Colombia offers outstanding opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife viewing. The country has the world's biggest list of birds, with around 1990 species recorded here, including 145 hummingbirds, 141 tanagers, and many trogons, parrots, orioles, and toucans. It is home to 80 endemic birds and 135 near endemics. This tour takes us to some of the richest and most scenic birding locations from rainforest to alpine grasslands in the Colombian Andes, to the tropical wetlands of the Llanos in the Orinoco basin. Target species include eight species of antpitta, strange leaf-eating Hoatzin, spectacular Sunbittern, short-range endemic Buffy Helmetcrest, Plushcap, Andean Motmot, Chestnut Wood-quail, Scarlet Ibis, Crestless Curassow, and Colombian Chachalaca. Among the other species we will look out for are Capybara, Giant Otter, Giant Anteater, Spectacled Caimans, and Green Anaconda. There is also a chance of the elusive Mountain Tapir and Jaguar. This not-to-be-missed tour visits some of Colombia’s best wildlife destinations, offering a huge diversity of birds, scenic landscapes and history.

Borneo contains some of the world's most wildlife-rich and oldest equatorial rainforests, incredible landscapes and rich indigenous culture. The jungles of Borneo are estimated to be around 140 million years old and this area is the centre of evolution and distribution of many endemic species of plants and animals. The rainforest is also one of the few remaining natural habitats for the endangered Bornean Orangutan and an important refuge for around 15,000 species of flowering plants, 3,000 species of trees (267 species of which belong to the family Dipterocarpaceae which have their greatest diversity here), 221 species of terrestrial mammals, 650 species of birds and 440 species of freshwater fish.

Since 2007, 220,000km² of ‘Asia’s last great rainforest’ has been protected under a World Wide Fund for Nature agreement and since that time, hundreds of new species have been recorded here.

This itinerary has been tailored to maximise our wildlife and birding opportunities and in 2025 we are extending the tour to add some exciting new wild destinations in Sabah after Tonia checked them out personally after our highly successful 2024 tour. This will offer an even greater chance to see rarely encountered wild mammals such as Clouded Leopard, other cat species, orangutans and birds such as pittas, Bornean Ground Cuckoo, owls and all 8 species of hornbill. This tour also provides a unique opportunity to experience authentic traditional culture and food and a visit here also contributes to the local economy and to the protection of key species of wildlife including Bornean Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey and Bornean Sun Bear. You will be accompanied throughout the whole tour by Tonia as Inala Tour leader and local guide Hendry who is a long term personal friend of Tonia.

The Republic of Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world’s plant and animal species, including more than 900 species of birds. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and at the junction of North and South America, the country boasts diverse habitats and exceptional wildlife with plenty of Central American endemics such as Resplendent Quetzal, Lovely Cotinga, Volcano Hummingbird, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher and Nicaraguan Grackle. Costa Rica is also rich in other wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, caimans, and tree-frogs. Around 25% of the country is protected for conservation. On this tour, we visit a range of habitats to experience the astonishing diversity of the country and to look for a host of sought-after species. From mangrove swamps on the Pacific coast, along meandering rivers, across forested mountains, through tropical dry forest to the wetlands of the north – as well as a visit to the word-renowned La Selva Biological Station – this tour offers the best of Costa Rica. 

Highlights: mangrove cruise, exploring the Talamanca Mountains to look for the Chiriquí Endemics, Costa Rican páramo, a visit to La Selva Tropical Biological Station, wetlands of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. 

This tour has been designed to adjoin the end of the International Conference for Women Birders (IC4WB) conference in Costa Rica Wednesday 24 – Friday 26 September 2025). 

The island of Papua New Guinea (PNG) has one the richest and most varied avifaunas in the world. 

