Wildlife Holidays You’ll Never Forget
Hey you, adventurer, you… knowing your thirst for the wild and novelty, you are probably thinking about where to go next even though you’ve just unpacked from your last trip. Are we right or are we right?
To cut your browsing through multiple offers and brochures short, here are our suggestions for your next wildlife adventure… this time around, we’re suggesting you take a turn to Europe:
Killer whales, Spain
The fishermen of Tarifa in Andalucia are visiting killer whales for their catch every summer; it’s a part of their have-to protocol and this time around, there is the option of tagging along to follow orcas as they hunt bluefin tuna in the Strait of Gibraltar. You’ll have a very good chance of seeing them, together with pilot dolphins and whales. The experience is incredible, and when you’re not assisting the cetacean experts – go chill on the beach with the windsurf dudes or visit the Roman sites. It’s unforgettable.
Amphibians and reptiles, Portugal
Just south of Lisbon, the sandbanks and mudflats of the Sado estuary swarm with all manner of slimy and cold-blooded inhabitants. From the plodding Spanish terrapin, to marbled newts, spiny-footed lizards, the Montpellier snake and west Iberian painted frogs – there’s plenty to keep an eye out for. Bats, voles, otters, polecats and dolphins thrive here too. If you enjoy bird-watching, this is one of the best spots in Portugal to do just that.
Wild boar, Germany
It’s true what you’ve heard – Germany’s wild boar population became something of a menace – they are now destroying crops, invading buildings and are even occasionally attacking people. Still, there’s never been a better time to see one, although they tend to be elusive. Hikers claim they’ve been spotting them in the forests, somewhere between the Main and Danube rivers. They say they’ve also being seeing deer, buzzards and polecats.
Spot marmots, Switzerland
Summertime is reserved for marmots nibbling grass in open meadows. It’s super cute watching one of the marmots (who keeps watch), whistling loudly when eagles pass, sending the group dash for their dens. Swiss National Park is home to chamois, elk and vipers, too – so catch a glimpse of that as well! If you are going on an expedition related to work, bring your trail cameras, regular cameras, analogues, video and all other equipment – you’ll definitely want to capture this!
Chasing butterflies, Croatia
Adooooorable! Croatia is the naturalists’ latest darling, and you’ll quickly understand why. Croatia is so gorgeous that you’ll most probably want to go back, soon enough. Once you start walking around, you’ll get to see the limestone gorges of Paklenica, all the exquisite creatures around the turquoise lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice, and the seldom-visited Velebit Mountains, with dramatic coastal scenery en route. The names flutter off the tongue: little tiger blue, cleopatra, southern festoon and the great sooty satyr.
Bike with bison, Poland
Europe’s last few remaining bisons have found their home in northeastern Poland and you can spot them if you decide to join a seven-night cycling tour. If you are going with the organized group, expect to spend three nights in Bialowieza Forest – tree masses that once cloaked the continent and have bisons roaming freely. The animal trail includes visiting the bison reserve and a punt in the remote Narew Marshlands, known as the Polish Amazon, home to otters, beavers, elks and martens.
Company of wolves, Spain
The obscure Sierra de Culebra is prowled by most of Spain’s 3,000 wolves and good news is that wildlife guru Julian Sykes’ tours have all yielded sightings. An even better piece of news is that you’ll be given the opportunity to stay in a rustic hotel run by a wolf enthusiast who will be your first source of updates on wolves’ location from rangers. The best time of day to seek our lupine friends is at dawn and dusk; in between you’ll spot great bustards, fox, wild boar and deer (all the wolves’ prey).
We know our selection is very tempting and that you won’t be able to resist going to just one place. Make it an adventure and start from the spot closest to home and then follow the path through the whole Europe – it’s going to be amazing!