Animal outings for vacation

We all want to swim with piglets in the Bahamas and take selfies with Aruban flamingos. We see the coolest pictures from the Insta girls and want to be just like them this summer. I have gathered the best spots for you. And if you want to do these kinds of animal outings a little closer to home, that's definitely not a problem. I mention a husky safari in Lapland, dolphin spotting in Tenerife, and even in our own country swimming with (no joke!) a whale shark. I'm still dreaming of breakfast among the giraffes... Oh, and let's agree right away that we will never ride on the back of an elephant, cuddle with sedated cubs, or take selfies with chained orangutans again. Because let's be honest, if you can ride a wild animal, cuddle with it, or take a picture with it, then there's a hundred percent chance that a lot of animal suffering preceded that.

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Lapland

Sleeping in an igloo and going on reindeer or husky safaris. No exhaust fumes or squeaking tires here; your mode of transport is the animals that pull you along.

Flamingo Beach Aruba

Sunbathing among the pink birds; it can be done at the private beach of the Renaissance Hotel and you don't have to be a hotel guest to do so. You can simply buy a day pass after which you will be taken to the island by speedboat. And selfies? You can easily take them with our fluttering ‘friends’. 

Giraffe Manor in Nairobi

An exclusive boutique hotel on a private land of 12 hectares within a 140-hectare indigenous forest in the Langata suburb of Nairobi. The most fascinating thing about Giraffe Manor is, yes, the herd of giraffes that strolls around the hotel in the morning and evening. If you're lucky, they will stick their necks through your window hoping for a fruity treat. Hashtag lifegoals, you understand.

Swimming with piglets on the island Big Major Cay – the Bahamas

The pearl-white sandy beach, the Caribbean sun, and the turquoise sea are just minor details at this beach. You can actually swim with a family of piglets. The best way to reach this island is via the port of Great Exuma, and it's important not to leave any trash lying around because the last thing we want is a sick piglet that has eaten plastic... Oh, and if you happen to be there; this is the cave from the James Bond movie ‘Thunderball’.

Dolphin spotting in Tenerife

Tenerife is amazing for seeing dolphins in the wild. Daily trips are organized from the main tourist spots to see Flipper and his friends in their natural habitat. There is even a group of dolphins between Tenerife and La Gomera that has found their permanent home here. That's super unique, as it only occurs in three places.

Close to home, in our own North Sea: the whale shark

In the North Sea, it's the whale shark that treats you to a dose of excitement and sensation. This plankton eater can be seen from April to October when you make the crossing to Great Britain. And you can, if you have enough courage between your flippers, go on a dive tour for a meet and greet.