Courtesy of Tinyoni Safaris
If you’re traveling to a new location to find birds or other wildlife, it can be challenging to figure out the exact hotspots, or to know where to stay, or where to eat. Language can be a barrier. Transportation from one hotspot to the next can be a big problem.
A tour company, especially one that caters to birding or wildlife watching in general, can take the anxiety out of planning such a trip. The new challenge becomes choosing the right one from among the hundreds of tour companies worldwide, many of which specialize in wildlife watching. Choosing a tour company can be almost as anxiety provoking as planning an exotic vacation!
No need to sweat. Check out Blue Sky Wildlife, at www.blueskywildlife.com, which offers wildlife enthusiasts a new way to search for wildlife tours and ecotourism experiences from a global collection—focusing not just on birds, but also butterflies, mammals, even wildflowers! It’s a matchmaking service for wildlife tourists seeking a tour company.
Blue-crowned motmot, courtesy of Uncover Colombia, Colombia
The new website already lists 34 established (including award-winning) wildlife tour operators and companies offering wildlife adventuresin 24 countries, and expects to grow to more than 100 within the next 6 months. You can search for all kinds of wildlife experiences, specifying “green-minded” operations, family tours, trekking, photography, etc. You can even look for tour companies based on your target species!
Dusky dolphins, courtesy of Dolphin Encounter, New Zealand
A few examples of tours you might seek: off-the-beaten-track safaris in Namibia; swimming with dolphins in New Zealand; a half-day stroll in a Jamaican rainforest; a 30-day bird-watching tour in Uganda.
Northern bald ibis, courtesy of Spoon Trips, spain
“We were inspired to launch this website as there was nothing like this for the wildlife industry and to elevate conservation as a selection criteria for nature travelers without compromising on their overall wildlifeexperience,” said Chris Larsen of Blue Sky Wildlife. Blue Sky Wildlife is committed to sustainable eco-tourism and conservation. The company is recognized as a Birdlife Species Champion, supporting the BirdLife International’s Preventing Extinctions program. Tim Appleton MBE, who co-founded the British Birdwatching Fair 27 years ago, is also involved in the company, aiming to get the “eco” component of ecotourism balance just right.
Saddle-billed stork , courtesy of Livingstone African Safaris, Uganda
For more information, visit www.blueskywildlife.com.
About the AuthorOut There With the Birds is the official blog of Bird Watcher's Digest, featuring engaging content, commentary, and creativity from some exciting new voices. New posts appear several times a week, so please check back often!