Doug and Gail Cheeseman

Gail and Doug Cheeseman have found leading safaris to be a fresh way of blending a desire to observe nature with a wish to inspire travelers towards the values of conservation and education. Doug turned on biology majors with zoology and ecology at De Anza College in Cupertino, California during his long career. Gail is an avid birder and naturalist, plus a meticulous coordinator of trip logistics. They both spend long hours organizing our tours and ensuring they meet our high standards. Gail and Doug lead as many trips as their schedule can accommodate, including safaris to Antarctica, Africa, and South America.

Ted Cheeseman

Ted Cheeseman caught the travel bug early, growing up amid wildlife safaris. After earning a graduate degree in conservation biology, Ted returned to California to lead and organize safaris as an avenue for turning travelers on to the beauty and value of wild lands, finding in wilderness a tonic for the soul. He recently helped found CarbonTree Conservation Fund that offers carbon offsets to make your travel carbon-neutral. Ted spends long hours organizing our tours and ensuring they meet our high standards. He leads our Antarctica and South Georgia.

Ricardo Clark

Ricardo Clark, whom we have worked with since 1992, has an extensive background in ecology and ornithology, and works constantly to protect the amazingly diverse northern Argentine native habitats near Salta, his hometown. He is the founder of Clark Expeditions, the leading operator of natural history tours in his native country. Ricardo formerly worked in the Argentine National Park Service and published a field guide to the birds of Tierra del Fuego, after spending years working in this most southern region. He is considerate, outgoing, friendly, and has great enthusiasm for high energy safaris with long days in the field with a perfect command of English. Ricardo leads our tours to Columbia.

Jim Danzenbaker

Jim Danzenbaker is an expert birder whose long naturalist and ornithological experience started when he was just a youngster birding on the New Jersey coast. One of Jim's specialties is leading birding trips to the Neotropics, especially to Panama and Guyana. He is also an ornithologist extraordinaire during our Antarctica expeditions, identifying seabirds and giving informative lectures. He has led many pelagic trips in Monterey Bay, California. People who travel with him appreciate his friendliness, enthusiasm for finding wildlife, and willingness to share information. Jim works for Kowa, who makes fantastic optics including spotting scopes and binoculars. You will have wonderful "Kowa views" when you travel with Jim!

Helder Freitas

Helder Freitas is a Brazilian biologist, ecologist and naturalist who has been guiding in Brazil for over twenty years. Helder grew up in Sao Paulo, where he studied. He received his guide license in 1990, starting off his career in Florianopolis on Brazil's Atlantic coast. For the past fifteen years he has guided in the Pantanal. He earned a degree in Biology at Centro Univeritario de Varzea Grande near Cuiabá. His knowledge of ecology, wildlife and culture is remarkable, including the bird songs of the Pantanal. He is also well versed in Brazil's economics, politics and history and speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. He leads our tours in Brazil's Pantanal.

Paco Madrigal

Paco Madrigal has 20 years experience guiding wildlife, natural history, and birding tours throughout Costa Rica. He has been leading tours for us since the early 90's. He grew up in Sarapiqui, very close to the Organization for Tropical Studies Station at La Selva. He was the first resident naturalist guide at the nearby Selva Verde Lodge Tropical Reserve. In 1989, he was selected to participate in the first intensive training course for naturalist guides, sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund and the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS). At the University of Florida he studied English and ornithology, graduating with honors. Before becoming a professional leader, Paco worked for five years at La Selva Biological Station. Paco leads our tours to Costa Rica.

Tom Murphy

Tom Murphy's photography illustrates his passionate love for our wild clean earth and his deep understanding of wildlife. He photographs wildlife as they go about their daily lives, patiently waiting for each animal to share its life with him in the wild. Tom has been offering custom photographic tours and seminars since 1986 through his company, Wilderness Photography Expeditions. Much of his work centers around Yellowstone National Park as highlighted in a PBS Nature series program, Christmas in Yellowstone and several of his books, including The Spirit of Winter: The Seasons of Yellowstone. See his beautiful photography and review his books on his website. Tom leads our Yellowstone National Park Photography Seminar and is on our staff for Antarctica and South Georgia.

Joe Ramsden

Joe Ramsden was born in the village of Maun in 1975 long before it became renowned as the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Throughout his childhood and teenage years, Joe visited Moremi Game Reserve and other parts of the Okavango Delta with his family, leaving an early impression about this special area. He developed a deep interest in wildlife behavior and Botswana's birdlife in particular and is an excellent wildlife photographer. He obtained his Botswana Professional Guide's license in 1997 and has been guiding full-time since. Joe is one of the most respected guides in the Okavango and the northern parks of Botswana. He speaks English as a first language and is also fluent in German and Setswana. Joe leads the Botswana portion of our Botswana and Zambia September 2012 safari.

