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Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)

Yellowstone Safari: Journey Through a Dramatic Landscape

Program No. 1646RJ
Join a naturalist in Yellowstone for a grand adventure that’ll see you safari through the park to discover the natural activity of indigenous wildlife and the rhythms of the seasons.

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climate
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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 22 - May 27, 2023
Starting at
2,999
Jun 5 - Jun 10, 2023
Starting at
2,999
Aug 28 - Sep 2, 2023
Starting at
2,999
Sep 11 - Sep 16, 2023
Starting at
2,999
May 13 - May 18, 2024
Starting at
3,249
Jun 3 - Jun 8, 2024
Starting at
3,249
Sep 2 - Sep 7, 2024
Starting at
3,249
Sep 16 - Sep 21, 2024
Starting at
3,249
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 22 - May 27, 2023
Starting at
3,899
Jun 5 - Jun 10, 2023
Starting at
3,899
Aug 28 - Sep 2, 2023
Starting at
3,899
Sep 11 - Sep 16, 2023
Starting at
3,899
May 13 - May 18, 2024
Starting at
4,279
Jun 3 - Jun 8, 2024
Starting at
4,279
Sep 2 - Sep 7, 2024
Starting at
4,279
Sep 16 - Sep 21, 2024
Starting at
4,279

At a Glance

Take an unforgettable journey into Yellowstone National Park’s dramatic and changing landscape. Explore the seasonal changes and the dramatic composition that unfolds on the stage of Yellowstone’s magnificent scenery. Discover how the seasonal activity of indigenous wildlife plays together with the natural history and the unique geothermal features in this ongoing symphony. An experienced naturalist will lead the safari, which will investigate the specific natural activity of the season and how it plays into the overall rhythm of what defines the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles; varied terrain. Getting on and off coach. Elevations up to 9,000 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Safari through Yellowstone and watch the unfolding drama of the season that showcases the park’s grand and wild nature.
  • Enjoy four field days in the park to learn about natural history and observe native wildlife.
  • Experience Yellowstone's spectacular Northern Range as an expert naturalist provides lessons on the wildlife.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Gene Ball
Raised along the rural Louisiana-Texas border, Gene's early outdoor experiences began a lifelong interest in wildlife, western heritage and preservation. After teaching and serving as director for the Hill Country Arts Foundation and Cowboy Artists Museum in Texas, he migrated to Wyoming to work at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. He then became director of the Yellowstone Association and Yellowstone Institute in Yellowstone National Park, and now freelances as a writer and naturalist.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Lee Harry
Lee is retired from the US Forest Service where his career focused on regenerating, tending and harvesting trees. He helped plan for and apply fire as a necessary ecological force and helped to suppress unwanted wildland fire. Lee lives in Livingston, Montana, which serves as a great home base for launching camping and day trips into Yellowstone, Grand Teton and the surrounding wildlands. Lee has a master’s degree in forest resources with an emphasis on wildland fire ecology.
Profile Image of Gene Ball
Raised along the rural Louisiana-Texas border, Gene's early outdoor experiences began a lifelong interest in wildlife, western heritage and preservation. After teaching and serving as director for the Hill Country Arts Foundation and Cowboy Artists Museum in Texas, he migrated to Wyoming to work at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. He then became director of the Yellowstone Association and Yellowstone Institute in Yellowstone National Park, and now freelances as a writer and naturalist.
Profile Image of Kari Haas
Born and raised in rural North Dakota, Kari took a summer job with the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho following college graduation and worked 34 years for the agency. She worked summers as a civil engineering road inspector and hydrologic technician before taking a permanent year-round job in administrative services. Her last eight years were as a budget analyst, and she retired from the Gallatin National Forest in May 2013. She lives in Bozeman, MT and enjoys hiking, camping, biking, canoeing and cross-country skiing.
Profile Image of Patty Bates
Patty Bates View biography
With a background in recreation, wildlife and fire management, Patty has enjoyed a 35-year career with the U.S. Forest Service. She's served as resource specialist, program manager, staff officer and District Ranger, with details as Deputy Forest Supervisor. She's been a District Ranger in four different states, including four years managing the Teton Basin Ranger District. Patty enjoys travel, camping, exploring, pets, genealogy, cooking, reading, crafting and getting used to retirement with her husband, Rick.
Profile Image of Rick Bush
Rick was raised in Wyoming and moved to Montana after college to work for the Bozeman Chronicle. His career includes working as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, web developer and IT Manager. He has a degree in Journalism from the University of Wyoming and a Master’s degree in photography. He lives in Helena with his wife and is an avid bicycle rider and enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, and travel. When he is not Group Leading, Rick enjoys adventuring with Road Scholar as a participant.
Profile Image of Zack Baker
Zack Baker View biography
Zack Baker attended high school in Livingston, Montana, 52 miles north of Yellowstone. His love for the park started while snowshoeing and observing wildlife. At Montana State University in Bozeman, he earned a B.S. in plant science, but it was Yellowstone’s mammals that grabbed his interest. He led private wildlife watching, hiking, and photography trips, and drove snowcoaches in the winter. He joined up with Road Scholar in 2017 and is now the Program Director for Road Scholar at the University of Montana Western.
Profile Image of Louis Spencer
Louis Spencer View biography
