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Past ExpeditionsFebruary 26-March 20, 2010
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Depart your hometown independently on a commercial flight to Copenhagen, Denmark, and arrive the next day. Meet with fellow travelers and the expedition staff during dinner at our well-appointed Scandinavian-style hotel.
Hilton Copenhagen Airport Hotel
Fly by private jet to Egypt and explore Luxor, by the Nile River, where a treasure trove of monumental achievements has been admired the world over for thousands of years. Visit the Luxor Museum and see some of the sepulchral treasures from King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Sail on the Nile River in a felucca, a traditional sailboat, and spend time in the Valley of the Kings visiting the tombs of divine pharaohs. Stop at the majestic temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the longest-reigning female pharaoh and one of history’s great leaders. See the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous statues and all that remains of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. Visit Medinet Habu, the best-preserved temple in the area, and gaze up at its colorful reliefs detailing the triumphs of Ramses III, considered the last great pharaoh. Marvel at the Great Hypostyle Hall and temples at Karnak, the largest ancient religious site in the world, and once described by Egyptians as ‘the most perfect of places.’ In the evening, enjoy an unforgettable gala welcome dinner at the Temple of Luxor.
Sonesta St. George Hotel, Luxor
Our expedition will support Siwan women who create traditional dresses, scarves, tools, baskets, and silver jewellery, and who seek training in how to market their goods throughout Egypt and beyond. Supplies will also be contributed to a local school.
Fly by private jet to Rwanda, a land of rolling hills, lush green mountains, majestic volcanoes, and grassy lowlands. Hidden deep in the high slopes of this enchanting land are the endangered mountain gorillas, which the late Dian Fossey famously studied. During a scenic drive into the hills, we will stop at the Hôtel des Mille Collines, the infamous hotel depicted in the movie Hotel Rwanda. At Volcanoes National Park, we set out in intimate groups of eight, hiking up through thick bamboo forests to encounter the gorillas in the wild. You may also spot some of Rwanda’s 650 bird species. In the evening, celebrate your extraordinary wildlife encounters over cocktails and visit a gallery of artwork depicting gorillas and day-to-day Rwandan life in gorilla country. These special works are made by adults and children who live in villages near the park and participate in the ART for GORILLAS Art of Conservation program.
In addition to an exciting adventure in the forests of Rwanda, visit the Kigali Memorial Centre, a meaningful tribute to those who perished in the genocide of 1994, built on a site where more than 250,000 people are buried. You will have an opportunity to hear survivors’ stories and learn about how people in Rwanda are creating an environment for unity and healing. Browse the local markets for handicrafts, including the unique Rwandan Agaseke basketry.
Mountain View Lodge, Volcanoes National Park & Kigali Serena Hotel, Kigali (A limited number of accommodation upgrades are available near Volcanoes National Park at Sabinyo Silverback Lodge)
Please note: Because the hike at Volcanoes National Park occurs at high altitudes and is especially arduous and challenging, a doctor’s approval to participate in the hike is required. A personal porter will be available to each traveler for assistance.
Upon arrival in Kilimanjaro, transfer by private local aircraft to one of two different areas of your choice. Begin your safari from the moment you land in the bush with a game drive en route to your lodgings.
Venture out into the Serengeti, which in the local Maasai language means “extended place,” an appropriate name for this vast wildlife sanctuary—one of the most complex and least disturbed ecosystems on Earth. In the southern area of Serengeti National Park, where the annual migration is expected to pass during our visit, witness the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa as well as predators of every stripe, including lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and leopards who stalk the migration. While here, you may enjoy your choice of accommodations, either a lodge with traditional comforts and amenities or a safari camp experience in the midst of the bush.
Serengeti Sopa Lodge or Mobile Tented Camp
Or, descend into the grasslands of the Ngorongoro Crater. This natural amphitheater is one of Africa’s most stunning backdrops from which to observe vast herds of herbivores. It is the world’s largest unbroken, unflooded caldera, and is home to a permanent population of about 25,000 animals. You may also see the “big five” (rhinoceros, lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo) and perhaps one of the remaining 13 black rhinos. If you wish, visit a Maasai village in the crater and meet members of this nomadic pastoralist tribe. Observe their rousing traditional dances and take this rare opportunity to see their beaded finery up-close.
