NEW! CHINA, GIANT PANDAS, other mammals and birds

There is little doubt that Giant Pandas are one of the most enigmatic mammals in the world and that until recently they were extremely difficult to see in the wild. Fortunately in the last couple of years panda reserves in the Qinling Mountains in Shanxii province have been opened up to foreigners and there is now finally a real opportunity to see them in the wild, and experience a real wildlife adventure.

Foping Reserve in the Qinling Mountains has the highest density of pandas in the wild with one panda per 1.4 km² and we genuinely believe that we have a very good chance of success if we spend a week in the reserve. Richard Webb visited the reserve on a recce in May 2006 and saw a panda at close range for 3-4 minutes on the 5^th day.

The trackers who will be working with us seem to find pandas on most days in the field and did so on four days when Richard was there. Success however depends on being able to move the group into a position where the panda can be seen before the panda disappears. This can be difficult as pandas are very wary and move off quickly if they hear people approaching. In addition there are few trails in the forest so it can be difficult to approach the pandas quietly.

A normal day looking for pandas will start at about 8.30 when we will head off into the forest with the trackers. The trackers will then leave the group to try to track pandas while we wait patiently for further news. If the trackers find a panda one of the trackers will normally remain with it while the other(s) come back to take us to try to see it. We will then slowly and as quietly as possible try to get close enough to the panda to see it. We will normally stop tracking pandas between 4 and 5.

On some days it may take the trackers several hours to find pandas so there can be a lot of waiting around, often in cold conditions. We will however have radios with us to enable us to go off looking for other mammals and birds while we wait for the trackers to find a panda.

Although we will look for pandas each day until we see one, generally speaking we will only have one opportunity to watch a panda. To limit disturbance to the pandas the government only allow two groups to visit the reserve each month and only allow visitors one panda viewing unless of course visitors just happen to find another one while looking for other mammals. Once we have all seen a panda we will concentrate on looking for other mammals

For the enthusiastic there will also be opportunities to go looking for other mammals and birds at dawn and dusk and the reserve has some a long list of exciting mammals including Golden Monkey, Golden Takin, Mainland Serow, Chinese Goral, Forest Musk Deer and the amazing Red and White Flying Squirrel. During the recce the trackers also saw no fewer than four Asiatic Black Bears while looking for pandas but these are even more wary so we would be incredibly lucky to see one.

We have decided to run the trip in March as we believe that this will maximise our chances of seeing pandas as there will be less foliage on the trees and pandas will still be at lower altitudes at the end of the mating season. It will also be easier to see other mammals at this time of year than it is in May.

It must be pointed out that this will be a much tougher trip than most Wildwings tours. It is an 8 km walk into the reserve. The main trail is mainly sealed and it is largely downhill on the way in so the walk is reasonably easy, coming back out is conversely largely uphill and consequently more tiring. Our bags will be carried to and from the protection station by mules.

When looking for pandas we may be lucky and see one near the main trail. Conversely as described above we may have to walk some way off trail. This may involve crossing streams, walking along creeks, and scrambling up and down steep hillsides. Consequently a good level of fitness will be required s you may be walking up to 20kms per day. Please note we are unable to grant photographers any ‘special assistance’, any opportunities will be ‘off the shoulder’, these animals are difficult enough to see well. That’s not to say you may not come back with the shot of the century though!

The accommodation at Sanguanmiao Protection Station is very basic. The rooms are small and concrete floored. The beds are however are comfortable and there is an ample supply of hot water for washing etc. A generator runs for three hours each night and candles are also supplied in each room. There is one solar-powered hot shower but it is unlikely that this will be sufficient at all times for a group of seven people. The toilets are very basic but seats have been installed to make them more tolerable. A cooked breakfast and evening meal will be provided at the protection station and we will normally carry a packed lunch with us each day (food at the reserve is ‘rural montane  Chinese ’, basic but filling). The stunning forest and it’s wildlife will more than compensate for the sometimes less then ideal conditions. Away from the reserve we will be staying in comfortable hotels.

Although this is first and foremost a trip to look for pandas we will also have the opportunity to look for other birds and mammals and will visit a Crested Ibis reserve near Yang County. Ibisbill was also seen on the recce. We will also be including a visit to the Great Wall on our return to Beijing.

Itinerary 

Holiday Information

Dates:First departure 25^th March –6^th April 2007

Leader Mark Andrews plus local guides.

Cost £2899 per person sharing a twin room.

Deposit:£500 per person.

Max. group size:6

Advance register for subsequent departures to be announced for £100 per person.

Price includes: International and internal economy class flights including pre-paid taxes, all ground transportation, all accommodation and meals, park entry fees, services of WildWings leaders and local guides. Bird and mammal checklist.

Price excludes : Travel insurance (available from £65.15), visa fees (c£60 for UK passport holders), laundry , drinks, other items of a personal nature, gratuities.

A trip report and full list of birds and mammals seen on the recce is available on our website or from us.