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From the sinuous grace of an

otter, to the playfulness of
dolphins, or the rough and
tumble of a grizzly squabble,
wildlife watching is one of
the most exciting holidays
around writes Elizabeth
Buchanan
Picture: Gap Year
Picture: Gap Year

T
here is nothing like your
first sight of a wild bear. The
hair on the back of your
neck literally stands on end.
Out in the woods they sud-
denly seem bigger: much,
much bigger. They’re noisy too, lumbering
about and casually ripping rotten tree
trunks in half in search of insects.
Encountering a Brown bear and her cubs
in the forest is one of those magical scenes
Picture: Gap Year
you’ll never forget. It seems incredible that
these wild creatures could be so uncon-
cerned by humans, but they ignore us com-
pletely: the mother methodically feeding on
grubs while the two young cubs roll around
growling and cuffing each other in mock
fights. It is awe-inspiring: no other descrip-
tion will do.
It’s that unparalleled sense of wonder and
excitement that makes wildlife watching so
compulsive and why it has become an

The Travel & Leisure Magazine 23

 Llama farmers ‘There is nothing
offer trekking like your first sight
If you want to get close to some ‘not of a wild bear...’
so wild’ life, why not visit a Llama farm
and go trekking with these mild-
mannered creatures? Llamas are good
natured, intelligent and very inquisitive
and make elegant travelling
companions.
Bluecaps Llamas is based near
Wadhurst in East Sussex and offers a
range of llama-trekking activities from
birthday parties to hen parties.You
turn up, meet your llama and go
walking.The trips can range from a
gentle 40 minute stroll, to a 3 hour
trek and the farm will also provide
extras such as lunch, cheese and wine,
or Pimms, strawberries and cake if you
wish.
Picture: P Greenhalf

A 40 minute trek with your own

llama and a tour of the farm costs
£15.00 per person, or you can share a
llama and walk with a friend for an
additional £5.00.
A 1 hour trek costs £21.00 per
person while the 3 hour trek, including
lunch and drinks is £45.00 per person.
For further details contact Tina
O’Donnell at: Bluecaps Llamas,
Bluecaps Farm, Sleepers Stile Road,
Cousley Wood, Nr.Wadhurst, East
Sussex TN5 6QX.Tel: 01892 785119
Picture: GCTC

or mobile: 07711 663800 Email:

bluecaps@tiscali.co.uk.
www.bluecapsllamas.co.uk.
The Ashdown Forest Llama Park
also offers walks with llamas. These
last for an hour and cost £30 for one
person with a llama and £50 for two
people sharing a llama.The park also
organises seasonal events including
‘watching the llama-shearing’ in May. If
you’re a big llama fan you can
volunteer to help with the wildlife
during busy periods.
For further details or to make a
booking contact: Linda Johnson,
Ashdown Forest Llama Park,Wych
Cross, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18
5JN,Tel: 01825 712040, Fax: 01825
713698, E-mail: info@llamapark.co.uk,
www.llamapark.co.uk.

24 The Travel & Leisure Magazine

 Teri’s
Top
Tips
When choosing a tour operator, or
guide to take you wildlife watching, here
are some of the most important things
to look for:
Go for local guides who will take you
into an area on foot.This will cause the
minimum amount of stress to the
environment.
Make sure that your accommodation
Picture: J Plana

is locally owned and that food is locally

produced.That way your tourist pounds
go to benefit local communities.
Find out if your tour operator is
involved with international charities,
such as ‘Project Tiger’ or ‘Friends of
Conservation’, which work to highlight
how tourism revenue can help preserve
habitats, reduce poaching and prevent
trade in endangered species.
Look for accommodation that is
environmentally friendly, solar or wind
powered and committed to recycling,
especially waste water.
Make sure, if your tour operator
offers ‘in-water dolphin encounters’,
that such activities follow local animal
protection regulations.
Picture: C Robson

Find out if your tour organiser has an

established policy to protect local
people, animals and the environment.
Picture: J Plana

The Travel & Leisure Magazine 25

26 The Travel & Leisure Magazine
 Your Wildlife Facts
FREE
Reader Giveaway
Find big cat diaries at: www.bbc.co.uk/nature/programmes/tv/bcd
Don’t forget to take
Tour Operators: your camera to capture
There are hundreds out there, all offering wildlife tours, but make sure you check their what you see… and
‘responsible tourism’ credentials before you book. Then you can be sure you’re helping just to get you in the
preserve wildlife habitats instead of damaging them. mood we have 5 FREE
COPIES of the Lonely
Find out more: Planet Guide to
Find out more about wildlife by visiting: Wildlife and Travel
www.naturetrek.co.uk organises tours to Europe and beyond and offers a huge Photography by Andy
range of wildlife-based holidays. Rouse £10.99. Simply write in to
www.discover-the-world.co.uk runs specialist Arctic and Antarctic holidays and giveaways@tlmags.com with Lonely
Whale-watching trips. Planet as the subject. Don’t forget to
www.scotland4wildlifeholidays.co.uk gives a comprehensive list of tour put your name and address in the body
operators offering wildlife-watching trips, but recommends you check before booking of the email as well.
for a responsible tourism code of conduct.
www.western-isles-wildlife.co.uk runs year-round wildlife trips to the Western
Isles of Scotland.
www.highlandwildlifepark.org A wonderful park near Aviemore, dedicated to When travelling:
preserving Britain’s own ancient species, such as the Scottish Wild Cat, the Pine Remove excess packaging on products
Marten and the Capercaillie. before you travel. Badly-disposed of
www.wwuk.org Wolf Watch UK is a members-only organisation. It costs £20 per plastic is responsible for countless
year and £15 for a pre-arranged visit. Guest passes for friends cost £15. deaths among wild birds and animals.
www.ptes.org The People’s Trust for Endangered Species organises Wolf watching Obviously… don’t buy souvenirs or
visits, supporters £25, others £30. artefacts made from endangered species
www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk offer a huge range of animal conservation Be conscious of how much water you
volunteering holidays around the globe. are using. Lack of water makes an
www.nature-watch.co.uk for live webcam footage of nest boxes. impact on animal populations.
www.bbc.co.uk/earth/nature/uk for all the latest information on Spring Watch
and Autumn Watch and for local schemes where you can get involved in watching
nature.
www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zoostaff/larg/pages/Rum.html for information on Red
Deer projects on the Isle of Rum.
www.wwt.org.uk/centre/121/martin_mere.html for the latest updates on
Britain’s migratory birds.
ni
Picture: Raghu Kulkar

Picture: Gap Year

TL

The Travel & Leisure Magazine 27