Note: This is outdated. We are now running Frantic Naturalist Tours and Safaris as a full tour company in Namibia.
Our company, Frantic Naturalist Tours and Safaris, is up and running. We are only doing bookings at the moment, but will later start to do tours and other interesting things.
I have created two new websites and will be blogging there. As a result, at least for the time being, I will no longer post anything here.
My new websites is:
See Namibia
See Namibia is a website that I am putting up as much information about Namibia as I can. The main aim is to put up a lot of nature related information. I have two main threads, a blog [you can subscribe here ] and a topics section [ to which you can also subscribe ]. Have a look and send me feedback if you like. We take tour bookings for self-drive and fly around trips through the website. I may clean up and re-publish some of the old favorites from this site there. I don't want to make See Namibia 'all business' and hope that some of my interest and personality comes through. You don't start a company called Frantic Naturalist if you don't plan to have a little fun?
Sandcurves
Sandcurves is a purely personal blog where I will jabber about things like programming and birding, raising kids, working out and any old stuff. It might be rather boring. I'm not to worried about feedback, but if you want to have a chat or get to know me a little better, that's the place. You can subscribe there too if you like.
Random African Bush Stories
African Bush Stories will keep going as it does now... when I find any interesting story, I'll put it up. Please, please, if you have any adventures in the African bush that needs to be told, I'm very keen for guest posts on that site. You can get a link back, or, if you happen to be in Windhoek, I'll buy you a cup of coffee. Write to me at vernon@see-namibia.com. You can, of course, also subscribe to African Bush Stories.
Twitter
You can follow me on Twitter - @Namibnat. I tweet as much about my kids and the weather as I do interesting thing, but hey, sometimes I think there are gems in there.
You are all super cool people for reading and subscribing to this blog (at the time of posting this, the blog has 42 subscribers...for a blog called "frantic naturalist" that's good going.) I've got some work from it, so that's great. I learned a lot. I had fun. It is really thanks to the links and recommendations.
Thanks
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Showing posts with label frantic naturalist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frantic naturalist. Show all posts
Website Update
I have just uploaded my website after making a fair amount of changes to it. There is still a lot to do, but I am not in a rush.
If you subscribe, you can also have a look at the blog, because I have done a number of changes here over the last few weeks, so if you haven't seen what it looks like, come over. Share this post
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If you subscribe, you can also have a look at the blog, because I have done a number of changes here over the last few weeks, so if you haven't seen what it looks like, come over. Share this post
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Nature Tours
Nature Tours - my definition and thoughts
Look up 'nature tours' in Wikipedia and there isn't yet a page. Same with 'naturalist tours.' But it's a concept already well used in the industry and with travelers. Perhaps the reason why it isn't well defined is that the term 'nature tours' means different things to different people. It's a broad concept, and would have to include day tour operators, operators of various adventure activities, lodges or even hotel organized activities or outings, and then long 'safari' type tours, usually either camping or in lodges or other accommodation.
It's an idea that interests me a lot and I think it's an important phrase in the tourism industry. To me the idea of nature tours or naturalist tours is a completely different concept than 'ecotourism'.
The ideas are not mutually exclusive. They just mean different things. Without wishing to define ecotourism, I do think the term is used to mean almost anything related to how 'green' a tour company wishes to portray itself. I think the term ecotourism is used as a marketing trick often. Even some big companies that used the term in the past are now being very cautious about calling themselves 'ecotourism operators.' Perhaps through misuse, it has lost a lot of it's initial meaning.
Nature tours or Naturalist tours on the other hand are much better terms. They don't carry as much power for marketing. Just have a look at Google Trends. If you compare the frequency of use of the term nature tours to ecotourism, it is clear that nature tours isn't a big search term. In other words, people don't go onto the Internet much and look for the phrase 'nature tours' all that often.
It's not 'green' and that is possibly another reason why it hasn't become a buzz term. In terms of 'green' ethics, though, I think that people who have had the experience of visiting and experiencing nature are going to care for it much more than those who sit at home and count carbon-thingi-me-nots.
I do think, however, that it is a valuable term. Because it hasn't become a fashion, the use of the term usually conveys a genuine attitude about the way a company does it's tours.
I have been using the term 'nature tours' for a long time. And if you start to look through websites it is really clear that some companies focus clearly nature, and others band about cliches. Usually tour companies with a strong focus on taking people out in nature will use the phrase 'nature tours' almost right away on their website. On those that don't, despite the fact that they may take you out into areas where you are clearly out in nature, their focus is not on interpreting nature. They are less likely to call their guides 'naturalists.'