Louis Spencer spent more than 35 years in the Middle East as a student, teacher, traveler, and group leader. He studied in Beirut in the 1960s, traveled extensively in the region, then worked in Algeria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia for three decades. During that time, he led groups with an international travel agency to East Africa, Middle Eastern countries, and Asia. He also volunteered with Yellowstone Association for nine years before joining up with Road Scholar.
Profile Image of Shauna Baron
Shauna Baron View biography
Shauna Baron holds a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Science Education. She has more than 25 years of experience as an outdoor educator, studying large and small carnivores throughout the U.S., including wolves, bears, fishers, and bobcats. Shauna saw her first wild wolf while volunteering for the Yellowstone Wolf Project in 1996 and has since worked as a naturalist in Yellowstone National Park, developing outdoor educational classes for the Yellowstone Institute. She specializes in programs for disabled veterans, inner-city youth, and autistic groups.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Decade of the Wolf, revised and updated edition: Returning the Wild to Yellowstone
by Douglas W. Smith and Gary Ferguson
Research and storytelling meld to document wolf recovery in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Wolf biologist, Smith, and nature writer, Ferguson, provide an inside look at the Yellowstone Wolf Recovery Project ten years after the controversial decision was made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to reintroduce wolves into the park. Smith, wolf project leader who has worked with the Yellowstone Wolf Project since its inception, has studied wolves for 25 years. Ferguson, whose writing largely arises from intimate experiences, followed through the seasons, the first 14 wolves released into Yellowstone National Park. Their collaboration offers hard facts and 'impressionistic portraits of individual wolves that reveal their epic lives full of struggle and conquest.' Here is the history of the return of the top predator to Yellowstone.
Letters from Yellowstone
by Diane Smith
Through correspondence - detailed letters and telegrams - follow an 1898 scientific expedition whose purpose is to collect flora unique to Yellowstone National Park. Learn of the park's early history, trials of pioneer scientists and the engrossing and often funny story of Cornell medical student and amateur botanist, Alexandria Bartram, who emerges as a brave leader and serious scientist. Delightful fiction.
The Art of Yellowstone Science - Mammoth Hot Springs as a Window on the Universe
by Bruce W. Fouke and Tom Murphy
THIS PRODUCT IS DIGITAL ONLY http://www.tmurphywild.com/product/the-art-of-yellowstone-science-mammoth-hot-springs-as-a-window-on-the-universe/
After the Fires: The Ecology of Change in Yellowstone National Park
by Linda Wallace, Editor
The ravaging fires of 1988 caused many scientists to predict long-term devastation which did not come to pass. This scientific summary by wildlife biologists, ecosystem and forest scientists and landscape ecologists discusses the many things that changed and did not change in the Yellowstone area. Realize the role of fire in the ecosystem and the resiliency of nature.
Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country
by William Fritz & Robert Thomas
Updated, classic roadside geology book for the Yellowstone Region explains current geological theories.
Searching for Yellowstone: Ecology and Wonder in the Last Wilderness
by Paul Schullery
Eloquent, elegant, truthful and practical - an environmental history of America's best idea, Yellowstone.
Restoring a Presence: American Indians and Yellowstone National Park
by Peter Nabokov and Lawrence Loendorf
This first comprehensive account of Indians in and around Yellowstone corrects more than a century of ignorance. Detailed here is Yellowstone's native peoples and their story of a long engagement with a remarkable landscape.
The Sibley Guide to Birds
by David Allen Sibley
Sibley, a talented painter, offers this wonderful, data-packed color guide with range maps and detailed descriptions of songs and calls. This book is perfect for field trips with short walks and may be too heavy for some to take to the field in which case it can await back in the car.
To Save the Wild Bison: Life on the Edge in Yellowstone
by Mary Ann Franke
The author brings clarity and revelation to one of Yellowstone's most complex struggles by tracing the history of bison and humans into the 19th century and further into the national parks era. Here's discussion of bison management and park policy - the battle over brucellosis, snowmobiles and groomed winter roads, desires of Native Americans, bison and predators.
Living Colors: Microbes of Yellowstone National Park
by MSU Biology Institute
A full-color book published by Yellowstone Forever, Montana State University Biology Institute, and Montana Institute Ecosystems that identifies different types of microbes and where to find them in the park. 52 pages-soft cover. 8" x 8"
Knowing Yellowstone -Science in America's First National Park
by Jerry Johnson
Presently in Yellowstone there are almost 200 active research permits that involve over 500 investigators, but only a small fraction of this scientific work is reported in the popular press. Furthermore, the results are mixed and frequently confusing to the general public. The intent of this book is to explain both the general issues associated with the region and how science is done to understand those issues, from wolf and grizzly bear research to thermal activity. It further describes how science informs policy in the Greater Yellowstone Region, how scientists from an array of disciplines do their work, and finally, how the nature of that work enables or limits future plans for managing the park and surrounding lands.
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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Program Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Gardiner, MT
D
Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration is from 4:00-5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, check in with your program staff to get your schedule for the week and other important information. Confirm when and where your Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please check in with your Instructor and Group Leader to get the program details for the week.

