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Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris Tour LeadersCheesemans Ecology Safaris carefully selects leaders who are tops in their field to insure that your experience is the best it can be. We also provide a complete support staff on our larger expedtions. Your trip itinerary names your expedition leader.
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. Gail and Doug lead as many trips as their schedule can accommodate, including Antarctica, Africa, and Argentina tours.
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 organizes tours and leads our Antarctica and South Georgia and Svalbard Islands tours.
Karen Baird and Chris Gaskin have been leading amazing wildlife-rich adventures for Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris since 2001. To add to their great expertise in guiding, they are both very important professionals in the fields of biology, ecology, and ornithology, working to keep New Zealand's fauna vibrant. They have worked in Hauraki Gulf area doing research into seabirds as well as diving for the New Zealand Department of Conservation on the proposed marine reserve around the Great Barrier Island. With Karen and Chris as your guides on our New Zealand tour you will meet many locals who are working for the protection of nature. The local people, or "Kiwis," are fantastically friendly.
Solomon Berhe has been a professional guide in Ethiopia for 13 years, leading tours for his own company and for other international bird and natural history companies. He has a detailed knowledge of bird identification and behavior and his skill in tracking down the more elusive species is exceptional. Solomon obtained a degree in science at Addis Ababa University that he puts to good use saving native habitats in Ethiopia and encouraging all who are interested in supporting beneficial development, including improving water quality and providing better equipment in schools. He has a wonderful personality that will shine during our Ethiopia tour.
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 Argentina and Brazil. Return to top
Tonia Cochran is our resident guide and leader of our tour to Australia. She grew up and lives in Australia where she received a BS degree in zoology and botany, and a PhD in zoololgy. Tonia has been involved in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic scientific research since 1985. She is heavily involved with the conservation of threatened species and works as a consultant on a number of projects. Her wide-ranging academic and teaching background, and her passion for conservation have formed an invaluable basis for her career in the tourism industry. She is committed to promoting a tourism industry that is ecologically sustainable and educational.
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. 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!
Etienne (ET) De Backer, with a doctorate in biology plus a decade of work experience in his native Belgium, set out in his mid-30's to explore the world. His adventures took him across the seven continents, finally settling in the Galapagos Islands in 1985. Since that time ET has been a licensed guide or expedition leader on nearly every yacht in the Galapagos. He speaks five languages. Elizabeth (Ely) Coral-De Backer, was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador. After college in 1980 she permanently moved to these islands. Ely worked for the Galapagos National Park on the introduced plant eradication programs and at the Charles Darwin Research Station. She began guiding in 1982 and is fluent in four languages and conversational in four more. They lead our tours to the Galapagos Islands.
Fraser Gear was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. After school, he followed his interests in conservation by rehabilitating habitats on private game reserves surrounding Kruger National Park. His extensive time in the field as a naturalist led him to guiding as a career and to becoming one of the few qualified game trackers in South Africa. He has an in-depth knowledge of birds, mammals, and reptiles in Madagascar. Fraser leads our Madagascar tour where he will spend quality time with the mammals, herps and invertebrates, as well as the birds and endemic flora.
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 full-time professional leader, Paco worked for five years at La Selva Biological Station. Paco leads our tours to Costa Rica. Return to top
Ryan Phillips fell in love with wildlife at a very early age as he accompanied his mother during her studies of wildlife at home and abroad. He later earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of California, Davis, in Wildlife and Conservation Biology with a specialization in Ornithology. While in college, Ryan worked at the California Raptor Center studying and caring for raptors. After graduating, he moved to Belize for 4 years to work for The Peregrine Fund on the Belize Harpy Eagle Restoration Project. Currently, he teaches ornithology and conservation biology at De Anza College in California and continues to research raptors as the Executive Director of Belize Raptor Research Institute, which he founded. Ryan's long passion for wildlife will energize you during our Belize tour.
Grant Reed, Director of Letaka Safaris, is the author ofOkavango - Spirit of Life and narrator of From Dust to Dust - the Story of Lake Ngami. In addition to his 15 years of guiding experience in five African countries, he also holds a post-graduate degree in Nature Conservation and is working on his PhD. 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 our tours to Botswana.
Hishey Tshering, the owner of Bhutan Birding and Heritage Travels, is based in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. He began guiding wildlife tours in 1999 and his knowledge of Bhutan birds and culture is second to none. He keeps his focus on quality and personal service during every tour. He believes in the concept of "Gross National Happiness", which he exudes from the moment he meets you until you depart. He on the Board of the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN), the only environmental NGO in Bhutan. He also worked with the International Crane Foundation and their co-founder, George Archibald. In 1998 he assisted them in the first banding and radio collaring program of Black-necked Cranes to study their migration routes. Hishey leads our tours in Bhutan.
Edward Rooks is our wonderful Trinidadian leader, naturalist, and artist. From a very early age he pursued this interest intensely, producing beautiful paintings of birds and other wildlife. Although residing in the San Francisco Bay Area now, Edward is an expert on Trinidadian wildlife as well as an outstanding member of our Antarctica staff. With his artistic eye he will take you to scenic places for great photography, as well as to wonderful habitats for birds, mammals, and the amazing Leatherback Turtles during our Trinidad and Tobago tour. Edward is also a naturalist and teacher of drawing workshops during our Antarctica expeditions. Take a look at some of his beautiful artwork on his website.
Hugh Rose has guided Alaska trips since 1991 with unending praise for his true talents as an expert guide, birder, geologist, and professional photographer. He has pursued and nature and photography of the northern climates and Alaska most of his life, and still does to this day. Drawn by Alaska's natural beauty, he left a 10-year career in geology to explore its vast landscapes and unique wildlife. Hugh also shares his unique talents during photo seminars during our Antarctica expeditions. He is a top-notch professional photographer, see his work on his website.
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 our tour in Zambia 2010 Return to top Updated in January 2010
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