What (Tourist) Species are You?
Do not be caught unprepared! Even long-time friends can shock when their true (travel) character appears! This group friends contains a couple of ENTHUSIASTS, a couple of GRAZERS and a few NATURE-ISTS. Can you guess who's who? Sossusvlei, Namibia Image: ©R. Kravette
By Roberta Kravette
Roberta Kravette, editor and travel specialist
We Will Travel Again
Right now, most of us are still in some form of quarantine. Whether we have private acres to roam or are sitting between the walls of a small city apartment, we can probably all agree – this is getting old.
The good news is that researchers worldwide are working overtime to find solutions and preventions for this virus. They are making progress with speed unheard of before in human history.
Simultaneously, we, the people, are getting smarter. Most of us are willingly following guidelines and taking advised precautions to keep ourselves and others safe.
The Travel Industry Is Getting Ready for Post-COVID Travel
According to a report this week from The Global Business Travel Association, stakeholders from every segment of the industry, from transportation to hospitality and beyond, completely rethink their health and safety standards. Additional cleaning is just the beginning. Masks, gloves, disinfectants, sanitizers, distancing guidelines, staff COVID training, revised service procedures, and better communication are on agendas across the board.
And so is thinking out of the box. One family-owned B&B in rural Connecticut that we have had our eye on has installed a fog-style room sanitizer as the airlines use.
Some much like with Mark Twain’s case, the report of the travel industry’s demise is greatly exaggerated!
It May Not Be Travel-Time, but It Is Plan-Time
You wouldn’t even consider a vacation that didn’t include prodigious amounts of fresh air and, hopefully, a wildlife encounter or two. Right? You’re not alone!
Nature experience travel is the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry. And wildlife viewing travel is the fastest-growing segment of the fastest-growing segment! We love nature, but hey, just like a tiger is different from a leopard, we, nature travel lovers, are also different.
Take the Challenge. How Do You Love Nature??
We’ve identified three “species” of travelers, all are nature and wildlife lovers, but, as they say, every love is different. Take the challenge. What is your nature travel style?
GRAZER, NATURE-IST, or ENTHUSIAST?
Answer these 6 questions and see!
# 1. You are:
Hiking in New York State.
Do you think he's a "cute bird"? Or did you get up a 4AM, grab binoculars, camera & species app specifically to find, identify and life-list him? In either case this yellow warbler is one of 41 types of warbler found in New York State. Image: ©Dr. Gordon Ellmers
It's approaching high noon on May 15th. You're (still) enjoying fresh air and sunshine on a semi-wooded hiking trail in upstate New York outside of Kingsbury. This is a prime stopover spot for migrating songbirds following the Atlantic Flyway from their southern winter homes to their northern breeding areas. Your guide points out the first yellow warbler of the day, it is like a drop of feathered sunshine, gorgeous, glowing, your heart lifts with its song …. however, breakfast was 6 a.m. and you have seen at least two dozen other kinds of nice birds in the last five hours. You say:
A. “That’s a male Yellow Warbler, setophaga petechia, one of 50 warbler species. This guy migrated all the way from the mangrove forests of northern South America. Let’s skip lunch and see if we can find its mate.
B. “That's a warbler? Where did he come from?
C. “Nice bird. Do they serve lunch by the pool?
# 2. You are:
On Photo Safari at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa
Do you see this as an opportunity for the ultimate face book "selfie with wildlife" post? Are you wondering who got caught on the wrong end of lunch? Or are you scanning with binoculars to calculate the cheeta's age and condition? Image: ©L.Medley
You’re on safari in South Africa taking a late afternoon game drive. Under a lone tree, hidden in the shadows the guide sees movement - it's a cheetah with fresh kill. The guide says that you may never see anything like tis again. You say,
A. “Let's wait here a couple hours. Hyenas are notorious for stealing big cat left overs, they should show up by sunset. Lets see how the cheetah responds”
B. “Is that cat a leopard or a cheetah? What’s he eating?”
C. “This will look great on Instagram! What time’s the sundowner?
# 3. You are:
Cruising the Pacific off Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Swimming with whale sharks is a great experience, but don't let their easy going attitude fool you - they are stressed by your close proximity. To protect you both - stay back a few yards (meters). The enthusiast will tell you: "this is Earth's largest living cartilaginous fish", for everyone else, it’s one of the coolest things on the planet! Image: Thanks to Dr. Simon J. Pierce and the Marine Megafauna Foundation.
