Wildlife Tour Setup

[david winnard]

Hello everyone,

I am wanting to setup a wildlife tour company - me leading a group of 6-10 people on wildlife tours in the UK and EU. Some tours will be one day events based on Nature reserves, others will be a week or 10 day trips to countries like Romania with me picking people up from the airport in a minibus and driving them around.

My question is what kind of insurance do i need as no insurance company seems to insure this kind of thing, or is it just straightforward Public liability to £5m?

Any help/advise would be greatly appreciated

all the best

David winnard

 

[Consistency]

I hope this is not going to mean you are going to go around drugging beautiful wildlife and then letting some idiot thinking he is a hardman because he managed to shoot one....

Should your business be a nice one that cares for the welfare of this world's animals I hope it goes well for you and that you seek good advice. Maybe contact tourist companies and ask them, if they will not do it for you, maybe look on their websites and see who they are insured by.

 

[oldeagleeye]

If you stick to aged 18 plus it would be far easier to get insurance but even so it wouldn't just be a straightforward public liability policy. The policy would need to be underwritten around you personally.

What qualifications do you have for leading these tours. Parts of Dartmoor I understand are a nature reserve but if the weather turns your talking army survival training etc etc.

If I were you David I would contact fellow member Adventurelife.

He runs white water rafting holidays in Scotland and other activity holidays throughout Europe. He is also a nice guy be only pleased to help.

Rob

NOTE. You can find Adventure on this thread then send him a PL

 

[david winnard]

Many thanks Rob,

The tours are aimed at species I.D, as well as wildlife photography - in this field its more about experience as actual qualifications don't really exist - i do have a 1st class honours degree in Wildlife Photography as well as being represented by various agencies and have been published in magazines. On the tours side i have led species i.d courses for various ranger services and environmental groups - but have always been insured through them.

Now i want to 'go alone' so need my own insurance. I have spoken to a few people doing similar things, and to be honest i don't think they are correctly insured, they merely have public liability but nothing specialised, one hadnt even rang them it was just bought over the internet.

The tours are led on nature reserves and are rarely a mile from the van or visitor centre, the tours would not be in the middle of no where so no need for survival training .

All the best

David

 

[adventurelife]

Hi

Your tours probably fall under the remit of activities so you could try

Activities Industry Mutual or Jardine Lloyd

If none of these fit come back to me and I will send some more.

Read up on TOMS regulations with the VAT as you will fall under those and they can be very confusing but essential to understand.

You will also need to get bonded in some way. You will need to get a merchant account and you may find that exceedingly difficult as the banks are taking a very dim view of tour companies at present.

You will also need to ensure you have a minibus commercial driving permit and suitable insurance on the bus for commercial use with paying passengers, which means tachos etc

For lots more detailed info from tour company operators, insurance and bond providers take a visit to the Small Fish Big Ocean forum. It is a small but vast growing band of us travel junkies.

Also once you get on your feet you may want to think about joining some of the associations that cover wildlife tourism.

The guys here will be able to give better advise than me in your niche

www.wild-scotland.org.uk

Setting up any sort of tour based business I am afraid is a minefield of regulations and countless hopes you have to jump through to be legal.

On the positive side you are going niche and that is what increasingly wins in the travel business

Good luck and just drop me a line if you have any questions

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Quote
"I hope this is not going to mean you are going to go around drugging beautiful wildlife and then letting some idiot thinking he is a hardman because he managed to shoot one...."

Con,do you have any proof that this actually happens?

 

[Consistency]

Quote
"I hope this is not going to mean you are going to go around drugging beautiful wildlife and then letting some idiot thinking he is a hardman because he managed to shoot one...."

Con,do you have any proof that this actually happens?

Here is a link that may help.


http://www.leat.or.tz/publications/hunting.blocks/tourist.hunting.php

There was also an expose on cook report.