Kurt Johnson

Kurt Johnson is a naturalist, author and photographer with a passion for ecotourism. He grew up in both the urban setting of northern Virginia and the remote Adirondack Mountains of New York State where he developed his interest in natural history. Kurt has been fascinated by wildlife since he was a young boy, and he even claimed at age four that his professional aspiration was to grow up to be a monkey. He has yet to achieve this, but along the way he studied wildlife biology in Wisconsin, acquired an additional BS in education and an MS in natural resources in Utah, and has since studied wildlife all over the world. Kurt has been guiding wildlife tours and teaching about wildlife for more than 15 years, including organizing and leading safaris in Kenya and Baja. He also teaches photography and leads astronomy programs. His recently published book, The Field Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, is the most comprehensive identification and natural history guide ever written about these two famous parks and represents Kurt's efforts to communicate the "big picture" of an ecosystem, rather than focusing only on the most charismatic megafauna.

Upcoming Adventures with Kurt:
Northern Lights & Arctic Cultures
Glacier Park and Waterton Lakes: An International Treasure
Yellowstone Wolf Quest & Photo Adventure
Yellowstone Winter Photo Expedition
'Round Iceland

Praise from Nat Hab travelers:

C. Hill
"It is unimaginable to me that a better Expedition Leader than Kurt could exist. He's the complete package: he is thoroughly knowledgeable but is not pedantic; he is enthusiastic but is not a fake cheerleader; his patience is infinite but he is able to diplomatically move discussions along; he's attentive but not nosy; he's imaginative and has a great sense of humor; he's a natural manager of people and he was able to meld many different personalities into a cohesive unit. He kept us safe, showed us all the fauna and flora we asked to see and just did a terrific job. Whatever you are paying him, triple it!"

C. Martinez
"Kurt was the single most important reason we had such a wonderful experience. He was a real leader, amazingly knowledgeable and had great people skills."

B. Hendrix
"Kurt was exceptional. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable about plants, trees, birds and mammals, but he gave us many geology lessons that I wish I had had in college. Kurt was patient, didn't mind answering the same questions over and over, made everyone on this trip felt important, was well organized and was one of the best guides that I have had with Nat Hab."
 
M. Doyle
"Kurt is a fantastic professional with a true passion for nature and teaching people about it. Nat Hab should be very proud to have him represent you."

B. Flynn
"Extraordinary! Kurt and Colby two of the finest guides I've experienced anywhere in the world. Their knowledge of Yellowstone, its habitat, flora and fauna, along with the history of the wolves and their reintroduction is astounding. They are true naturalists who take genuine joy in sharing their knowledge with others. Their attitude is contagious. There wasn't a moment where they were focused on anything other than ensuring that all members of the group had a great experience. It also helped that Kurt and Colby were well known and respected in Yellowstone."

C. Bariletto
"Kurt truly cared about us. I was not feeling well during one dinner, and he was very concerned. That's above and beyond all the great things he did for us, such as the individualized attention to our photographing techniques as well as answering our questions about the landscape, animals, Aurora Borealis and all the great things we saw. He is a fantastic and very knowledgeable person!!"

L. McKee
"Kurt was an exceptional Expedition Leader. He did everything he could to see that everyone on the trip was well catered to and made a special effort to see that each person's goals were met. His prodigious knowledge on many subjects really enhanced the trip. He was extremely thoughtful, even in details such as our lunch picnics. We would love to go on another trip with him."

M. Macklin
"I could not imagine a better Expedition Leader than Kurt. I especially appreciated all his help with my camera and picture taking, even though this wasn't a photography trip. He's funny, super knowledgeable and an all around nice person."

D. Langmeyer
"Kurt went well beyond anything I would have expected! He actually wrote the book on Glacier (not yet published). He had an uncanny ability to spot wildlife and knew so much about animals, plants and rocks that he didn't repeat himself in more than a week. In addition, he was superbly conscious of the individual needs and wishes of each participant and offered multiple options for every activity. Finally, Kurt came up with wonderful surprises. He went well beyond what I could have hoped for."

B. Neuman
"Kurt is the best Expedition Leader we have ever had. I can't say enough wonderful things about him. He taught us so much—he has an unbelievable amount of knowledge about wildlife, flowers and everything else in nature and imparted this knowledge so beautifully. In addition, I have never seen anyone as sensitive to the needs of every single person. Kurt made the trip a very special experience for us."