The ocean waters off Isle Mujeres, Mexico are calm today as you cruise around looking for marine life. The sun is warm but slight breeze keeps you cool. Suddenly a fin appears on the surface, you see a length of yellow dots underneath it. Whale Shark! You say,
A. "Great opportunity to contribute pattern images to that Wildbook for Whale Sharks, world-wide tracking study! Glad I brought my underwater camera and snorkel gear.
B. “Whale sharks endangered right? Will they attack if we get in the water? ”
C. “Gotta get me and this whales shark on Facebook NOW – does Wi-Fi work out here?”
# 4. You are:
Catching Early Spring Saratoga County, New York
On a cold, damp, (did I mention really cold, really damp?) March day in upper New York State would you be excited enough about a beaver lodge to walk on thinning ice and grab a photo (minus gloves??) Beavers are making a strong comeback in many rural areas across the United States. FYI: They will be there when the weather gets warmer too. Image: ©R. Kravette
Spring comes late to upstate New York. You’re looking for its first signs along the slippery banks at Moreau Lake State Park, New York on the first week of April. The sky is overcast. The ice had begun to thaw and thin over the past few days but suddenly the temperature plunged to 35º F (2º C). Your hands are turning to ice but the ice cover on the lake is slush. Your guide says a storm is approaching storm and advises your group to take a fast look at the beaver lodge in the middle of a half-frozen water then start heading back. You say,
A. "What’s a storm when there is an active beaver lodge right there? The ice is probably still strong enough, I’m going out a little further to see if muskrats are sharing the lodge
B. “Beaver lodge? Think there are any kits? Are they freezing cold too?
C. “Looks like no one’s home and there’s hot chocolate back at the warm hotel.
#5. You Are On A:
Before-the-Heat Morning Photo Game Drive Namibia, Africa
You love the big cats, but you saw some earlier when it the temperature was perfect, so just how long are you willing to endure the broiling heat and discomfort - to watch a couple of young males nap in a sliver of shade? Etosha National Park, Namibia
You’re in hot, arid Namibia at the end of an early morning game drive where you caught a few good pictures of springbok, oryx and a great shot of a zebra herd, not to mention a couple of lionesses with their cubs. Now the temperature is climbing past 90 F (32 C). Cold drinks, food and the only internet connection in the last 3 days are waiting at the lodge. The land rover rounds a bend, your guide spots a couple of young male lions waiting out the heat napping, half hidden in a sliver of shade. You say,
A. “Pink noses and small manes indicate they're young males, probably brothers, who've left the pride to find their own females. They'll hunt when it gets cool, let's stay here a few more hours to see what prey they go after.”
B. “Are they a pair, can you explain why they are they alone here sleeping?”
C. “I love lions! The lodge pool is calling and we'll probably see lions on our balloon ride this (much cooler) evening!”
6. You Are:
Exploring & Camping
at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - in Winter!
Bison are great, but after an early winter morning wildlife hike in Yellowstone you are happy to be headed back to the warm, comfy lodge. But you did see bison, perhaps the most iconic wildlife image of the American West. Image: Thanks to ©KAR Photography
January in Yellowstone is cold - very, very cold. You’re insulated in super-duper scientifically approved Arctic exploration gear, but three hours into a snowshoe hike the cold is starting to freeze the only thing left exposed on your body: your eyeballs. The guide and one member of your group thinks this is a great place to camp out. You say,
A. “We are witnessing a scene thousands of years old: the largest land mammal in North America. We may hear wolves tonight too and see Milky Way. I could camp out here all week!
B. “I'll bet the stars will be gorgeous tonight, glad we have insulated sleeping bags”
C. “Even that buffalo looks cold, the lodge has a sauna, and indoor plumbing - I'm ready. Now”
Get the picture? Tally up your score and see which wildlife traveler you are - then keep it handy to test any potential travel companions - before you take your leap into nature!
