Tuition - Tours
This is where you will find my latest photographic and wildlife watching tours that I lead for Naturetrek.
Naturetrek Day Trips - 2023 & 2024
I will be leading day trips to the following locations through 2023 & 2024 with corresponding dates.
Somerset Levels
• 12th December 2023 (fully booked)
• 14th December 2023 (fully booked)
• 15th December 2023 (fully booked)
• 12th February 2024 (1 space available)
• 6th April 2024 (6 spaces available)
To book please visit Naturetrek.
Steart Marshes
• 7th April 2024 (5 spaces available)
To book please visit Naturetrek.
Forest of Dean
• new dates coming soon
To book please visit Naturetrek.
Exmoor National Park
• 23rd May 2024 (7 spaces available)
To book please visit Naturetrek.
The Gambia in Style - January 2024
The Gambia in Style - Photography Special
Dates - 26th January to 2nd February 2024
For this leisurely wildlife photography holiday we will be based for seven nights at the superb Mandina Lodges, set within 1,000 acres of the Makasutu Cultural Forest and bordering the secluded mangrove-lined tributary of the River Gambia. From here we will have plenty of time to explore the surrounding habitats on foot and by boat, taking advantage of the fabulous photographic opportunities on offer. During our stay we are likely to encounter a wide variety of herons, egrets, waders, kingfishers, bush-shrikes, raptors and glossy starlings, plus a stunning kaleidoscope of sunbirds, rollers, bee-eaters and turacos. On two days we will travel out of Makasutu to nearby reserves, including the coastal habitats of Tanji.
Images all taken on Oliver's winter 2022 tour. For further images visit my Diary page.
Key Information
• Location - Mandina Lodges, Banjul, The Gambia
• Dates - 26th January to 2nd February 2024 (confirmed)
• Places - maximum of 8 (fully booked)
• Flights - included in the cost of the tour
• Cost - from £2895
• Single Supplement - from £895
• Booking - call Barney Jones at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - all breakfast & dinner, accommodation, transportation and guiding; lunches are not included
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Thailand's Highlights - February 2024
Thailand's Highlights
Dates - 18th February to 5th March 2024
Thailand is an exceptional country for birdwatching and attracts birders from all over the world, so great is the lure of setting eyes on some of Asia's most iconic species, namely the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo and Giant Nuthatch! The ease of birding across the varied habitats ensures a list of over 400 species is very much achievable and will include a range of pheasants, broadbills, pittas and flycatchers. Commencing our tour in the centre of the country, we will first visit the thriving saltpans where up to 30 species of waders are possible; we will then move to nearby forest to appreciate a different mix of avian-life. We then head to the north of the country and set out to find such sought-after species as Giant Nuthatch, Hume's Pheasant and a vast array of mouth-watering Himalayan specialities which winter here. The list of highlights is endless as we cover the very best national parks in the hidden parts of this beautiful south-east Asian country. Mammals will also be appreciated throughout this tour with Asian Elephant, Sun Bear, White-handed Gibbons and other primates all possible.
Accommodation will be in beautiful lodges and a number of adequate hotels, while Thailand's superb road network ensures travelling around will be comfortable.
Key Information
• Location - Thailand
• Dates - 18th February to 15th March 2024 (confirmed)
• Places - maximum of 10 (fully booked)
• Cost - from £4495
• Single Supplement - from £295
• Booking - call Matt Eade at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - flights, all food, accommodation, transportation and guiding
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Thailand's Birds & Mammals - March 2024
Thailand's Birds & Mammals - A Photographer's Paradise
Dates - 10th March to 24th March 2024
East Asia is a superb destination for the wildlife photographer, as countries in this region are catering for the rising demand of wildlife photography from their locals. The use of blinds, in often well-lit areas, are ideal to capture the perfect shot for a whole host of brightly-coloured birds and seldom-seen mammals. Thailand, with its myriad national parks and plethora of bird blinds is a stunning destination to patiently seek out species such as Blue Pitta, Kalij Pheasant, White-throated Rock Thrush and a variety of laughingthrushes and babblers coming to feed. These areas also attract the likes of Lesser Mouse Deer, while Asian Elephants are often encountered roaming the open fields. However, time will also be spent along tracks where many birds show particularly well. This tour will incorporate the finest national parks in the country, as well as giving a possibility of viewing one of the rarest birds in the world - the Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
This will be a slow-paced holiday with no level of fitness required. An expert UK-based wildlife photographer will also be joining you on this tour, along with a local Thai expert photographer, ensuring this tour is perfect for beginners or experienced photographers alike.
