Best Wildlife Destinations for January: Track Gorillas, Wolves, Wildebeest, and Penguins

As the new year begins, nature lovers can embark on extraordinary wildlife adventures. These premier destinations offer unparalleled opportunities: track elusive wolves across Poland’s snowy wilderness, encounter majestic mountain gorillas and vast wildebeest herds in East Africa, and witness thriving penguin colonies at Antarctica’s edge.

Track Majestic Mountain Gorillas in Uganda’s Dry Season

Lock eyes with an endangered mountain gorilla in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to roughly half of the world’s remaining 700 individuals. This rewarding trek involves navigating steep, muddy trails at altitudes up to 3,000m, but securing one of just eight daily permits per habituated family grants an unforgettable hour with these gentle giants—silverbacks can weigh up to 180kg. Complement your trip with tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, the dramatic Murchison Falls, and hikes in the Rwenzori Mountains.

• Trip plan: Fly from Entebbe International Airport to Ishasha airstrip for Bwindi, then explore Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, and Murchison Falls national parks.
• Need to know: Gorilla permits, valid for one day, cost US$600 for foreign non-residents (US$450 in April, May, and November) and must be booked in advance. Children under 15 are not permitted.
• Other months: Dec-Feb & Jun-Sep – driest, ideal for trekking; Mar-May – wet, excellent birding; Oct-Nov – wet, permits easier to secure.

Follow Wolf and Lynx Tracks in Eastern Poland’s Winter Wonderland

Encounter Europe’s largest land mammal, the wisent (European bison), standing up to 1.8m tall and weighing nearly a tonne, in Białowieża National Park within the ancient Białowieża Forest straddling Poland and Belarus. Reintroduced in 1929 after near-extinction, around 500 roam free here. January’s snow reveals tracks of bison, wolves, elk, boar, lynx, and pine martens. Visit the show reserve if wild sightings elude you. Nearby Biebrza National Park offers elk tracking among its 600 residents, plus otters, boar, and wolves.

• Trip plan: Fly to Warsaw, then head east to Białowieża (allow 4+ days) and Biebrza (add for a week-long trip).
• Need to know: January averages -5°C (23°F), with potential for colder snaps—dress warmly.
• Other months: Dec-Feb – snowy winter; May-Oct – warm, prime wildlife viewing; Nov & Mar-Apr – cold and potentially wet.

Witness Vast Wildebeest Herds on Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains

January brings you to the southern Serengeti, birthplace of up to 500,000 wildebeest calves in one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Watch herds of wildebeest and zebra graze the short-grass plains, building strength before late-January births and intensifying predator activity. With 1.5 million gnus migrating northwest by April, this ‘short rains’ period offers lodge discounts. Nearby, explore Olduvai Gorge, the ‘Cradle of Mankind,’ and wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater.

• Trip plan: Fly from Arusha to Seronera airstrip and stay at a central lodge.
• Need to know: Most non-African nationals need a US$50 visa, available on arrival at major airports.
• Other months: Dec-Feb – dry, grazing season; Mar-May – long rains; Jun-Sep – peak migration in north Serengeti/Masai Mara; Oct-Dec – short rains.

Experience Endless Daylight and Penguin Colonies in Antarctica’s Summer

Austral summer peaks in January on the Antarctic Peninsula, with near-constant daylight and temperatures reaching freezing or slightly above. Noisy penguin colonies bustle with newly hatched chicks, seal pups appear on South Georgia, and whale sightings increase. Brave the Drake Passage from Tierra del Fuego—‘Drake Shake’ or ‘Lake’—for iceberg-strewn vistas under sunny skies.

• Trip plan: Most 11-14 day cruises depart Ushuaia, Argentina; add South Georgia for extra days.
• Need to know: Drake crossing takes 2+ days each way; fly from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island to skip it.
• Other months: Nov-Mar – accessible summer; Apr-Oct – dark, harsh winter.

Need more ideas? Discover 360 ultimate escapes in our book Where To Go When, from family adventures to wildlife encounters and serene retreats.