Wildlife and Nature at Galapagos Safari Camp

Galapagos Giant Tortoise

As you make your way up the private lane to Galapagos Safari Camp, don’t be surprised if you share the road with a number of giant tortoises. They often wander right into Camp, where they can be spotted grazing beneath the Safari Tents and shuffling along the Camp’s network of lava paths.

GIANT TORTOISE

Darwin’s Finch (aka Galapagos Finch)

One of the best places to see Darwin finches is at Camp. Here they flutter around the trees and may even hop onto the dining tables at breakfast time. After a few days, many guests start recognising individuals. Even Sir David Attenborough filmed a piece-to-camera about finches, and the tameness of Galapagos animals in general at our swimming pool, where they frequently seen.

DARWIN FINCH

Galapagos Mockingbird

One of the best places to observe them is at Camp, especially at dawn. You’ll hear them before you see them, singing their hearts out (to borrow from Harper Lee). Watch them foraging for moths on your balcony or sipping dew from the canvas.

GALAPAGOS MOCKINGBIRD

Yellow Warbler

This pretty little songbird is the only bright yellow bird on the islands, making it easy to identify. It is also a regular at Galapagos Safari Camp, often heard singing during breakfast. The male has a red cap and dark reddish-brown streaks across his chest. Females show faint or no streaking, and juveniles are noticeably duller. Also common across the archipelago.

YELLOW WARBLER

Galapagos Flycatcher

Small, tame, and irresistibly curious. Often seen flitting between branches around Camp, and sometimes popping into the main lodge to snap up moths drawn to the lights. They’re known to pluck hairs from livestock for their nests (and have even been reported trying a strand from unwary visitors).

GALAPAGOS FLYCATCHER

Galapagos Dove

From afar, the Galapagos Dove looks much like a regular pigeon, and it’s only when you get up close to it that you appreciate how beautiful this bird actually is with reddish-brown feathers, bright red legs and feet, and a circle of brilliant blue around its eye. Seen across the archipelago, it is a regular around Camp, often spotted near the pool. Breeding activity typically ramps up after the first rains of the hot/wet season.

GALAPAGOS DOVE

Galapagos Petrel

The critically endangered Galapagos petrel is a seabird rarely seen by visitors, spending most of its life at sea and returning to the highlands only to breed. Recently, nesting activity was confirmed at Galapagos Safari Camp, a hopeful sign that our rewilded land is becoming a safe haven for this elusive species.

GALAPAGOS PETREL

Galapagos Owls

The Galapagos Short-Eared Owl and the Galapagos Barn Owl are the only two species of owls in the Galapagos and both are endemic to the Islands. Both species have been seen on the property at close range, more commonly the barn owls which have taken up residence in the rafters of the main lodge, and are occasionally spotted late in the evening, quietly watching our guests as they dine out on the verandah.

GALAPAGOS BARN OWL

Galapagos Rail (aka Galapagos Crake)

Extremely shy and reluctant to fly, this small, secretive bird spends most of its time hidden in dense vegetation, making sightings at Camp a privilege. Once found across many habitats, it is now restricted to the highlands of the main islands, and is classed as threatened, mainly due to introduced predators such as rats and cats.

Galapagos Hawk

A few years ago they made their mark on Galapagos Safari Camp (by killing our chickens!) but it’s been a while since anyone has seen one at Camp or in the area. A relief for the hens, but concerning for the species. Nevertheless, the Galapagos is full of surprises, so it’s always worth keeping your eyes peeled!

GALAPAGOS HAWK

Frigatebird

While commonly seen around the coasts, frigatebirds occasionally venture inland. From Camp, you may see them gliding high over the National Park. Long, angular wings and a forked tail make them easy to spot.

FRIGATEBIRDS

Galapagos Bat

Occasionally seen at dusk from our Viewpoint, flickering over the treeline. Relatively little is known about the bats of the Galapagos, and species are hard to identify in low light, but these flying mammals are insectivores that help control insect populations on the islands – including at Camp.

GALAPAGOS BAT

Insects

Look closely and you’ll discover a hidden world of insects at Galapagos Safari Camp. From delicate butterflies to camouflaged stick insects and busy grasshoppers. Far from scary or dangerous, these tiny creatures are essential to the balance of the ecosystem, yet are so often overlooked.