Characteristics of a nature tour guide:
The nature tour companies would often offer things like walking trips, canoeing, flora type trips and other specialist type experiences. I think one good question would be "is this tour something that would be interesting even at home." Just think about how boring a regular, ill informed, textbook quoting guide would be if he took you out in your home region. But go out to the forests, lakes, hills, and parks with a local naturalist guide, and it is an interesting experience.
Another thing about 'nature tours' or 'naturalist tours' is that they are not always offered by a 'tour company.' They may be a club outing or a trip organized by a museum or university.
These are just my thoughts on the subject. Perhaps I am wrong? Are the term 'nature tours' and 'naturalist tours' well defined in the industry? Are they used as buzzwords today? I don't think so. But I would love to hear what you say about that.
If it strikes your fancy, leave me a comment or write me an email I am, of course, very interested in the subject. It's basically my life, my career. Write a section for Wikipedia called 'nature tours'. I certainly hope the phrase comes more into prominence in the market as people look for a more genuine experience and avoid the factory style tourism (tourist in, feed them, point at five things (like lions,) mumble some boring facts, a joke, a drink, send them packing, collect the money.) Share this post
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Look up 'nature tours' in Wikipedia and there isn't yet a page. Same with 'naturalist tours.' But it's a concept already well used in the industry and with travelers. Perhaps the reason why it isn't well defined is that the term 'nature tours' means different things to different people. It's a broad concept, and would have to include day tour operators, operators of various adventure activities, lodges or even hotel organized activities or outings, and then long 'safari' type tours, usually either camping or in lodges or other accommodation.
It's an idea that interests me a lot and I think it's an important phrase in the tourism industry. To me the idea of nature tours or naturalist tours is a completely different concept than 'ecotourism'.
The ideas are not mutually exclusive. They just mean different things. Without wishing to define ecotourism, I do think the term is used to mean almost anything related to how 'green' a tour company wishes to portray itself. I think the term ecotourism is used as a marketing trick often. Even some big companies that used the term in the past are now being very cautious about calling themselves 'ecotourism operators.' Perhaps through misuse, it has lost a lot of it's initial meaning.
Nature tours or Naturalist tours on the other hand are much better terms. They don't carry as much power for marketing. Just have a look at Google Trends. If you compare the frequency of use of the term nature tours to ecotourism, it is clear that nature tours isn't a big search term. In other words, people don't go onto the Internet much and look for the phrase 'nature tours' all that often.
It's not 'green' and that is possibly another reason why it hasn't become a buzz term. In terms of 'green' ethics, though, I think that people who have had the experience of visiting and experiencing nature are going to care for it much more than those who sit at home and count carbon-thingi-me-nots.
I do think, however, that it is a valuable term. Because it hasn't become a fashion, the use of the term usually conveys a genuine attitude about the way a company does it's tours.
I have been using the term 'nature tours' for a long time. And if you start to look through websites it is really clear that some companies focus clearly nature, and others band about cliches. Usually tour companies with a strong focus on taking people out in nature will use the phrase 'nature tours' almost right away on their website. On those that don't, despite the fact that they may take you out into areas where you are clearly out in nature, their focus is not on interpreting nature. They are less likely to call their guides 'naturalists.'
Characteristics of a nature tour guide:
- Knowledge is important. They want to be accurate. I say want to be. Guides are not scientists or academics (so are, most didn't have the opportunity.) But they do have a desire to be accurate with what they learn.
- That said, there is a conection with science. They may have had some training by a scientist or may report certain information back to a scientist or a conservation body
- There is a sense of passion.
- Often a nature guide will have one of more specific areas of interest, which they have learned about more intensely
- Nature guides and nature tour companies have a commitment to conservation. It may be small. But it is sincere.
- Their guiding is interesting. Often tourists who are less interested in nature may feel that they don't want a guide that gives them all sorts of facts and figures, and they feel that the known nature guide is going to do that. Actually, it's usually the other way around. The nature guide is a naturalist - i.e. an observer of nature. They will tell you the story of the situation. They give you the inside scoop of what is happening. Those that dish out heaps of textbook info usually do so only because their knowledge isn't backed by experience in nature.
- It's an observation rather than a definition, but usually they would be capable birders.
- It usually wouldn't take you long to gather that the guide has significant empathy for nature. It's a personal characteristic.
- They notice the small things. Actually a focus on the small things is a really big thing in conducting nature tours. (yes, pun intended, sorry. The point, however, is valid.)
The nature tour companies would often offer things like walking trips, canoeing, flora type trips and other specialist type experiences. I think one good question would be "is this tour something that would be interesting even at home." Just think about how boring a regular, ill informed, textbook quoting guide would be if he took you out in your home region. But go out to the forests, lakes, hills, and parks with a local naturalist guide, and it is an interesting experience.
