Realm of the Siberian Tiger

The Russian Far East is a remote, sparsely populated and profoundly wild place, where vast taiga forests still support some of our planet’s most dramatic wildlife. The most iconic of all is the magnificent, and near-mythical, Siberian (or Amur) Tiger. Over 500 individuals roam these woods and mountains – nowhere else on Earth do so many Tigers live in the company of so few people.

Most of these striped felines inhabit the rugged and starkly beautiful mountains of the Sikhote-Alin. Nestled in their northern foothills is the Durminskoye Reserve, a 200 square kilometre expanse of rivers, rocky crags and dense birch groves. This wildlife haven is managed by renowned conservationist Alexander Batalov; for 30 years he and his team have guarded this forest, and Durminskoye now has a healthy number of Tigers. Although they remain supremely elusive, there is nowhere better to search for this majestic big cat.

On our ‘Realm of the Siberian Tiger’ tour, you too can travel right to the heart of big cat territory. We run departures to Durminskoye at three distinct times of year: winter, early summer and autumn, each of which will have a slightly different focus.

In winter (February departures), most of our time will be dedicated to searching for evidence of Tigers; this is the best season to look for tracks and scratch-marks, capture camera trap images, and maybe even catch a glimpse of a wild Siberian Tiger in the snow. General wildlife-watching is hard work, but we could find other mammals and birds such as Manchurian Deer, Wild Boar, Sable, Azure-winged Magpie, Siberian Jay and Ural Owl. Those wishing to maximise their chances of a Tiger sighting (or those wanting to see the critically endangered Amur Leopard) should consider extending the tour with time in the forest hides of the Land of the Leopard National Park ... although this is only for the dedicated and hardy!

By early summer (June departures) the snow will be long gone, replaced by carpets of flowers, and scenic rivers and streams will have started flowing again. The taiga, eerily quiet in winter, will be alive with birdsong; the region’s breeding species include Falcated Duck, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Siberian Rubythroat and the critically endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting. We will, of course, also search for evidence of Tigers, such as pug and scratch-marks, and regularly check camera traps. This itinerary will also visit wetlands near the Amur River, and the pine forests of the Sikhote-Alin mountains.

Autumn (August departures), when the leaves are turning, is the most beautiful time in the taiga. What’s more, in this season Durminskoye becomes one of the best places in the world to see Asiatic Black Bears. Normally elusive, their activity peaks as they begin to fatten up for hibernation. As per the summer tours, we will also search for evidence of Tigers, plus look for any breeding birds that have not yet left for warmer climes.

Even if we are not lucky enough to see a Siberian Tiger, simply feeling their presence all around us should be a powerful and rewarding experience. Furthermore, Alexander relies on tourism to fund his vital conservation work – mostly monitoring, anti-poaching patrols and education. At a time when this big cat is increasingly threatened by illegal human activity, our visit will help to ensure that Durminskoye continues to be a safe haven for the Siberian Tiger.