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This was an amazing opportunity to explore a unique landscape. The wildlife (mammals, birds, insects and reptiles) was very varied with many firsts in each category. The varied landscapes were very interesting.
S. Crocker, February 2023
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Western Sahara's Desert Wildlife
Tour Code: MAR08An 8-day adventure in a seldom visited corner of north-west Africa, focusing on the region’s extraordinary desert wildlife including Sand Cat, Fennec Fox and Golden Nightjar.
8 days
from
£3,095 (Inc flights)
£3,095 (Inc flights)
Land only price
from
£2,795
£2,795
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This tour goes in search of the Western Sahara's fascinating and unique wildlife, much of which is very difficult to see elsewhere. Our primary focus will be the region's fascinating nocturnal mammals, and as such we will spend long nights spotlighting, often not returning to camp until the early hours. As a result, each day's activities will not start until mid to late afternoon, to allow sufficient time for rest. Our reward for this unusual pattern of activity, and for enduring conditions that can be quite basic in this remote region, should be sightings of some of the Western Palaearctic's rarest and most unusual mammals. Our top targets include Fennec & Ruppell's Foxes, Sand Cat, African Wildcat, Desert Hedgehog, African Golden Wolf and Saharan Striped Polecat, alongside a wide variety of smaller creatures such as jerboas. During our limited daytime excursions, birding could produce Crowned Sandgrouse, Cricket Warbler, Cream-coloured Courser and Dunn's Lark. The tour will start and end in the coastal town of Dakhla, from where we'll search the nearby coastline for species including West African Crested Tern and Audouin's Gull.
- Search for exciting & elusive nocturnal creatures
- Sand Cat, Fennec & Ruppell's Foxes, African Golden Wolf, Saharan Striped Polecat & Desert Hedgehog possible
- Chance of Pharaoh Eagle-Owl and African Dunn's Lark
- Other desert birds including Crowned Sandgrouse, Cream-coloured Courser, Cricket Warbler & Dunn's Lark
- Flocks of Desert Sparrow sometimes contain the beautiful Sudan Golden Sparrow
- Spectacular starry skies from our remote campsite
Grading
Grade B. No particular level of fitness is required, and there will only be short walks over even terrain within the vicinity of our camps. However, this tour involves long nights of spotlighting, and consequently late starts (to allow sufficient rest) and a limited amount of daytime activity while in the desert. Therefore, this is a tour specifically for those who are prepared to endure long nights and basic conditions in exchange for the chance to observe rare and exciting wildlife. The rare birds of the region will also be targeted in the late afternoon, species including African Dunn's Lark, Crowned Sandgrouse, Greater Hoopoe Lark, African Desert Warbler and with luck, Pharaoh Eagle Owl!
The territory of Western Sahara may have a chequered history, but it is home to a remarkable collection of mouth-watering birds and mammals, many of which are almost impossible to see elsewhere, including Sand Cat and Fennec Fox On this adventurous new tour, we’ll venture deep into these windswept north-west African deserts in search of their elusive wildlife.
We’ll fly into the coastal town of Dakhla, where we’ll stay in a comfortable tourist hotel. The shores of Dakhla Bay support abundant migrant waders, as well as Audouin’s Gull and West African Crested Tern, while the critically endangered Atlantic Humpback Dolphin can occasionally be seen offshore.
Moving inland, we’ll scour the deserts for such exciting birds as Crowned Sandgrouse, Cricket Warbler, Cream-coloured Courser and Dunn’s Lark, while a flock of Desert Sparrows could contain one or two gorgeous Sudan Golden Sparrows. However, it’s at night that the landscape truly comes alive; after darkness falls, we’ll head out with spotlights in an attempt to find some of the Western Palaearctic’s most rarely seen animals. Hoped for mammals will include Sand Cat, Ruppell’s and Fennec Fox, African Golden Wolf, Saharan Striped Polecat, Desert Hedgehog and African Wildcat. This tour is predominantly focused on locating elusive nocturnal mammals, so it’s important to note that the tour will involve long nights of spotlighting, returning generally in the early hours; we will consequently not start each day’s activities until the afternoon, in order to give guides and clients sufficient time to rest. This is a tour designed for keen mammal-watchers, who are prepared to endure long nights and basic conditions for the chance to see rare and elusive wildlife.