Ngorongoro Sopa
With assistance from AmericaShare, our expedition will help vulnerable children get an education, assist women in creating businesses to support their families, and help provide care for those affected by HIV/AIDS in East Africa. Also, handicrafts made by a local women’s cooperative will be purchased and given to travelers on this expedition.
Our private jet continues southeast to Madagascar, a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean that is home to a colorful, multi-ethnic culture, curious geological formations, and a staggering array of unique animals and plants, where at least 80 percent of species are found nowhere else on Earth. Land in the capital, Antananarivo, where you can spend a leisurely evening, and then enjoy your choice of three ways to explore this remote island in the Indian Ocean:
Take a local flight to spend two relaxing days in the unspoiled Anjajavy Peninsula. Walk in the deciduous forest abounding with more than 30 distinct lemur species, including sifaka and brown lemurs. Paddle away in a traditional pirogue through mangroves. View coastal caves and curious limestone formations, called tsingy. Enjoy a fine tea service in the hotel’s lovely Oasis garden, filled with aquatic and climbing plants and palms where you may spot a little scarlet fody or the jewel-like malachite kingfisher. And if you wish, embark on a short cruise and (weather permitting) spend an afternoon fishing for marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and other big pelagic game in the Mozambique Channel.
Carlton Hotel, Antananarivo and Anjajavy Hotel, Anjajavy Peninsula
Or spend two days in the Andasibe National Park (formerly the Périnet Nature Reserve), a wet montane forest environment that is home to nine different species of lemur, from the tiny mouse lemur to the panda-like indri lemur with an unforgettable call. Spot some of the 100 bird species that thrive here, including various beautiful vangas, ground rollers, and couas. Visit the Mandraka Reptile & Butterfly Farm. And, if you wish, explore this park during nocturnal and early morning walks to observe entirely different ranges of creatures active at these times.
Carlton Hotel, Antananarivo and Vakôna Forest Lodge, Andasibe National Park
Or, remain in Antananarivo, home to a rich culture of Indonesian, Malaysian, African, and Arab origins. Stroll through this charming city of red clay houses and steepled churches clustered on hilltops. Enjoy spectacular views of the city from the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga and visit the palace of King Andrianampoinimerina, considered by some historians to be one of the greatest political rulers and military strategists of all time. Explore the Tsimbazaza Botanical and Zoological Gardens. Learn about Madagascar’s various tribes at the Museum of Ethnology. Then saunter along the shores of Lake Anosy in the shade of jacaranda trees and browse a colorful open-air bazaar brimming with handicrafts including beautiful and delicate Antaimoro paper.
Carlton Hotel, Antananarivo
Our expedition will support Mitsinjo Association, dedicated to the protection of lemurs and wetlands, managing tree nurseries for more than 100 endemic species, training farmers in sustainable methods, and providing education on HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention.
Fly by private jet to Livingstone, Zambia, where you can take a thrilling ride by helicopter over the breathtaking Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. See for yourself why the world’s largest curtain of water is also known in the local Kololo language as mosi-oa-tunya, ‘the smoke that thunders.’ Then visit Simonga Village, meet with community members, sample some traditional foods and spirits, and observe daily life for many in this country. In the evening, unwind in high style amidst the splendor of our colonial-style 5-star hotel.
The Royal Livingstone
Spend the next two days as you choose, by further exploring Zambia, or by flying to Botswana to explore the Kalahari Desert or the Okavango Delta:
Explore Zambia in-depth, at an ‘African pace.’ Embark on a quiet and peaceful sunset cruise above the falls, and keep an eye out for elephants taking a swim and crocodiles slithering along the sandbanks. Take a bush drive to see wildlife in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Go on a curator-led tour of The Livingstone Museum. Embark on an elephant-back safari along the Zambezi River. And enjoy the tranquil elegance of our accommodations, which offers excellent views of the great falls.
