Guiding Statistics 2008

Like 2007, I kept track of what went on in my life over the course of 2008. I saw some amazing places, incredible birds and (of course) had a wide variety of excellent adventures. Here is 2008 by number:

1465: Species of birds seen (incredibly close to last year's total of 1474, despite going to completely different places)

147: Days of guiding

112: Different beds slept in

65: clients that I guided (ranging in age from 7 to 79, from 5 different countries, in two languages)

57/28: flights taken/airports visited

14/6: countries visited/countries in which I guided (favorite guided trip: South Africa; favorite solo trip: Sichuan, China)

24: percent of income that came from tips (in four different currencies)

Only two months were spent entirely in a single country. February was spent in South Africa (but I visited three countries in the first two days of March--South Africa, India and Bhutan), and October was spent in Madagascar (but, again, I visited three different countries in the first two days of November--Madagascar, South Africa and Namibia). I spent less than one full day in three countries--Singapore, England and Germany--but I managed to get in some birding and/or sightseeing in all three.

Among my favorite places that I visited this year were the Tibetan Plateau in China, Madagascar's Masoala Peninsula, Bhutan's high Himalayan passes, Dzalanyama Forest in Malawi, the Erongo Mountains of Namibia and Yosemite National Park. Birding highlights are virtually impossible to narrow down, so here are a few that spring to mind: Ground Tit in China, Satyr Tragopan and Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler in Bhutan, the great variety of rosefinches in China and Bhutan, Great Knot in Namibia, Boulder Chat in Malawi and Helmet Vanga in Madagascar. Mammal highlights were also many: Himalayan black bear in Bhutan, blue goat in China, red ruffed lemur in Madagascar, sperm whale in South Africa, leopards in Namibia and South Africa and tracking black rhino on foot in Namibia. And I can never see enough elephants.

I stayed in an incredible variety of hotels during the year. The best overall were Jardin du Roy in Isalo, Madagscar, Mvuu Wilderness Lodge in Liwonde National Park, Malawi and Erongo Wilderness Lodge in Namibia (all three are in incredible locations, have great birding, delicious food, spectacular rooms and outstanding service). The best in terms of location was Chez Arol on Madagascar's remote Masoala Peninsula, nestled between primary lowland rainforest and a deserted beach. Sichuan, China had the best and most interesting food, although breakfasts in Namibia and South Africa are second to none. Madagascar is far ahead in the worst service category (though the food is good), while the food was particularly unmemorable in Bhutan (though the service is excellent).

The best airport (in a class entirely of its own) was Singapore (free Playstation, movies and Internet, as well as comfortable places to rest). Singapore Airlines was the most impressive I flew this year. The worst airplane food was on Air Madagascar, showing absolutely no improvement from previous years. Apart from seafood, I count 16 different animals that I ate (though it was the various parts of the animals that I ate in China that were most interesting).

There are loads of good stories from the year--from crashing a car into a kudu in Namibia in January to going to a nightclub in Chengdu, China for my birthday in March to climbing a mountain in search of Boulder Chat in December in Malawi. But those I'll save for when I see you next.