Key Information
• Location - Thailand
• Dates - 4th to 18th March 2024 (confirmed)
• Places - maximum of 5 (fully booked)
• Cost - from £5995 (or from £5395 land based only)
• Single Supplement - from £285
• Booking - call Matt Eade at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - all food, accommodation, transportation and guiding
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Mull's Otters & Eagles Tour - April 2024
Mull's Otters & Eagles - A Photography Tour
Dates - 10th to 15th April & 16th to 21st April 2024
The Hebridean island of Mull boasts nearly 300 miles of coastline, and just about every inch offers a scenic photographic opportunity. In April the tussle between winter and spring is in full swing, adding the full gamut of light and shade, and every kind of weather to this inspiring landscape. Not only that, Mull is also home to some of Britain's most iconic wildlife, from the magnificent White-tailed Eagles that are easy to see from a boat trip plunge-diving into the water, to the herds of Red Deer that haunt the glens, to the playful Otters that forage just offshore.
We will also be visiting Staffa, the Treshnish Isles and Iona to capture the magic of seabirds and other wildlife.
Expert photographer Oliver will help you get the best out of this thrilling week of photographic adventure!
Images all taken on Oliver's two spring 2022 tours.
Key Information
• Location - Mull, Scotland
• Dates - 10th to 15th April & 16th to 21st April 2024 (both confirmed)
• Places - maximum of 6 - 10th to 15th April (6 spaces available) & 16th to 21st April 2024 (1 space available)
• Cost - from £1795 (including ferry)
• Single Supplement - from £115
• Booking - call Alison Steel at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - all food, accommodation, transportation and guiding
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Naturetrek 3-Night Trips - May 2024
I will be leading overnight trips to the following locations with corresponding dates.
Exmoor National Park - 24th to 27th May 2024
This short spring tour will explore areas in the north of Exmoor as we look for breeding birds, butterflies and other wildlife that inhabit the ancient woodlands, combes and moorland. Spring is an excellent time to visit when migrant birds, including warblers and flycatchers, return to swell the song of our resident species, nesting is in full swing and young mammals emerge into the world.
The tour will also focus on some overnight wildlife too, including moth trapping and bat walks along with an evening looking for Nightjar and Tawny Owl.
Images all taken on Oliver's 2023 tour.
Key Information
• Location - Exmoor National Park, Somerset
• Dates - 24th to 27th May 2024 (confirmed)
• Places - maximum of 7 (spaces available)
• Cost - from £845
• Single Supplement - from £120
• Booking - call Barney Jones at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - breakfast & dinner but lunches & snacks to be paid separately
To book please visit Naturetrek.
Scotland - June 2024
The Best of Scotland - A Birdwatching Tour
Dates - 1st to 9th June 2024
When thinking about a birdwatching tour to Scotland one question you may be asking yourself is 'Where do I start?' or 'How should I best use my time?'! We have asked ourselves these very questions and believe that this tour delivers some of the very best birdwatching on offer with the opportunity for such a great range of species. During this new eight night tour, based in first class perfectly located rural hotels, a superb range of habitat types will be visited with a wonderful array of birds and wildlife on offer with a little culture included too. These tours have been designed to appeal to those visiting Scotland from abroad or those wishing to experience an excellent cross section of what is on offer here.
The images here were all taken during the 2022 tour.
