Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris

06/07/2026

Hwange at dusk. Elephant herds moving toward the waterhole. The low rumble of lions somewhere in the distance.

Zimbabwe is one of Africa's most underrated wildlife destinations — and one of our favorites. We have 5 spaces open on our July 5th departure, moving through some of the most biodiverse habitats on the continent with naturalists who know these landscapes intimately.

This isn't a generic safari. Smaller groups. Deeper access. Guides who've spent careers learning to read the bush.

We're confirming hotel availability now, so reach out soon and we'll give you the full picture.
📞 800-527-5330
cheesemans.com/trips/zimbabwe-jul2026



📸 Bonnie Miller

06/06/2026

There are places on Earth that feel like they belong to another time entirely. Svalbard is one of them.

Our June 26th Arctic expedition departs in weeks — and only 3 spaces remain. This is walrus country. Seabird colony country. A landscape of glaciers, midnight sun, and wildlife encounters our guests talk about for the rest of their lives.

Small group. Expert naturalists. The High Arctic the way it should be experienced.📞 800-527-5330 or reply here — we'll get you the details.

cheesemans.com/trips/svalbard-jun2026

Explore the wonders of Svalbard Islands in Norway's Arctic. Discover the majestic polar bear and sail past breathtaking glaciers.

06/06/2026

Wednesday night, Juan Salcedo took us inside the Galápagos — and it was one of the best conversations we've hosted.

Juan talked about something that doesn't always get enough airtime in travel: the genuine responsibility that comes with guiding people through one of the world's most protected ecosystems. The wildlife. The conservation work. The sustainable philosophy behind every voyage he leads. And then he stayed for every question in a live Q&A that ran well over an hour.

If you missed it — the full recording is available now. Share it freely.

▶️ Watch the recording: https://youtu.be/62o5_qOuHMM

We have two 2027 Galápagos voyages still open aboard the Samba with Juan. 19 days, 16 islands, 14 guests maximum. The May departure has just two spaces remaining.

May 1–19, 2027 → cheesemans.com/trips/galapagos-may2027
May 29–June 16, 2027 → cheesemans.com/trips/galapagos-jun2027

Questions? Reach our Wildlife Safari Coordinator Elizabeth Coler at [email protected] or 1-800-527-5330.

Juan Salcedo has spent years guiding guests through the Galápagos I...

06/03/2026

Tomorrow night, Juan Salcedo goes live — and if you haven't registered yet, it's not too late.

That photo is what a Galápagos expedition actually looks like. A fur seal that sat down next to a guest and stayed. No bait, no coaxing, no staged moment — just wildlife that has never learned to fear humans because these islands have been protected for decades.

Juan will talk about those encounters tomorrow night, and a lot more: life aboard the M/V Samba, how zodiac shore excursions work, the sustainable philosophy he's brought to every voyage he's ever led. Our Wildlife Safari Coordinator Elizabeth Coler will be on the call too, ready to walk through our open 2027 Galápagos departures.

Inside the Galápagos: A Live Evening with Juan Salcedo
Tomorrow · Wednesday, June 3 · 6:00 PM Pacific / 9:00 PM Eastern · Free
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IPPwtdh6T7eM4fX14njUfw

Already registered? Your Zoom link is in your confirmation email.

📸 JoAnne Larsen

05/31/2026

5 spaces remain on our Patagonia Pumas departure, November 1–10, 2026.

We have exclusive access to Estancia Laguna Amarga — a private reserve on the eastern flank of Torres del Paine with one of the highest concentrations of wild pumas anywhere on Earth. Dawn and dusk tracking sessions by 4×4 and on foot, guided by local experts who know these cats individually. Beyond pumas: guanacos, Andean condors, Patagonian foxes, and the most dramatic mountain backdrop imaginable.

This is one of those trips people describe as life-changing. Five spaces left.

cheesemans.com/trips/pumas-nov2026

Join our puma tracking safari Chile in Nov 2026. Witness wild pumas in Torres del Paine on an exclusive Patagonia wildlife tour.

05/30/2026

Two spaces remain on our Brazil / Pantanal departure, August 8–25, 2026 — and this one is genuinely close to gone.

The Pantanal at the height of the dry season is unlike anywhere else on Earth. Wildlife concentrates around the remaining water: jaguars patrol the riverbanks, giant otters fish the channels, caiman line every sandbar, and hyacinth macaws — the world's largest parrot — are everywhere. Our small group spends maximum time on the water, where the action is.

Two guests can still join.

cheesemans.com/trips/brazil-aug2026

05/29/2026

This Saturday. Monterey Bay. The whales are already there. 🐋

Two days left to join our May 31st Whale Watching Voyage aboard the Sea Wolf II. Expert naturalist Ted Cheeseman, PhD will be on deck. Humpbacks are feeding. Orcas have been spotted regularly this month.

Half a day. No flight. No hotel. Just Fisherman’s Wharf and the Pacific.

This is your last chance to book.
👉 cheesemans.com/whale-watching-tours

Join Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris for unforgettable whale watching tours, offering close encounters with majestic marine life in Monterey Bay.

05/27/2026

One week from tonight, Juan Salcedo goes live — and if you've been thinking about joining us, now's the time to grab a spot.

Juan has guided guests through the Galápagos for years aboard the M/V Samba. He knows which highland trails lead to the largest tortoise populations, which snorkel sites put you in the water with sea turtles, and why the islands' protected status makes encounters here unlike anything else in the world. Our Wildlife Safari Coordinator Elizabeth Coler will also be on the call to walk through our open 2027 departures — both are still available, but limited to 14 guests each.

Inside the Galápagos: A Live Evening with Juan Salcedo
Wednesday, June 3 · 6:00 PM Pacific / 9:00 PM Eastern · Free
Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IPPwtdh6T7eM4fX14njUfw

05/25/2026

There is nowhere on Earth quite like Colombia.

1,970 bird species — nearly 20% of all species on Earth — in a country that covers less than 1% of the planet's surface. More species than Europe and North America combined.

On June 23 at 5:00 PM Pacific, Christopher Calonje — naturalist, conservation leader, and the man who has spent 16 years birding and protecting the Andes — joins us for a free live conversation. He'll take you inside Colombia's most spectacular habitats and share the conservation work that makes responsible birding tourism possible here.

Plus: details on our Colombia Adventure Tour, July 1-15, 2027. Maximum 8 guests.

Free to attend. Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5XvrARNYRdGKrTOuJLSMXQ

05/24/2026

One week from today, we’ll be on the water. 🌊

The conditions in Monterey Bay right now are exceptional. Humpback whales are actively feeding above the submarine canyon. Orca sightings have been frequent this month. Sea otters are bobbing in the kelp. And Ted Cheeseman — PhD humpback researcher and Happywhale founder — will be on deck to make sense of all of it.

This is a half-day voyage departing from Fisherman’s Wharf on Sunday, May 31st. You could be home by early afternoon with memories that last considerably longer.

Spaces are still available — but not for long.
👉 cheesemans.com/whale-watching-tours