Over 700 species of birds have been identified here so far, including around 580 land and freshwater species, 40 sea birds and 90 migrants from countries to the North and South.
The passerines include cuckoo-shrikes and trillers, shrikes, thrushes, logrunners, babblers, warblers, fairy-wrens, fantails, monarchs and robins, whistlers and pitohuis, honeyeaters, finches, starlings, mynahs, orioles, drongos, wood swallows, butcherbirds, bowerbirds and Birds of Paradise. Thirty-eight of the 43 known species of Bird of Paradise are found in Papua New Guinea. The extent of the millinery trade of the last century significantly affected the populations of these beautiful birds and as a result, all species of Bird of Paradise in Papua New Guinea are now protected. The non-perching birds we should see include birds of prey, megapodes, pigeons and doves, cuckoos and coucals, owls and frogmouths, lories and lorikeets, parrots, cockatoos, kingfishers and hornbills.

During this tour we will stay at two renowned birding destinations; Rondon Ridge located in the PNG Highlands, and Karawari Lodge in the lowlands. While predominantly a birding trip, we will also be on the lookout for any mammals and interesting flora (particularly interesting Gondwanan species) including orchids. 

This tour is being run in conjunction with our long term friends and travel partners Naturalist Journeys in the USA. 

This tour has specifically been designed for the best chance of seeing the near-mythical Snow Leopard, which has historically proved almost impossible to find in the vast, steep, rocky high mountains of Central Asia without the considerable effort of extended and difficult hikes in the thin, cold air of high altitudes whilst carrying all belongings. We will be travelling in relative comfort in purpose-built ger (yurt) camps with onsite cooks, drivers and support crews and most areas will be accessed by vehicle, allowing for greater accessibility for those with average fitness levels. The areas we will be visiting are also home to a fantastic selection of bird and rare or difficult to see mammal species, such as Saiga Antelope, Przewalski’s Horse, Argali (wild mountain sheep) and Mongolian Gazelle. The scenery is spectacular and vast and covered in wildflowers. We will also experience some of Mongolia’s unique and ancient culture, from nomadic Yak, Bactrian Camel, Cashmere Goat and sheep herding to performances by Tuvan throat singers and traditional dancers, whilst living in traditional gers (yurts) which are provided by the local community.

During this slow-paced 15-day adventure, we will be based in three main locations: Gun Galuut, the Altai Mountains and Hustai National Park with stays in a comfortable en suite hotel in Ulaanbaatar between locations. We shall spend 6 nights in the foothills of the Altai Mountains in remote Western Mongolia, venturing into the deep rocky valleys and higher altitudes (maximum 3,000 metres or 10,000 feet, but usually below) searching for Snow Leopard and other wildlife. We have a good chance of seeing at least one of the estimated 10-15 individuals that live in this isolated mountain range. We will also look for the world’s largest wild sheep, the Argali, and Siberian Ibex that roam the rocky slopes. A variety of rodents such as ground-squirrels, jerboas, gerbils/jirds, voles and Tarbagan Marmot are very common and easily seen, as are lagomorphs (close relatives of rabbits) such as hares and pikas. We may even be lucky enough to see Grey Wolf which are also possible, but even more difficult the find than Snow Leopard. We will also visit the nearby semi-desert area below our camp to search for other critically endangered mammals such as Saiga Antelope and the delicately built and pretty, Black-tailed (Goitered) Gazelle. Our second base will be nearer to the capital, yet in another beautiful natural area, the famous Hustai National Park, home of the world’s only wild horse species, the Przewalski’s Horse or Takhi and Mongolian Gazelle.

Kenya is in equatorial East Africa; its savannah is famously depicted in documentaries and movies and the landscape that many people imagine when they think of Africa. However, the terrain rises from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean to mountains and plateaus at its centre. Most Kenyans live in and around the capital city of Nairobi which is in the highlands at an altitude of 1,700 metres.

This tour is being offered at a great time of year in terms of bird and wildlife viewing (breeding season for many species) and a comfortable climate. We will visit several different habitats, from the lush forests of Mt Kenya to the African Savannah which gives us the opportunity to see an extraordinary number of birds and wildlife. The arrangements have been made to maximise your safety and comfort, using good quality, comfortable accommodation throughout and travelling in open roofed 4X4 Toyota Landcruiser safari vehicles for the best viewing opportunities.
 

