Hungarian bat-safari.


Summary and recommendation: A 7 day "bat-hunting" safari at the best breeding and wintering caves of Hungary.

Destination country: Hungary. Arrive and depart Budapest.

Schedule: Upon request.

Duration: 7 days (extension available; see below!).

Price: Ask! We are sorry, but exchange rates are so hectic, that we can't give fix prices here. Price includes: accommodations and meals (lunch is typically picnic!), drinking water, vehicle hire with fuel and driver guide, park entrance fees and ranger guides. The price exclude: bank transfer loss, international flight, visa, tips, drinks, personal travel insurance and any other activities of personal request e.g. laundry, toalet fees, phone calls, etc.

Accommodation: Three-star hotels with all rooms en suite.

Numbers: Min. 3, max. 7 tour participants.

Transport: 4WDs or minivan, depend on group size.

Description: "Hungary's bat fauna is one of the richest in Europe with 26 species. On this trip we hope to find a definitive 20-22 at the finest breeding and wintering grounds in the country. We will use specially designed traps with a local ringing expert who has just published an educational book about the bats of Central Europe. During this quiet and restful trip the culture, history and other wildlife will also be part of our focus."

Species: Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Greater Horseshoe Bat, Bechstein's Bat, Brandt's Bat, Natterer's Bat, Pond Bat, Daubenton's Bat, Geoffroy's Bat, Whiskered Bat, Lesser Mouse-eared Bat, Greater Mouse-eared Bat, Barbastele Bat, Grey Long-eared Bat, Brown Long-eared Bat, Schreiber's Bat, Common Pipistrelle, Nathusius's Pipistrelle, Serotine Bat, Parti-coloured Bat, Leisler's Bat, Noctule, Greater Noctule.

Habitats: Mecsek Mts.: Abaliget-cave; Villany Mts.: Szársomlyó mineholes; Bakony Mts.: Alba Regia cave; Bukk Mts., Lake of Felsotarkany.

Cultural aspects: please ask for further details!

Day„0”. Pre-extension.

Day 01: Arrive Budapest. To Bakony Mountains, Alba Regia cave. This cave was discovered in 1975 and is the third deepest cave in the country. A well-reserched and explored system, it is one of the most important breeding and wintering caves in the Bakony Mountains. The cave holds the record for the number of bats captured in one day.
Typical species (not a complete list): R. hipposideros, M. daubentoni, M. nattereri, M. bechsteinii, M. brandtii, M. mystacinus, M. myotis, P. auritus.

Day 02: During the day we will visit the Royal centre of Szekesfehervar and the Tihany Peninsula with it's old Abbey. Later we continue to the Abaliget Cave in Mecsek-hegység. This is the longest cave in southern Hungary. Discovered during the 18th century, a nice stream runs through it. The main branch is approx. 1300 m. The first scientific description was published in 1820, and it is now the most documented and well-explored cave in Hungary. Some 300 different species are found in the cave, including some endemics (Paladilidium hungaricum, Lartetia gebhardtii, Nyphargus forelli gebhardtii, Nyphargus molnarii). It is one of the most important breeding and wintering grounds in the area with thousands of bats arriving during August and September.
Alltogether 20 species of bat are recorded in the cave: R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, M. bechsteinii, M. nattereri, M. dasycneme, M. daubentoni, M. emarginatus, M. mystacinus, M. blythi, M. myotis, B. barbastellus, P. auritus, P. austriacus, M. schreibersii, P. pipistrellus, P. nathusii, E. serotinus, V. murinus, N. leisleri, N. noctula.

Day 03: During the day we will visit Pecs city, the atmospheric "capital" of the Mediterranean southern zone. We will visit the inner city, historic Turkish monuments and the Old Roman Tombs (World Heritage Site). We continue our bat safari at the Abaliget Cave system, an excellent and exceptionally easy site for bat studies and bat photography.

Day 04: Mine tunnels of Szársomlyó Special Reserve. Szársomlyól is the southern-most hill in Hungary, famous for it's extremely diverse flora (900 species) and insect fauna. The hill is 442 m high and full of long, narrow mine tunnels where people used to mine Bauxite. Here we will net Mediterranean species such as R. ferrumequinum, M. myotis, M. schreibersii. During the day we will visit the memorial garden at Mohacs (a famous Turkish-Hungarian battlefield of 1526), and enjoy some wine tasting in the private cellars of Villany (Tokaj, Badacsony and Villany are the premier wine-regions of the country).
The most important bat species of the day: R. ferrumequinum, M. myotis, M. blythi, M. emarginatus, M. schreibersii.

Day 05: To Bukk Mountains via Kiskunsag National Park. Kiskunsag is one of the most charming parts of Hungary, a really ancient pocket of picturesque landscape. Here we will visit the Bugac pusta's traditional villages and animal farms. We also visit the rolling sandy dunes with their Juniper forests, and go birdwatching in search of the magnificant Great Bustards - symbol of Hungarian nature conservation.

Day 06: Bukk Mountains, Lake Felsõtárkány. This is a small lake near the edge of a village which is surrounded by the forests of the huge Bukk Mountains. The lake is frequently visited by hunting and drinking bats, including the largest European bat species, N. lasiopterus, which is not uncommon here. During the day we will visit the beautiful medieval centre and historic fortress in nearby Eger city.
Typical species: N. noctula, N. leisleri, N. lasiopterus, E. serotinus, P. nathusii, P. pipistrellus, M. daubentoni, M. dasycneme, M. bechsteinii.

Day 07: To Budapest. We visit Holloko Traditional Village - a World Heritage Site and stop en-route at Godollo Royal Palace, which used to be the residence of the Habsburg monarch, Franz Joseph 1st and his wife, Queen Elizabeth (Sisi). Depart.

Extensions:
-Budapest sightseeing is possible plus Danube Bend and Szentendre. 1-3 days on request, before or after the main trip.