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Wildlife Tourism Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

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.

USD 162 bnMarket size 2026
USD 334 bnForecast 2036
7.5%CAGR 2026-2036
United StatesLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

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.

ScopeVisitor spending on wildlife tourism: safaris, whale and dolphin watching, bird watching, zoo and wildlife park visits and nature reserve stays.
IndustryTravel and Tourism
Value 2025USD 150 bn
Value 2026USD 162 bn
Value 2036USD 334 bn
CAGR 2026-20367.5%
Volume 202694.8 million wildlife trips
Volume 2036153 million wildlife trips
Average price 2026USD 1,708 per wildlife trip
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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Wildlife Tourism market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global wildlife tourism market is forecast to grow from USD 162 bn in 2026 to USD 334 bn by 2036, more than doublingGlobal market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 7.5%
Wildlife Tourism market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 150 bn; 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. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 7.5%.2025162 bn2026233 bn2031334 bn20367.5% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 162 bn
2027USD 174 bn
2028USD 187 bn
2029USD 201 bn
2030USD 216 bn
2031USD 233 bn
2032USD 250 bn
2033USD 269 bn
2034USD 289 bn
2035USD 311 bn
2036USD 334 bn

Wildlife Tourism market segmentation

By activity

Exhibit 2Safaris and game viewing is the largest segment by activity, with 36.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by activity
Wildlife Tourism market share by activity, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by activity. Safaris and game viewing: 36.0%; Zoos and wildlife parks: 28.0%; Marine wildlife watching: 20.0%; Birdwatching and nature trails: 16.0%.Safaris and game viewing36.0%Zoos and wildlife parks28.0%Marine wildlife watching20.0%Birdwatching and nature trails16.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Safaris and game viewing36.0%34.6%USD 58.3 bn7.1%
Marine wildlife watching20.0%21.1%USD 32.4 bn8.1%
Birdwatching and nature trails16.0%16.1%USD 25.9 bn7.6%
Zoos and wildlife parks28.0%28.2%USD 45.4 bn7.6%

By accommodation

Exhibit 3Lodges and camps adds the most revenue by accommodation, growing from USD 61.6 bn in 2026 to USD 125 bn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by accommodation, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Wildlife Tourism market by accommodation, 2026 and 2036Revenue by accommodation in 2026 and 2036. Lodges and camps: USD 61.6 bn in 2026, USD 125 bn in 2036, change +104%; Hotels and resorts: USD 55.1 bn in 2026, USD 107 bn in 2036, change +94%; Other stays: USD 45.4 bn in 2026, USD 101 bn in 2036, change +123%.20262036 forecastChangeLodges and camps+104%61.6 bn125 bnHotels and resorts+94%55.1 bn107 bnOther stays+123%45.4 bn101 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Lodges and camps38.0%37.6%USD 61.6 bn7.4%
Hotels and resorts34.0%32.1%USD 55.1 bn6.9%
Other stays28.0%30.4%USD 45.4 bn8.4%

By trip format

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Guided group tours38.0%36.0%USD 61.6 bn6.9%
Private guided trips22.0%24.0%USD 35.6 bn8.4%
Self-guided trips20.0%20.0%USD 32.4 bn7.5%
Expedition cruises12.0%13.0%USD 19.4 bn8.4%
Volunteer and conservation stays8.0%7.0%USD 13.0 bn6.1%

By habitat

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Savannah and grassland32.0%30.0%USD 51.8 bn6.8%
Marine and coastal24.0%25.0%USD 38.9 bn7.9%
Forest and jungle20.0%21.0%USD 32.4 bn8.0%
Polar and mountain10.0%11.0%USD 16.2 bn8.5%
Wetlands14.0%13.0%USD 22.7 bn6.7%

By booking channel

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Specialist operators40.0%35.0%USD 64.8 bn6.1%
Online platforms26.0%32.0%USD 42.1 bn9.8%
Direct with lodge or park22.0%21.0%USD 35.6 bn7.0%
Travel agents12.0%12.0%USD 19.4 bn7.5%

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%.

