Grunt and squeak and squawk With the animals

A menagerie of tours gives views of different beasts

Tours to see animals in their natural environments can range from the exotic (a safari to Kenya and Tanzania to witness the migration of thundering wildebeest) to the less exotic (a meandering driving trip in the American West to see grazing bison). Whatever you choose, here's how to plan your trip wisely.

Finding a tour operator

As with finding a good doctor or real estate agent, personal recommendations from satisfied friends are the best way to go. But if that's not an option, the U.S. Tour Operators Association (800-468-7862, www.ustoa.com) in New York is a good place to start. Its members have been in business for at least three years, give references, participate in a consumer protection plan and pledge to advertise truthfully. The association's Web site allows you to search specifically for wildlife- and whale-watching outlets.

The American Society of Travel Agents (703-739-2782, www.travelsense.org) lists agents on its Web site by areas of expertise, including national parks and safaris. The Specialty Travel Index (888-624-4030, www.specialtytravel.com) gets even more specific, with areas of interest among its listed tour outlets that include black bear watching, reindeer safaris and dolphin research.

Also check animal education nonprofit organizations, such as the World Wildlife Fund's membership travel program (888-993-8687, www.worldwildlife.org/travel); the Earthwatch Institute (800-776-0188, www.earthwatch.org); Smithsonian Journeys (877-338-8687, www.smithsonianjourneys.org); or the Yellowstone Association (307-344-2293, www.yellowstoneassociation.org) at Yellowstone National Park. Many of these nonprofits offer trips with their experts.

Among the questions to ask when choosing a tour operator:

* How long has the company been selling tours to your destination?

* What is the level of expertise of the guides?

* Are references available?

* What business partnerships does the company have with companies at your destination?

* Is the company environmentally responsible?

Choosing a tour

If you dream of seeing lions in Africa, determining where and when to go can be done easily. Picking the best tour can't. After you've determined the basics -- including how much you want to spend -- think over these additional factors:

Creature comforts

Are you comfortable sleeping under a mosquito net in a grass shelter in the Zambian bush, or would you prefer the comforts of an exclusive lodge? Knowing the answer can help you decide among similar tours with different lodging.

Group size

Most animal outings have a small number of participants -- usually 10 to 15 people per tour. Exact group sizes depend on the activity and location. When Sierra Club Outings explores the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, for instance, regulations dictate no more than seven people per group.

Small groups can be nice for getting where you need to go without much hassle, but it also means that one sour personality could dominate the group and spoil the trip.

Also, before booking a trip, ask if the tour operator will cancel the trip if a quota isn't met. It has happened.

Fitness level

If your lifelong dream is to observe the flight patterns of the rufous-fronted antthrush in the Peruvian Amazon, but you haven't been to the gym in years, don't sign up for a two-week hiking/biking/rafting expedition, as offered by Toronto's Gap Adventures (800-708-7761, www.gapadventures.com; $1,595 per person double). The tour provider's nine-day outing ($795 double) with transport in the Amazon by motorized dugout canoe might be a better bet. Be honest about what level of adventure you can handle.