Dinner: Dinner will be in the hotel dining room. We’ll have a pre-ordered welcome dinner with soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water included. Additional beverages are available for individual purchase.

Evening: Orientation: The Group Leader for this program will greet everyone and will lead your introductions. You will review the program schedule for the week, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and will have questions answered. On this first night, you will be joined by George Bumann, a local professional sculptor. George is a life-long observer of nature who will offer a compelling presentation on his work and his naturalistic experiences. This program will be staffed by both a resident Instructor, who will give lectures and lead field trips, and a Group Leader, who will deal primarily with logistics. “America the Beautiful” passes cover entrance fees at national parks and wildlife refuges for up to 4 adults. If you have one of these national park passes, please bring it with you to the program and on our field trips to benefit other members of the group. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “free time” and “at leisure” offer breaks in the group schedule to give you opportunities to do what you like. Please use these times to relax or enjoy sights and experiences that are not included with your daily schedule. These are periods of time to help make your experience even more meaningful and memorable. Your Instructor and Group Leader can help offer suggestions to occupy these times, should you need assistance. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and travel distances and times may change unexpectedly due to conditions such as weather, wildlife sightings, park construction, etc. In the event of changes, you will be alerted as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the days ahead. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
2
Spring Wildlife Viewing, Yellowstone Lake
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park, WY
B,L,D
Canyon Lodge Room

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles total over several walks throughout the day; boardwalks, paved and dirt trails, uneven terrain. Driving approximately 40 miles at low speed limits with stops along the way; about 1.5 hours total spent aboard motorcoach.

Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the hotel dining room. You will have a buffet-style breakfast with juice, milk, coffee, tea, and water included.

Morning: Before checking out of the hotel, your instructor will welcome you to Yellowstone National Park and the week's adventure ahead with a morning presentation on autumn in Yellowstone. This presentation offers you a front row seat to the wildlife and geology of Yellowstone as they are enmeshed with each season and are preparing for the long winter. A variety of wildlife can be seen during this time of year. The magic of Yellowstone awaits. You will load on to the motorcoach for a mid-morning transfer deeper into our country's first National Park.

Lunch: You will stop in the park for sack lunches on the journey to Yellowstone Lake.

Afternoon: Continue your safari journey through Hayden Valley to the Canyon of the Yellowstone with stops along the way at various sites. Your Instructor will interpret and share with you the exciting scenes out the windows. Hayden Valley, which is known as one of the best locations to view wildlife in Yellowstone, will lead you to Canyon Village. Upon arrival, you will check into the hotel with some time to relax and explore the grounds before dinner.

Dinner: In the Canyon cafeteria, you will use meal vouchers for a buffet-style meal with various options for meal choices to meet your meal preferences. Coffee, tea, and water are included. Other beverages are available for individual purchase.

DAY
3
Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park, WY
B,L,D
Canyon Lodge Room

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles total throughout the day; boardwalks, paved and dirt trails with some uneven terrain. Driving approximately 42 miles round trip; about 2 hours total.

Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the hotel dining room. Enjoy a buffet-style meal using meal vouchers to select meal choices to meet your meal preferences. Coffee, tea, and water are included. Other beverages are available for individual purchase.

Morning: You will set out aboard your motorcoach for the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Enjoy onboard commentary by your Instructor. Your study will focus on animal habitat and seasonal adaptations which will including the ecology of local wildlife and plants and the connections they have with the life cycle of animals. Along the way, you will stop intermittently for interpretive walks with your Instructor.

Lunch: You will have a sack lunch during one of the stops along the way. Enjoy the sights of Yellowstone and the company of your fellow Road Scholar participants during lunch.

Afternoon: Your journey will continue on to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for a look at the Upper and Lower Falls and the canyon's beautifully tinted walls. You will go for a walk along the Yellowstone River to observe the unique riparian environment and will have a heart stopping experience where the mighty river roars and plunges straight down 109 feet! Here, the geologic splendor, that is the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, offers an ambiance that compliments the wealth of wildlife habitat and the interpretive exploration that you will experience.

Dinner: You will have dinner in the Canyon Dining Room. Use meal vouchers to order off the menu. Coffee, tea, and water are included. Other beverages are available for individual purchase.

DAY
4
Great Caldera, Yellowstone's Famous Geyser Old Faithful
Gardiner, MT
B,L,D
Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles total throughout the day; boardwalks, paved and dirt trails with some uneven terrain. Driving approximately 75 miles at low speed limits with stops along the way; about 3 hours total.

Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the hotel dining room. Enjoy a buffet-style meal using meal vouchers to select meal choices to meet your meal preferences. Coffee, tea, and water are included. Other beverages are available for individual purchase.

Morning: Once you have checked out of the hotel, you will move on to see Old Faithful, the heart of Yellowstone. Upon arrival, you will walk with your Instructor to explore the Upper Geyser Basin. You will see Old Faithful erupt, the Firehole River, as well as a large variety of hot springs, fumaroles, and other geysers.

Lunch: Somewhere along your driving route, you will stop to have sack lunches while enjoying the scenic views that Yellowstone offers.

Afternoon: Your instructor will offer commentary on the Great Caldera's violent geologic past as you continue your exploration of the thermal features in the Old Faithful area. Boarding the motorcoach afterwards, you will transfer back to Gardiner, MT where you will check back into the hotel.

Dinner: You will have dinner at a local restaurant in Gardiner, MT. Enjoy meal choices from a limited menu. Coffee, tea, and water are included. Other beverages are available for individual purchase.

DAY
5
Gibbon Falls, Roaring Mountain, Mud Pots, Lamar Valley
Gardiner, MT
B,L,D
Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles total over several walks throughout the day; boardwalks, dirt trails, uneven terrain. Driving approximately 96 miles roundtrip; about 3.5 hours total.

Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the hotel dining room. You will have a buffet-style breakfast with juice, milk, coffee, tea, and water included.

Morning: You will board the motorcoach and head east toward the Tower area. Your instructor will offer commentary on the bus and at various stops along the way, discussing Yellowstone's "forests of stone". While there, you will have time to view Tower Falls and Tower Creek's graceful 132-foot plunge among volcanic pinnacles. This area is known for its black bear habitat and while sightings cannot be guaranteed, you'll keep your eyes "peeled" with binoculars handy. You will continue traveling through Lamar Valley and see the beautiful wide-open reaches and rich habitat. The valley offers a wealth of wildlife and diverse vegetation. Your Instructor will talk about the evidence of an ancient flood that scoured the valley. Be ready with your binoculars as you may see pronghorn, elk, bison, meadowlarks, Sandhill Cranes, and perhaps more.

Lunch: You will stop for lunch at Buns & Beds, a small deli in Cooke City, MT. Here you will order from the menu. One non-alcoholic beverage is included with your meal.

Afternoon: After lunch, you will board the motorcoach and head back through Yellowstone's northern range. This is an expansive valley along the Lamar River. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as you enjoy your instructor’s commentary along the way. This will bring you back to the hotel.

Dinner: In the dining room, adjacent to the hotel, you will enjoy a pre-selected farewell dinner with standard beverage options. Additional beverage options are available for individual purchase. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: You will join your Instructor in the hotel conference room for the Yellowstone finale wrap-up session to close your week-long adventure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
Gardiner, MT
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the hotel dining room. You will have a buffet-style breakfast with juice, milk, coffee, tea, and water included. This concludes our program.

Morning: We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!






Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.