Meet Nick Kleer
Safari and Wildlife Consultant
A little background:
I have been involved in conservation-centered tourism for 16 years and I’m still completely obsessed with nature and all its incredible creatures. Through my work, I contribute to efforts that protect endangered species and restore wild spaces. My goal is to help others fall in love with nature, just like I did, and to give back to Mother Earth by returning land to her and helping create a better future for wildlife.
What are your key accomplishments in the field/on the job?
Hard to say really, I’ve been guiding full time for around 15 years and have seen a lot of the places I’ve wanted to visit and connected really well to them. I’d say my best accomplishments are when I connect people to the natural places we visit.
Why did you choose to work in this industry?
It chose me. 🙂
What’s your approach to customer service?
I like to connect on a personal level and create memories from the moment we start building trips together through to the trip itself. It’s all an experience you want to cherish and I try make the whole experience that way too.
What would your pet say about you if we asked for a reference?
If I had a pet they would probably say that I am not a normal human because I spend so much time rolling around with them. If it were the animals I have worked with I would like to think they would say that I have always been respectful to them and that I genuinely care for them above all else. They would say that I find joy in seeing other people connect on a deeper level than they expected to.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t wait until it’s over to appreciate a moment.
Describe yourself using only film titles.
Peter Pan flies Into The Wild to retrieve Dr Dolittles Sword in the Stone.
What is your favorite/most recommended travel movie/documentary or book?
Favourite movie: Into the Wild.
Describe the most incredible view you’ve ever seen.
I have been blessed to see many incredible views. Right now, one that pops into my mind is the first time I stood in front of the Impenetrable forest in Uganda. It had just rained so hard that you could not see more than a few feet ahead. I was sat in a bar with an Irish friend named Brain on the side of a muddy road with the rain drumming on the tin roof. As we sipped on our beer and the rain subsided the forest began to become visible. The mist, the trees, the mountains, the bird chorus, the smell of the cleanest oxygen on earth after a massive rain. It was a sight that I could feel deep within my core. A moment I will never forget.
What is your favorite travel memory?
I have way too many to pick a favourite, but most of them include being on foot with animals in a one on one situation where we have gotten to get to know each other in silence. It’s a feeling quite indescribable – building bonds with wild animals.
Finally, what is your ultimate dream/bucket list adventure?
I would love to see Polar bears in Churchill on Tundra vehicles.
