Susan L. Roehl

I had fun on the trip and really enjoyed the company of my fellow travelers. I learned quite a lot about flight shots from Dan, and came away with some wonderful images of flying cranes and snow geese. As always, Dan and Tanya were the perfect hosts.

I loved the time I spent in Yellowstone National Park. I didn’t know what to expect visiting there in winter, but I was not disappointed. The snow really made the animals stand out and made the scenery extra beautiful. Also in winter, the number of visitors to the park were few, and we had less competition when photographing the animals. My favorite animals were the otters and the bison. I was surprised to see a beaver, I didn’t know they would be out in snow. I liked the snow coaches, they were very comfortable and got everyone where they needed to go in the park. Dan and Tanya were excellent hosts, very knowledgeable, and very gracious as always.

I had a fabulous time in Madagascar. I loved seeing the wild animals endemic to the island and found nowhere else in the world. I loved the warm and friendly Malagasy people and loved seeing some of the various ecosystems on the island. My fellow travelers couldn’t have been friendlier. Dan and Tanya went out of their way to make sure everyone was welcome, and were ready to help when help was needed. I would encourage anyone interested in visiting Madagascar to take this trip. They won’t be disappointed.

I really enjoyed this trip immensely and came back home with fond memories of my fellow travelers, my hosts Dan and Tanya, and some really great wildlife experiences. Going to the Pantanal is a thrill for me, and it was even better the second time around. Kudos to Dan and Tanya for their help and friendship.

The big cat experience in South Africa was a great success. It was everything I expected it to be for getting fantastic photographs of so many leopards, lions, and other mammals. My fellow travellers were all great, and I knew most of them from previous trips. Dan and Tanya were the greatest hosts and always helpful. I loved the three game reserves, and the guest rooms/houses were fantastic. It is a trip I would love to go on again and would suggest to others.

I would have to say this is the best photographic safari I have ever been on since I first started visiting Africa back in 2004. I enjoyed myself immensely and saw and photographed images I never thought I would ever see from animal kills to baby animals everywhere. I saw my first leopard actually walking around and hunting game. I saw a cheetah jump up on a safari vehicle, cheetahs bringing down an impala, my first sight of baby hyenas, and a close encounter with an elephant just outside my tent. Everyone was a joy to be with and delightful company. Dan and Tanya were just the best, always willing to lend a hand by helping everyone get great shots and taking care of their fellow travelers’ smallest needs. And a big hurrah to the guides, the best I have had on any safari, so knowledgable, friendly, and willing to lend a hand.

This was really an enjoyable trip. I loved all of the places we went to with the colorful buildings and the rich history. My favorite spot was actually Pompeii, seeing the preserved ruins and learning about the architecture and the people who lived there. I met some new fellow travelers, and tasted new foods and great wine. Definitely a trip everyone should go on.

This was my first time traveling to Alaska, and I had a great time on the tour. I enjoyed photographing the coastal brown bears and fell in love with the cubs. The boat trips to Duck Island to see the puffins were fascinating as I had never seen the birds before and especially in their mating outfits. Everything there was a first for me and I was thrilled. I loved the halibut fishing, and the halibut I have eaten at home has been delicious. I enjoyed the booze cruise and the funny hat competition. Also I met some truly wonderful fellow travelers on the tour, and I felt Dan and Tanya did a fabulous job keeping everything together. This is a trip everyone should take at least once.

The Ireland trip was fun and different from the wildlife photography trips I was going on with Dan and Tanya. I am in love with castles as well as beautiful landscapes which were plentiful. All of the people I traveled with were friendly and had a good sense of humor essential for a good time. Our guide, Con, was very knowledgeable and helpful and also full of humor. It was all around a delightful trip made better by the skill of Tanya and the expertise of Dan.

The Galapagos Islands was a fascinating place. They were a unique place with many animals and plants found no where else on earth. There were very few animals, and those that were there were brought by early human visitors to the islands. I particularly liked the island with the lava fields. I made an attempt at snorkeling even though I would say I was not that successful. The accommodations on the private yacht were great, the food delicious, the guide and crew knowledgeable and friendly. The other photographers were of like mind and were very polite while taking turns shooting photos. This is a trip I would highly recommend to anybody.

India was marvelous especially the people and wildlife viewing. Our Indian hosts Vivek and Rekha Sharma made us feel right at home, and the people of India were friendly everywhere and always helpful. The women in saris were so beautiful. I had a chance to wear a sari and it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Two holidays occurred when we there, Holi and a celebration of the god, Genesh. During Holi we visited a village and photographed some of the villagers, and got ourselves painted. We had plenty of tiger sightings, although I was not in a position to get any good photographs. Other fellow travelers had better luck and shared some of their photos with me. I did feel privileged to be able to see and hear them still thriving in India, however, as we heard the sounds and sights of a pair mating, saw one crossing the road in front of us, and discovered tiger tracks and claw marks on trees. All in all, it was a very satisfying experience.

Brazil was a beautiful place to visit with a variety of fantastic wildlife to photograph. The country was wonderful, the weather great, and as always Dan and Tanya were delightful and extremely helpful. My fellow travelers were marvelous and very friendly. I particularly loved spending the days out in a boat on the Cuiaba River communing with nature. One of my favorite tours.

This was my first photography tour with Dan and Tanya. I met several people on this tour who I have had the pleasure of traveling with again. I did not know what to expect and was surprised how much fun it was. Dan and Tanya were the perfect hosts on this tour. I particularly like the places we stayed at and the feeling of closeness amongst the guests. My favorite animals were the hummingbirds flitting about by the dozens.