Guides

Guides Mike Jarvis and Ian Morris are passionate about the environment, local birdlife, wildlife and habitat as well as Indigenous culture and NT history and heritage.


Mike Jarvis has been a nature enthusiast from earliest memories.  At sixteen he found a copy of Neville Cayey’s ‘What Bird is That?’ in a second hand bookshop and began his study of Australian birds. Having lived in Perth, Geraldton and Carnarvon on the west coast Mike was familiar with the flora and fauna in those areas. On visiting Darwin for the first time, Mike was amazed to find the bush alive with new sounds and unfamiliar trees, and took to the task of identifying them, building up a working knowledge of the bird species, their calls, and plants, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates. Mike and his wife Jenny are Wildcare volunteers and care for injured and orphaned wildlife, mainly birds and reptiles, and Mike has had training in handling dangerous wildlife (venomous snakes). With decades of research, observation and wildlife experiences behind him, he enjoys the privilege of sharing this with others by leading tours to wild places in Darwin and the Top End.

Mike completed Certificate IV Tourism (Guiding) which was a comprehensive immersion in flora, fauna, geology, history and culture of the Top End, with an emphasis on minimal impact on the environment, respect for Indigenous culture and duty of care for the guest.  

Jenny Jarvis occasionally comes out on tour with us but is usually working hard behind the scenes to make sure the administration side of things comes together seamlessly and makes sure we are well provisioned on tour. Jenny proudly takes credt for showing me my first Rainbow Pitta in the wild!

 

Ian Morris discusses aspects of Kakadus natural history with a guest (photo copyright Mike Jarvis)
Ian Morris discusses aspects of Kakadus natural history with a guest (photo copyright Mike Jarvis)

Ian Morris is a biologist, educator, conservationist, author of ‘Kakadu National Park’, co-author of several other books including ‘A Natural History and Field Guide to Australia’s Top End’ and one of Australia's most acclaimed naturalists. He has worked with Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the Arnhem Land region for decades, and was involved in forming Kakadu National Park. 

Ian promotes the magic of the bush as an NT based environmental consultant for many national parks in Australia. He greatly values his continued connection with his Indigenous mates across the north. Ian has an amazing knowledge, understanding and rapport with all creatures, great and small, dangerous and harmless (and humans as well) and  joins Mike on the Kakadu Naturalists Tour and the Kimberley Naturalist Tour.

See Ian's Wildlife Information pages.

 

 

David Bishop loves his vocation and cannot imagine anything better than exploring wild and beautiful places in Asia and the Pacific in the company of friends and clients.  He has spent much of the past 44 years studying the birds and natural history of New Guinea and the Southwest Pacific in addition to the Oriental region and selected parts of Africa. David was once a police officer amid the streets of London’s West End, but has emerged as an acknowledged authority on the birds of these exotic regions. His enthusiasm for these places and their birds is contagious. This along with David’s skills in locating wildlife, sharing what he sees with others, and conversing with local people in their native language, ensures you the very finest quality tour. David has undertaken a number of expeditions to survey the birds and other wildlife of previously unexplored regions throughout New Guinea (often together with Jared Diamond) and the Oriental Region. This has resulted in a number of exciting discoveries and rediscoveries including the incomparable Wallace’s Standardwing, a bizarre bird-of-paradise. Some of the results of this work, together with observations gained during the tours he has led, have been published in scientific and semi-popular literature. In July 1997, David, together with Brian Coates, published A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas, and Lesser Sundas). David is currently working on other book projects.  David lives with his wife, a mob of kangaroos and a Koala or two on a delightful property on the outskirts of the attractive university town of Armidale, NSW, Australia. David first travelled to Indonesia in 1981 and after residing there for five years has returned annually to lead tours or undertake further explorations of this fascinating archipelago.

 

 

Our Accreditations
  • Kakadu Tour Operator License - Permit No CK 998
  • Kakadu Knowledge for Tour Guides - SITTGDE009A Interpret Aspects of Local Australian Indigenous Culture
  • Avi-tourism RTD2126A Recognise Animals, SITTIND001A Develop and Update Tourism Industry Knowledge, SITXOHS001B Follow Health Safety and Security Procedures
  • Parks and Wildlife NT Tour Operator License - Permit No 956
  • Tour Vehicle License - No 3230 - Vehicle Reg. TV53E
  • Commercial Passenger Vehicle Operator's Accreditation- No 3503
  • 'h' endorsement on drivers license 
  • First Aid - HLTAID001 CPR, HLTAID002 Basic Emergency Life Support, HLTAID003 Provide First Aid
  • Certificate of Registration as a Food Business - Reg No 04875DU
  • Certificate IV Tourism (Guiding) NT - SIT40107
  • Member of Wildlife Tourism Australia
  • Fully Insured

Make sure you go with a Qualified Guide