Herping adventures in Okinawa, and the idea it could be actually quite awesome, had lured yet another unsuspecting couple into my grasp. They were on good hands, yet none of us could have even imagined the extent of awesomeness we were about to witness. Okinawa sped past. An urban metropolis transitioned slowly to villages and greens, flat lands morphed into green rolling hills. After meeting my clients at the airport, we made our way north through the island’s ever-thickening foliage, eventually reaching our accommodation nestled deep within the Yambaru forest. I had collected my latest clients who had opted to join me as I delved deep into the secrets of the Yambaru, seeking out illusive wildlife, drinking in the nectar of this special and wild place. Stopping off along the way to check on the progress of the Iris flower blooms in the Ogimi region, our thoughts were never far from what was to be. 

The energy was high as we unpacked gear and ran through our first checks. There’s always a nervous excitement in that space between arrival and the first proper outing of what would become a monumental herping adventure in Okinawa. By late afternoon, we stepped out into the softening light, taking our first walk along a river whose banks I’ve come to know intimately over the years. The air was heavy with humidity and promise. What had started out as slight mist had rolled into quite the fog, but spirits remained high. 

Then, as if scripted, the wildlife of northern Okinawa revealed one of its most elusive players. Coiled along the forest floor, unbothered and regal, lay an Okinawa Coral Snake. I’d waited eight years for a moment like this—fleeting glimpses in the past never affording the time or space for a proper study. Yet here it was, calm and steady, offering itself to our lenses. Remarkably, this wouldn’t be our only encounter with the species on this trip. Clicking away we were all so focused on this incredible encounter that we only realized, when I almost landed an elbow on an Andersons Crocodile Newt who came walking into our impromptu encounter with the Coral Snake, that  we were in the presence of two of Okinawa's holy grail species, and this, on the first walk of the planned herping adventures in Okinawa for this trip. We could never have imagined what lay in store for us.

Our following day was a test of terrain and temperament as we set out in search of two specific target species, namely the Okinawa Rail and Ishikawa’s Frog, the latter being one of the most illusive of critters to locate. The forest was wet, the weather had turned south and covered the hills with mist and slight precipitation. Herping adventures in Okinawa? No one ever said they would take place under a blazing sun, or a cloudless night. While the main rains were holding off the need for some slight protection to camera gear was the order of the morning. An old rain jacket done the trick. I drive with the windows down when traversing the jungle roads, listening to the unmistakable call of the ‘Yambaru Kuina’ the local name for the Okinawa Rail. Approaching our target spot for these iconic and flightless megapodes the light was sufficient for stills photography without too extravagant settings. There’s something to be said about the look on a clients face as they snag imagery of one of the Worlds rarest of bird species taking a morning bath in a mangrove lagoon just feet from their camera lens. I think we ticked that one off the list.

Later that same afternoon, as darkness approached and the world dampened into chorus and shadow, we found not one but several Ishikawa’s Frogs. Each was a gem—some vivid emerald green, others a deep, ethereal blue, and one that couldn't make up its mind which of these two incredible morphs to adopt. For my clients, photographing both species in a single day was surreal. For me, it was another reminder of the profound depth of biodiversity that defines the wildlife of northern Okinawa. Herping adventures in Okinawa often reveal some of the most incredible imaging opportunities with some of the world's rarest and most endangered species, many of them found nowhere else on earth. 

As days merged into each other our continuing adventure soon reflected on my thoughts to planning such adventures. My loosely planned itinerary had basically gone out of the window, as it normally does, and in doing so reinforcing that one key to having an incredible experience in the wilds of Okinawa. And that is to allow nature dictate the course of events. It’s less about the tick-list and more about breathing it all in. One sighting leads to another and another and so forth. Without limiting aspects of the adventure to timed guidelines allow for the natural flow of the experience to play out at natures pace. With memories already etched into memory cards and minds, we revisited a few favorite spots and walked slowly, absorbing rather than chasing. This wasn’t about being leading or guiding—it never is on these trips. Instead, my approach has always been simple: I go out to photograph the nature of Okinawa, and those who join me get to see and shoot what I see and shoot. There’s a shared authenticity in that rhythm—no forced itineraries, no targets, just observation and experience. The wildlife of northern Okinawa unfolds naturally if you're willing to slow down and look.

The green rolling hills of the Yambaru, cloaked in a veil of mist. Weather dictates the adventures, not loosely contrived trip itineraries.

Despite a few challenges with the weather—passing showers, low light, slippery trails—spirits remained unshaken. My clients summed it up best: Okinawa had exceeded even their wildest dreams. From the frequency of sightings to the sheer diversity and overall health of the habitats we moved through, the island’s offerings felt almost too good to be true. They were particularly struck by the feeling that this place, often overlooked, held some of the richest biodiversity they’d ever witnessed. In the end, it’s not about perfect conditions—it’s about showing up, staying curious, and letting the landscape and its wild inhabitants do the rest. And in that regard, herping adventures in Okinawa never disappoint. You should really come and experience it for yourselves!

For this recent adventure our species encountered list was as follows, in no certain order:

• Okinawa Coral Snake
• Andersons Crocodile Newt
• Tip Nosed Frog
• Ryukyu Kajika Frog
• Ornate Narrow Mouth Frog
• Wild Pig
• Ryukyu Odd Tooth Snake
• Ryukyu Odd Scale Snake
• Namyies Frog
• Holsts Frog

If this kind of immersive, authentic encounter with nature speaks to you, I invite you to join me on one of my many herping adventures in Okinawa. For the most part these are bespoke insofar that I adjust to your schedule if that is possible given my additional work as an established photographer here in Okinawa. It’s not about checking boxes—it’s about slowing down, getting low, and letting the wildlife of northern Okinawa reveal itself in its own time. There’s always another story waiting in the undergrowth.

Snakes were definitely the main theme of the trip it seemed as my clients encountered no less than seven of the nine main serpent species in Okinawa.

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