Tour highlights
- You should get to see a wild Lynx at least once in your life! We can provide you with what is probably the best opportunity so far
- Well-proven photo hides for Iberian lynx, the World’s rarest cat, at the best location in Spain for it, during their most active period in the year
- Other photo opportunities include Spanish imperial eagle, Black vulture, Griffon vulture, Otter, Iberian azure-winged magpie, Golden eagle and great hides for beautiful and plentiful Red deer. Also opportunities for Iberian ibex
- Flexibility and freedom, as we stay at the same neat Casa Rural all the time and can alternate between hides, walks and safaris by car
- We are the only Swedish tour operator that runs tours to this place
- All in a fantastic Andalusian, ”Fernando the bull” landscape with idyllic pastoral sceneries and Cork oak forests, in a large private estate which is part of a larger ”Parque Natural”
- Cosy three-star Casa Rural hotel with comfortable rooms, en suite bathrooms and good food
- We contribute to conservation via the Spanish WWF ”Iberian Lynx Project”
- The tour leader will show you his favourite sites and provide photographic advice, in a small like-minded group
ANDALUSIA
This destination is in Andalusia, in southern Spain, near Malaga. We head for a private reserve, which is part of a very large nature reserve close to Córdoba, called Sierra de Andújar, one of Spain’s larger remaining, relatively undisturbed areas. The pastoral landscapes are well-managed and protected. A mosaic of mountain ridges, Olive groves, Cork oaks and old pastures in wildlife-rich valleys, with mossy boulders. Eagles and vultures are silhouetted against the skies and the bushes harbour typical cork oak birds such as Hoopoe, Thekla’s lark and Iberian azure-winged magpies Red-legged partridge and Little owl. Red Deer are common, and Otters regularly show up in the meandering rivers.
THE MYTHICAL IBERIAN LYNX
is now a very rare, threatened species. In fact, it is one of the rarest cats in the world. It is hard to describe what it is like to meet this charismatic, elegant cat. It is like a cross between a Tiger, Leopard and domestic cat. Golden eyes that seem to stare right through you, with a fantastic coat and side-burns. When you see it walking, gracefully but powerfully, you realize that you are witnessing something extraordinary, that you will remember for the rest of your life. Most photographers get an extra kick out of framing an Iberian Lynx in their viewfinder. A real adrenaline boost!
Our tour is one of the first in Europe to offer specific focus on the Iberian Lynx, close up, at the best time and in the best way. Other tours in Spain might offer a chance of seeing an Iberian Lynx, often from vehicle, along a dusty roadside or at considerable distance. Here we try to bring them close, in good light against a nice background, from stationary hides. The hides are placed in spots that are often frequented by the Lynx, in a beautiful landscape. Not by some campsite or parking lot.
Just as with all wild animals, you never quite know what will happen, but we promise that you will not get better chances of photographing wild Iberian Lynx. In addition this is the time of year when they are most active, and we are in the place where they often pass by and hang out. About 8-9 individuals occur in the area, providing good chances. Normally the Lynx will appear at the hides often enough for someone spending three days in a hide to get to see them. Sometimes even more often than that, but you never know.
PHOTOGRAPHING IBERIAN LYNX
Photographing one of the World’s rarest cats is of course no guarantee on this tour. We can only guarantee that we are probably at the best locality in the World to do that, during the best time of year, in well-proven successful hides. In addition we have a very knowledgeable local guide who knows which hides are the most frequented recently. Observation frequency is high, but can by no means be guaranteed.
Patience and perseverance are two qualities that will be useful during the stay here. Our aim is to be in the hides from morning to evening, because the Iberian Lynx can show up at any time. We have five full days in the reserve, in order to maximize the opportunities. Hides are placed at strategic places where many Rabbits occur, and where the Lynx often appear. If a Lynx does come along, it is because it has chosen to come to hunt or to find its partner.
The Iberian Lynx is relatively shy and only appears for short moments, but will at the same time sometimes just lie and enjoy the sun. It is sensitive to noise, so it is important to be as quiet as possible.
In addition, it is important to be observant and patient. Remember that you are waiting for one of the World’s rarest animals. This is no zoo, and that’s the way it should be.
SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE, GOLDEN EAGLE, BLACK VULTURE AND GRIFFON VULTURE
Apart from the Iberian lynx there is much more to see and photograph in this beautiful reserve. Well-proven hides for Black vulture and Griffon vulture and less frequently the spectacular Spanish imperial eagle, as well as reliable hides for Golden eagle. We will arrange possibilities to try and photograph Otters, and maybe you would like to try your luck with the Azure-winged magpies. Red Deer occur in many places on the reserve and most stags will still have their antlers on after the autumn’s mating season.
YOUR TOUR WILL HELP THE IBERIAN LYNX SURVIVE
As nature photographers it is our duty to try and support conservation work.
On this tour you will contribute in at least two ways. Firstly, by going there and paying a fair price locally, we practically demonstrate that the Iberian Lynx generates income, work and business. Secondly, 20% of the hide rental fees go towards the Spanish WWF Iberian Lynx project, so that it can be developed further, by accessing new land, making deals with landowners and by staffing various conservation actions. In addition, photographs we take and spread e.g. via social media contribute to making the World more aware of this lovely animal and the diverse landscape it lives in, and that this is well worth protecting.
By photographing the Iberian Lynx here, you will help it survive!
Itinerary
Day 1 (22/1) (Dinner)
Arrival Málaga. Transfer from airport to a lodge in the Sierra de Andújar area.
Day 2 – 6 (23 – 27/1) (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)
Five full days in the field amongst the wonderful Andalusian nature, at a private, wildlife-rich estate. We can choose between various hides for Iberian lynx, Griffon and Black vulture, Golden eagle, Spanish imperial eagle and car safaris. In addition, Otters are regularly photographed along the river, without the use of hides (sometimes camouflage nets help), and the area holds Red deer, wild Rabbits and typical Cork oak birds.
The extremely rare Iberian lynx is relatively common here, and hides provide some of the best chances in Europe to see them at close range. They are regularly seen during car trips to and from the reserve in the attractive Andalusian landscape. Hides are well into the reserve and are about 45 min – 1 hr by 4×4 minibus from the hotel. Wild animals and birds are often seen on this trip, sometimes providing good photo opportunities too.
Day 7 (28/1) (Breakfast)
After breakfast we leave Sierra de Andújar for transfer to the airport in Málaga.
Mer information
Photographic leader
Staffan Widstrand, born in 1959 is a photographer and writer. Sony Imaging Ambassador.
Staffan is one of Sweden’s internationally most recognized photographers. In 2011, Outdoor Photography Magazine called him ”one of the most influential photographers in the world”. Appointed ”Wildlife photographer of the year” in Sweden and a winner of international photo competitions, such as:
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
European Nature Photographer of the Year
Emirates Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Årets Bild i Sverige
PGB Awards
Staffan has been on the jury of several international photo competitions and was one of the main jury members in World Press Photo 2013.
Published in most of the major magazines in the world, such as National Geographic Magazine, GEO, Stern, Der Spiegel, Le Figaro, La Repubblica, El Mundo, El País, Natur, Terre Sauvage, Animan, Veja Brazil, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, FOCUS, Yomiuri Shimbun och Shanghaibaserade The Bund Pictorial.
Staffan has had international solo or group exhibitions in Toronto, at the Swedish Embassy in Tokyo, at Tromsø Museum, at Bodø Museum, at the Kunst-und Ausstellungshalle in Bonn, Oslo City Hall, Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, the Swedish Embassy in Washington, in Mérida, Mexico, in Mexico City, in Salamanca, Spain, at the National Zoological Museum in Beijing, in Chengdu, Tianjin, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China, at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, the museum of Torino, Italy as well as major outdoor exhibitions in The Hague, Prague, Berlin, Madrid, Copenhagen and Stockholm. In Sweden, he has had exhibits at Kulturhuset in Stockholm, the regional museums in Kristianstad, Luleå and Malmö, at Fotomässan in Gothenburg and in Stockholm, as well as at the Skansen, Kolmården and Borås Zoos, at Hornborgasjöns Konsthall and at Bränneriet Art in Österlen.
Staffan has published 18 books, four of which have been winners of the WWF Panda book award.
A picture editor at Natur & Kultur publishers in Stockholm for 5 years, a nature tour guide and tour production manager all across the world for many years. Appointed as Visiting Professor at the Beijing Ministry of Culture Old University, and he is also one of the founders of a possible ”Wild Wonders of China” initiative.
Staffan is a member of the Swedish Nature Photographers Association (Naturfotograferna/N)
Webpage: www.staffanwidstrand.se
www.wild-wonders.com
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