So What Kind of Wildlife Traveler are You?
4 or more “C”answers?
You’re a
GRAZER!
Kids are grazers by default. our trip to see the model train exhibit at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden lasted 10 minutes (3 tickets $50) but, (free) trails to explore, rocks to climb and the kid's garden kept our 6-year old pal busy for over 5 hours. ©Image: R.Kravette
Grazers: all about timing and varied experiences -
lots of them please!
You want to see wildlife but also try everything else available in a very specific allotted time: Animals, birds, museums, amusements, shopping, sports, great dinning and nightlife - everything! Wi-Fi is not a perk it's a necessity. Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat etc. keep your friends updated on your adventures.
Grazers: energetic, easily bored and always ready for what's next.
Traveling with Grazers?
Get set to run! You’ll experience everything the area offers in record time and be planning your next vacation destination before you've checked out of the hotel! Kids are natural Grazers, so always have a Plan B, C, D ... list of what's next.
4 or more “B” answers?
You’re a
Nature-ist!
Thats me in Ethiopia. I came to see wildlife and Somehow found myself climbing a mountain path outside Lalibela with 2 mules, two guides and another solo traveling woman I met in the hotel restaurant. It was great! Image: ©Destination:WIldlife
Nature-ist: enjoys the adventure as it unfolds.
You're curious, you ask a lot of questions and want to be educated about your destination especially the little details that make it special. You’re excited about what nature offers; sure you’d like to see a black rhino on safari but if not – well, you can’t schedule nature! You’re excited about those meerkats and elephants and a funny kind of bug that you did see. And you learned about them too from that great local guide. If you are like me you also like to get back to civilization (read:hotel with plumbing) in the evening to relax, remember and process the day's adventures.
Nature-ists relax into the environment. They are curious, flexible, amateur naturalists and probably "people" collectors. Tell a Natur-ist a story about the person, place or thing and you have them hooked.
Traveling with a Naturist?
Be open to the moment. You won’t see everything you planned but will have memories of things you never dreamed of and come home relaxed, refreshed and with a greater understanding of the habitat, wildlife and cultures you encountered. You’ll also enjoy good local food and accommodations, and probably collect the life stories of a few new friends.
4 or more “A” answers?
Enthusiast!!
Remember that group up top? This is hours later in +100F (+38C). That wavey effect on the image is heat. while the rest of us finally got out of direct sun, these three continued up the highest dune in Sossusvlei, Namibia. when they recovered they told us why the sand was red, what kind of beetle they saw, and how old the salt flats were. Yup: Enthusiasts all three! Image: ©R. Kravette
Enthusiasts: They don't just "plan" - they research!
You have specific goals for specific destinations: Not just any elephant, the Namibian desert elephant; not just any bird, a returning yellow rumped warbler. You know every stat (or will find out fast!) and will forgo food, dry clothes and a comfortable bed to see what you came for. You also have the coolest equipment and a life list of adventures and sightings. And you tend to speak a slightly different language then the rest of us more laid back nature explorers.
For an Enthusiast:
No mountain is too high, no valley too low, no weather too hot, cold or wet, no equipment too complicated to keep the Enthusiasts from their goal.
Traveling with an Enthusiast ?
You may come home 10 pounds thinner and with frostbite or moldy clothes, but with a whole new world opened up. You’ll see and understand things in a way you could never have imagined. And you will have enough obscure fun-facts to impress the socks off your Grazer and Nature-ist friends at every coffee brake and cocktail party for the next year.
What ever travel species you are:
Happy Exploring!
Turns out all of us, grazers, Nature-ists, and enthusiasts, are like-minded on the issue of the sundowner. the rest of the gang was right behind us. Swakopmund, Namibia. Image: ©R. Kravette
Follow Us
MORE
STOP -LOOK-LISTEN
A Granddad’s game teaches young kids to “see” nature. By Les Medley
Kayaking with Alligators in Big Cyprus National Preserve
By Roberta Kravette
Charged by A Grizzly Bear! How the Bear, My Dog and I Survived. By Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven