Natural World Safaris offers trip to stay in Siberian tigers' habitat


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Holidaying with the lair of a tiger as your closest neighbour might not sound like the cleverest idea in the world but it is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that won't be forgotten.

For £3,500, tourists are being invited to book a trip to Russia and sleep in the natural habitat of the Siberian tiger, one of the world's most endangered animals.

Bespoke tour operators Natural World Safaris is offering the rare trip which also gives guests a unique opportunity to view the big cat.

A safari stay in Russia offers tourists the chance to spot, and sleep near, one of the world's most endangered animals- the Siberian tiger

A safari stay in Russia offers tourists the chance to spot, and sleep near, one of the world's most endangered animals- the Siberian tiger

Bespoke holiday providers Natural World Safaris is offering the rare trip which gives guests a unique opportunity to view the big cat

Bespoke holiday providers Natural World Safaris is offering the rare trip which gives guests a unique opportunity to view the big cat

The trip to Durminskoye Reserve in Khabarovsk lasts seven days in total with guests spending time in the wild environs inhabited by the last remaining Siberian tigers, and setting camera traps with the experts in the hope of catching an insight into the lives of these endangered predators.

They will walk in the footsteps of the world's biggest cats and spend time with Alexander Batalov, a frontline Russian conservationist who has spent the last 20 years of his life trying to protect the rare Siberian tiger. 

The facilities are described as 'basic' and guests are provided with a translator throughout the stay.

The daily activity is to explore the Reserve in the hope of picking up tracks of the Siberian tigers that reside in this area. 

This shot was captured at night as a Siberian Tiger walked down a narrow road in the Durminskoye Reserve, where guests can stay

This shot was captured at night as a Siberian Tiger walked down a narrow road in the Durminskoye Reserve, where guests can stay

Huntsman's hut in the forest – sustainable hunting is still allowed in the forest and the hut is also used as a base of operations

Huntsman's hut in the forest – sustainable hunting is still allowed in the forest and the hut is also used as a base of operations

 The safari does not actively track them as this risks guests coming face-to-face with the animals themselves, which is why still and video cameras are set up. 

The images and footage from these actively assist Alexander and his team as they work to save the tigers of the region from extinction.

Managing Director of Natural World Safaris and expert in wildlife encounters, Will Bolsover, told MailOnline Travel: 'The trip is one of the rarest wildlife travel opportunities remaining today. 

Alexander Batalov, a frontline Russian conservationist, has spent the last 20 years of his life trying to protect the rare Siberian tiger

Alexander Batalov, a frontline Russian conservationist, has spent the last 20 years of his life trying to protect the rare Siberian tiger

Inside Balatov's hut, dedicated to the natural world as you might expect with a range of feathers and animal bones

Inside Balatov's hut, dedicated to the natural world as you might expect with a range of feathers and animal bones

'Spending time with Alexander Batalov in the home of the some of the last remaining Siberian tigers in Russia's Far East, setting camera traps, tracking tiger footprints and collecting vital conservation data is a superb opportunity.'

It is estimated the current wild population of Siberian tigers under 400, making the species officially endangered. 

Siberian tigers were once found throughout the Russian Far East, northern China, and the Korean peninsula but by the 1940s, hunting had driven the species, also known as the Amur tiger, to the brink of extinction with no more than 40 individuals remaining in the wild. 

While the population has now stabilised somewhat, sightings in the wild are extremely rare as the tigers have the largest home range of any tiger subspecies and a limited density of prey means they have to search over large areas to find food. 

Guests will stay in a wooden cabin on the Natural World Safari trip to see the Siberian tiger

Guests will stay in a wooden cabin on the Natural World Safari trip to see the Siberian tiger

'Guests will be staying directly in the heart of the tigers' habitat, but with the cats being extremely elusive, it obviously isn't guaranteed that they will even come face to face with a tiger at all,' Bolsover said. 

'While they are out setting camera traps and observing scent trails, footprints, scratch marks on trees, they will be exactly where the tigers tread. 

'While they are out in the forest or in the camp, a tiger could be 20m away, 200m away, or as far as two miles away- it's difficult to put a numerical value on it.'

 

 

 

 



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