What people are saying who have travelled with us…

  • “I can 100% attest to the fact that this amazing experience is a thrill for both photographers and non-photographers alike. Andy’s knowledge, insights, and connections in the community make this an unparalleled opportunity. As a non-photographer who simply wanted to experience these magnificent gorillas in their natural habitat, it was incredible and I felt lucky to have Andy as our leader.”

    — Kelly USA

  • "Seeing wild Gorillas is a truly magical experience. But what elevates this trip to the very highest level is not just Andy’s usual organizational efficiency, but the clear, deep mutual trust and respect between Andy and the park staff. When a guide runs across the field to greet Andy like a long lost friend, you know you are in good hands. A memorable trip that once again delivered the very best."

    — Mark UK

  • "The whole trip was meticulously planned. From the quality of the transport, the accommodation and the guides, to the overwhelming experience with the gorilla groups, the trip could not be faulted. I’d recommend this trip to anyone wanting to experience wild mountain gorillas in their natural environment."

    — Martin Switzerland

  • "What a superb trip. We saw the jaguars and many bonuses, but it is the group that makes it so enjoyable. Thank you all for being such great company."

    — Mike UK

  • "We waited a while for this one, and boy was it worth the wait! A fabulous trip with many exciting and memorable encounters. If you’re remotely considering this trip, stop thinking and book now!"

    — Colin Thailand

  • "Just amazing, gorgeous, unique, and really special. The team were brilliant, getting us to the right place and in the right position to catch the action, and lovely guidance to improve photo quality.If you're thinking about it, do it."

    — Gina UK

  • After the white knuckle Gypsy driving of Ramthambore and multi person pileins on the Pantanal boats, this is a different pace of a trip. Many, many birds large and small, bright colours and dark which at times are all around you giving you the time to compose your photos far better. The slower pace gave more access to Andy and Suzies expertise to really develop my skills. The locations and scenery are spectacular, and excellent local guiding going the extra mile.

    — Mark UK

  • What a fantastic trip . Great birding , hummingbirds landing on our heads and cameras , close encounter with magnificent Andean condors…we even located spectacled bear in the mist . Comfortable eco lodging with home cooking .Our local guide Louis was excellent….Andy and Suzie always ready to help with photo questions . Trip exceeded all my expectations I sure would not mind to repeat it again?

    — Jana USA

  • Birds, birds, birds, from the tiniest hummingbird to the majestic Andean Condor. Breathtaking landscapes, cosy lodges, delicious food, everything was perfect. Andy, Suzie and Luis made the trip very special, they were always ready to answer our questions about photography and wildlife., brought us to the best locations when the light was perfect. I learned a lot from Andy and Suzie on this trip. And we had good laughs too..

    — IDA Austria

  • My recent trip with Andy Rouse and Jamie Peters was a fun and informative 12 days exploring a part of India that was new to me - from planning what to put in my luggage and camera bag to the end of the trip and returning home. The choice of the lodges was inspiring - run on an eco and environmental basis, utilising home grown produce from their organic kitchen gardens and sourcing locally the food they could not produce themselves. The 3 Reserves we visited were all slightly different in their habitat and gave you opportunities to see some rare mammals including Dhole (Wild Dogs), Leopard and Tigers as well as many species of deer, birds and primates. The tour was extremely well organised by Andy and his team and ran smoothly. With Andy and Jamie's extensive experience of Indian wildlife we managed to get sight of all our target species especially a short time with a very elusive Leopard. They directed the drivers to positions so we could get great pictures and the local guides were brilliant. The highlight of the trip for me? Well it has got to be the Dhole and the male Tiger bathing up to his neck whilst falling asleep - that was magical!

    — Paul UK

  • "As soon as I read the description for the India Explorer tour I knew it was something I wanted to do. I love photographing all types of wildlife and this trip really does provide the opportunity to see a wide variety of species. Andy prepared us really well ahead of the trip and looked after us brilliantly while we were there, he always gives his all to ensure that his clients get the best experience and photographs. The accommodation was amazing and the food fantastic. I truly enjoyed my Indian adventure and it provided everything that was promised, from Tigers and Leopards to wild dogs and glorious birds. I would definitely recommend this trip."

