Spanish Lynx Safari

We are delighted to announce a brand-new Iberian Lynx workshop that you will love!

Many of you will remember that we have visited Spain twice before in search of these remarkable cats. While sightings were possible, the photography was often restricted by limited habitat options and, at the main location, artificial lighting that never quite delivered the natural images we wanted.

During those trips I was introduced to a new site that was still being developed but immediately caught my attention. With varied habitat, natural daylight photography and excellent photographic opportunities, it promised a very different experience.

Fast forward to today and the story gets even better. The trusted local guide who helped me capture many of the images you see here is now managing the site and has given it a glowing recommendation. Two established lynx families regularly use the area and, at the time of writing, both are believed to have young kittens. Recent images from the site have been extremely encouraging.

Suzie and I will be visiting in August to photograph the location ourselves, but everything I am hearing suggests this could become one of the finest Iberian Lynx photography sites available.

The Iberian Lynx is one of Europe's most charismatic predators and, for UK photographers, offers the closest opportunity to photograph a truly wild cat with a realistic chance of success. Watching one emerge from the Mediterranean scrub in beautiful natural light is a wildlife encounter you will never forget.

The Hides

The location has been designed with photography in mind, both in terms of the backdrop locations ( one rock and forest, the other more grassland ) and two excellent photo hides in territories for two different Iberian Lynx families. All the Lynx pictures you see here were taken at the old site and were limited to one setting - we no longer have limitation at the new site. Both hides have been built by pro photographers and are adapted just for this purpose...

The hides are on two different natural areas, with a mix of low angle and normal shooting through one way photo glass. Each hide takes 4 people easily and have 3 low angle windows (the middle one is double width to share so anyone coming must be willing to share).

There is a drinking pond in front of one and both are monitored by the local guides for activity, if one has more then clients are transferred into this hide so it will work well. Distance shooting is from 8m and upwards, so anyone with a decent lens here will be ok.

Please note that there are no toilet facilities in the hides. The tour will be 3 days with 2 hide sessions per day, 0700-1230 and 1630-2100. I will be in the hide with you throughout. Just 3 of you with me so very exclusive. Between the sessions we can either go back to the hotel or relax at the estate's lounge area (we can take a packed lunch and they have toilets!).

Time of the Year

We intend to run Lynx tours at various times of the year as there is literally no bad time for the Lynx - although in the extreme heat of summer it’s bad for the photographers. Here’s the reasons we are going at various times of the year.

January - Winter is a great time for Lynx with the potential of beautiful light and animals that are slightly more fluffed up! It’s the breeding season so the adults will be very vocal and active, and any youngsters from the previous summer will still be around and active. Temperatures will be a maximum of 14C during the day and 3C overnight so it will be a little chilly in the morning = Lynx breath!!

February / March - the same as January except hide hours are slightly longer and the daytime temperature is up to 15C.

September - the time for small kittens. Born in late May, they will be exceptionally cute by this age and the temperatures will have reduced from the fiery summer heat. Expect 30C in the hides and 18C at night so it is very pleasant and warm. Obviously adults will be very active too!

Essential Information

This is going to be a fantastic trip and I am so excited to as everytime I have been there I have come back with some cool pictures. Of course you have to be honest about expectations and I have been here, do not expect to see leopards next to the vehicle like on our African safaris. They will be in the habitat so it’s a very relaxing trip and suited to anyone who is a non photographer too!

Email us here to book

  • September 7th - Arrival in Spain, transfer to team hotel

    8, 9, 10 - Lynx photography sessions as below

    11th - early morning shoot, departure for flight home

  • For this tour we are including accommodation and transport to make it all easier for you. The accommodation is a very nice hotel with a great restaurant just 10 minutes drive from the hides, and has a good mix of single and double rooms. The stay is on a full board basis with a packed lunch for flexibility and a lovely owner who is supporting the project.

  • I will be hiring a car for us to save you the hassle so you will have no additional transport costs. All guiding services are included. So you can see we have included a lot!!!

  • all alcoholic drinks that you buy for yourself and me, tips for local guides and international flights.

  • we will let you know about these requirements after booking but we will be in and out of Madrid, Spain.

  • Easy!

    Breakfast, morning hide session, lunch, afternoon hide session, dinner, bed!

  • The temperature will be around 18C at night and will rise to a maximum of 30C during the day, it will be cosy and warm in the hide.

  • There is no excessive physical effort for this tour as we will be dropped 150m from the hides. But you must be VERY patient, able to sit quietly without fidgeting or talking for long periods of time and to understand that you are dealing with one of the most elusive animals in Europe! So please manage those expectations (see below)

  • The price for this tour is £2495 per person (flights to Madrid are approx £250 in pond life). Payment will be immediate in full once the tour is full to our bonded trust account.

  • For the September tour payment will be immediate.

  • Our cancellation policies are strict and come from experience. We operate a non refundable policy to protect the other clients on the tour. This applies to both deposit and balance. Therefore it is a requirement of booking that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover all eventualities. By booking this safari you agree to these conditions and no discussion will be entered into. If we postpone then your payment will be held over for a replacement safari at a later date or you will of course be entitled to a full refund. If you have to cancel then we will provide you will all the necessary documents for an insurance claim. In some instances it may be possible to fill your place at short notice, at which point you will receive a partial refund of monies paid, but this very much depends on the time of the cancellation and not guarantees can be made. 

  • It's important to manage all expectations and I am always totally honest! Lynx are not easy and they are not going to come and sit in front of the hide all day everyday. The chance each day is around 80%. They can stay for 5 minutes or 2 hours. They can come and go. It can be cloudy. It can rain. There can be 3 kittens and they will stay behind a bush all the time. They can have no kittens. So please do not come with false expectations. If I did not think we had a great chance of seeing and photographing Lynx I would not take you there, but chance is a strange thing!