Date: Contact us at any time to book this tour.
Difficulty: Best suited for people with a basic level of fitness and some hiking experience.
Participants: 1-4
Maximum days: 3
What is it?
The Manila herping tour is a 1 - 3 night mini-expedition to the secondary rainforests of Bataan, near Manila, where we can find a fantastic variety of amazing endemic wildlife - especially snakes.
What can we find?
The number one target on any Manila herping tour is the famous Philippines pit viper (Trimeresurus flavomaculatus). These are very abundant at our sites and can be found at any time of year, although some seasons are better than others. The large and impressive (yet harmless) mountain ratsnake (Ptyas luzonensis) is also common, along with the Philippine vine snake (Ahaetulla prasina preocularis). Beyond these three common species, we often encounter the local morph of the dog-toothed cat snake (Boiga cynodon) and Mueller's wolf snake (Lycodon muelleri), while other endemic colubrids such as the Luzon bronzeback (Dendrelaphis luzonensis) and Luzon ratsnake (Coelognathus erythrurus manillensis) occasionally show up. Philippine cobra (Naja philippensis) and barred coral snake (Hemibungarus calligaster) both occur in the area, but these species are diurnal and extremely secretive, along with many other significantly rarer species which are always a possibility.
How does it work?
Contact us at any time to inquire about availability and we will arrange the dates for the tour. It is best to inquire more than one month prior, and there is a much higher chance of our guides being available on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The tour can be booked for 1 - 3 days, although we recommend 2 nights to maximise your experience and observations. Longer trips including other locations can be arranged upon special request.
Once the dates have been agreed on, we will put you in touch with our guides, who will send you a specific meeting location and time in Manila. Our guides will pick you up in their car and drive to Bataan, where they will check you into a nearby hotel or AirBnB. After a brief introductory talk and safety briefing, we will venture into the forest. We aim to finish hiking by 1am (01:00), but can finish earlier at your request. Once the night is finished, we will part ways from the original meeting location and you will make your own way ‘home’.
What's included?
- Private vehicle to/from Manila and during the tour.
- Accommodation.
- Experienced herping guide.
The experiences available on this tour include:
- A night walk along a stream in evergreen rainforest
- Daytime hiking in forest edge habitat and road cruising
Contact us for pricing and other important information, we will answer any questions.
