HERPING MONTENEGRO TOUR

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08 August 2024

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Price: £1095/€1195 per person

Date: 13th to 20th April 2025

Your Local Guide: Kai Kolodziej

Explore the diverse national parks of Montenegro: Biogradska Gora National Park, Prokletije National Park, Lovcen National Park

Chance to see 14 Amphibian and 31 Reptile species

Herping in a montane and lowland habitat in the Mediterranean bioregion

Looking for red Vipera ammodytes, Vipera ursinii and endemic lizards like Dinarolacerta sp.

Looking for Yellow-bellied toads, Green Toads and the chance of neotenous alpine newts

Macro and Nature Photography Opportunities with Kai Kolodziej

We start on Day 1 at Tivat Airport and this is where we finish on Day 8. For the rest of the week, as weather is a major factor in wildlife trips, we want to stay as mobile and flexible as possible. These are the destinations we will visit, the exact route will be adapted accordingly to the actual weather conditions.

Day 1: Arrive at Tivat Airport

Today is an arrival day and a day for leisure. Meet the other participants and the guides at Tivat airport and get ready for the adventure. We will drive to Sutomore together.

Overnight in Sutomore for the next 7 nights.

Meals included: None

Hermann's tortoise in Montenegro

Herping at the coast

 

Most of the time we will be herping in the coastal areas, where we will be herping in old olive grooves and observe Hermanns’ Tortoise, Balkan Whipsnakes, Glass Lizards and Balkan green lizards beside many more species. The nose-horned viper can be observed too in these habitats but in its greyish colour morph.

In the swampy areas we will see dice snakes and grass snakes in high numbers, moreover the Balkan terrapin and European pond turtle can be seen in these areas, at night these habitats will be dominated by a chorus of various frog species like Albanian pool frogs or common tree frogs.

In the marshland along the coast we will be looking for a special snake species the Caspian whip snake, which is restricted to this habitat in Montenegro. In this area we will also observe the red morph of the nose-horned viper.

Herping at mountain areas of the North

 

Our main target in the montane areas in the north is the Mosor rock lizard, which inhabits the karst areas of these mountain ranges. There are several places to see them, and it depends on the weather conditions where we have the best chances. Apart from this species, sharp-snouted rock lizards, common wall lizards and maybe even meadow vipers are possible at these locations.

Dinarolacerta mosorensis in Montenegro

Herping at Biogradska Gora National Park

 

Especially for the montane viper species we will visit the Biogradska Gora National park, which will be blooming with crocus. In the meadows along dwarf juniper bushes the meadow viper and the Bosnian common adder can be observed, along with viviparous lizards and sand lizards. Amphibians are rare but grass frogs can be around at these high elevations. When visiting some lower elevations smooth snakes and Aesculapian snakes, along alpine and smooth newts can be found.

Meadow viper in Montenegro

Herping at Prokletije National Park

 

In this national park our main target is the endemic Prokletije rock lizards, while in nearby lakes the alpine newt will be mating. Some individuals of alpine newts in this region are known to be neotenous, which means that they spend their whole life in a larval stage. Besides these gems, grass frogs, sand lizards will be a common sight.

Day 8: Departure Day

After breakfast we will drive back to Tivat Airport for your departure flight.

Meals included: Breakfast

European green toad in Montenegro

Sutomore

Hotel del Medio (Superior), or similar

The Hotel del Medio is located near the beach of Sutomore. it is a modern, comfortable hotel that will be a great base for our week-long holiday to discover the area.

Prices & Inclusions

Date: 13th to 20th April 2025

Holiday Price:

£1095/person

min. 3, maximum 4 participants

€1195/person
Single Supplement £180/person
€200/person

Inclusions

  • Accommodation at mentioned hotel or similar for 7 nights on a twin share basis
  • Daily breakfasts
  • Transportation as per the itinerary
  • Local Herpetologist expert throughout the holiday: Kai Kolodziej
  • Guided daily walks as per the itinerary
  • Full financial protection by Protected Trust Services

 

Exclusions

  • International flights
  • Meals not mentioned in the program
  • Tips
  • Travel Insurance

Tour Summary

This Reptile and amphibian focused tour takes you through the breath-taking landscapes of Montenegro. It provides a diverse introduction to herping on the Balkan, with 45 possible species of herpetofauna to be seen.

The highlights of this trip are the viper species: the nose horned viper of “South” are well known for their amazing red colouration. In the mountains the meadow viper and the bosniensis-subspecies of the common adder are occurring sympatric.

With two species of turtles and one species of tortoise the fans of these animals will also be rewarded, as well as lizard friends as you will see the beautiful blue sharp-snouted rock lizards as well as endemic species like the Mosor rock lizard or the Prokletije rock lizard.

Expect hiking in beautiful and wild habitats with an average daily walking distances of 6-8km.

Your Expedition Guide

Kai Kolodziej

Kai is an Austrian multi-award-winning Nature and Macro Photographer. In addition to his interest in nature, which started at a young age, he studied biology and works as a biology teacher in Austria.

His photography started by documenting the findings on various excursion in Austria, or tropical places and deserts. From the starting point it soon developed into more and soon he managed to capture nature in a aesthetically and artistically pleasing way. His photographic works are regularly featured in national and international nature photography competitions and articles.

Since 2019 Kai is a member of the Austrian Society for Nature Photography and a member of the German Society for Nature Photography, in addition to that he is a part of the advisory board of the Austrian Herpetological Society.For more information take a look at his homepage.

Kai Kolodziej Nature Photographer

The Gallery

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