AHERCA

AHERCA is a wildlife watching company in the Sierra de la Culebra, in north-west Zamora, and presents itself as the only local, permanent company of this kind in the sierra. Its speciality is the free-living Iberian wolf, in one of the most stable populations in the peninsula. It is registered in the Castilla y León Census for the Promotion of Tourist Activity under number 49/28, in the category of activities enhancing cultural or natural heritage, and says it holds the necessary qualifications, insurance and permits.

Who they are

The team gives no names on its website. It says they are nature lovers who ended up focusing on the great Iberian carnivores, with experience of the bear, the lynx and the wolf, and who have followed the wolf's trail in the Cantabrian mountains, the Central System and the Culebra. The sierra hooked them on a trip with friends and they ended up settling in Villanueva de Valrojo. Today they go out almost every day of the year and continuously follow the packs in the area. They have an agreement with the Junta Administrativa of Villanueva de Valrojo to help conserve the traditional buildings visited on the routes.

What they do and when

The central activity is the waits to see wolves at a distance. To these are added routes interpreting tracks and signs and visits to local shepherds to learn how they protect livestock from the wolf, which can be done separately or combined. From mid-September to mid-October they organise outings to see and hear the deer rut.

According to the company, there is no better time than another: in winter the wolf shows its thickest coat, in spring there is more variety of wildlife, in summer the days are long and autumn coincides with the rut. Activities last between three and five hours, and the waits, two to three hours almost without moving. As these are wild animals, times are not fixed and sightings are not guaranteed.

Groups, equipment and meeting point

Groups are a maximum of four people, and six exceptionally. Departure is from Villardeciervos or Villanueva de Valrojo, and from there the guide drives participants in his vehicle to the observation points. Each participant has a top-range telescope, with which you observe from one to three and a half kilometres away so as not to disturb the animals, and civil liability and accident insurance is included.

No special fitness is needed; the tracking walks follow simple paths and tracks. What they do ask for is layered clothing, no cotton, a windbreaker, gloves, a hat and insulated mountain footwear, because the cold comes in through the feet during the waits. Bring water, food and a camera. Activities are not recommended for under-12s, although they may take part if their parents decide, always accompanied.

Booking and cancellation

You book by phone (625 751 996) or at [email protected]. The place is confirmed with a 50% deposit by bank transfer, which is not refunded. If you do not give at least 12 hours' notice and do not show up, everything paid is lost. Fog, rain or snow almost never call off the outing; if an activity has to be changed or postponed because of the weather, it is rearranged, and if the company cancels for safety it refunds the part not carried out. The website is in Spanish and English, but does not say in which languages they guide.

For the autumn outings, see the listing for the deer rut in the Sierra de la Culebra.