Exhibit 4United States is the largest country market at USD 35.6 bn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 39.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Wildlife Tourism market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. United States: USD 35.6 bn, 22.0%; China: USD 14.6 bn, 9.0%; South Africa: USD 13.0 bn, 8.0%; United Kingdom: USD 11.3 bn, 7.0%; Germany: USD 11.3 bn, 7.0%; Australia: USD 9.7 bn, 6.0%; Kenya: USD 8.1 bn, 5.0%; Tanzania: USD 8.1 bn, 5.0%; India: USD 8.1 bn, 5.0%; Costa Rica: USD 6.5 bn, 4.0%.United States35.6 bn 22.0%China14.6 bn 9.0%South Africa13.0 bn 8.0%United Kingdom11.3 bn 7.0%Germany11.3 bn 7.0%Australia9.7 bn 6.0%Kenya8.1 bn 5.0%Tanzania8.1 bn 5.0%India8.1 bn 5.0%Costa Rica6.5 bn 4.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1United StatesUSD 35.6 bn22.0%USD 66.1 bn6.4%
2ChinaUSD 14.6 bn9.0%USD 37.4 bn9.9%
3South AfricaUSD 13.0 bn8.0%USD 27.7 bn7.9%
4United KingdomUSD 11.3 bn7.0%USD 21.0 bn6.4%
5GermanyUSD 11.3 bn7.0%USD 21.0 bn6.4%
6AustraliaUSD 9.7 bn6.0%USD 18.7 bn6.8%
7KenyaUSD 8.1 bn5.0%USD 17.4 bn7.9%
8TanzaniaUSD 8.1 bn5.0%USD 18.0 bn8.3%
9IndiaUSD 8.1 bn5.0%USD 20.7 bn9.8%
10Costa RicaUSD 6.5 bn4.0%USD 13.7 bn7.8%
11BotswanaUSD 4.4 bn2.7%USD 8.8 bn7.1%
12NamibiaUSD 3.7 bn2.3%USD 7.4 bn7.1%
13BrazilUSD 3.1 bn1.9%USD 6.2 bn7.1%
14EcuadorUSD 2.6 bn1.6%USD 5.6 bn7.9%
15CanadaUSD 2.2 bn1.4%USD 4.4 bn7.2%
16NorwayUSD 1.8 bn1.1%USD 3.7 bn7.2%
17IndonesiaUSD 1.6 bn1.0%USD 3.3 bn7.8%
18ZambiaUSD 1.3 bn0.8%USD 2.8 bn7.8%
19UgandaUSD 1.1 bn0.7%USD 2.3 bn7.8%
20RwandaUSD 923 mn0.6%USD 2.0 bn7.9%
21Sri LankaUSD 778 mn0.5%USD 1.5 bn7.0%
22ThailandUSD 648 mn0.4%USD 1.3 bn7.2%
23MexicoUSD 551 mn0.3%USD 1.1 bn7.2%
24ArgentinaUSD 454 mn0.3%USD 902 mn7.1%
25ZimbabweUSD 389 mn0.2%USD 768 mn7.0%
Rest of worldUSD 10.0 bn6.2%USD 20.0 bn7.2%
Exhibit 5United States and China account for 31% of the USD 172 bn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Wildlife Tourism market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 162 bn. United States: +USD 30.5 bn; China: +USD 22.8 bn; South Africa: +USD 14.8 bn; India: +USD 12.6 bn; Tanzania: +USD 9.9 bn; 20 other countries: +USD 71.3 bn; Rest of world: +USD 10.0 bn. Market value 2036: USD 334 bn.Market value 2026162 bnUnited States+30.5 bnChina+22.8 bnSouth Africa+14.8 bnIndia+12.6 bnTanzania+9.9 bn20 other countries+71.3 bnRest of world+10.0 bnMarket value 2036334 bn

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.

Read the full research methodology

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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