Sojourn | Sovereign Magazine Summer 2022

A WORLD OF BIRDS
Antigua’s number one bird spot, Frigate Bird Sanctuary, is only
reachable with a short boat trip. Tucked away in a vast mangrove
lagoon on the neighbouring island of Barbuda, there are over
170 species of birds to observe here, including one of the world’s
largest colonies of frigate birds.
The most extraordinary bird species are the magnificent frigatebirds,
also known as the man o’war bird, which are instantly identifiable
thanks to their impressive wingspan, which can be up to eight
feet in length, not to mention their giant size. Given that they can
comfortably soar in the sky for long periods at a time, they are easy
to observe.
The male frigate boasts a red throat pouch, which he can inflate
when feeling threatened, or as part of his mating dance, which
you can see between the mating season from September to April.
These same birds migrate to the Galapagos Islands each year.
Aside from frigates you’ll also be able to spot pelicans and terns
on the beach, as well as the endemic tropical mockingbird, the
Christmas bird. If you’re lucky, you may even spot the rare and
endangered West Indian whistling tree duck or Barbuda warbler.
Nesting Frigate Bird
SWIM WITH STINGRAYS
You’ve heard of swimming with wild dolphins, but what
about stingrays?
The fact they have the word sting in their name, you may think
of stingrays as fierce sea creatures, yet the southern rays found
in Antigua are friendly and gentle - and definitely worthy of
spending time with during your holiday.
Start your wildlife adventure with a five minute speedboat ride
zipping through the country’s offshore islands, before you reach
Stingray City, located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. This is a
non-enclosed area of shallow, clear warm waters where you can
see down to the white sandy seabed, which is surrounded by coral
reefs and tropical fish.
Stingrays come to this spot as they are attracted by the sound
and vibrations of the boat, knowing that they’ll receive a free
feed of calamari!
“Stingray City is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
I will never forget meeting one of my favourite
animals, the angelic southern stingray, in the crystalclear
waters of their natural habitat. They’re free to
come and go as they please but they are incredibly
friendly and want to come and say hello.”
Ellie Harding
Marketing Executive, Sovereign Luxury Travel
Once your boat has been moored, with a guide always by your
side you can step into the water from a wooden floating platform,
where a fever of wild stingrays will glide in to greet you in their
natural environment. Female stingrays are the largest, spanning
three feet long.
Green Lizard
Despite being related to sharks, stingrays aren’t aggressive. They
have a venomous barb at the base of their tails, but stingrays
will only sting if they’ve been stepped on or feel threatened. Your
guides will teach you how to be careful in their presence and
to walk on the seabed in a ‘stingray shuffle’ - where you shuffle
without lifting your feet. The southern stingrays at Stingray City
are used to having visitors gently swim around them, so any risk
is minimal.
You can choose to stand, snorkel or swim with the stingrays, and
can even feed or touch them - plus you’ll probably be surprised
by just how accommodating the rays are to selfies!
While snorkelling, you may also get to witness shoals of small
barracudas, boxfish, and jacks.
After rinsing off the ocean under a convenient shower, enjoy a
rum punch to end a fabulous day out.
A 7 night holiday in Antigua, staying at COCOS Hotel, starts from £2,199 per person.
Speak to one of our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765004
Summer 2022
so Journ