Paradise Travel
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Birdwatching and Wildlife

Birdwatching and wildlife travel, close enough to hear it.

Birdwatching and wildlife travel is about being in the right spot at the right hour with the right guide. Get any of the three wrong and you're looking at an empty field.

I plan wildlife trips around the animal you came for. The season it shows up, the guide who knows where, and a small ship or camp that gets you there before the crowds.

Where I plan wildlife trips

The Galápagos

Blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, sea lions and giant tortoises that don't run from you. Small ships with naturalist guides are the way to see it. Silversea and Aqua Expeditions both sail here, and I'm certified with Silversea.

Antarctica and the Arctic

Penguin colonies, whales and seabirds in Antarctica. Polar bears, walrus and seabird cliffs in the Arctic. PONANT sails both regions with Le Commandant Charcot and its polar ships, and I'm a certified PONANT Explorations Expert.

Alaska

Bald eagles, humpback whales, bears along the rivers. I'm a certified Alaska specialist with two cruise lines.

The Amazon

Hundreds of bird species, river dolphins and monkeys, seen from a small expedition ship on the Peruvian Amazon. Aqua Expeditions is a line I book there.

African safari

Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa. Botswana's Okavango Delta is a birder's dream, and the Masai Mara puts you in the middle of the migration in season.

Why small ships and small camps

Wildlife doesn't wait for a big group to get off a bus. A small ship lands fewer people at a time, which means more time ashore and quieter landings. A small safari camp means a guide who adjusts the day to what you want to see.

Many of these voyages carry naturalists and scientists aboard, so the briefings make the next morning better.

Is a wildlife trip right for you?

It fits you if

  • You'd get up at dawn to see one bird.
  • You want naturalist guides, not a narrated bus.
  • You're happy trading nightlife for early mornings outdoors.

It's not the best fit if

  • You need a guaranteed sighting. Wildlife doesn't promise.
  • You get badly seasick and the trip is ship-based. I'll steer you to a land option.
  • You'd rather not get in a Zodiac or a safari vehicle.

Questions

Questions I get asked

The Galápagos is a year-round destination. December through May brings warmer water and calmer seas. June through November is cooler, with more marine life and active seabird colonies.

Curious travelers who want to learn as much as see. Birders, photographers, grandparents taking grandkids, and anyone who's watched the documentaries and wants to be there.

If you need a schedule that never changes, wildlife trips can frustrate you. Weather and animals set the day.

Timing is everything, and the right ship or camp fills early. I match the season to the animals you care about and pick the ship size that gets you the most time ashore.

Bring a better pair of binoculars than you planned on. It changes the whole trip.

Seven nights in the Galápagos, ten or more for Antarctica, and seven to ten for an African safari across two or three camps.

Twelve to eighteen months for Antarctica and peak safari season. Nine to twelve months for the Galápagos and Alaska.

Expedition cruises and safari camps include most meals, guiding and excursions, and some include flights in the region. I quote each trip directly and show you the real total, not a base fare.

You'll connect through a hub like Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver or Dallas. The Galápagos goes through Ecuador. Antarctica usually goes through Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, and some voyages include the charter flight to the ship.

Tell me the animal you've always wanted to see. I'll find where and when.

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I reply within one business day.

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