Photographer Neil Aldridge visited Estonia

Estonia, its people, landscapes and wildlife were truly captivating. I'm already looking forward to returning and I hope to be able to share the country's wildlife riches and photography potential with guests on future trips.

Saaremaa was particularly impressive - the landscapes, sunsets, coast and forests were all remarkable. To be able to walk out of the door at the guest house and watch swallowtail butterflies, fall asleep listening to corncrakes and see in the dawn from the top of the 26m high tower in Viidumae was something special. That said, literally losing count of the number of beavers Remek and I saw on the Emajogi River probably ranks as the highlight of the trip in terms of wildlife watching.

While it was a shame that the weather made it impossible to see the flying squirrels, the study trip gave me the ideal impression of how good the opportunities would be at other times of the year. The quality of the guides in Remek and Uudo was impressive. They both went to great lengths to make sure that I had a great experience, had the chance to get whatever shots I was after and came away with an in-depth understanding of the species and habitats that they know so well. I'm looking forward to working with them both in the future and developing ideas.

All of the accommodation was comfortable and secure (important for a photographer travelling with expensive equipment) and the reception was always warm and friendly. Thank you to everyone at Estonian Nature Tours for your help organising trip and I'm looking forward to working with you closely again.

Read more about the trip from Neil's blog...

Neil Aldridge, Conservation Photojournalism & Safaris

All photos by Neil Aldridge