    — Angharad UK

  • I’ve just returned from a highly successful Finland Bear Cubs trip. I’ve been on a number of trips with Andy and Susie but I can’t think of a trip where I’ve had such a high number of photo “keepers”. It was three fantastic nights in a hide surrounded by more bears than I thought possible. Highly recommended for an extended long weekend photography trip.

    — Mark France

  • I recently had the opportunity to join Andy Rouse on a trip to see and photograph brown bears in Finland, and I can honestly say it surpassed all my expectations. As my first experience of this kind, I was blown away by the level of organisation and attention to detail. From start to finish, everything was carefully planned. The hides were perfectly chosen for bear photography, and the group was small and friendly, which created such a positive and supportive atmosphere throughout the trip and the culture Andy set for the group was warm and friendly. I came away not only with stunning photos but also with unforgettable memories. It was a perfect blend of adventure, education, and great company. I’m already looking forward to the next trip!

    — Martyn UK

  • This was my third trip to Finland with Andy, this time focussed on bears and their cubs in mid summer when it never really gets dark. As usual the trip was impeccably planned and focussed on getting super images in a friendly environment. The hides were excellent, in a variety of habitats, and the number of bears surpassed my expectations and, I think, the rest of the group’s. A great way to spend a long weekend. Looking forward to the next one.

    — Ian UK

  • My initial thoughts just after the trip was that I was both exhilarated and exhausted! The trip was a long weekend trip, and we were initially due to travel to the Oulu in Finland via Helsinki on the Friday. A big spanner was thrown into the works when we were notified that there would be no flights that day, due to a strike. Andy and Suzie showed great resilience to come up with suggestions to overcome this: Most of us travelled to Helsinki on the Thursday, stayed overnight in a very nice Hilton hotel at the airport and caught a train from Helsinki to Oulu on the Friday. This turned out to be a very civilised and relaxing start to the trip. We eventually got to the Martinselkonen Wilds Centre on the Saturday afternoon in time for the first of 3 nights of bear watching. There were a number of hides we could use, and we were all able to access all the hides we wanted over the course of the three nights. The forest rangers put out food for the bears in front of the hides, so there are plenty of opportunities for great pictures, both of adult bears and cubs. The facilities were just what were needed for the trip: comfortable rooms, hearty food, and plenty of chances to charge batteries and download files. The fellow photographers were all very keen, enthusiastic and friendly, and the guides helped the whole trip run smoothly. We were all able to get lots of stunning images and we all left on the Tuesday morning feeling very happy.

    — Simon UK

  • This trip exceeded all my expectations. It was my first trip involving hides, but Andy explained what to expect and how to make the most of my time inside the hides (up to 14 hours at a time). The experience was exhilarating, being at one with nature, just you with your camera, and the bears, but at the same time feeling perfectly safe within the hides. Bears were not promised - after all, these are genuinely wild bears with no constraints on where and when they look for food. However, the wildlife centre encourages the bears to visit selected locations near the hides, by hiding food so the bears have to forage for it. Expectations were good, and they certainly exceeded it. We saw at least a dozen bears, and several cubs, with the first two hours of being in the hide on the first night. And this trend continued for the following two hide sessions across different environmental settings (marsh, lake and forest). The hide sessions ran from early evening till morning (at this latitude and time of year it never truly gets dark, just a couple of hours of twilight). In between, we each had a room with a bed to sleep during the day at the wildlife centre, and were fed hot hearty meals. Andy, and his wife Suzie, and the guides at the wildlife centre, were always available to provide advice and to keep everybody involved in the group and well informed. Would I recommend this trip - absolutely! Would I do the trip again - in a heartbeat!

    — Marty UK