Market overview
The global wildlife tourism market is worth USD 162 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 334 bn by 2036, growing at a 7.5% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Safaris and game viewing is the largest by activity segment.
| Scope | Visitor spending on wildlife tourism: safaris, whale and dolphin watching, bird watching, zoo and wildlife park visits and nature reserve stays. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Travel and Tourism |
| Value 2025 | USD 150 bn |
| Value 2026 | USD 162 bn |
| Value 2036 | USD 334 bn |
| CAGR 2026-2036 | 7.5% |
| Volume 2026 | 94.8 million wildlife trips |
| Volume 2036 | 153 million wildlife trips |
| Average price 2026 | USD 1,708 per wildlife trip |
| Report price | Starts from USD 1,999 |
| Published | November 2026 |
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Wildlife Tourism market size and forecast, 2026-2036
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Year | Market value |
|---|---|
| 2026 | USD 162 bn |
| 2027 | USD 174 bn |
| 2028 | USD 187 bn |
| 2029 | USD 201 bn |
| 2030 | USD 216 bn |
| 2031 | USD 233 bn |
| 2032 | USD 250 bn |
| 2033 | USD 269 bn |
| 2034 | USD 289 bn |
| 2035 | USD 311 bn |
| 2036 | USD 334 bn |
Wildlife Tourism market segmentation
By activity
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safaris and game viewing | 36.0% | 34.6% | USD 58.3 bn | 7.1% |
| Marine wildlife watching | 20.0% | 21.1% | USD 32.4 bn | 8.1% |
| Birdwatching and nature trails | 16.0% | 16.1% | USD 25.9 bn | 7.6% |
| Zoos and wildlife parks | 28.0% | 28.2% | USD 45.4 bn | 7.6% |
By accommodation
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lodges and camps | 38.0% | 37.6% | USD 61.6 bn | 7.4% |
| Hotels and resorts | 34.0% | 32.1% | USD 55.1 bn | 6.9% |
| Other stays | 28.0% | 30.4% | USD 45.4 bn | 8.4% |
By trip format
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided group tours | 38.0% | 36.0% | USD 61.6 bn | 6.9% |
| Private guided trips | 22.0% | 24.0% | USD 35.6 bn | 8.4% |
| Self-guided trips | 20.0% | 20.0% | USD 32.4 bn | 7.5% |
| Expedition cruises | 12.0% | 13.0% | USD 19.4 bn | 8.4% |
| Volunteer and conservation stays | 8.0% | 7.0% | USD 13.0 bn | 6.1% |
By habitat
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah and grassland | 32.0% | 30.0% | USD 51.8 bn | 6.8% |
| Marine and coastal | 24.0% | 25.0% | USD 38.9 bn | 7.9% |
| Forest and jungle | 20.0% | 21.0% | USD 32.4 bn | 8.0% |
| Polar and mountain | 10.0% | 11.0% | USD 16.2 bn | 8.5% |
| Wetlands | 14.0% | 13.0% | USD 22.7 bn | 6.7% |
By booking channel
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist operators | 40.0% | 35.0% | USD 64.8 bn | 6.1% |
| Online platforms | 26.0% | 32.0% | USD 42.1 bn | 9.8% |
| Direct with lodge or park | 22.0% | 21.0% | USD 35.6 bn | 7.0% |
| Travel agents | 12.0% | 12.0% | USD 19.4 bn | 7.5% |
Top 25 countries for wildlife tourism by revenue
Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 78.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 93.8%.