Grant Reed

Grant Reed, is the author ofOkavango - Spirit of Life and narrator of From Dust to Dust - the Story of Lake Ngami. In addition to 15 years of guiding experience in five African countries, he also holds a post-graduate degree in Nature Conservation. Grant holds the highest level of guiding qualification in southern Africa (Field Guide Association of Southern Africa SKS (DA)). Grant is the owner of Letaka Safaris in Botswana and the Okavango Guiding School and does extensive guide training for all members of the tourism industry. Grant lectures both in Botswana as well as abroad, primarily on Birds and Ecology of Botswana. Grant leads the Botswana portion of our Botswana and Zambia safari.

Hugh Rose

Hugh Rose has over 20 years of professional guiding experience in Antarctica and Alaska. After a decade as a field geologist, Hugh changed course to focus on his career as a naturalist, tour leader, and freelance photographer. The vast landscapes and incredible wildlife of the polar regions are his passion, evident in his inspired expedition leadership and stunning photos. See his photography work on his website. Hugh is Expedition Leader for our Antarctic Peninsula expedition and has been a key member of our Antarctica staff since 1998 and leads all our Alaskan journeys. As one of our most popular leaders, he consistently receives unending praise for his amazing knowledge, delightful and accommodating personality, and attention to every trip detail.

Yotam Sakala

Yotam Sakala has guided in South Luangwa for five years and knows the Mfuwe mammals and birds extremely well. He participates in the Luangwa Valley Carnivore Monitoring Program and is exceptionally skilled at locating the exciting resident carnivores. Yotam loves sharing his knowledge of wildlife behavior and his excellent id skills and is highly recommended by his previous clients. He leads the Zambia portion of our Botswana and Zambia safari.

Juan Manuel Salcedo

Juan Manuel Salcedo was born and grew up in the Galápagos Islands where he developed his love and passion for observing and interpreting wildlife as a child while sailing on his father's boat. After studying in Quito, he spent a year in Los Angeles studying sailing and navigation to gain a skipper certificate. He finished his undergraduate degree at the University of San Francisco, Quito where he studied Applied Ecology, Biology and Geology. He has been involved in Environmental Education projects in the Galápagos Islands and on mainland Ecuador. Juan is pleased to lead the most in-depth voyage possible in the Galapagos for us on board his own boat, the Samba.

Luis Segura

Luis Segura started working as a naturalist guide in 1982. In I987 he moved to Patagonia where he has been organizing tours for people interested in natural history and birding. He founded his own tour company and also works with Ricardo Clark who leads many of our South American adventures. Luis has been involved in many wildlife conservation projects to save species and habitats in Argentina. A person passionate about wildlife, he is the perfect leader for our tour to the Moreno Glacier and Estancia Alice, plus Orca-watching on the Peninsula Valdes in southern Argentina.

Rajveer Singh

Rajveer Singh was born and brought up at Bharatpur near Keoladeo National Park in a wonderful family whose members are descendents of Maharajas and have always revered wildlife. He developed an in-depth interest in birds and mammals at an early age. He graduated from the University of Rajasthan, has studied nature and wildlife extensively, and has led many wildlife and birding groups throughout India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Rajveer is an excellent leader of our India tours with a lot of passion for sharing his love of India's natural and cultural history.

Debbie Thompson

Debbie Thompson is passionate about exploring and conserving wildlife and nature in all corners of our fascinating planet. She has been traveling the world with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris each year for over 20 years, soaking up as much information as Doug and Gail Cheeseman can provide. Keen about giving back to nature, she serves on two non-profit boards: CarbonTree Conservation Fund and Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. She leads our tour that snorkels with Whale Sharks on Holbox Island in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Hishey Tshering

Hishey Tshering has spent his lifetime promoting and preserving nature in Bhutan through his many guiding and conservation efforts. In the past he worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN). He also worked for the International Crane Foundation with its co-founder, George Archibald, in the first banding and radio-collaring program of Black-necked Cranes. Dedicated to birds and wildlife, Hishey still volunteers with these organizations. Attention to detail, focus on quality, and personal service have made him a very popular guide in Bhutan for over ten years. He believes in "Gross National Happiness", which he exudes during your entire visit. Hishey is not only one of the very few excellent Bhutanese birders, he is also a knowledgeable cultural guide who leads our tours in Bhutan.

Claudio Vidal

Claudio Vidal lives in Punta Arenas, Chile, and has been a birder and keen observer of all Patagonia wildlife since the age of twelve. His areas of expertise include pelagic birds and marine mammals occurring in the Humboldt Current. He is also an expert on the botany of southern Chile and is working on a field guide of all the birds of this region. One of his main concerns is saving habitats in Southern Chile. Claudio leads our facinating tour to Chile's Patagonia and Easter Island.