The Trip

The journey to lynx, vultures and owls takes us from Malaga, on the south coast of Spain, 2 - 3 hours north into the Sierra de Andujar and the Sierra de Cazorla. Over 6 days we go in search of the fascinating local wildlife. Whether on safari from the car or from the hides, we always try to catch the best views of the animals and create opportunities for photography. The first 4 days we focus on the lynx in the morning and from the late afternoon onwards, at the end we go in search of the large birds of prey.
During the week we are accommodated at 2 different locations in beautiful small, partly family-run hotels. We use a spacious people carrier as our means of transportation, which also takes us to remote areas.

The Animals

The aim of this trip is to encounter the Iberian lynx (Lynx Paridnus). In May, we have a good chance of observing lynx mothers with their offspring as well as individual animals. Lynx sightings are usually made from various vantage points in the nature parks or from special hides. The hides are particularly suitable for photographers. In addition, we also find little owls (Athene noctua), Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and various large birds of prey in the lynx region.
We focus on the large birds of prey on the last day of the tour, in the Sierra de Cazorla. We head to perhaps the best spot in the world for observing and photographing griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus). The giants of the skies glide past us at eye level just a few meters away. We also have the chance to spot bearded vultures and golden eagles.

Accommodation & Catering

We spend the first part of the tour in the Sierra de Andujar. Here we stay in a small, beautiful family-run hotel. The rooms are modern and well equipped. We are served local dishes every day in the hotel's own restaurant. The owners are real animal lovers. There are not only donkeys, horses, dogs and tortoises on the premises, but also their own birdhides.
We spend the last two nights in a pleasant hotel with spacious rooms in the small but very interesting town of Ubeda.

Daily Programme

In the Sierra de Andujar, in the lynx area, the days start early in the morning after a hearty breakfast. For about 5-6 hours we set off in search of the lynx and other animals. We are back at the accommodation around 1 pm. After lunch, we have a few hours to rest a little, typically Spanish! At around 4:30pm we go out stalking again for more sightings. We are back at the hotel at 10 pm, where we round off the day with a glass of wine and a good meal.

Equipment & Photography

Normally, we enjoy pleasant temperatures of around 23 degrees and sunshine throughout the day. In the evening and at night, however, it cools down noticeably, so warmer clothing should not be missing. Good trainers or trekking shoes are also suitable, large hiking boots are not necessary.
For photographers, we recommend larger lenses (300mm and above), but you can also take great photos with smaller lenses in the hides. A tripod is also very practical, especially the ball head for the hides.