Africa

Certification: Destination Specialist
Times been there: 20 plus
Last Visit: Sept .2009
Why I'm a specialist: Why choose me?

An African safari is a long way to travel and is not the cheapest vacation you will ever take. Sometimes the cheapest turns out to be the most expensive! Contact me because: (1) I have visited most major safari destinations and am familiar with the accommodations and ground operators; (2) Through past safari business I have established relationships with many safari tour operators and they give me specials that are not available to the general community; (3) I will get you the best price whether it is a brochure trip or custom designed; (4) My only business is safari travel and I know it well; (5) I can provide safaris from super deluxe to moderate; (6) I will provide you many travel suggestions about what to take and wear, camera equipment tips, books to read before departure, and the best times to visit the different parts of Africa. (7) I am trained by the South African Tourist Bureau as a specialist in selling travel to South Africa and by the Kenya Tourist Bureau for selling travel to Kenya. I am certitfied by the Institute of Certified Travel Agents as an Africa destination specialist.

I understand how valuable your vacation time is and I will help you make the most of every minute. I promise you the best customer service possible. Go to my web site www.ebrighttravel.com and click on "About your Money" to allay any fears about the security of your money or credit card during the booking process.

Experiences:

A safari is the most memorable of all travel experiences. It is the greatest wildlife show on earth. The sounds of the evening as the game comes out to hunt, the cold air on early morning game rides, the first sip of African wine as night descends on the savanna, a million stars in the black velvet sky of a night game ride. It is a trip for the senses and a safari for the soul. Let the triple time cadence of your real life fade as the long African days present themselves to you like gifts.

EAST AFRICA.

I have visited both Kenya and Tanzania in the last 3 years. Kenya and Tanzania are endlessly theatrical. There is the migration of two million wildebeest and zebra followed by the beasts of prey. Watch while they march to the beat of an ancient drum, as they sweep back and forth across the East Africa plains in synch with the seasons. Observe the elephants still treading the same trails their ancestors have for millions of years. Stay in exclusive bush homes, luxurious lodges and for the real “Out of Africa” experience, permanent tented camps with en suite bathrooms. Wake up to a view of snow capped Mt. Kenya sitting on the equator. Learn about the culture of the Masaai tribe and thrill to a balloon ride over the Serengeti plains. Visit the Olduvai Gorge, site of the Leakey’s archeological excavations or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The possibilities are endless.

SOUTHERN AFRICA.
I visited South Africa in October 1999 and South Africa, Botswana, Zambibwe and Zambia again in December of 1999. I was in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana in March 2002. In January 2003 I stayed in the private reserves bordering Kruger Park of South Africa. In 2004 I did a 7 day walking safari in Zambia and then spent 7 nights in Botswana in Abercrombie and Kent camps. South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana are the heart and soul of Africa. In 2007 and 2008 I did safaris to combinations of South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.

Radiant Cape Town has a waterfront of good food and wine, stunning hotels, security, entertainment day and night and friendly locals. The nearby winelands with quaint Cape Dutch architecture and Cape Point where the warm Indian and the cold Atlantic oceans converge are must sees. There is the Garden Route and the most famous train in the world, the Blue Train.

Botswana

In Botswana the Okavango delta is a thin layer of water covering the sand of the Kalahari Desert. Transfers to most camps and lodges are via small passenger plane and seen from the air it is a latticework of streams and lagoons interspersed with verdant islands. Here your safari can be in a mokoro (a dug out canoe powered by a native poler), a boat or an open vehicle. Stay in private reserves where the rangers and trackers guide you through the great natural theatres of Southern Africa in open Land Rovers or on bush walks. Walk in the wild in the company of wild animals. Dine in an open-air boma with a huge bonfire as the rangers regale you with stories of the wild. It is a landscape that will hold you captive like a pleasant addiction.

Zambia and Zimbabwe

The Victoria Falls area of Zimbabwe is still safe for tourists, although the farming and some interior parts of Zimbabwe are not recommended. Zambia is an excellent alternative and has great gaming, exquisite lodges and world famous walking safari camps. From the Zambia side visit Victoria Falls, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, raft the Zambezi, the wildest white water on earth, or lie in your tent bed and watch the animals outside the four mesh walls as the moon lights the land silver. You will fall victim to the spell of Africa. It has been happening to travelers since Odysseus and it will happen to you. It is truly a magic place. It would be my pleasure to help you experience the most thrilling vacation of you life.