Key Information
• Location - Scotland (Mull & Cairngorms)
• Dates - 1st to 9th June 2024 (confirmed)
• Places - maximum of 7 (spaces available)
• Cost - from £2395
• Single Supplement - from £545
• Booking - call Alison Steel at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - all food, accommodation, transportation (see pricing) and guiding
• Extensions - can also be arranged by Naturetrek so please ask for details
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Cornwall: Beavers, Choughs and Cetaceans - July 2024
Cornwall: Beavers, Choughs and Cetaceans Wildlife Tour
Dates - 16th to 20th July 2024
The beautiful county of Cornwall, with its majestic coastal cliffs, quaint seaside towns and rolling countryside delivers some of the finest wildlife sightings in the UK. During this holiday we will have a wonderful opportunity to not only learn about but hopefully to witness, European Beavers on a private reserve. Beavers were released on this site in June 2017, and after just two nights, had already started to build a dam. When on site, the owner will show us the fine structures that the Beavers have created, and with some luck, we hope to view these mammals at dusk. In addition, we will take a privately chartered vessel off the Cornish coastline to search for a variety of seabirds and cetaceans, with sightings perhaps comprising both Minke Whales and Ocean Sunfish (if weather permits a longer trip). We will also walk the spectacular coastline of The Lizard in search of Cornwall's most famed bird - the Chough. Gentle walks elsewhere will enable us to view a number of birds, butterflies and wildflowers, making this the perfect wildlife getaway.
Images all taken on Oliver's summer 2021 tour.
Key Information
• Location - The Lizard, Cornwall
• Dates - 16th to 20th July 2024
• Places - maximum of 7 (6 spaces available)
• Cost - from £1295
• Single supplement - from £295
• Booking - call Matt Eade at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - breakfast & dinner but lunches & snacks to be paid separately
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Cornwall: Beavers, Choughs and Cetaceans - September 2024
Cornwall: Beavers, Choughs and Cetaceans Wildlife Tour
Dates - 9th to 13th September 2024
The beautiful county of Cornwall, with its majestic coastal cliffs, quaint seaside towns and rolling countryside delivers some of the finest wildlife sightings in the UK. During this holiday we will have a wonderful opportunity to not only learn about but hopefully to witness, European Beavers on a private reserve. Beavers were released on this site in June 2017, and after just two nights, had already started to build a dam. When on site, the owner will show us the fine structures that the Beavers have created, and with some luck, we hope to view these mammals at dusk. In addition, we will take a privately chartered vessel off the Cornish coastline to search for a variety of seabirds and cetaceans, with sightings perhaps comprising both Minke Whales and Ocean Sunfish (if weather permits a longer trip). We will also walk the spectacular coastline of The Lizard in search of Cornwall's most famed bird - the Chough. Gentle walks elsewhere will enable us to view a number of birds, butterflies and wildflowers, making this the perfect wildlife getaway.
Images all taken on Oliver's summer 2021 tour.
Key Information
• Location - The Lizard, Cornwall
• Dates - 9th to 13th September 2024
• Places - maximum of 7 (spaces available)
• Cost - from £1295
• Single supplement - from £295
• Booking - call Matt Eade at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - breakfast & dinner but lunches & snacks to be paid separately
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Uganda Photo Tour - September 2024
Uganda - A Photography Tour
Dates - 16th to 29th September 2024
Uganda is a beautiful country and boasts over 340 mammal species and 1090 bird species have been recorded. Beginning our holiday at Lake Victoria, we'll then head west to Lake Mburo National Park where we'll look for avian rarities such as African Finfoot, as well as mammals that we are unlikely to encounter elsewhere. From here we'll travel south on a bumpy, scenic road to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to over 300 Mountain Gorillas, many other primates such as the attractive L'Hoest's Monkey, and an assortment of unusual birds. Queen Elizabeth National Park is our next stop; 'QE', as it is affectionately known, offers Uganda's best game viewing and a host of waterbirds. Our final stop is Kibale Forest, where we'll look for up to 11 species of primate, including Chimpanzees.