We’ll base ourselves for three nights in a comfortable but very basic desert house, but we will also have the opportunity to spend two nights out in a remote campsite, specially set up for our visit. Please note that this campsite has very limited facilities, including no toilets. While basic, this campsite will take us close to the wildlife, and will also provide an intimate experience of this vast landscape, and magnificent views of an unadulterated night sky.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly London to Dakhla
Day 2/3
Desert Campsite
Day 4/6
Desert House
Day 7
Dakhla
Day 8
Depart Dakhla for London
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
All accommodation is included in the price of the holiday. Accommodation will be in a comfortable tourist hotel in Dakhla, and a combination of camping and a basic but comfortable house in the desert. Please note that conditions at the camp and the desert house are very basic, especially at the desert camp, where facilities are very limited. In particular, there are no toilets at the desert campsite, and group members must be prepared to go to the loo behind nearby dunes. At the desert campsite, you will need to provide your own towel.
- Food:
All food is included. In Dakhla, meals will be taken at the hotel or in local restaurants, while we will bring a cook with us into the desert to prepare simple but tasty local food.
Reviews
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Mon 10th Feb – Mon 17th Feb
FULL
£3,095
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.
£2,795
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£195
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Javi Elorriaga
Tour Leader: Javi Elorriaga
Javi Elorriaga (pronounced Habee) was born in the Txorierri Valley, which means 'land of birds' in Basque, in 1978. It was in this region close to Bilbao, in northern Spain, where he started to develop a deep interest in birds at an early age. Over the last 15 years, he has worked on the survey of cliff-nesting raptors (Basque Government), the conservation of the Cinereous Vulture in Dadia National Park (WWF-Greece), the Bearded Vulture in the Pyrenees and Picos de Europa National Park (FCQ), the monitoring of bird migration in the Strait of Gibraltar (Migres Foundation), the Osprey reintroduction in Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (Urdaibai Bird Center) and the study of the Long-legged Buzzard in Morocco. Additionally, in 2011 Javi was granted a Leadership Internship in Conservation by the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary (Pennsylvania, USA) to participate in the study of the migration geography of the Turkey Vulture in North America. Javi's career as a field ornithologist includes contributions to over 30 scientific papers, book chapters and articles in birding journals including British Birds, Birding World and Dutch Birding. He has also been a member of the Spanish Committee of Rare Birds (SEO/Birdlife). Wildlife photography is another of his great passions and a powerful tool he uses to raise awareness of conservation issues through social networking and lectures. Over the last 5 years Javi has been working as a full-time nature guide leading tours mostly throughout Spain and Morocco.
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Mon 9th Feb – Mon 16th Feb
5
£3,295
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.
£2,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£195
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Javi Elorriaga
Tour Leader: Javi Elorriaga
Javi Elorriaga (pronounced Habee) was born in the Txorierri Valley, which means 'land of birds' in Basque, in 1978. It was in this region close to Bilbao, in northern Spain, where he started to develop a deep interest in birds at an early age. Over the last 15 years, he has worked on the survey of cliff-nesting raptors (Basque Government), the conservation of the Cinereous Vulture in Dadia National Park (WWF-Greece), the Bearded Vulture in the Pyrenees and Picos de Europa National Park (FCQ), the monitoring of bird migration in the Strait of Gibraltar (Migres Foundation), the Osprey reintroduction in Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (Urdaibai Bird Center) and the study of the Long-legged Buzzard in Morocco. Additionally, in 2011 Javi was granted a Leadership Internship in Conservation by the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary (Pennsylvania, USA) to participate in the study of the migration geography of the Turkey Vulture in North America. Javi's career as a field ornithologist includes contributions to over 30 scientific papers, book chapters and articles in birding journals including British Birds, Birding World and Dutch Birding. He has also been a member of the Spanish Committee of Rare Birds (SEO/Birdlife). Wildlife photography is another of his great passions and a powerful tool he uses to raise awareness of conservation issues through social networking and lectures. Over the last 5 years Javi has been working as a full-time nature guide leading tours mostly throughout Spain and Morocco.
