First published: Sun 28 Apr 2024.
Els Slots
Learning From The Birders
Comments
5 comments
Can SARICA
1 year, 2 months ago (Apr 28, 2024)
Thanks for this amazing post, Els.
I truly believe in developing a "World Heritage Sites skill". I've transformed as a traveler over the past decade. Take, for instance, my trip to South Africa 8 years ago. I scheduled my visit to Robben Island for the final day of my Cape Town stay. Unfortunately, it was canceled due to bad weather, and I missed out. If I were the traveler I am today back then, I would have prioritized this visit on my first day, giving myself flexibility to reschedule if needed.
What I've learned from seasoned world heritage site travelers is that "clean-out" visits are an essential part of the adventure, unless you're systematically visiting all WHS and TWHS in a region without skipping any (which I humorously think only Zoe accomplishes!). However, I believe the key factor in developing your WHS skill is the number of these clean-out visits you undertake. For example, this summer I plan to visit up to 18 WHS from Guatemala to Panama within a tight two-week timeframe. One approach is to complete each country's sites during this trip to avoid future clean-out visits. If I start in Panama, however, I'll likely only have time to cover Panama and maybe 1 or 2 WHS in Costa Rica. Alternatively, by saving the more time-consuming and costly sites like Darien, Coiba, Stone Spheres, Cocos, Rio Platano, and Tikal for a future visit, I can travel all the way north to Guatemala within two weeks. This strategy allows me to skip 6 WHS initially, each requiring 7-10 days and a significant budget, except for Tikal and Stone Spheres, which can be done in 2-3 days. By adopting this approach, I'll have the opportunity in about five years to visit any TWHS I missed during my first trip that have been inscribed or considered since then. Additionally, subsequent visits may become more affordable and easier over time. These strategic insights have evolved in recent years as I've learned from the experiences of seasoned WHS travelers.
Reply
Wojciech Fedoruk
1 year, 2 months ago (Apr 28, 2024)
Very nice post Els.
I think there are not too many similarities between birders and WH travellers. Professional help may be needed to go to particular site (some of them are not doable on your own), but usually you don't need any help to spot OUV (contrary to particular bird).
I also don't think there is a special skill needed, except, as you write, planning and perseverance. Planning is key, but you will never guess which site may become WHS if it is not even on a T-list. Generally if your time is limited it is better not to focus too much on TWHS, unless they are already scheduled for future WHCs. But even that may be tricky. I remember my trip to Turkey in 2019. I visited Mudurnu and Kizilirmak (both planned for 2019, both withdrawn) and Ahlat (planned for 2020 or 2021, in the end nothing happened) and, albeit being very close, skipped Arslantepe (inscribed soon afterwards).
Clyde
1 year, 2 months ago (Apr 28, 2024)
Very interesting post indeed, especially for me as an amateur birder and a wh traveller.
Personally, in both cases I find it much more satisfying to spot birds/tick whs alone if at all possible. Obviously, it requires a lot of planning in both cases but also a great deal of luck and patience for birding. I don't mind going on a private or small group guided tour for the harder sites or when it is absolutely necessary.
Danny Bacon
1 year, 2 months ago (Apr 28, 2024)
A very interesting read, as my brother is a twitcher, and we quite often have these same discussions surrounding our different passions. Time, Money, Patience, Planning and a little luck goes a long way. I am waiting to register as I feel I have found my tribe. I have visited 166 sites and about to embark on a 5-year WHS journey (retirement) focussed on visiting WHS sites. I look forward to contributing to discussions and reviews in the future.
Els Slots
1 year, 2 months ago (Apr 29, 2024)
@Can – I like the idea of attributing a “strategizing” skill to the WH Travellers. At least I put a lot of effort into it. It’s the result I think of the combination having (a) a fairly long list that no one has ever fully mastered, with (b) very specific places to visit that also have their own particularities (pre-booking, core zone identification, transport etc) and (c) that is refreshed yearly with another 25 or so new ones that are quite random (as in Wojciech’s Turkey example).
@Wojciech - yes, spotting OUV doesn't usually need a guide, maybe it's even the other way around: you arrive as the expert and may have to ignore local guides telling false stories
@Clyde – I agree that ticking a WHS alone is often more satisfying. I prepare better when I am alone, look out for specific things I have read about, and also feel it more as an accomplishment having reached a remote site.
@Danny – We hope to reopen for new subscriptions soon, or provide a workaround. We'd be glad to welcome you.