This will be Oliver's second visit to the country, following the inaugural tour in 2022. Oliver will be on hand with all you need for your photographic tour along with expert local wildlife guiding. Oliver has travelled many times to Africa so knows wildlife groups well and is excellent at finding and spotting species. With a keen eye for a photographic opportunity and no shortcuts on this epic adventure, we will aim to capture some of Africa's finest wildlife.
Please note this is not a hide-based wildlife photography holiday. We approach wildlife on foot and via boat, canoe and a nine-seater safari land cruiser, giving an intimate and flexible approach to our wildlife observation and photography.
The images here were all taken during the 2022 inaugural photographic tour.
Key Information
• Location - Uganda
• Dates - 16th to 29th September 2024 (confirmed)
• Places - maximum of 5 (spaces available)
• Cost - from £6995 (or from £6295 land cost only)
• Single Supplement - from £925
• Booking - call Alison Steel at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - all food, accommodation, transportation (see pricing) and guiding
• Extensions - can also be arranged by Naturetrek so please ask for details
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Scottish Highlands Photography Tour - October 2024
Autumn Wildlife of the Scottish Highlands Photography Tour
Dates - 26th October to 1st November 2024
This week long autumn tour focuses on some of the iconic species that can be found year round in the Scottish Highlands, from the Red Squirrels that bound around the forest floors to the montane species such as Mountain Hare and Red Deer.
We'll also take time to photograph woodland birds, visit a rookery where it's possible to capture some stunning black and white images, as well as seek out the graceful Whooper Swans that have returned to overwinter, not forgetting the stunning landscapes that we can find around us. Evening excursions will include a Pine Marten hide and possibly some astrophotography.
Images all taken on Oliver's autumn 2021 tour.
Key Information
• Location - Scottish Highlands
• Dates - 26th October to 1st November 2024 (confirmed)
• Places - maximum of 6 (2 spaces available)
• Cost - from £2195
• Single Supplement - check
• Booking - call Alison Steel at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - all food, accommodation, local transportation and guiding
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Naturetrek 6-Night Trips - November 2024
I will be leading overnight trips to the following locations with corresponding dates.
The Forest of Dean and Somerset Levels - 23rd to 29th November 2024 (7 spaces available)
To book please visit Naturetrek.
The Gambia in Style - January 2025
The Gambia in Style - Photography Special
Dates - 24th to 31st January 2025
For this leisurely wildlife photography holiday we will be based for seven nights at the superb Mandina Lodges, set within 1,000 acres of the Makasutu Cultural Forest and bordering the secluded mangrove-lined tributary of the River Gambia. From here we will have plenty of time to explore the surrounding habitats on foot and by boat, taking advantage of the fabulous photographic opportunities on offer. During our stay we are likely to encounter a wide variety of herons, egrets, waders, kingfishers, bush-shrikes, raptors and glossy starlings, plus a stunning kaleidoscope of sunbirds, rollers, bee-eaters and turacos. On two days we will travel out of Makasutu to nearby reserves, including the coastal habitats of Tanji.
Images all taken on Oliver's winter 2022 tour. For further images visit my Diary page.
Key Information
• Location - Mandina Lodges, Banjul, The Gambia
• Dates - 24th to 31st January 2025 (confirmed)
• Places - maximum of 8 (spaces available)
• Flights - included in the cost of the tour
• Cost - from £3195
• Single Supplement - from £1050
• Booking - call Barney Jones at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - all breakfast & dinner, accommodation, transportation and guiding; lunches are not included
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Thailand's Birds & Mammals - A Photographer's Paradise
Thailand's Birds & Mammals - A Photographer's Paradise
Dates - 1st March to 14th March 2025 (dates to be confirmed)
East Asia is a superb destination for the wildlife photographer, as countries in this region are catering for the rising demand of wildlife photography from their locals. The use of blinds, in often well-lit areas, are ideal to capture the perfect shot for a whole host of brightly-coloured birds and seldom-seen mammals. Thailand, with its myriad national parks and plethora of bird blinds is a stunning destination to patiently seek out species such as Blue Pitta, Kalij Pheasant, White-throated Rock Thrush and a variety of laughingthrushes and babblers coming to feed. These areas also attract the likes of Lesser Mouse Deer, while Asian Elephants are often encountered roaming the open fields. However, time will also be spent along tracks where many birds show particularly well. This tour will incorporate the finest national parks in the country, as well as giving a possibility of viewing one of the rarest birds in the world - the Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
This will be a slow-paced holiday with no level of fitness required. An expert UK-based wildlife photographer will also be joining you on this tour, along with a local Thai expert photographer, ensuring this tour is perfect for beginners or experienced photographers alike.
