I have traveled with Cheesemans Ecology Safaris since 2007 and found them to be exceptional at all levels. Excellent guides, good itineraries, kind office personnel. Antarctica three times, Falklands, South Georgia, Snow Hill, Bhutan, Borneo, Sulawesi, Komodo, Silver Bank, Sri Lanka, Palau--the list goes on. I know I can trust CES to deliver as promised. That said, there have been times when the food was not great, specifically on the MV Ortelius sailing to Antarctica. But the other trips were all good. CES checks with me before, during and after each trip to make sure all is well. In my opinion, Cheesemans Ecology Safaris is the best travel company on the planet. Vicky C. read more

I wish there were negative stars: I was asked to evaluate the Alaska trip on Cheeseman's Ecology Safari: My letter was full of examples of behavior, lack of customer service and simple poor communications, From May until August I did not hear anything until a third party too a negative action against my traveling companion based on my original letter. I will be happy to share the original letter with people considering using Cheeseman's. Instead of coming to me to discuss the situation, four months later I discovered what The Cheesemans' were doing behind my back. Here is a list of some of the things that went on: Breach of privacy and business ethics Cheeseman gives my letter of complaint to a third party: Email from Gail Cheeseman: "I did write to (name removed - executive director of a non-profit) about your complaints. I already explained that to you in my email last night when I ...." From Ted Cheeseman: "we did not invade your privacy or breach any business ethics..." Ted has refused to acknowledge this email from Gail. Cheeseman's refuse to explain why my private information was shared with this third party. False Adversisement: Email from Gail Cheeseman: "If we had said to you that there would be a lot of photography on the trip, would (Name removed) have refused (to go)..." They never addressed this. They knew how much photography was on the trip and never informed me. They knew I was not a photographer. Dangerous situation never addressed: One driver fell asleep at the wheel while driving us, he almost crashed in a ditch. He was drinking the night before and again that night same night. I had specifically told the Cheeseman's before the trip that I did not drink and was uncomfortable around heavy drinkers. No one apologized for this or even asked us if we were Okay. I stayed far away from the heavy drinkers of the trip, and this was view as me being a bad customer. The next day they blamed me for not wanting to stay our late with this driver. Lack of Customer Service: From Ted Cheeseman: "To grow from this experience by better screening our participants" I have asked the Cheesemans' over and over to give me one example of customer service the main guide showed to us. Still waiting for an answer. His answer was none of this was his or the guides' responsibility, they just need better customers I asked Ted Cheeseman to release all the files they have on me. His response" "to do so would be a breach of privacy and business ethics...." Amazing releasing my private information to a third party is OK, but releasing information they have on me is not. I was not a photographer and there were professional photographers on this trip. I was told to just stay out of their way. Cheeseman's totally blamed me, What kind of a business keeps a private files on it's customers. It's probably illegal for them to do so. read more

Cheesemans' TANZANIA & KENYA, February 2014.. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Our sincere thanks and appreciation go to Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris in California. Not much can substitute for experience. This was a bucket list trip that exceeded our expectations. Doug and Gail Cheeseman shared their extensive academic knowledge and provided an expertly organized and executed safari that felt like you were on a trip with a group of friends. Actually, we learned that the majority of our safari-mates had been on one or more additional safaris to Africa and other locations with Cheesemans' over the years. And now we know why. Their trips are intensive in terms of time in the field and fascinating information about the wildlife and the country. They provided excellent and detailed pre-trip information about every aspect of the trip. Pre-trip questions are answered quickly via phone or email if they are out of the country. The guides in each country were super. The food was very good and beautifully prepared at the lodges. The accommodations were 4 star. We were totally looked after and felt completely safe. The Cheesemans' provided a flawless experience that so completely validated our trust that we are again going with them to Africa in 2015. read more