Botswana

Certification: ICTA Africa Specialist
Times been there: 2 times last three years
Last Visit: 2008
Why I'm a specialist:

Botswana has an ark full of large game and colorful birds. However, you will not find here hordes of tourists, as this Southern Africa country tightly controls the number of tourists and charges premium prices for those who want in. Transfers to most camps are via small plane. Seen from the air the Okavango in full flood is a latticework of streams and lagoons interspersed with verdant islands. The luxury-tented camps are considered as either wet or dry and it is important to know the difference. Dry camps, even those at water’ edge, offer only land game drives where you will see lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants, hyenas and zebra. Wet camps, which are further into the delta have less big game but offer hippos, crocodiles and incredible birding. Wet camps are the only place you can do game drives by mokoro (the small two person dug out canoe propelled by a native with a pole.) A few camps are classified as both wet and dry, but you must travel by motorboat to get far enough into the delta to see some of the water wild life. I watched as a herd of elephants crossed a large body of water with only the tip of their trunks showing above the water like a snorkel.

In the wet camps, as you glide along the narrow reed channels of the delta, it is so quiet and peaceful you can hear the heart of Africa beating and you stop to listen. The dry camps have first-rate big game viewing, especially in the Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe, famous for its large elephant population. Walk in the wild in the company of wild animals through the great natural theatres of Botswana. Dine in an open-air boma with a huge bonfire, as the rangers regale you with stories of the wild. It is a landscape that will hold you captive like a pleasant addiction.

The price tag ensures that it is not for everyone, but those who do experience Botswana consider it the soul of Africa.

Why choose me?

An African safari is a long way to travel and is not the cheapest vacation you will ever take. Sometimes the cheapest turns out to be the most expensive! Contact me because: (1) I have visited most major safari destinations and am familiar with the accommodations and ground operators; (2) Through past safari business I have established relationships with many safari tour operators and they give me specials that are not available to the general community; (3) I will get you the best price whether it is a brochure trip or custom designed; (4) My only business is safari travel and I know it well; (5) I can provide safaris from super deluxe to moderate; (6) I will provide you many travel suggestions about what to take and wear, camera equipment tips, books to read before departure, and the best times to visit the different parts of Africa. (7) I am trained by the South African Tourist Bureau as a specialist in selling travel to Southern Africa. I am certitfied by the Institute of Certified Travel Agents as an Africa destination specialist. I have been to Botswana two times in the last three years.

I understand how valuable your vacation time is and I will help you make the most of every minute. I promise you excellent customer service possible. Go to my web site www.ebrighttravel.com and click on "About your Money" to allay any fears about the security of your money or credit card during the booking process.

I was in Botswana in 1999, 2000, and again in 2004 and 2008 and have first hand knowledge of both Gametrackers, Abercrombie and Kent, And Beyond and Wilderness Camps.
Experiences:

Zambia

Certification: ICTA Africa Specialist and South Africa Tourist Board Specialist
Times been there: 2 in last 3years
Last Visit: 2008
Why I'm a specialist: Zambia

Zambia is considered to be the cutting edge of new safari experiences and the last frontier of uninhabited wild Africa. The Kafue and Luanga Reserves are famous for their remote locations as well as mobile, cycling, canoeing safaris and the world famous Robin Pope walking safaris.

Zambia is an excellent and safe alternative for the Zimbabwe side of the falls where the currency exchange is in disaray. It has great gaming and exquisite lodges. From the Zambia side visit Victoria Falls, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, raft the Zambezi, the wildest white water on earth, or lie in your tent bed and watch the animals outside the four mesh walls as the moon lights the land silver. I have been to Zambia many time and greatly enjoy my walking safari with Bushcamp Company.

Experiences:

Until the trouble started on the Zimbabwe farms there were very few accommodations in Zambia near the falls. Since then two glamorous new hotels have been built on the banks of the Zambezi River close to the Cataract of the mighty Victoria Falls. The stunning five star Royal Livingstone Resort and the four star Zambezi Sun are built within the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site. There is nothing more luxurious than a body massage on the pool deck of the Royal Livingstone Hotel overlooking the Zambezi River with a pod of hippos just a few feet away snorting and grunting their disapproval of the sybaritic lifestyle.

