... but the world is your oyster...
... but the world is your oyster...
... but the world is your oyster...
PHOTOGRAPHIC WILDLIFE TOUR OF MOROCCO - 2016
ATTENTION! Would you like to win a place on this tour?
We are running an exclusive free holiday prize draw only open to clients who have booked their space on this tour between 01 Feb & 22nd March 2016 and answered our prize draw entry qualifying question:
Question:
What is the latin name of the snake pictured second from the left in the gallery above?
a) Cerastes cerastes
b) Lampropeltis zonata
c) Python regius
d) Hornicus biticus
The winner will be picked at random out of the prize draw entrants after 17:00 on the 22nd March 2016
and
will win their space on the tour WITH return flights
(T&C's apply)
Would you rather....
a) book your holiday AND be entered into a free prize draw to win your holiday
OR
b) book any holiday with any old company and NOT be entered into a free prize draw
If you answered a)
Where do you think YOU would have the BEST chances of actually winning something:
a) Euromillions
b) The National Lottery
c) a TV phone in competition
d) With a small travel company thats running a prize draw with NO MORE THAN 16 ENTRANTS
Meaning: Your odds of winning will be NO MORE than 1 in 16.
If we get less people signed up to the trip - YOUR odds will be EVEN BETTER!
So, whether your a wildlife photographer or general wildlife enthusiast or you just like the look of this amazing tour, you have to admit - thats an exciting prospect....
So, how do I enter the prize draw again?
OK - so, you have to commit to the trip. You have to book your space on it before the deadline.
Then, you will be given the option of entering the free prize draw and you have to answer the qualifying question at the top of the page.
THATS IT! (EASY!!)
THEN - YOUR IN WITH THE BEST CHANCE YOU WILL EVER HAVE OF WINNING A HOLIDAY!
Imagine now for a second if you will....
1) You book your place on this once in a lifetime wildlife adventure
2) You say, "yes please, I want to enter the free prize draw" and answer the qualifying question.
3) YOU MIGHT WIN YOUR PLACE ON THE TRIP!**
**ok, then again you might not, but you have to admit that..
1 in 16 is INCREDIBLE ODDS (the best odds of winning a holiday you will EVER have!)
Want to read about ATOL protection and how our membership to the TTA ensures your money and holiday are 100% protected - then click here
Intrigued? Tempted? If the answer is a resounding
"Yes" then read on....
16th - 29th April 2016
Join us on an epic 2 week wildlife tour in Morocco in April 2016, as we search for desert wildlife including chameleons, cobra’s, puff adders and much more, including the incredibly beautiful Saharan Horned Viper. We will traverse a range of diverse habitats, from trekking in the High Atlas mountains to safari's in the Saharan Desert, ably led by expert biologist Dr Konrad Mebert and expert desert guide Thierry Durrand. To reserve a space get in touch ASAP as there is limited availability on this tour.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Improve your wildlife photography skills
- Learn to read wildlife tracks in the Saharan Desert
- Search for wildlife in the High Atlas mountains
- Night time Desert safaris
16/4- Depart for Marrakech - Arrival into Marrakech and transfer to the Riad. Evening to explore the Jamna el Fnaa square. Night in Riad in the Medina of Marrakech. B&B
17/4 Morning guided tour of Marrakech- the souks and palaces. Afternoon to visit the Jardins majorelle. Night in Marrakech B&B
18/4- Depart into the High Atlas up to Oukaimeden to 2600m (about 1.5 hrs travel). Look for mountain species such as Vipera monticola and Chalchides montanus on the slopes and Natrix maura and many lizards along the lake (also many frogs) . Continue in the afternoon travelling via the Tizi n Tagatert up to the valley of Ouirgane and over the Tizi n test pass to Ouled Berhil, Riad Hida or similar B&B
19/4- Continue southwest, bypass Agadir, and spend few hours around Sidi Wassay, refuge for the northern bald ibis, or we continue right away south via Guelmin to Fort Bou Jerif (FBJ) Hotel- Half Board.
20/4- Herp in the semiarid region around for FBJ for chameleons, cobras and puff adders. Slopes, sand and cliffs are further ground for diurnal and nocturnal herping. Hotel HB
21/4 - daylong ride over to Ouarzazate, along the foothills of the High Atlas and Talouine. Night in Ouarzazate- Hotel Oscar or similar B&B
22/4- Explore Ouarzazate and surroundings- the Hollywood of the desert, with an excursion to the famous World heritage site of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. Hotel Oscar or similar B&B
23/4- Travel down the Valley of the Draa to Agdz, nocturnal search for Echis leucogaster nearby. Night in La Rose du Sable or similar B&B
24/4- A day excursion along beautiful Draa Valley with its palmeries and with many historic sites , to Zagora and back, nocturnal search for Cerastes, return to Agdz B&B
25/4- Along the valley of Roses and visit the gorge of Dades or Todra, continue to Erfoud and do nocturnal herping with local experts, Night in Riad Erfoud or similar B&B
26/4- Around Erfoud, photographing animals, then continue to Mezouga Night in a fixed desert camp after a camel ride,
B and dinner
27/4- travel over the High Atlas and the Gorge du Ziz and onwards to the middle Atlas and overnight in Fes- night in a Fes Inn or similar B&B
28/4- Morning to explore a bit of Fes before carrying onwards to Casablanca via the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Night In Casablanca- Hotel Barcelo or similar B&B
29/4- Transfer to Marakkesh and fly home.
Price: £1065 PER PERSON SHARING.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £235 (IF YOU WANT YOUR OWN ROOM WHERE AVAILABLE)
Inclusions:
Transfers to and from airport
Private transportation, driver, fuel and tolls
Guide with group at all times (English speaking)
1x town guides for a morning
Accommodation as above in shared rooms (single supp. available)
Meals as above,
Tour Leader - Dr Konrad Mebert for duration of tour.
Local Expert - Thierry Durrand from 18th - 27th April
Not included,
Tips for the guiding team
Flights (approx £100 per person from UK TBC)
Extras and entrance fees that are not on guided tours.
Meals not included above
*Greig Smith Travels reserve the right to amend the tour for reasons including but not limited to environmental and weather conditions.
Tour Leaders:
Dr Konrad Mebert PhD
Is an independent researcher and international project coordinator based in Switzerland with a focus on reptilian research. After completing a Master's degree at the University of Zürich, Switzerland, on geographic variation and the effects of inbreeding on the Dice Snake, and a doctoral degree on hybrid zones in North American water snakes at Old Dominion University, Virgina, he has recently worked for the University of Basel, Switzerland, and continues to conduct funded field projects on population biology and evolutionary topics with a focus on vipers, including an extended project in Brazil.
His work volume produced more than 100 professional and popular publications and two books on water snakes including topics on evolution, ecology, biodiversity and conservation. Many expeditions and a passion of photography has lead him to all reptilian occupied continents except Australia.
.
Thierry Durand
Fascinated by reptiles from a young age, it was at the age of 11 that Thierry began breeding snakes and he has been involved with herpetology ever since. A member of the Herpetological Society of France (SHF) and the French Association Terrariophilie (AFT), Thierry specialized for many years in the breeding of Viperidae and has participated in several studies on European vipers. His passion for herpetology has taken him all over the world to track and observe reptiles in their natural habitats. It was in 2007 that he first discovered his passion for the Moroccan desert and its wildlife. So much did it inspire him, that he gave up breeding snakes so that he could spend 3 months of each year living in the Moroccan Desert tracking its reptile inhabitants
