Although they are not the rarest cats in the world in terms of sighting frequency (that accolade would probably go to species such as the Bay Cat of Borneo or the Andean Cat of South America), the two lynx species found in Europe are very special animals. Numbers of the Iberian Lynx have increased significantly since the early-2000s, when there were fewer than 100 individuals remaining in the wild, to well over 2000 today. With careful planning and expert guidance, it is perfectly possible to see an Iberian Lynx, and we offer a very popular tour within the species' strongholds of Coto Doñana and the Sierra Morena in Andalusia, as well as a special wildlife photography departure.
The Eurasian Lynx has a much wider range across Europe and is not classified as endangered. However, it is notoriously difficult to see due to its preferred habitat of vast, sparsely populated forests and its natural wariness of humans. Spotting one requires a great deal of skill, patience, and luck. Our Eurasian Lynx tour in Poland probably offers the best chance of a sighting of any tour on the market. It relies on spotlighting along forest trails and open glades, as well as scanning mountainsides and meadows in Bieszczady National Park.
Featured Lynx-Watching Tours
Our lynx-watching specialist recommends
"Our 6-day ‘Spain – Realm of the Iberian Lynx’ holiday has had great success in finding lynx – one recent group watched a mother and cub for more than 45 minutes and managed to get some excellent video footage, too!"
