Cat Expeditions -

David Pitts

I did a tour of Point Reyes Seashore with Cat Expeditions with Sebastian at the wheel. It was an excellent two days for me and I got hundreds of quality photos.

Most exciting was the Bobcat. We saw several but because of how difficult they are to find and follow we photographed on only one extensively, but we were with that cat for 45 minutes or so. Wow.

I also got a ton of great Red-tailed Hawk and Coyote photos. Point Reyes is a target-rich environment.

Sebastian is probably one of the most knowledgeable wild cat guys in the world, as evidenced by having photographed 31 of the 41 wild cats in the world, and his conviction to finish the list.

I'll definitely photograph cats with him again if possible, but his sold out trips might make that a challenge. I'm sure I'll overcome the challenge in time.

Kate Walton

I cannot recommend the manul trip in eastern Mongolia with Sebastian and Rachel more highly. I have travelled extensively in Africa and India to see big cats and other wildlife, but our trip to Mongolia to photograph the manul was one of the most memorable. Months before this tour I contacted Cat Expeditions to find out more about another trip. Sebastian was incredibly generous with his time, setting up calls at a convenient hour (I am based in Sydney) to talk me through their ethical approach to seeing and photographing cats in the wild. When a space opened up on the manul trip unexpectedly, I jumped at the chance to join. Rachel was incredible in flawlessly organising a separate tour for me prior to the manul trip, and her agency recommendation was spot on! The manul trip exceeded all my expectations - we had incredible sightings of the cats and their numerous playful kittens from our first day in the field, to the last. Sebastian even took the time to finesse some of my default camera settings which has transformed how I capture images! Both he and Rachel generously shared their post production expertise by providing hands on guidance on Lightroom editing. The group size (4 guests) was perfect, and it was a privilege to be able to stay at the research and conservation centre where we learnt first hand about the important work being conducted by the researchers. (A portion of the trip cost is also donated to the research centre). On top of all this, we also had a lot of laughs. Sebastian and Rachel were the perfect hosts. Their genuine ethical approach puts the welfare of the cats first, while also providing the opportunity for guests to experience truly unforgettable sightings of these beautiful cats. I have now signed on for their 2025 pumas trip! All in all, an unforgettable, life changing experience!

Stefanie Kraus

I am still trying to find the right words for this absolutely breathtaking experience. For many years, my dream had been to see (and photograph) a bobcat in the wild. I love all animals, but bobcats, their beauty, resilience, independence and strength are by far my favorite.

In December 2022, I joined Sebastian and the team for a four-day photo expedition, focusing on finding bobcats. The tour greatly exceeded my expectations. From the initial pickup at the airport, to the meet-and-greet at the hotel, to the wonderful dining options and, most importantly to our photo outings, everything was just perfect! Sebastian and Rachel made sure that each tour guest was very well taken care of at any time.

During six outings (I missed the last one since I had to fly back early), we encountered a total of 12 bobcats! According to Sebastian, this was a record. Of course not all sightings resulted in a photo opportunity. Sometimes the cat was too far away, sometimes they disappeared into the underbrush before we were ready. But that's to be expected. After all, it is their territory, and we are just guests.

Which brings me to another part that I love about this tour: Sebastian, Daniel and Carter have a deep knowledge around local wildlife. They respect the animals greatly. And a percentage of the tour fee goes to a local wildlife rehab center. It's wonderful that I can support conservation while doing something I enjoy so much.

At any time, our guides were ready to help us with technical issues or questions around photography. It truly felt like I was spending time with friends who I had known for a long time. The only bad part about this tour was that it came to an end 😉
I can't wait to join Sebastian again for another trip.

Roberta Olenick

I have been on any number of small group wildlife photo tours with various leaders over the years and without a doubt, Sebastian and Rachel shine bright high above the rest!

Their method of ensuring the manul (Pallas’s cats) in Mongolia were not disturbed while at the same time ensuring all the participants knew where the cats were at all times without having to utter a word was brilliant and effective.

They consistently put the welfare of the cats as well as the foxes, raptors and other wildlife encountered first and foremost, maximizing time with the animals without stressing them. And of course the best photos are of relaxed animals behaving naturally. We all got plenty of those, including a mom manul nursing her six fuzzy little kittens.

They showed the same consideration to the tour participants as they did to the wildlife. They consistently prioritized our photo opportunities over and above their own. They also made sure we had everything we needed even when not photographing. Rachel even brought pillows for us since these were rather lacking at the camp!

They are such genuinely warm and welcoming people who foster a friendly, unified, respectful, non-competitive atmosphere among all the participants. Meals were full of everyone’s stories and laughter. Midday breaks were full of opportunities to share images and to learn post-processing techniques.

As if all that were not enough, they were so wonderfully kind to, and appreciative of, the local guides and camp staff, even bringing gifts for the resident kids!

This was my first but certainly won’t be my last Cat Expedition!

Maria Tol-fakkar

Came recently home from remote Mongolia. The plan was to see the manul or the pallas cat. I knew already before that it can be difficult because the specious is very shy. My expectations were low. But guess what? We had a absolutely fantastic trip when we were lucky to meet 21 cats! We had the opportunity to see them wake up in the early mornings, playing, hunting and even hiding and playing peekaboo with us. Thanks a lot to our excellent guide Sebastian and local guide Ooggi. Without you it hasn’t been possible. We’ve learned a lot during this trip. Looking forward to next trip with cat expeditions!

sue stretton

Prior to the trip to see Manul, Sebastian provided a predeparture Welcome Folder with useful information such as: the itinerary, visas, currency, clothing, tipping, and camera gear recommendations. The package also included mammal and bird lists for the area.

Once we arrived in Mongolia, Sebastian and his team were professional, friendly, and welcoming. They were extremely knowledgeable and provided interesting information about the Manul as well as the other species that we observed. We were fortunate to see Manul kittens relaxing on rocks, playing, and hunting every day while out on the steppe. Sebastian ensured that we kept an appropriate distance from the Manul through the use of blinds and vehicles for our photography sessions. The Manul's safety was always his top priority.

Sebastian encouraged questions and his suggestions significantly improved the quality of my photographs. He was always eager to ensure that we had the best photography opportunities possible. Thank you Sebastian for such a wonderful experience. Looking forward to our next trip together.

Torie Hilley

Fantastic tour! I’ve lived most of my life in California and never saw a bobcat. So I was excited when I found this tour with Sebastian! Happy to say, we saw about 5 bobcats and plenty of other Californian wildlife. Sebastian is very mindful about approaching wildlife, which I appreciate, and incredibly knowledgeable about the ecosystem we were photographing. Our spotters, Rachel, Christian, and Daniel, were outstanding at spotting wildlife and we rarely didn’t have anything to photograph. Overall, they are a great group of people who care about wildlife and conservation. We had so many good laughs and great conversations! Highly recommend!

Cheryl

Cat Expeditions is unique. It is an adventure finding wild creatures in their own domain. I've never experienced anything like it. I think I am now a little spoiled. Besides the wonder of finding the pumas the staff were incredibly caring and the other guests were wonderful people. The accommodations were perfect and the leaders are knowledgeable, ethical and dedicated.