Spending the day with a resident expert in her field was so extra special i can't even say enough! WenFei answered our myriad of questions perfectly and made our trip out to Bison National Park memorable! In addition to knowing all things (and i do mean all) about the local birds, including their sounds and habitats, she could also share information perfectly about the bison, the antelopes (that we saw that day) and the native grizzlies. The local donuts were amazing as well as our lunch out with some local Montana fare. All in all a superb day, chock full of information that will have your feeling like an expert too! Don't miss this opportunity! read more

Wenfei organized a full day trip for us to the Flathead Wilderness Area. We went driving on bumpy mountain roads, hiking up the side of a mountain alongside a picturesque babbling brook and picnicked next to a sparkling lake with a view of the mountains. Our focus was photography, and our route did not disappoint on that score. We also stopped for fresh baked goods and coffee on our way out of Missoula which made the ride that much more pleasant. We are generally outdoor people but we chose to use a tour company because we were traveling with a baby and didn't know how to find routes that would be child friendly and not overly demanding. We would definitely recommend Wenfei's guiding services and have referred several friends to her Big Sky Safaris for Montana travel. In particular her being a biologist makes an outstanding enhancement to hiking - we are not very knowledgeable about birds and animal droppings, and Wenfei pointed out all sorts of interesting things for us as well as small details worth photographing that we wouldn't have noticed on our own. Wenfei made us very comfortable, gave us excellent gear advice, and spared us many hours of poring over maps to identify good areas to visit. She also was really knowledgeable about the local plants and birds during our early autumn MT trip. This was a great splurge during our MT trip and one we'd do again in a heart beat. read more

What an amazing day! I have been an outdoorsman all my life but spending the day with Winfei made me realize how much more I have to learn. The depth of knowledge that she has regarding the native species, their behaviors, and their habitats was incredible. However, the best part is the personable way she conveys all of this information. A day in the field with Winfei was not like a lecture from some PhD Biologist (which she is) it was more like a conversation with an old friend. Although she is an expert on wildlife, she still shared the sense of wonder that we all felt seeing some of these creatures like Bison, Pronghorn Antelope, Meadowlarks and Magpies for the very first time. In addition to her obvious area of expertise in biology, Wenfei also organized our day in a very efficient and professional manner. We had an amazing lunch overlooking the mountains and enjoyed some local beers with quite honestly, the bet smoked trout that I have ever eaten. I can't recall the name of the restaurant, you'll have to ask her. Also, pay attention to all the other reviews that mention it, and make sure she takes you to the super secret donut place. It is totally worth every calorie. I wish there was a 6 star rating because Dr. Winfei Tong deserves it! read more

Every year we organize a trip for the members of our executive team to different places here within the states and sometimes to far away destinations like the Caribbean or Tahiti . A big part of these week long retreats are the various activities offered from day to day and this year there was without question one of best that we've ever had. It was a wilderness spotting tour through the Bison National Range in Montana which is one of the oldest National Wildlife Refuges in the country. Dr. Wenfei Tong was our guide and she is an absolute ROCKSTAR!!!!!!! Within a matter of seconds we all felt like we had known her forever and that we were best friends for life. Her charming demeanor was so graceful and elegant just as I would imagine it to be with the members of the Royal Family. Yet she was sooooooo humble and sincere and treated us all like we were the most important people in her life. She was also quite brilliant. There was not a question asked that she could not answer. And even though it was not the best time of the year to see many of the animals, Wenfei filled every minute of the drive with so much color and beauty with exciting details of what happens throughout the year. As she spoke and as we gazed out of the bus windows we could actually see in our minds all of the different birds flying in the sky, and the deer, bears, elk and bison roaming across the wide open fields that surrounded us on all sides. Through her mesmerizing and poetic narratives Wenfei took us to a place where we had never been before...it was like heaven on earth with a comforting hug from Mother Nature. Now on a different but related note, Wenfei introduced us to a place where this charming local couple were making donuts from a closely guarded family recipe and these donuts were world-class. Nothing fancy mind you but absolutely and memorably delicious. Later that day she took us to a place for lunch where one of their specialties was in-house smoked trout. It was so good it almost made me cry. I bring these two experiences up only to showcase the wide range of knowledge that Wenfei has of all points of interest in the area. Wenfei is one of the nicest...if not THE NICEST...person that you will ever meet in this lifetime and she is also the best of the best in her field of expertise. Robert O read more

Dr Tong was an important key to the great success of our Bob Marshall horse pack trip. I heard sounds I'd never heard before in the wilderness. I learned plants and studied the ecology of the region like never before. In addition to an amazing wilderness experience Wenfei's teaching ensured the North Chinese wall trip with the Crary family was truly the trip of a lifetime. read more

After making a one-day drive between Glacier and Yellowstone five years ago, I vowed to return to see parts of western Montana we'd zipped by. My husband and I wanted to learn more about its wildlife and history, and we knew it would be impossible to get what we wanted out of our trip without help. We spent three of our six days in Montana with Dr. Wenfei Tong, and it was our best vacation ever. Giving due credit to Missoula--a beautiful, laid back, and friendly town--and the near-perfect weather, Wenfei was the epitome of an expert guide, and worth every penny. She made what would have been a fun getaway into a stimulating trip of a lifetime, designing days that were uniquely suited to our interests and abilities. Imagine spending your days with a friendly, kind, Harvard-trained biologist who can also hike for miles, ride horses with any cowboy, and identify hundreds of birds by their song. She's also a fantastic photographer. Wenfei has a deep knowledge of the American Indian tribes of the region; animal and plant life; Montana literature; local great eats and bookstores; and geography. I'm sure I've omitted something, but you get the idea. And it was all in gorgeous Montana! We'd take this trip again in a heartbeat. read more