ULTIMA FRONTIERA
DELTA OF DANUBE - ROUMANIA
A FORGOTTEN PARADISE AT THE EXTREME BORDER OF EUROPE. JACKALS, EAGLES AND OTTERS IN 1500 HECTARES OF NATURE RESERVE WITH MORE THAN 20 HIDES.
2021 NOW AVAILABLE:
29 MAY - 6 JUNE
SPECIAL :
GOLDEN JACKALS
WHITE TAILED EAGLE
OTTER
PELICAN
FACTS:
1500 HECTARE
20 PHOTO HIDES
LUXE ECOLODGE
HEART OF THE DANUBE DELTA
TRIP:
7 NUITS - 6 PHOTOS DAYS
GROUP MAX 7 PERS
FLIGHT TO BUCHAREST
ALL TRANSFERTS INCLUDE.
The ultimate photo experience in the Danube Delta in Romania
Unprecedented photo opportunities and luxurious nature photography in the top area of Europe
On the eastern border of Romania is a truly unspoilt natural paradise, protected UNESCO world heritage site, the Danube delta. Hundreds of square kilometers of lagoons, swamps and lakes make this a hiding place for an impressive mass of birds. And in the middle of it is a truly fantastic private area that has been completely transformed into a paradise for nature photographers. 1100 hectares of wild nature and old fish ponds where you can enjoy in comfort all kinds of different professional photo huts, each for its own species, from Bald Eagle to Pelican, from Jackal to sometimes even Otters ... truly amazing. You will stay in a luxurious 4-star lodge in the middle of the birds. This is definitely a unique and exclusive place where the photo opportunities are truly unknown.
Wildpix takes you on a guided group tour to this area in two peak periods. Each time with a limited group so that you almost have the area for yourself on the spot. We dare to call this one of our most beautiful journeys and we guarantee you a photo experience that you would never have dreamed of.
The Area
With a surface area of 3446 km², the Danube Delta is the second largest river delta in Europe, after the Wolgadelta, and as a nature reserve part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. The delta is largely located in Romania.
The area consists of many reeds, marshes and forests, which flood during the spring and autumn.
The Danube Delta, with its numerous lakes and marshes, houses more than 1200 different plants, 300 species of birds as well as 45 species of freshwater fish. Approximately 2733 km² of nature reserve is protected. The area is where millions of birds from all over the world (Europe, Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean Sea) come to lay their eggs.
Very far in the Delta is a piece of private nature reserve that has recently been completely adapted to nature photography. With the help of biologists and scientists, this old fish farm has been completely given back to nature and that has not missed its effect.
The species
The area has a fantastic population of just about all the most beautiful European birds: Pelican, White-tailed Eagle, Miniature tern, Forktailed plover, Greyheaded woodpecker, Ralreiger, Miniature cormorant, Hop, Scavenger, Bee- eater, Red-legged falcon, White-tailed Night Heron, White-bird, icy starling, White-toed duck and many more... but also Jackal and Otter! The list is really too long but the concentration of species is downright impressive.
The lodge
NATURE ECO LODGE ****
You will stay in a unique private nature reserve of 1500 hectares with a luxurious 4 star lodge in the middle of nature. Beautiful modern rooms of the highest level with all modern comforts (HD TV - WiFi - minibar - shower - toilet - hairdryer - room service) as you would expect from a 4 star hotel. The perfect base for your stay and an unprecedented high level that you as a nature photographer will not often encounter.
Period and duration of the trip.
Friday afternoon: arrival in Bucharest + diner
Saturday: travel day - transfer to the reserve
Sunday to Friday afternoon: photo days
Friday afternoon return to Bucharest + diner
Saturday: flights home
DATES 2021:
29 MAY - 5 JUNE
Here we are abundant in the breeding season and all species are present. Most of them are building nests and there is a lot of interaction with mating rituals. The possible species are extensive and there are still species coming from the spring migration. Bald eagles and jackals are very active. The lagoons are full of life with nesting terns and pelicans. It is the beginning of the summer so it can get very hot already and the light is quickly hard. So the early hours are a bit more difficult and the nights a bit shorter. But with such photo opportunities you like to get up early!
PARTICIPANT'S REACTIONS:
van Marianne Brouwer - september 2015
Hi Martin
just a message to let you know that the trip was totally great. Beautiful area, super friendly people and what a well-managed organization that is. No problem, she was too much, and it was the first time that I had gained weight instead of losing weight after such a journey.
Of course you already heard from Han, but you also wanted to let me know how cool I found the trip. We have had so many great photo opportunities! I am especially aware that Han had persuaded me to take the boat trip anyway, I was reminded of something hmmm because I had something like excursion in my head, and I had the experience that boats tend to pass beautiful photos. to sail subjects and / or to frighten the birds. But it was very cool and I was able to take pictures on the way. I really didn't want to miss it!
Hope to see you next time, Marianne.
van Paul Vandenbulcke - mei 2016
Hi Martin,
What a luck that I can look almost daily at all those beautiful pictures of you, Pascal and Pierre.
