I get asked all the time: “What’s the best time of year to guarantee orca sightings?” or “Are we definitely going to see jaguars?”
And while I get the excitement — and I share it — there’s something every wildlife traveler needs to understand before they pack their bags:
Wildlife doesn’t follow scripts.
No matter how much planning we do, how perfect the timing is, or how dialed-in the location may be… wildlife does what it wants.
That’s the magic.
And…
that’s also the challenge.
I’ve led trips where we didn’t see any orcas, even though they were there the day before we arrived — and then watched guests lose their minds over a baitball with a Bryde’s whale feeding on it, changing the entire vibe of the trip.
I’ve had guests disappointed for the first half of a journey — only to witness something they never expected, something more meaningful than what they came for.
We’ve missed giant anteaters and found jaguars instead.
We’ve searched for sperm whales and been surprised by pilot whales.
We’ve gone looking for orangutans… and ended up face-to-face with a herd of 100+ pygmy forest elephants.
Always be ready for the wild card.
When You Travel for Wildlife, Travel for Wonder — Not Control
If you come on one of our trips expecting to check boxes or recreate something you saw in a photo or documentary, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment.
But if you arrive with your heart wide open — curious, patient, and willing to embrace the unexpected — you’ll almost always walk away with something that stays with you forever.
What You Can Control
Your attitude. Be flexible. The weather might shift. The animals might not show up on cue. But the adventure is still out there.
Your presence. Let go of pressure. Be in the moment. Sometimes the best encounter is the one you almost miss because you’re too focused on what should happen.
Your ability to roll with it. When things go sideways — and they occasionally do — that’s often when the best stories are born.
So next time you pack your gear for one of our trips, pack a little extra space — for whatever wild card nature decides to throw your way.
And…
My Best Advice?
Don’t chase the highlight reel.
Chase the feeling. The spontaneous moments. The beautiful surprises.
Chase the way the ocean breathes when the animals finally show up.
The way the jungle holds its breath just before something appears.
Because out there, in the middle of nowhere, with the wind in your face and your expectations left behind…That’s when magic finds you.
Thank you for reading.