The Dakotas - Birds & Mammals of the Badlands

Tour Code: USA17

A unique 15-day tour to some of the most remote wildlife refuges in the United States to enjoy exceptional bird and mammal-viewing.

We hope to run this tour in the future, but have not yet finalised dates and prices. To be added to a waiting list and be informed when details are confirmed, please click on the register interest button, or phone 01962 733051.
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

Westerns may not be your cup of tea at the movies, but you can’t complain about their scenery! This exciting spring tour plunges you deep into the oddly familiar pastel-coloured cliffs and hills of outlandish shapes, as well as whispering prairies as far as the eye can see. There are still herds of Buffalo here, and “towns” of the once abundant Black-tailed Prairie-Dog. Meanwhile, Bighorn Sheep cling to the mountainsides and Prairie Falcons soar overhead. The famous “Prairie Potholes” are wetlands that teem with waterbirds at this time of year, migrating along the Central Flyway, a truly incredible sight.

  • A tour to the wild “Wild West”
  • Buzzing in spring with breeding and migrating birds and stunning wildflowers
  • Explore Badlands National Park for herds of Buffalo and Pronghorn
  • Visit world-famous Mount Rushmore
  • Enjoy the sight of remarkably sure-footed Bighorn Sheep and Rocky Mountain Goats at Custer State Park
  • Venture to the remote top of North Dakota for sensational birding on the “Prairie Potholes”, teeming with wildfowl and waders

Grading

Grade B. Most days will have early starts to make the most of the wildlife, before relaxing or driving during the middle of the day, and then enjoying late afternoon jaunts for more wildlife. The tour is comprised mainly of short walks, of easy to moderate level, and we expect to walk to up to around 5 miles in a day. Some of the walks will be at elevation, but on marked trails. Driving time between locations will be on average 1 to 2 hours; one drive will be up to 4 hours with a break at a local wildlife reserve.

The rolling hills and endless prairies of North and South Dakota are steeped in the mystique, legends and history of America’s ‘Wild West’. Here, stories of Lewis and Clark, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Crazy Horse abound, testament to the region’s turbulent and colourful history. It is not just the history that draws people to the Dakotas, however, for the region’s wildlife is equally diverse and exciting, especially during the late spring. At this time of year the breeding birds are displaying, migrants are heading north along America's ‘Central Flyway’, mammals are active and rearing young and the forests, wetlands and prairies are awash with wild flowers.

Our tour begins in Rapid City, South Dakota, from where we journey south to explore Badlands National Park. The landscape here is breathtaking and so is the wildlife! Herds of North American Bison and Pronghorn graze near extensive Black-tailed Prairie-dog towns, whilst birds of the grasslands include Burrowing Owl, Prairie Falcon and Lark Bunting. Moving on, we will stop to admire the iconic sculpture of Mount Rushmore, before continuing to Custer State Park for a 3- night stay, home to Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat and Yellow-breasted Chat. To the north-west lies Spearfish Canyon Lodge, our base for two nights whilst we explore Spearfish Canyon itself, the hidden jewel of the Black Hills, with its rugged limestone cliffs and beautiful waterfalls. We will also take a trip to an ancient volcanic plug called the Devil’s Tower, which rises 265 metres out of the prairie and attracts Lewis’s Woodpecker, Pinyon Jay and Swainson’s Hawk. For the second half of our tour, we drive into North Dakota. Here we split our time between three nights near Theodore Roosevelt National Park and two nights in the remote north of the state, from where we explore three superb reserves. River Otter and American Beaver inhabit the rivers, Moose stride through the wetlands, and the ‘prairie potholes’ provide an irresistible stopover for millions of ducks, geese and waders as they travel the length of North America each spring and autumn. Upland Sandpiper, Wilson’s Phalarope and Marbled Godwit all remain here to breed and join the resident, but rare, Sharp-tailed Grouse which we hope to see lekking. Finally, we end our tour with a night in the state capital, Bismark, before we begin our journey home.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Rapid City, South Dakota & overnight
Day 2
South Dakota Badlands
Day 3/5
Custer State Park and the Black Hills
Day 6/7
The Black Hills
Day 8/10
North Dakota's Prairies and Grasslands
Day 11/12
Prairie Pothole Region
Day 13
Bismarck
Day 14
Depart Bismarck
Day 15
Arrive London
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    We stay in comfortable accommodation throughout; all rooms have en-suite facilities with the exception of our 3-night stay at Logging Camp Ranch where all rooms have shared bathrooms. Some of the inns have swimming pools.

  • Food:

    We have chosen to include breakfasts only on this tour; lunches and dinners will be payable locally. This means you can order according to your appetite each day, rather than taking on three course set menus with American-sized portions for every meal! We suggest budgeting around $15 per day for lunch and $30 per day for dinner; approximately $45 per person per day in total would be sensible. We will enjoy breakfast at our accommodation each morning, and eat dinner either here or a nearby restaurant in the evening. During the day, we will enjoy a mixture of local restaurants and the occasional picnic.

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Why Naturetrek?

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!