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On all our Wildlife Encounters you will be accompanied by a highly qualified and experienced wildlife host, who will provide you with the best possible nature travel experience. Specially selected for their knowledge about the destinations and resident wildlife, they will share their passion for nature with you ensuring you enjoy your holiday to the full.
Our hosts will provide expert knowledge on the flora and fauna of the variety of destinations visited and ensure customers get the most from their experience by giving wildlife watching tips and information on the species and their habitats.They will give evening presentations to prepare the group for the next day and recap on the day’s wildlife events. They will also lead all included excursions from boat safaris and dawn bird-watching walks to nocturnal mammal-watching trips.
Having studied at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Mike went on to teach ecology at Audubon School in Maine. Focusing on Atlantic marine ecoysystems and mammals, particularly whales and dolphins, Mike was inspired to pursue a career in expedition guiding and nature education.
Mike has guided extensively in Baja, the Everglades, Churchill and the Caribbean. These adventures, combined with his passion for educating others, have helped Mike become an experienced and knowledgeable wildlife host.
Eric was employed as a field researcher for many of Alaska’s diverse animal species in 1989 and has been living there ever since. He has studied river otters in Prince William Sound, sea birds of the Pribilof Islands and the breeding biology of waterfowl on the Yukon River Delta. Other research projects have included the winter ecology of Alaska’s small mammals and the breeding biology of Alaskan moose and reindeer herds.
He has also been the head naturalist at Kantishna Roadhouse Lodge in Denali National Park. In addition to his long-term dedication for expeditions in Alaska and Canada, Eric finds time to work as a freelance documentary photographer.
Astrid trained as a biologist at Mexico’s National University and has been leading natural history expeditions since 1991. For years, she has introduced wildlife enthusiasts to her country’s most remarkable wildlife and wild places; from the monarch butterfly sanctuaries of central Mexico to sea turtle nesting sites in the south and the humpback whales of Banderas Bay.
When she’s not working in the field she is actively involved in humpback whale conservation and research in her home city of Puerto Vallarta.
An outdoor enthusiast born and raised on the Canadian prairies, Jill attended the University of Manitoba where she completed a degree in kinesiology, with a major in pedagogical studies and a focus on outdoor pursuits, before completing a Bachelor of Education degree.
Jill began leading wildlife holidays in Churchill, a region known for its polar bears and beluga whales. Since then she has led natural history expeditions to the Canadian Arctic, Greenland and the Norwegian archipelago, Svalbard.
Ornithologist and wildlife guide Chris has spent 30 years birdwatching around the world, including the Antarctic, America, Australia, Asia and Africa.
During the 1980s he made annual trips to Fair Isle to study seabird migration and he has gained extensive knowledge of the birds and natural history of the British Isles, Australia and the Galapagos Islands.
Marcus has over 20 years’ experience as a consultant ecologist and in his current role as Director of MKA Ecology Ltd, he leads a team concerned with the interface between ecology and sustainable development, and with international eco-tourism.
He has been escorting tours focusing on ornithology and natural history for over ten years in locations as diverse as central Africa, Thailand and Peru. His great love of birds and mammals is combined with a vast amount of knowledge about reptiles and plants, which he shares during a weekly slot on local BBC radio as a country wildlife expert.
An early interest in birds and wildlife led Ian to pursue a career in professional ecology. After graduating with a Masters degree in ecology and environmental management from the University of York, Ian spent the following two years undertaking crossbill research for the RSPB and on water vole conservation for the University of Oxford.
Ian has travelled widely, specialising in neotropical and oriental wildlife, and has escorted wildlife tours in Costa Rica.
Christoph, who received his doctorate at Aberdeen University, has been active in conservation work, awareness raising and environmental education with the WWF since his student days. Currently he is working freelance mostly for the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge.
In addition he is also working for several species conservation projects and as a wildlife tour leader. In the last 12 years his main area of interest has been the Arctic region and migratory water birds, but he has travelled all over the world to more than 60 countries, mostly in Asia and Africa. |
