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Wonderful accommodation with hosts who really cared about our stay and making sure we had an authentic experience. Couldn’t fault the leaders, both clearly passionate about the animals and making sure we had everything we need at all times and we learnt a lot from them. One of my highlights was finding a Sahara Sand Viper in the sand dunes after searching all evening and following the tracks to find it waiting under the sand.
K.F, Hampshire, May 23
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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The Reptiles & Amphibians of Morocco
Tour Code: MAR09An 8-day holiday to encounter and photograph the exciting reptile- and amphibian-life of southern Morocco's diverse habitats, with the guidance of an expert herpetologist.
8 days
from
£1,995 (Inc flights)
£1,995 (Inc flights)
Land only price
from
£1,795
£1,795
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Southern Morocco is an exciting destination for a holiday focusing on reptiles and amphibians. Humid tropical specialities including Mediterranean Chameleon, Puff Adder and Egyptian Cobra live a mere hour’s drive from xerocole specialists such as the Desert Horned Viper, Moroccan Spiny-tailed Lizard and Desert Monitor. We will go in search of diurnal species during the day and venture out after dark to look for the region's exciting nocturnal species. Mammals we are likely to encounter include Greater Egyptian Jerboa, North African Elephant Shrew and Rüppell's Fox, with a chance for numerous other species. Possible birds include Northern Bald Ibis, Lanner Falcon, the stunning Moussier's Redstart and many others. With few tourists making it south of Agadir, we will also get a true taste of authentic southern Morocco, staying in comfortable and traditional accommodation throughout.
An optional 3-day extension offers the chance to enjoy the High Atlas region of Oukaïmeden, home to such specialities as Mountain Viper, Atlas Day Gecko, North African Eyed Lizard and Moroccan Painted Frog.
The wonderful food, hospitable people and incredible scenery will certainly make this a most memorable wildlife holiday. This exciting tour is part of our portfolio of herpetology holidays.
- A chance to encounter Mediterranean Chameleon, Puff Adder and Egyptian Cobra.
- Stunning but little-known species include Northern Elegant Gecko, Desert Monitor and Sahara Sand Viper.
- Search for the incredible, rare and sought-after North African Cat Snake.
- Special amphibians may include Stripeless Tree Frog and Moroccan Toad.
- Exciting birds and mammals could include Lanner Falcon, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Golden Jackal and even Caracal are possible!
Grading
On a typical day on our herpetology tours we’ll begin searching in the field after breakfast, when the sun has warmed the substrates and landscapes, often getting into the vehicles at 9am and, after stopping for approximately one hour for lunch (which is often a continental-style picnic eaten in situ), we’ll continue into early-evening when we will stop for a rest and dinner. Most evenings it will be possible to do excursions in search of nocturnal species, which will on average be for three hours after dinner. With an equal percentage of the target reptile and amphibian species likely to be nocturnal, these night searches are an important part of the tour but are optional, with some participants preferring to rest on some of the days. On average, 5-8 miles are walked per day.
We’ll focus our time in the field on building an enviable list of reptile and amphibian species seen. Whilst searching, there is no doubt we’ll come across a huge variety of amazing fauna and flora, which we’ll also take time to enjoy, but reptiles and amphibians will strongly remain our focus. Sensitively checking under stones, logs and other refugia is an effective way of finding many species. Some of the target reptile or amphibian species may require longer field hours to locate and therefore this tour is suitable, and most enjoyable, for experienced herpetologists or naturalists who, aside from wishing to see the region’s rarely-seen reptiles and amphibians, relish being in the field searching for and identifying the vast array of birds, mammals, butterflies, invertebrates, and other wildlife which can be found sharing the wonderful habitats that we’ll explore on the tour.
In summary, Naturetrek herpetology holidays are suitable, and offer tremendous value, for those who spend most of their holiday time in wildlife habitats and for whom seeing some of the world’s superb reptiles and amphibians is the focus of their time away.
On this holiday we will of course often be walking on sandy or rocky terrain with some occasional small ascents required.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly Agadir, drive south to Sidi Ifni
Day 2
Sidi Ifni
Day 3/4
Guelmim & Assa
Day 5
Tantan
Day 6
Khenifiss National Park
Day 7
Mirleft
Day 8
Depart Agadir, inbound flights
Reviews
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Excellent assortment of wildlife, varied scenery, and with great food and accommodation.
P.H. Dorset, Sep '22
Dates & Prices
2024
Departures
Availability
Cost
Thu 2nd May – Thu 9th May
1
£1,995
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,795
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£295
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Josh Phangurha
Tour Leader: Josh Phangurha
Josh has been passionate about wildlife as far back as he can remember. His mother has told him stories about his inquisitive behaviour towards nature even before he could walk, such as how he would crawl after insects on the ground as a baby. His first love was spiders and he held large collections of native and exotic spiders around the house as a child, and would collect orb web spiders on his way home from school to study during autumn. Since then he has developed a broader fascination into the world of herpetology and entomology, as well as becoming a keen birdwatcher and fungi finder!
This passion for the natural world spurred Josh on to study Zoology at Bangor University and then to study spider web-building ecology at the University of Bristol for his master's project. While studying, Josh assisted in the conservation research of the critically endangered Utila Spiny-Tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri) off the northern coast of Honduras and he also volunteered as a research assistant in Guyana with the NGO Operation Wallacea.
As part of his undergraduate degree, he travelled to Arizona to complete a field course based on the ecology of herpetofauna in the Southwestern United States, where he would return to the following year to guide the new students through the course. Since graduating from both of these universities, he has been an expedition herpetologist for Operation Wallacea to survey reptiles & amphibians in Sulawesi, Indonesia, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Mexico and Krka National Park, Croatia.
Having previously been employed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Hampshire County Council ecology team, Josh now works in the Naturetrek office as a Website and Media Assistant while leading Naturetrek tours.
Josh's main aim is to show people the little-known and currently less 'popular' species around world to raise awareness about their remarkable biology and the importance of protecting them.
Thu 12th Sep – Thu 19th Sep
3
£1,995
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,795
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£295
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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