Another thing about 'nature tours' or 'naturalist tours' is that they are not always offered by a 'tour company.' They may be a club outing or a trip organized by a museum or university.
These are just my thoughts on the subject. Perhaps I am wrong? Are the term 'nature tours' and 'naturalist tours' well defined in the industry? Are they used as buzzwords today? I don't think so. But I would love to hear what you say about that.
If it strikes your fancy, leave me a comment or write me an email I am, of course, very interested in the subject. It's basically my life, my career. Write a section for Wikipedia called 'nature tours'. I certainly hope the phrase comes more into prominence in the market as people look for a more genuine experience and avoid the factory style tourism (tourist in, feed them, point at five things (like lions,) mumble some boring facts, a joke, a drink, send them packing, collect the money.) Share this post
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Naturalst Tour Directory
After my decision to keep my website active even though I am not directly using it for Frantic Naturalist Tours and Safaris, I have been busy. I have been frantically banging out a new website at www.frantic-naturalist.com
It has been really fun. The main thing is to create a directory of nature oriented tour companies from around the world. I have only had a few submissions so far, but I am working on it, and I think eventually it will grow a bit faster.
I am also building various other things into it. I have put in a Namibia page, which I can add to as I fancy or learn new and interesting things. You can certainly expect some birding stuff and Sossusvlei stuff to creep in there.
I am typing up my whole birding life list. I don't know if anyone will ever read it, but it's sort of fun to do, and my be interesting to take a wonder through if you know your southern African birds. You can view my progress so far at www.frantic-naturalist.com/life_list.htm.
It's actually an emotional thing to do that. I have been keeping my life list since 26 October 1995. It's a fair chuck of my life, and I can follow it along with my birding notes. I am sure that at some stage I will write it up as a story.
I so enjoy the whole process of putting together a website like this. It's a real labor of love. I haven't had much sleep recently.
I wrote most of the website out in Notepad (the Windows ascii text editor.) So I am typing it in raw html. I think I will still play a lot with the css and so on. I have mainly focused on content so far. I will never put to many pics on. It's just not how I like to do websites.
I am building it at a mad pace. If you visit the site, please, please, please, send me some comments (here or email) on what you think, spelling errors, submissions for other companies I should include, links to your site if you think it will be of use to users of my site, and stuff like that. Thanks.
I have been working away at doing the W3C validator, and have managed to validate my whole site (bar the bird list page, I'll get to that later.) I did it with xhtml strict, so it's good. It may take some fiddling, but hey, that's the fun of the whole thing. I have tested it in Internet Explorer (don't like it to much - the browser, not my website,) Opera (just tried Opera for the first time, just to check it out,) Chrome (I am a big Chrome fan since it came out,) and Mozilla (my old love, cast aside by Chrome.) I also had Safari on another Laptop, but someone pinched it a couple days ago. They got a sorry deal. We got the computer form my mom after it's screen started to freak out. Then my kids decided to start pulling the keys off. It's a mess. It's moved on to torture some unfortunate thief.
The best part of my little project has been wondering the internet and finding like minded souls, the strange, passionate naturalists of the world. Most of them are not geeks (I'm only a little bit geeky, but for a nature boy, it counts) like me, so hopefully for the less internet addicted this whole project is of some use.
I have been running around in between, doing a lot of birding and also exploring the desert a bit. It hasn't been much to blog about yet, but I am getting to know this area more and more intimately, in prep for doing very focussed birding and nature oriented day tours this year. Come and visit Swakopmund later in the year, and I will certainly have lots to show you! Share this post
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Frantic Naturalist Website
I have just finished a total re-do of my website. I have really stripped it down to basics to make it do what it should do, give you what you need to know to travel with us.
So have a look at the website and let me know. I would love some feedback and tips to make it work better.
The company is kicking off now, and we have our first couple of inquiries. I will make sure that we always grow slowly, and offer something unique to the travel market in Namibia.
The last few weeks have been far more about packing, moving, and writing the website than anything else. I will soon be getting out and about more and so my blogs will start to be more interesting again. Share this post
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So have a look at the website and let me know. I would love some feedback and tips to make it work better.
The company is kicking off now, and we have our first couple of inquiries. I will make sure that we always grow slowly, and offer something unique to the travel market in Namibia.
The last few weeks have been far more about packing, moving, and writing the website than anything else. I will soon be getting out and about more and so my blogs will start to be more interesting again. Share this post
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Starting Frantic Naturalist Tours and Safaris
Starting up our company has finally started. We have registered our name, Frantic Naturalist Tours and Safaris CC, and we have our website up and running (frantic-naturalist.com) even though it still needs some work. We hope some time in July to start taking bookings, and to do our first real tours this year.
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