Also nearby is The River Club with 10 luxury-thatched chalets nestled into the banks of the river overlooking the sunset. The split-level bungalows are open to the world with only three walls and strategically trimmed tree branches for privacy from the hippos in the river below. Dinner at the Estate Table in the main lounge is a most memorable experience with more crystal and silver than you have ever seen on a table. Peter Jones, the handsome and charming owner, presides over dinner and becomes lifelong friends with all of his guests (including me).

You will fall victim to the spell of Africa. It has been happening to travelers since Odysseus and it will happen to you. Zambia is truly a magic place and a convennient add on to adjacent Botswana. It would be my pleasure to help you experience the most thrilling vacation of your life.

In 2004 I did a walking safari in Zambia and it was an unbelievable experience being on the ground with the animlas. Email me to read my journal of that amazing safari.

Kenya

Certification: Institute for Certified Travel Agents Kenya Specialist
Times been there: 1 in last 2 years
Last Visit: 2007
Why I'm a specialist: I have visited both Kenya and Tanzania in the last three years. Kenya is endlessly theatrical. There is the migration of two million wildebeest and zebra followed by the beasts of prey. Watch as they march to the beat of an ancient drum, sweeping back and forth across the East Africa plains in sync with the seasons. Observe the elephants still treading the same trails their ancestors have for millions of years. Stay in exclusive bush homes and luxurious lodges, or for the real “out of Africa “ experience permanent tented camps with en suite bathrooms. Wake up to a view of snow capped Mt. Kenya sitting on the equator. Learn about the culture of the Masai tribe and thrill to a balloon ride over the Serengeti plains. Visit the Olduvai Gorge, site of the Leakey’s archeological excavations or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The possibilities are endless.
Experiences:
The last line from my Kenya journal reads, "As I leave the Masai Mara for my flight home two huge lions escorted our jeep to the airstrip, one on each side of the vehicle. It is like a scene from a movie. Our guide says that they have come to bid us goodbye. I never imagined that upon leaving I would immediately want to revisit Kenya. I am afflicted with Africa like a rare disease."

Let me show you a place that can hold you spellbound like a pleasant addiction. I can prepare a moderate or luxury safari in Kenya from one week in length to three weeks. There is nothing as exciting as watching a kill in the Masai Mara or seeing a leopard teach her toddlers how to hunt. Night drives when the ranger passes the vapor light back and forth looking for night eyes is a most hypnotic activity. Come to Kenya and let the dust of Africa get into your bones. You will return again and again.

South Africa

Certification: Institute of Certified Travel Agents Africa Specialist
Times been there: 5 in last 9 years
Last Visit: 2008
Why I'm a specialist: I visited South Africa in 1999, 2000,2002,2003,2007 and 2008. It is the most glamourous place I have ever been with the most prolific wildlife. I cannot get enough of it! Last year I stayed in five of the exclusive private reserves bordering Kruger Park in South Africa and site inpsected many more. It is easily understood why Singita is the first and only accommodation in the history of the Conde Nast Gold List Readers Poll to receive a perfect 100 score, an honor it has held for the last three years. The gourmet food, the luxurious accommodations and the game viewing are beyond compare.

Experiences: Our first game drive with Isac, the head ranger, is, “brilliant,” as they say. We left the vehicle and walked down the banks of the Sabi River to where the cape buffalo were bathing. Nearby, a pod of hippos in the river is snorting their disapproval and showing their armament of dangerous teeth. They injure more people than any other animal in Africa. People make the mistake of getting between them and their water.

Minutes later, and now back in the Land Rover, we are up close and personal with a victorious bull rhino and the sub-dominant bull he had just defeated, the latter sporting a large round wound in his thick neoprene hide. Next we see four fluffy, baby lions waiting for their momma to return with dinner, and then a mother cheetah with her toddler dining gently on a fresh kill of Steenbok. We missed the kill, but a staff vehicle radioed us that the cheetah was teaching her young how to hunt by keeping the victim alive until the lesson was learned. Isac warned us that it might be gruesome, but by the time we arrived the baby was daintily biting off small bites while the mother rested exhausted nearby. The evening ended with a lion stalking a herd of impala, but the wind came up and foiled her plot. No protein for that lion tonight! We cannot believe that we have seen the Big Five on our first game drive.