Pete Oxford always seems to be able to deliver superb trips, however difficult the target seems. This was my third trip with Pete (previously to the Galapagos and Svalbard) - who would have thought we could have such superb views of so many wild Jaguars (14 individuals), while enjoying 175 bird species, tapirs, river otters, giant anteaters, capybaras and snakes! The Jaguar Suites accommodation was simply luxurious and a wonderful place to unwind and cool down after an exciting day on the river. Pete is a wonderful guide, naturalist and photographer - nothing is too much trouble, and his own genuine excitement at each sighting is truly infectious. If you haven't yet done a Pete Oxford Expedition trip - do get on with it, Pete and Renee will take very good care of you.

I knew Borneo would be a fascinating destination for its unique island ecology but I never could have imagined how amazing a wildlife extravaganza it would be, so adeptly choreographed by Pete every step of the way across Sabah's rivers and forests. From day #1, Pete's high-spirited enthusiasm launched our small group into a fun-filled quest to discover and appreciate an astounding number of creatures of all shapes and sizes in their diverse and wondrous habitats. His passionate approach to sighting wildlife was highly ambitious, keenly focused and skillfully strategic as he effectively spurred the local guides to do their best work. Consequently, we found ourselves ready in the right place, at the right time, under the right circumstances to optimize our chances of sighting target species such as Leopard Cat and Sunda Clouded Leopard (success on our first night drive! WOW!!!!) and Pygmy Elephants (success on our first river cruise!). I also savored the time we took to linger and observe animals when serendipity presented such a privilege, particularly the hours spent following a male Orangutan at Danum from when he first emerged from his nest in the tree above our cottage (!!!!) to amble around the branches and go about his daily business of feeding and wandering and contemplating. Such a rare and special encounter with one of our nearest relatives! Actually, seeing as many of the primate species as possible was one of my priorities on the tour and Pete was attentive to that wish. Several prolonged occasions watching the behaviors and interactions among groups of proboscis monkeys and red leaf monkeys were wildly satisfying --- plus added to that were 3 remarkable sightings of tarsier. All of our time in the field was enhanced by the depth and breath of Pete's knowledge of natural history that he easily and generously shared. That, coupled with his genuine warmth towards everyone, quirky humor and unabashed delight that matched or exceeded our own --- whether it involved snakes, Bearded Pigs, pitcher plants, Hornbills, Orangutans, insects or frogs --- rewarded us with a thoroughly mind-boggling delightful experience from beginning to end. We've been fortunate to have had some excellent guides in other wild places around the globe but Pete easily ranks at the top for delivering this trip that approaches near-mythical status! I also need to credit Renee behind the scenes for her warmth and caring, flawless planning with logistics, prompt communication and valuable information. I could definitely feel her present with us in spirit and eagerly look forward to traveling with her on a future trip. Bottom line: I would leap on any opportunity to go anywhere in the world with Pete and Renee and you should too --- it simply doesn't get any better than this! Mil gracias, amigos!

An unforgettable trip into the heart of Brazil. We hit the ground running the minute we arrived in Cuiabá. The drive to Pantanal brought us to the south entrance of this extraordinary area, packed with exotic and tremendously intriguing wildlife. I was entranced by the alluring splendor of the chestnut-eared araçari, and the delightfully bizarre common potoo. The giant anteater which appeared to us ominously at the waterhole left a striking impression on me; with its long, meandering snout. What a privilege to be able to witness these precious creatures as well as a multitude of others. The trip was meticulously organized by the most brilliant expedition leader around, Pete Oxford. Blessed with bright energy and contagious spirit, it was a charm to experience the trip with him and our other fellow explorers. I am still reminiscing about it daily, despite being home for over a month.

Thank you.

Nathalie

The Borneo trip is one of the best trips I have ever taken because of the diversity of wildlife and habitats. We saw and photographed many birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects - more than any of my trips to Africa. There were good sightings of Orangutans, a Clouded Leopard, Pygmy Elephants, 7 species of Hornbills, many other bird species, Proboscis Monkeys, Red Leaf Monkeys, and even interesting squirrels from a Pygmy Squirrel (6 inches) to a Giant Squirrel. The trip spanned many habitats from mountain to rain forest to river corridor.

What also made this trip special was our leader, Pete Oxford. Pete has an excellent knowledge of the wildlife and most other things in nature. He is an outstanding photographer who provided many suggestions on how to photograph wildlife. He is humorous and entertaining. He has a take charge attitude and was skillful in working with local guides to get us to the best places to see the wildlife that was most important to us.

I highly recommend this trip for both people who have done many other wildlife trips or those who might want an introduction to wildlife viewing and photography.

Where the heck do I start?
I started as a "birder watcher" and ended as a "mammal watcher"!
Pete introduced me to mammals I had never heard of, birds I have never seen, insects and reptiles, plants galore, and the wonderful people of Borneo.
Pete's enthusiasm for the natural world and his skill in leading the local guides away from their "canned" itinerary to maximize our time in finding our target species was unique in my experience with tour leaders.
No way I can list everything we saw or did other than to say that we maximized our time in the field and saw more than I ever imagined.
I was happy to be part of Pete's childhood dream of seeing a bearded pig emerge from the forest to be captured by his camera.
You cannot go wrong, as Pete's knowledge of the natural world, enthusiasm, and his humor (if you can take it !), has not been matched by any leader of the many trips around the world I have been lucky enough to take. I did not have the pleasure of meeting Renee but appreciate all the planning and advice she gave before the trip.
I will surely take more trips with Pete and Renee in the future.

PS. Do not let the leaches scare you - I did not encounter one and never wore leach socks !!!