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Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:
- India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
- A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears
- A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
- Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
- Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
- Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert
Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.
Our specialist recommends...
"Africa is perhaps the greatest continent for mammal-watching. I would recommend 'Botswana’s Desert & Delta (Mammals)' for combining stunning scenery and wildlife. We also offer a tour to Uganda which includes a chance to see Mountain Gorillas. And India, along with Tigers, has a superb variety of mammals. Closer to home, short breaks to Spain in search of Wolves and Iberian Lynx are hard to beat.”
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Safari Holidays – Experience Earth’s Greatest Continent for Wildlife
Why choose Africa for wildlife safaris?
When people think of visiting Africa, safari holidays are regularly at the top of the list. Riding in an open-top jeep along dusty tracks and looking out across sun-baked savannahs teeming with big game is arguably one of life’s best experiences.
For the nature enthusiast, Naturetrek’s African safari holidays offer unparalleled opportunities. Africa is the world’s greatest continent for wildlife, being home to many of the planet’s most iconic mammals and birds.
Many of these animals are relatively easy to observe and exist in scarcely believable abundance, guaranteeing that our African safari tours are always full of amazing sightings.
From the Okavango Delta in Botswana and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park to Namibia’s Etosha National Park and the superb Kruger National Park in South Africa, our African wildlife safaris will take you to all the continent’s most unmissable destinations.
Classic African safari holidays
We offer classic safari-style packages to Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Namibia.
On these African safari tours you will stay in or very near the prime game-rich areas such as national parks and reserves, heading out daily for wildlife watching in vehicles. There will usually be additional chances to join night drives and look for nocturnal species.
On the majority of our African wildlife safaris, even those in our bargain range, we are able to use superb accommodation, including in remote locations. Tented, fully serviced camps with private facilities are the norm.
Expert naturalist guides
All of our African safari tours are led by expert naturalist guides. Most of our tours are led by superb local guides (the quality of guiding in many parts of Africa is second to none), while some of our longer tours are joined by a UK leader.
What wildlife might I see?
Africa is the best place in the world for seeing large concentrations of big game such as African Bush Elephant, Lion, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe and Blue Wildebeest. On Naturetrek’s African safari tours we visit some of the world’s most famous national parks and reserves, such as the Serengeti, Kruger and Okavango Delta, as well as some less well known regions, in search of a full range of the continent’s most spectacular mammals, from Hippos, Wild Dogs and White Rhinos to Leopards, bushbabies and African Wildcats.
The birdlife is equally staggering, with an enormous variety of charismatic species found across the continent, from bee-eaters and hornbills to finches, weavers and a stunning diversity of birds of prey. Naturetrek’s African wildlife safaris offer a chance to search for a superb variety of species and avian spectacles, such as flamingo-lined lakes in the Rift Valley, bizarre Shoebills in Uganda’s swamps, and giant Ostriches strutting across endless savannahs.
See our list of the best African Safari Holidays
Our specialist recommends...
"We offer a superb choice of expert-led African safari holidays ranging from 9-day bargain tours in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park to a 17-day birdwatching and mammal-viewing safari through Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. For those who have previously enjoyed a traditional safari, I would recommend our ‘South Africa’s Rare Mammals’ tour, which targets some of the continent’s most rarely seen creatures, such as Aardwolf, Black-footed Cat, Cape Porcupine, African Wildcat, Brown Hyaena and the iconic Aardvark
Paul Stanbury – Operations Manager
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
Tour Reports
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!
