9 Most Fascinating Animals I’ve Photographed From Around The World

I’m not sure if it’s more fascinating how small the frog is, or how vibrant it is. Either way, I still cannot get enough of this photo. Costa Rica is full of beautiful (and often dangerous) frogs worth seeing.

I had wanted to see a sloth for years before going to Costa Rica and wasn’t disappointed when I finally did. They have a lovely smile and make you want to give them a hug, even though you shouldn’t.

If you’re not aware, I love bovines. I was therefore delighted to photograph water buffalo in Vietnam. Even though large, they have kind faces and seem to be — generally — peaceful animals. You’ll find them on rice fields or walking down the street among motorcycles. In my opinion, they’re one of the key features of Vietnam’s beautiful landscapes.

Thailand is a wonderful country. Though you do need to research where you frolic with elephants in captivity to make sure you’re in a reserve where they’re treated well, it’s wonderful to have a day to feed and take a mud bath with them. These were my first elephants and were very playful!

Monkeys get a bad rap, so these were a lovely find. Their mannerisms are as kind and gentle as their faces. They take food delicately out of your hand with theirs, and the babies are very playful. I couldn’t get enough of them.

Somewhere between deer and llama are the guanaco. I particularly enjoyed this photo; on the other side of the camera I was crouched down and talking to them, and even the tour guide had never seen them stop, as a family, to look at a human for so long! Argentina is full of gorgeous scenery and land for these wonderful animals to roam.

Argentina took me by surprise because it’s so large, north to south, that there are entire climate differences as well as landscape and animal varieties. I was extremely lucky to walk with the penguins in Ushuaia, but the real wonder was that a king penguin ventured onto Martillo island with us!

Perhaps as fascinating as seeing the hummingbird is how difficult it is to photograph them. With hundreds of attempts, only a handful were in focus, capturing these magical birds.

My first trip to Africa left me in complete awe. I’ve never felt like I was the zoo, and I loved how free the animals were. 

These are just a few of the many animals that left me captivated and wanting to see more of them. They are one of my favorite parts of the discovery process travel bestows on us.