Funds will go towards sustainability projects in Kenya and to support the Kenya Women Birders Club and this tour has been designed to adjoin our Uganda tour (28 November to 13 December 2025) – discounts will apply for those taking both tours.

Romania is a country of fascinating wildlife and history. The relatively inaccessible forested region of Transylvania, ringed by the Carpathian Mountains, is home to the greatest number of large carnivores (Brown Bear, Lynx and Wolf) in Europe. The extensive plains to the south and east, combined with the mighty Danube Delta which empties into the Black Sea within Romanian borders, support one of the highest diversities of bird species in Europe. Romanian culture and buildings have also been preserved, including the medieval city of Sighisoara, and the many fortified churches and castles such as Bran Castle which has long been associated with the legend of Dracula.
This tour is one of our most popular international destinations. We include the alpine areas for species such as Alpine Marmot, Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor and Ring Ouzel, the wild forests of Transylvania for large carnivores and raptors like Lesser-spotted Eagle, the Danube Delta for a huge variety of waterbirds including White and Dalmatian Pelican, and the Black Sea for a variety of gulls and terns. We are once again offering this trip in late spring/early summer as soon as the Transfăgărașan Pass opens, so that we have further opportunities to see spring wildflowers. We will be staying in comfortable en suite rooms in hotels and B&Bs throughout and will also have exclusive access to a floating hotel with en suite rooms on the Danube from which we will go out exploring the smaller channels in a boat.

At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Bulgaria is a country of beautiful landscapes, fantastic birds and ancient history. Our tour visits the best places in the country from the biodiversity hotspots of the Balkans and Rhodope Mountains, across the Upper Thracian Plain to the cliffs, beaches and wetlands of the scenic Black Sea coast. Bulgaria is excellent for raptors, including Levant Sparrowhawk and Imperial Eagle, as well as Egyptian Vulture and the huge and majestic Eurasian Griffon and European Black (Cinereous) Vultures. Many eastern bird species extend into Bulgaria, among them Isabelline and Pied Wheatear, Paddyfield Warbler and the sought-after Rose-coloured Starling, which visits over summer. The country is also known for its plant diversity, especially around the Rhodope Mountains, and its many species of reptiles and butterflies. On top of this, it has a long and rich cultural history, which we will explore at Perperikon, the ruins of an ancient rock city occupied in waves from the Bronze Age until the 14th century, when it was finally abandoned to nature.

This tour has been designed to adjoin our Romania tour so you are welcome to join us for both (and a discount will apply!)

Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe offer some of the best birding and general wildlife viewing in all of Africa.  Starting at the Zambezi River and spectacular Victoria Falls and ending on the Skeleton coast, this new tour covers a range of habitats from miombo woodland in Zimbabwe and lush riparian forest in the Caprivi and Botswana, to dune and red rock landscapes in central Namibia, and the spectacular lagoon at Walvis Bay where the desert meets the Atlantic Ocean.

This tour provides an amazing opportunity to visit three of Africa’s top wildlife and birding destinations and includes excellent birdwatching opportunities, many of the endemic, special and localised species, and fantastic chances of seeing the Big Five and other rare and special mammals. Join Tonia on this fantastic 19 day three country African megatour with option extensions to Okonjima to take nature drives to track pangolins, rhinos, and leopards and/or visit the iconic giant red sand dunes at Sossusvlei.

Sri Lanka is an island filled with an abundance of natural treasures. It is one of the most ecologically rich countries in the world and is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, believed to have the highest species diversity in Asia. The island is an excellent birding location with over 450 recorded species including migrants. Of these, 34 species are endemic to Sri Lanka and a further 18 species can be seen within the Indian subcontinent only. Sri Lanka is also home to a diversity of mammals too, including Leopard, Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, Asiatic Buffalo, Sambar and Spotted Deer, as well as a range of primates, squirrels and other small species. The island is one of the best places in the world for whale watching, so we will take a day cruise into the Indian Ocean to look for Blue Whale and Spinner Dolphin, and, with good luck, Sperm Whale and Orca too. On this tour, we visit a variety of habitats from tropical rainforests, wetlands, arid scrub jungle and savanna grasslands to experience the best of wild Sri Lanka.