Key Information
• Location - Thailand
• Dates - 1st to 14th March 2025 (dates to be confirmed)
• Places - maximum of 5 (5 spaces available)
• Cost - from £5995 (or from £5395 land based only)
• Single Supplement - from £285
• Booking - call Matt Eade at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - all food, accommodation, transportation and guiding
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Western Pacific Odyssey - March 2025
Western Pacific Odyssey
Dates - 10th March to 7th April 2025
Known in birding circles simply as the 'WPO', this expedition incorporates many of the key birding areas in the Southwest Pacific. This expedition offers the opportunity to see some of the rarest pelagic seabirds in the world, plus many island endemics and an outstanding list of cetaceans, while there is also so much more to enjoy for anyone interested in taking a leisurely expedition cruise through a transect of the Pacific Ocean. Remote beaches, glowing tropical sunsets (with maybe a green flash or two!), flying fish, towering tropical rainforests and wild and remote oceans are just a few of the treats in store.
This is a unique and very special tour and one that will leave you breathless after an epic voyage and some incredible wildlife. Oliver has sailed to the Antarctic and Arctic as well as travelled to over 50 countries in pursuit of wildlife, so he is well placed to lead you on this Pacific adventure.
Key Information
• Location - Sailing from New Zealand to Japan & visiting numerous islands including Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, The Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea & Japan's Bonin Islands.
• Dates - 10th March to 7th April 2025 (confirmed)
• Places - minimum 10 cabins available (spaces available)
• Flights - included in the cost of the tour
• Cost - from £11,595 (land cost only £10,495)
• Single Supplement - call Matt Eade to discuss cabin options
• Booking - call Matt Eade at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - all food included onboard, accommodation, transportation and guiding
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
Madagascar - September 2025
Madagascar: A Wildlife Photography Tour
Dates - 8th to 27th September 2025
By any measure, Madagascar ranks amongst the most extraordinary countries on Earth. The fourth largest island in the world, it has been isolated from all other landmasses for some 80 million years. During that time, a dazzling array of endemic birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and plants have evolved, almost all of which are found nowhere else in the world. Madagascar has all of the world's species of lemurs (of which there are over 100, and still more being discovered!), half of the world's chameleon species and six out of eight baobab species. The entire native terrestrial mammal fauna has evolved from just four colonists (one primate, one rodent, one insectivore and one carnivore) that are thought to have completed the perilous journey to Madagascar, by chance, on rafts of vegetation. Then, over tens of millions of years, these early pioneers evolved into over 100 living species, filling all manner of ecological niches across the island, and all are found nowhere else on Earth.
This tour has been specifically designed to maximise photographic opportunities, and we will explore and photograph several of the most spectacular locations and endemic species by both day and night. It will be led by an expert wildlife photographer, and our carefully constructed programme will be complemented by detailed guidance on locations and photographic settings to use for each subject.
The images here were all taken during my 2023 visit for Naturetrek.
Key Information
• Location - Madagascar
• Dates - 8th to 27th September 2025
• Places - maximum of 5 (3 spaces available)
• Cost - from £9595 (land cost only £8695)
• Single Supplement - from £950
• Booking - call Barney Jones at Naturetrek on +44 1962 733051 to book your place
• Included - all food, accommodation, transportation (see pricing) and guiding
• Extensions - can also be arranged by Naturetrek so please ask for details
For the full itinerary, prices and further details on the running of the trip please visit Naturetrek.