I went on the Cheesemans' Monterey Bay day trip, which is admittedly one of their shorter trips (as opposed to their weeks-long trips to places like Antarctica and Africa) and it was an absolutely amazing experience. We had fantastic luck that day with perfect weather, the sheer number of humpback whales and dolphins that were visible, and many whale breeches and feeding lunges, all the while hearing explanations and anecdotes from Doug and Ted Cheeseman. It was definitely geared towards nature enthusiasts who want a deeper understanding of the wildlife and environment, as evidenced by the amount of time we spent out on the bay, and the deep knowledge that the guides bring and share with the guests. At one point, we were within hearing distance of another tour boat on the bay, and we could hear their guide talking about how "whales are mammals too!" Compare that with the detailed explanations Doug was giving about cetacean anatomy, and I knew I was with the right crowd! Definitely looking forward to traveling with the Cheesemans more in the future. read more

Silver Banks swimming with humpback whales. I went into this trip a bit hesitant. I have travelled all over South America, been to Asia and Europe and absolutely do not like organized travel or group trips. But going with a tour was the only way to swim with the whales. This was one of the very best trips I have ever done. Things were well organized and very active without the "cruise director" experience I had feared. Rules were established for our safety and the whales' safety and there were some schedules to follow to get on the smaller boats to travel to the whales, but as long as you operated within those necessary boundaries you had a lot of freedom to create your own experience. The food and service were amazing. I was absolutely blown away by what came out of a kitchen that couldn't have been larger than 8 ft x6 ft! Further, Ted Cheeseman was so knowledgable about whale behavior. I loved the evening lectures on ecology. I can not say enough positive things about Cheesemans' Ecolgoy Safaris. If you want your hand-held and a generic trip, go with someone else. If you want a trip that will provide you with an opportunity to truly experience an area, travel with the Cheesemans. I am saving my pennies for Antarctica! read more

I was just checking out which Cheeseman trip I'd like to take next, when I noticed there were negative reviews on Yelp--shocking to me. I've been to Africa and the Galapagos with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, and they were both unique, trips-of-a-lifetime experiences. The Cheeseman's strive to ensure that participants have ample quality time in the field, with expert guides. In Tanzania, for example, we spent time following cheetahs on the hunt, and the patience in doing so results in witnessing nature at its best and worst--like nothing we get to see on TV or in wildlife parks in the US. This is the real thing--the rewards and the memories are incomparable. Doug and Gail and Ted have so much knowledge themselves--their trips are simply the best. The trips are idea for birders, photographers, true nature buffs, and people who want vacation to be a deep learning experience about different parts of the world. I can't recommend them more highly. read more

I've traveled now on 3 long trips with Cheeseman's as well as their 1 day Monterey Bay trip (and signed up for 2 more). If you want to have the best opportunities to see wildlife and learn about the location you are visiting, Cheeseman's is the best. "Maximum time in the field" is their philosophy and they operate by it. Their guides are experts on one or more aspects of the trip (wildlife, geology, history, etc.) as well as being pleasant, energetic and entertaining people. Most wildlife is active in early morning and at dusk. There have been many times on the trips when the Cheeseman group is leaving a location because the animal activity has died down while other tour groups are just arriving. I traveled on one Cheeseman's trip with a family member who also really enjoyed the trip. She subsequently did a tour with a different, well known tour operator and was very disappointed in the guides and field time in comparison. I have always found the accommodations and food to be really quite good, especially considering the remote locations. However, if you want a luxurious vacation with American style lodging and food, you really should look elsewhere. read more

My husband and I have participated in three wonderful trips with Cheesemans': Prince William Sound, in Alaska, on the Ortelius in Antarctica, and the Silverbank: Snorkeling with Humpback Whales, in the Dominican Republic. Each trip exceeded our expectations. Our trip leaders were very well informed, completely in tune with the needs of the participants and were able to "change" plans when the weather prevented us from doing what was on the itinerary. The office staff is very friendly and helpful. For anyone interested in experiencing small group travel, Cheesemans' is the company to go with. I was shocked to read the two negative reviews. Obviously problems can occur, but given the number of repeat customers that you encounter on Cheesemans' trips, they must be doing something right! read more