Many will temporarily form my desktop background.
It was truly a dream location for photographers and nature lovers. Also the comfort, service,
transport, pipe etc. was optimal.
Thank you.
Many regards,
Paul
van Pascal De Munck - mei 2016
Hi Martin, Han,
Would you like to thank you again for a great week in Ultima Frontiera. Had never dared to hope that it would be so good.
Have been in many huts but the interaction between the jackals and eagles is really a unique experience. At one point (the famous morning on Thursday 19 May, once session of about 7-8 hours with up to 2200 images) I just stopped taking pictures to just watch something that made me miss the shot of the moment (white- tailed eagle with claws on a jackal) but it is now nicely engraved in my memory :-)), one of my slogans is "it can always be better" but it will be very difficult to improve a trip like this, let alone to match it.
What I also enjoyed enormously is the half day that I just drove around on my own with one of the cars and a nice moment to relax. Now sort the images and see if there is anything useful in between. Top trip !
In advance a sincere thanks,
Greetings Pascal
PRACTICAL INFOS
TOUR GUIDE
These trips are accompanied by nature photographers Han Bouwmeester or Martin Steenhaut, or another Wildpix guide. We will arrange all practical matters for everyone. On the spot there are also moments foreseen for photo discussions and advice moments where we will give you tips & tricks about the locations, photo technique and material, if desired of course.
FLIGHTS AND TRANSPORT
Because we have a mix of Dutch and Belgian travellers, we deliberately offer this trip to exclusive flights. This is for practical reasons so that everyone can choose how and when they want to travel. Of course we will give advice as soon as the groups are formed, so that we can perhaps still leave as a group. But in any case there is a final appointment at the airport.
Goekoop can fly with WizzAir from Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Maastricht or Charleroi (BE) to Bucharest Otopeni Airport (Romania). From our experience is that the best connection, fast and (important!) without expensive weight limitation for your material. On site, all trips are made by minibus and boat. Of course, all this has been arranged.
It is a long journey because from Bucharest it is 4h with a van to the last city before the Delta and then 2h with the speedboat to the hotel. So keep this in mind. But once you get there, this has of course been totally worthwhile.
How the flights are best arranged you know once the trip is full and we can compose the group.
ACCOMODATION
4 star top quality ecolodge with all modern comforts in the middle of the nature reserve
VOL PENSION
HD TV - WiFi - minibar - shower - toilet - hairdryer - room service Electric golf carts to explore the area with.
TRAVEL ROAD
Travel destination and place of appointment: Bucharest Otopeni Airport - Romania Low-cost flights with Wizzair from Eindhoven - Rotterdam - Maastricht - Charleroi After this another 4 by minibus and 2 hours by boat to destination
NUMBER OF PERSONS
maximum 7 photographers + 1 guide per period
PRICE:
Price per person in a double room and full board, 6 photo days € 2600 for the group trip in 2023
DATES 2021: 29 MAY - 5 JUNE.
Included:
-
lodging in 4 star lodge
-
full board including all soft and hot drinks (2 alcoholic drinks per day - rest at own expense)
-
all local transport
-
all photo cabins and excursions
-
travel guidance by Wildpix
Exclusive:
-
your flights
-
own other expenditure on the spot
-
your own travel and/or cancellation insurances.
-
Other possible supplements:
-
Unlimited alcoholic drinks + € 140 pp
There are also several extra excursions to book on site for a fee, which you can arrange
there.
Payments
After booking you will receive a payment request and you pay the full amount in advance by bank. This way everything is arranged and your trip is reserved. You will receive an invoice.
!! GOOD TO KNOW!
Just to clarify...We get a lot of questions why this trip is so expensive for 8 days.
She is not! And this is why...
This price includes a lot of transport by car, minibus, boat and speedboat.
That costs a lot in terms of fuel.
Logistics is very complicated there because we are very far from the inhabited world, so that also takes a lot of organisation and time. And the most important thing is that you should not forget that we are in a truly world famous nature reserve, far away from everyone, where it is almost unthinkable that you can have this luxury accommodation and cabin options. And yet it is there! You have to see it to believe it. All this for such an amount is really very reasonable, we guarantee you that! You will absolutely agree after the trip.
What if I need to cancel my trip?
In case of cancellation you should always inform us as soon as possible. Since we also have to pay cancellation costs with our partners, we also have to pay a cancellation fee in some cases. This is explained in detail below, in the general terms and conditions and in the travel information that is sent to you.
You can always contact your cancellation insurance.
Time limits for cancellation costs:
5 TO 3 MONTHS BEFORE DEPARTURE. 25% OF THE TOTAL TRAVEL SUM
3 TO 2 MONTHS BEFORE DEPARTURE. 50% OF THE TOTAL TRAVEL SUM
2 TO 1 MONTH BEFORE DEPARTURE 80% OF THE TOTAL TRAVEL SUM
1 MONTH TO 1 DAY BEFORE DEPARTURE. 100% OF THE TOTAL TRAVEL SUM