The Royal Livingstone
Or fly by private light aircraft into Botswana’s Kalahari Desert at the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pan. Go trekking with San bushmen—members of one of the longest surviving cultures in the world—who will share with you their ancient knowledge of plants, animal behavior, and survival skills such as fire-making and animal tracking. Then board 4x4 vehicles and explore the Kalahari’s grasslands and the Salt Pan’s curious moonlike terrain of mineral-encrusted soil, created when ancient lakes and recent rains dried up and left behind salt and other evaporite. Look for the flora and fauna that are uniquely adapted to life here, including meerkats and baobab trees. At our luxury camp, examine a fine collection of San artifacts and fossils, and enjoy cocktails as the sun sets on the desert’s shimmering expanse. Please note that space on this excursion is limited.
Jack’s Camp, Kalahari Desert
Or, transfer by private light aircraft to the largest inland delta system in the world—the wetland paradise of the Okavango Delta. Take early morning and late afternoon game drives for a chance to see white rhinos, herds of giraffe, wildebeests, elephants, and zebras. Practice your photography skills in this hot spot for carnivores and their prey. Birding is also superb here. After the excitement of seeing such abundant wildlife, set out on a water safari, cruising the delta at the gentle pace of a poled mokoro, or dugout canoe (subject to water levels). In the evening, relax on the stargazing deck or in your private sala plunge pool at our luxury camp. Please note that space on this excursion is limited.
Vumbura Plains, Okavango Delta
Our expedition will support efforts to provide Simonga Village with running water, a school, a medical clinic, and protection for vegetable patches from local elephants. Support will also go to Botswana’s Women Against Rape project, which offers post-traumatic stress counseling and other services for abused women and children.
Our private jet takes us to Cape Town, South Africa’s first major European settlement and its most beautiful city. It boasts a vibrant mix of African, French, Dutch, and Eastern cultures, and one of the most diverse floral kingdoms on Earth. Set out on an excursion around the Cape of Good Hope by helicopter to the site where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, and marvel at the rare flora and fauna of this vast nature reserve including the exotic sugarbushes (proteas), the keystone species of the region. Or, instead of a helicopter tour of the Cape, ride a ferry to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela and other political leaders were imprisoned. Visit the museum, meet with an ex-prisoner, and see some of the island’s wildlife. After returning from the island, visit Cape Town’s District 6 Museum, a fascinating memorial to a vibrant inner-city community of freed slaves, merchants, artisans, laborers, and immigrants that was destroyed in the name of racial purity.
Then explore Cape Town’s beloved landmark, Table Mountain, which soars more than 2/3 of a mile above sea level and can be seen by sailors 40 miles out in the waters around the Cape. Ride a cable car up to the top, and hike the wooden walkways to see the mountain ablaze with innumerable flowers and plants that are endemic to this area. Or, if you wish, browse the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a working port and shopping environment that is unequalled in Africa, where more than 400 shops and galleries offer handmade crafts from a variety of African cultures.
Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town
Our expedition will support many projects around Cape Town, including Abalimi Bezekhaya for sustainable food production in urban areas, the Khumbulani Centre providing daycare for children affected by AIDS, and Neighbourhood Old Age Homes providing much needed support for the elderly.
Wedged between the Kalahari Desert and the South Atlantic Ocean, Namibia is a spectacular land of swirling desert dunes, deep-red clay pans, dramatic seascapes, gentle bushwalking terrain, and limitless sunshine. Few other places can compare with the sheer magnitude and variety of this fascinating country. Our private jet lands in Walvis Bay. Take a thrilling flightseeing tour by local aircraft over Namibia’s legendary Skeleton Coast. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of one of the most unusual and unforgettable spectacles on Earth—Namibia’s desert dunes, among the highest in the world, meet the roaring Atlantic surf, one of the most treacherous bodies of water in the world. Shrouded in sea mist, countless shipwrecks and whale bones are washed up on this vast stretch of sand south of Walvis Bay, serving as haunting reminders of a long and perilous maritime history.