FIVE STARS The Oct 2012 South Georgia/Falkland Island trip was fantastic. I would go again in a heartbeat. Great wildlife, guides, and fellow travelers. I tried a five star review and it did not show on yelp. read more

Tanzania and Kenya 2012: Wonderful trip, designed for those who really want to see the wildlife, animals and birds, and their behavior. That means getting out in the field at the right time for the critters (not for folks seeking a kick-back sleep-in vacation, maybe), and you can rely on trip leaders being experienced and knowledgeable about the local wildlife and ecology. Many many repeat travelers go on these trips (I'm one, having traveled to Costa Rica with Cheesemans' years ago, countless Monterey Bay trips). Highly recommended if wildlife is your interest! read more

South Georgia and Falklands Tour - October 2012 This was a 21 day tour of one of the most spectacular displays of life on this planet, with hundreds of thousands of penguins, tens of thousands of albatross, and countless petrels, fur seals and elephant seals. South Georgia is 100 miles long and about 20 miles wide. We curcumnavigated the island, landing EVERY day, sometimes twice, in zodiacs. The staff was skillful and very safety and environmentally conscious, so all the landings went smoothly. This was not a typical cruise ship tour with fancy food and dress-up meals, so some meals were mediocre, but given the isolated location, it's amazing to think we were eating fresh salads and veggies most days! During travel days there were several very informative lectures on photography, wildlife, and island history. Traveling with us were a number of well-known photographers, eager to share their knowledge. A stop for several days at the Falklands, to visit some small offshore islands that are fortunately rat-free, let us see spectacular colonies of Black-browed Albatross, Macaroni Penguins, and shags. The photographic opportunities were numerous and exciting. Best Things: I didn't get seasick (good planning and great ship's doctor); the wildlife was amazing, the talks informative. Even in rough weather we felt safe. The staff was courteous, and very helpful in landings. Not the greatest things: Food was average, but there was plenty of it. Our cabin, a mid-grade one, was pretty small, with no place to sit - but the common rooms were spacious. Bob Berkeley, CA read more

The phrase "a trip of a lifetime" is overused but it was definitely appropriate for Myanmar ( Nov/Dec 2015). I say this having done quite a bit of world travel. From the first phone call to the last meal everything went smoothly and was beyond my expectations. This was a photo expedition. Our leader, Scott Davis, was extraordinary. Besides being an incredible photographer he was the perfect ambassador due to the way he interacted with the local guides and people. He was patient, charming, funny and always took time to work with us 1.2.1. I've been spoiled by this trip---the folks in the office, the small group size, our leader, the focus on photography that I plan to book all my traveling with Cheeseman's--I had mostly good experiences with OAT, Eldertreks, Elderhostel, Mt. Travel, etc and going solo but with Cheeseman's I found the perfect fit for me. read more

Wow! When I saw a 1 star review for this absolutely fantastic company, I just had to write one of my own. My guess re that 1 star evaluation is that this person did not know much about Antarctica before he went and knew nothing about the different operators in this part of the world. There's a huge range of the way trips are run. I have been to the Antarctic regions 12 times with several different companies, and for my personal taste, Cheesemans can't be beat. Yes, they are not a company that focuses on great food, luxury ships, elegance, etc. But if you want the largest staff of and best naturalists, people who will spend time with you and make you feel like they are as excited to be there as you are; if you want the most flexible and longest landings; if you want a company that truly values their clients and treats them with total respect for their intelligence and interest in where they are going, Cheesemans should be right at the top of your list. I've done the great food/luxury trip to the Antarctic bit and I came home feeling like I'd been on a coddled tourist trip. When I go with Cheesemans, which I now have several times, I come home feeling that I've learned about and experienced the Antarctic in a way that no other company makes me feel. Bottom line -- different companies will be better for some people, not good for others. But for the adventurous and curious, Cheesemans can't be beat. read more