About Coastal Rainforest Safaris
Coastal Rainforest Safaris began offering wildlife-viewing boat tours in the summer of 2020. The company is owned and operated by Mike Willie and Andrew Jones, who have each built successful wilderness tourism businesses on Northern Vancouver Island for more than 10 and 25 years, respectively. Their individual companies have tours recognized as Canadian Signature Experiences by Destination Canada.
At Coastal Rainforest Safaris, Mike and Andrew combine their strengths in guest experience, wildlife viewing, and cultural interpretation, and they share a love of welcoming visitors from around the world to explore this incredible region. One of our goals is to train and develop local, Indigenous guides, creating meaningful career opportunities and supporting long-term stewardship in the places we operate.
Coastal Rainforest Safaris is proud to be a member of Indigenous Tourism BC, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, and the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association.
Interested in working with CRS? We are currently accepting applications for skippers, guides, naturalists, office and support staff. Email andrew@coastalrainforestsafaris.com
Thomas Wamiss
Lead Guide / Skipper
Thomas Wamiss Jr. comes from the Dzawa̱’da̱’enux̱w and G̱usgi’mukw nations amongst the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw people.
Growing up Thomas was mentored by community leaders and elders about the history, language, songs, stories and art of his people and that lead him to working in Elementary Schools teaching children for 5 years and transitioned to adult education, running various language programs and creating learning resources that he continues to do for a majority of the year.
In the summer of 2017, he started as a kayak guide at Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures. In 2020 he began working at Coast Rainforest Safaris as a naturalist, and has since grown into skippering the company vessels and leading tours.
On tours he uses his background knowledge and prior guiding experience to help create a unique and memorable cultural adventure experience. Thomas finds great pride in sharing with guests all aspects of things around them; the picturesque territory they’re in, the wildlife, the deep heritage, language and rich culture, and how it is all beautifully connected.
Gabriel Charlie
Lead Guide / Skipper
A member of the T̓łat̕ła̱sikwa̱la First Nation, Gabriel spent his younger years in the remote community of Bull Harbour on Hope Island, right in the heart of Coast Rainforest Safaris’ operating area. Gabriel grew up around boats, and when he is not working with Coast Rainforest Safaris he is often skippering the Nation’s vessels, transporting people and supplies to and from Bull Harbour.
Andrew (AJ) Jennings
Lead Guide / Skipper
Tyler Zapp
Naturalist
William Wallace
Naturalist
Zac Taylor
Naturalist
Mike Willie
Owner / Lead Guide / Skipper
Mike is a member of the Musgamakw Dzawada‘enuxw First Nations, part of the Kwakwaka’wakw people who reside in the Northern Vancouver Island region and adjacent mainland. As a leader in his community, Mike has immense knowledge of the history, culture, and environment of this unique region.
In addition to Coastal Rainforest Safaris, Mike is also the owner and founder of Sea Wolf Adventures, which welcomes travellers in the Broughton Archipelago and surrounding areas for grizzly bear viewing day trips, sightseeing, water taxi services, and First Nations’ guided cultural tours.
Andrew Jones
Owner / Lead Guide / Skipper
Andrew has had extensive experience in B.C.’s tourism industry since 1998, when his passion for people, adventure, and nature prompted him to launch his kayaking adventure tour business, Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures.
In addition to over 25 years of experience working in the North Island tour industry, Andrew also holds a vast personal knowledge of its history, wildlife, and culture. Andrew has more than three decades of experience working in sales, operations management, customer service, and developing staff at every level of business.
Port Hardy Whale Watching and Sea Otter Viewing Tours
We are located in Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island.
