Wild boar, Germany
Over the past couple of years, Germany's wild boar population surged so dramatically that the tusked beasts became something of a menace - invading buildings, destroying crops and occasionally even attacking people. Still, if you've not seen one, there's never been a better time, though they can be elusive. Hikers on a self-led walking trip through the romantic landscapes of Central Franconia, between the Main and Danube rivers have spotted them in the forests there, along with deer, buzzards and polecats.
Killer whales, Spain
Every summer, the fishermen of Tarifa in Andalucia have to compete with visiting killer whales for their catch. On the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society's new trip, you follow orcas as they hunt bluefin tuna in the Strait of Gibraltar. There's a very good chance of seeing them, as well as pilot whales and dolphins. When you're not assisting the cetacean experts, you can visit Roman sites or chill on the beach with the windsurf dudes.
Elk and beaver safari, Sweden
Sweden has the world's highest density of elk, and on this weekend adventure in the Bergslagen woods, your expert hosts guarantee sightings of the "kings of the forest" as you track them on foot, mimicking their call. Then, at dusk, you quietly canoe Lake Skarsjön, seeking beavers. It's back to basics: stay in a lakeside hut, bathe in the stream, chop campfire wood and forage for lingonberries for your wilderness dinner.
Amphibians and reptiles, Portugal
The mudflats and sandbanks of the Sado estuary, just south of Lisbon, swarm with all manner of slimy and cold-blooded inhabitants. From the plodding Spanish terrapin, to spiny-footed lizards, marbled newts, west Iberian painted frogs and the Montpellier snake there's plenty to keep an eye out for; voles, otters, bats, polecats and dolphins thrive here too, and it's one of the best bird-watching spots in Portugal.
Chasing butterflies, Croatia
Croatia is the naturalists' latest darling, and this new group tour, run with the charity Butterfly Conservation, reveals why. Staying in comfortable hotels, see exquisite creatures around the turquoise lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice, the limestone gorges of Paklenica, and the seldom-visited Velebit Mountains, with dramatic coastal scenery en route. The names flutter off the tongue: cleopatra, little tiger blue, southern festoon and the great sooty satyr.
Bike with bison, Poland
Track Europe's last few remaining bison in northeastern Poland on a seven-night cycling tour. Three nights are spent in Bialowieza Forest - a remnant of the vast, primeval tree masses that once cloaked the continent - where bison roam freely. There is a bison reserve and the animal trail includes a punt in the remote Narew Marshlands, known as the Polish Amazon, home to beaver, otter, elk and martens.
Gawp at puffins, Iceland
Iceland is seabird central. Drive the Snaefellsnes Peninsula as part of a self-guided tour: it has huge colonies of birds nesting on the cliffs either side of the peninsula, with puffins a highlight. You'll also take in Lake Myvatn, where there are whooper swans, geese and breeding ducks, and you can whale-spot en route, as well as visit Namaskaro's steam vents, the Arctic char-laden Laxa River and Dimmu Borgir with its weird and wonderful lava formations.
Company of wolves, Spain
Most of Spain's 3,000 wolves prowl the obscure Sierra de Culebra, and wildlife guru Julian Sykes' tours have all yielded sightings. You stay in a rustic hotel run by a wolf enthusiast who gets updates on their location from rangers. At dawn and dusk you seek our lupine friends; in between you'll spot great bustards, plus wild boar, fox and deer (all the wolves' prey).
Net turtles, The Azores
Five of the world's seven sea turtle species have been found in the Azores. On this inspiring small-group expedition, you'll board a research boat in the Atlantic, net loggerheads and others, then measure, tag and release them like a proper scientist (with whom you stay, in their comfy Horta townhouse). You'll track the animals' migration patterns and contribute to their conservation. Whale and dolphin observation is a big part of the trip, too.
Spot marmots, Switzerland
Marmots spend summer nibbling grass in open meadows. One keeps watch, whistling loudly when eagles pass, sending the group scampering for their dens. It's fun to watch in the mountainous Swiss National Park, home too to chamois, elk and vipers.
