COPPINGER DOGS SAFARI
COPPINGER DOGS SAFARI – GAMBIA 2027
An educational and observational expedition into the world of free-ranging dogs
Imagine a place where dogs live according to their natural instincts – without leashes, commands, or human cultural expectations. Where their daily decisions, relationships, and emotions are clear, logical, and deeply rooted in evolution. - The Gambia is such a place.
We invite you to the unique COPPINGER DOGS SAFARI – a 12-day, intimate educational and observational expedition, during which you will see dogs completely differently. This experience will change the way you think about domestic dog behavior and allow you to better understand the one you share your life with.
This isn't just a tourist trip. It's a journey into the depths of canine nature – and your own understanding of dogs.
What will you gain by participating?
- You will learn about the evolution of domestic dogs – you will learn how and why dogs evolved from wolves, the different behavioral types, and how free-roaming dog populations function.
- You will understand the social structure and territoriality of dogs by observing real-life groups living in The Gambia.
- You'll learn a dog's ethogram – a structured description of behaviors and their meanings.
- You'll learn to read dog language: communication signals, their function in social relationships and everyday communication.
- You'll explore dogs' emotionality and learning processes – mammalian emotional systems, the importance of early experiences and social bonds.
- You'll understand what shapes a dog's adaptation and behaviour by learning the LEGS (Learning, Environment, Genetics, Self) concept.
- You'll apply your knowledge of free-roaming dogs to understanding the most common issues in dog-to-dog and dog-to-human relationships in Western culture.
What safari program includes?
- Educational activities in the form of presentations and workshops.
- Morning, afternoon, and evening observations of selected groups of free-roaming dogs – with an emphasis on communication and social dynamics.
- Workshop analyses of video recordings collected during the observations.
- Ongoing tutoring by COAPE lecturers and support from local guides.
- Accommodation in a comfortable guesthouse. Full board, including traditional Gambian cuisine prepared on-site (with dietary preferences taken into account).
- Discover local traditions and customs, including culinary ones.
- Trips to the most interesting places in Gambia: Banjul and Albert Market, Kachikally Crocodile Pool, Bijilo Forest Park.
- Optional excursions: Makasutu Cultural Forest, Kunta Kinteh Island and Albreda, birdwatching.
- Evening gatherings at beach bars and restaurants accompanied by live African music.
Organizational Information
The safari is organized by COAPE Polska in cooperation with Gambia Dog Project
Number of participants: maximum 12 people
Duration: 12 days
Time: January 2027
Price: XXX EUR
The price includes: the program, tutoring, accommodation, meals, airport transfers, transportation for dog watching, and local excursions.
The price does not include: flights and travel insurance, optional excursions, entrance fees, private transfers, and informal meetings.
How to participate in the Coppinger Dogs Safari?
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Information about Coppinger Dogs Safari lecturers and guides
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Safari dedicated to the memory of Raymond and Lorna Coppinger
COPPINGER DOGS SAFARI is a tribute to Professor Raymond Coppinger and his wife Lorna Coppinger – founders of the modern evolutionary theory of dog origins. Their work explains how dogs evolved from wolves, how human-driven selection influenced their appearance and behavior, and why dogs have enjoyed such remarkable evolutionary success. Free-ranging dogs described by Ray and Lorna Coppinger in their pioneering work, including 'Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution', are sometimes informally referred to as 'Coppinger dogs'.
Professor Ray Coppinger was a lecturer in the School of Cognitive Science at Hampshire College (USA) and spent his life researching dogs – their biology, evolution, and adaptation, with a particular focus on sled dogs and cooperation with humans in Arctic conditions. He has led courses and seminars worldwide and has also been a lecturer at the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology (COAPE), with his last seminar taking place in Poland in 2016.