anything extraordinary, but because it invites us to remember something simple: the world is alive beyond us.
Over three decades of travel, I’ve been privileged to cross paths with wildlife in ways that still feel slightly unreal when I look back.
I’ve been run over by penguins in the Galápagos. Mesmerised by turtles gliding through warm water. Spat at by marine iguanas. Hypnotised by mountain gorillas. Surrounded by dolphins and dwarfed by whales. Stood very still in places where lions moved through the landscape with far more right to be there than I did.
None of these moments were owed to me.
They happened because I happened to be there — attentive, lucky, and small in the presence of something much bigger than my plans.
The older I get, the more I realise that the most meaningful wildlife encounters aren’t the ones where you get the perfect photograph. They’re the ones where you feel yourself step back into your body and remember your place in the world.
There’s something humbling about watching an animal move through its own rhythm. About noticing that the forest, the ocean, the plains don’t exist for our entertainment. They exist regardless of us.
And yet, tourism and wildlife sit in a delicate relationship.
When done with care, travel can fund conservation, support communities, and protect habitats. When done without thought, it can quietly distort behaviour, place pressure on animals, and — in the worst cases — turn living beings into backdrops for our experiences.
I’ve seen both sides of this.
I’ve witnessed moments of genuine protection and rehabilitation. And I’ve also seen how easily encounters can slide into performance.
Feeding wild animals so they come closer. Encouraging interaction so the moment looks more dramatic. Crossing lines because the story sounds better that way.
None of this is usually done with cruelty in mind. Most of us arrive with good intentions. But good intentions don’t always protect wildness.
What travel has taught me, slowly, is that wonder doesn’t require closeness.
Sometimes the most respectful thing you can do is stay back. To observe without interfering. To allow the animal to ignore you entirely.
There was a moment in New Zealand, sitting quietly on a rock, watching seals sleep and squabble and slide back into the sea. My friends were chasing the perfect shot. I just stayed still. An hour passed. I left with no extraordinary photos — but with something else instead. A feeling of having witnessed something without taking it.
That’s the kind of wonder I want to keep remembering.
Not the kind that collects experiences like trophies. But the kind that leaves you changed because you allowed the world to remain itself.
On World Wildlife Day, I’m not thinking about ticking off encounters or chasing moments. I’m thinking about how to meet the wild — in animals, in landscapes, and in myself — with a little more restraint, a little more humility, and a lot more gratitude.
Because the world doesn’t exist to perform for us.
And when we remember that, the wonder somehow deepens.
So, {{ subscriber.first_name }}, when was the last time you let yourself simply witness something beautiful — without trying to capture it or make it yours?
If you prefer watching rather than reading, there’s loads of videos waiting for you on my Wildlife Encounters YouTube Playlist HERE.
Thank you for being here — whether you read every word or just dip in now and then.
Until next time,
Safe travels,
Sue x
This email may contain affiliate links. If you choose to use them, I may receive a small commission — thank you. You’ll never pay more, and my opinions are always my own.
P.S. Helpful travel resources I genuinely use can always be found below:
🏠 For accommodation, I use Expedia and Booking.com primarily. They have their own loyalty schemes which is easy to progress through the levels for better discounts and inclusions.
🚍 For tours and activities, my preferred supplier is Get Your Guide.
🗺️ For multi day or week tours, check out G Adventures. I used them for trips in Costa Rica, Peru, and Galapagos.
🧳 For luggage storage on your travels, I recommend the service by Bounce.
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