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| # | Country | Value 2026 | Share 2026 | Value 2036 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | USD 35.6 bn | 22.0% | USD 66.1 bn | 6.4% |
| 2 | China | USD 14.6 bn | 9.0% | USD 37.4 bn | 9.9% |
| 3 | South Africa | USD 13.0 bn | 8.0% | USD 27.7 bn | 7.9% |
| 4 | United Kingdom | USD 11.3 bn | 7.0% | USD 21.0 bn | 6.4% |
| 5 | Germany | USD 11.3 bn | 7.0% | USD 21.0 bn | 6.4% |
| 6 | Australia | USD 9.7 bn | 6.0% | USD 18.7 bn | 6.8% |
| 7 | Kenya | USD 8.1 bn | 5.0% | USD 17.4 bn | 7.9% |
| 8 | Tanzania | USD 8.1 bn | 5.0% | USD 18.0 bn | 8.3% |
| 9 | India | USD 8.1 bn | 5.0% | USD 20.7 bn | 9.8% |
| 10 | Costa Rica | USD 6.5 bn | 4.0% | USD 13.7 bn | 7.8% |
| 11 | Botswana | USD 4.4 bn | 2.7% | USD 8.8 bn | 7.1% |
| 12 | Namibia | USD 3.7 bn | 2.3% | USD 7.4 bn | 7.1% |
| 13 | Brazil | USD 3.1 bn | 1.9% | USD 6.2 bn | 7.1% |
| 14 | Ecuador | USD 2.6 bn | 1.6% | USD 5.6 bn | 7.9% |
| 15 | Canada | USD 2.2 bn | 1.4% | USD 4.4 bn | 7.2% |
| 16 | Norway | USD 1.8 bn | 1.1% | USD 3.7 bn | 7.2% |
| 17 | Indonesia | USD 1.6 bn | 1.0% | USD 3.3 bn | 7.8% |
| 18 | Zambia | USD 1.3 bn | 0.8% | USD 2.8 bn | 7.8% |
| 19 | Uganda | USD 1.1 bn | 0.7% | USD 2.3 bn | 7.8% |
| 20 | Rwanda | USD 923 mn | 0.6% | USD 2.0 bn | 7.9% |
| 21 | Sri Lanka | USD 778 mn | 0.5% | USD 1.5 bn | 7.0% |
| 22 | Thailand | USD 648 mn | 0.4% | USD 1.3 bn | 7.2% |
| 23 | Mexico | USD 551 mn | 0.3% | USD 1.1 bn | 7.2% |
| 24 | Argentina | USD 454 mn | 0.3% | USD 902 mn | 7.1% |
| 25 | Zimbabwe | USD 389 mn | 0.2% | USD 768 mn | 7.0% |
| Rest of world | USD 10.0 bn | 6.2% | USD 20.0 bn | 7.2% |
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
Competitive landscape
Group 1: Global leaders
- Singita
- Wilderness Safaris
- &Beyond
- Abercrombie & Kent
- Natural Habitat Adventures
- United Parks & Resorts
- Intrepid Travel
Group 2: Regional and specialist players
- Lindblad Expeditions
- Micato Safaris
- Ker & Downey
- G Adventures
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
- Merlin Entertainments
- Great Plains Conservation
- Quark Expeditions
- Hurtigruten Expeditions
- Wildlife Conservation Society
Group 3: Emerging and niche players
- Elewana Collection
- Asilia Africa
- Rothschild Safaris
- Sanctuary Retreats
- Steppes Travel
- Natural World Safaris
- Wild Frontiers
Research methodology
Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the wildlife tourism market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.
The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 7.5% is calculated from the resulting values.
The market is divided by activity, by accommodation, by trip format, by habitat, by booking channel. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.
Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.
Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the wildlife tourism market?
The global wildlife tourism market is estimated at USD 150 bn in 2025 and USD 162 bn in 2026.
How fast will the wildlife tourism market grow?
It is forecast to reach USD 334 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 7.5% from 2026, an increase of USD 172 bn.
Which country is the largest market for wildlife tourism?
United States is the largest market by revenue at USD 35.6 bn in 2026, 22.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 39.0%.
Which country is growing fastest?
Among the ten largest markets, China is growing fastest at 9.9% a year from 2026 to 2036.
Which wildlife tourism segment is largest?
In the by activity split, Safaris and game viewing is the largest segment with 36.0% of 2026 revenue.
Who are the leading wildlife tourism companies?
Global leaders include Singita, Wilderness Safaris, &Beyond, Abercrombie & Kent.
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