Then venture into the immense dunes of the Namib Desert with an expert guide and see the famous Welwitschia mirabilis, a rare and curious plant that has survived here for hundreds of years. With luck, we may see animals that gather along the linear oases of desert rivers that crisscross the Namib. At the upper slopes of mountains, you may see the broccoli-like Kokerboom, also called Quiver Tree, because bushmen use its hollow stems to store arrows. Later in the day, you may enjoy hiking along the Swakopmund riverbed. Before departing for Mali, we cruise the avian paradise of Walvis Bay Lagoon to see flamingos, penguins, and pelicans. Look to the water as well for bottlenose and heavyside dolphins and Cape fur seals, which are known to cavort around boats. You will also have a chance to stroll along the palm-lined streets of Swakopmund, a charming German-colonial town with immaculate Bavarian-style buildings and well-kept gardens.
Swakopmund Hotel, Namibia
Our private jet takes us over the Atlantic to Mopti, Mali. Located at the confluence of the Niger and Bani rivers, this busy port town was once the outpost of desert kings and continues to be a major gathering center of the region. Board a traditional flat-bottomed pirogue and cruise the Niger to observe daily life on the river where Bambara, Fulani, and Bozo fishermen and merchants ply the waters in boats laden with fish, salt, and produce. Later, marvel at a “stilt dance” performed by colorfully-dressed Dogon dancers who move deftly on stilts up to 15 feet high.
Relais Kanaga, Mopti
The next morning, choose to explore one of three remote and rarely-visited sites before departing for Morocco:
Visit Ireli Village at the Bandiagara escarpment of Dogon country, where the Dogon people live inside distinctive cave-dwellings—ingenious networks of thatched-roof living spaces, work areas, and ceremonial centers. Observe the fascinating lifestyle of these people whose tightly-knit social structure and intensely cooperative behavior enable them to maintain age-old traditions while adapting to life in a modern world.
Or head to Djenné, the oldest-known city in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was founded by the Bozo people in 250 B.C. and is home to outstanding examples of old-world Muslim architecture. To this day, Djenné builders are revered as great artists and magicians. Admire the beautiful symmetry of the Grand Mosque, the largest mud mosque in the world, stroll along streets lined with traditional mud-brick homes, and visit an open-air market by the Grand Mosque, where Malians have traded for centuries.
Or fly to Timbuktu by private local air. This fabled city enjoyed its golden years under the Askia dynasty during the fifteenth century, and was a major stop along the prosperous trans-Saharan route and the Great Ink Road of Africa. Timbuktu’s medieval-period mud-brick library is one of 120 that spanned West and East Africa, most of them now lost to the desert sands. Examine ancient maps and illuminated manuscripts, marvel at magnificent mosques, visit a Tuareg nomad camp deep in the desert, and if you wish, join them for a camel ride into the desert.
Our expedition will provide supplies and contribute funds to a school at Ireli Village in Dogon Country. Also, handicrafts made by local artisans will be purchased and given to travelers on this expedition.
We land in Marrakech, located in an oasis of palm and olive groves and steeped in ancient Berber tradition. Enjoy your choice of two ways to explore Morocco:
In the city of Marrakech, visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the tombs of the Saadian kings, and the sumptuous palace housing the Dar Si Said Museum of Moroccan Arts. Enjoy the myriad diversions of the bustling Djemaa el Fna: a jumble of colorful souks, where snake charmers, acrobats, and storytellers delight the passersby. Then browse local art galleries and handicraft centers or participate in an exclusive cooking workshop at a local riad (a traditional palace or house with an interior garden), where a local chef will teach you the secrets of creating a Moroccan tagine. In the evening, celebrate our grand adventure at a gala farewell dinner with traditional music, dancers, and henna artists.
Or, instead of exploring Marrakech, spend a day in the spectacular scenery of the Atlas Mountains, the highest mountain range in North Africa. Berber tribes live throughout this rugged land, where farming is central to day-to-day life. Visit a Berber village and share tea with a village chief and his family who will also treat us to a delicious traditional picnic lunch. In the evening, rejoin the group in Marrakech for the gala farewell dinner.
La Mamounia or Sofitel Marrakech
Our expedition will help fund the operation of a preschool for Berber children in Tallatast village in the Atlas Mountains. Also, handicrafts made by local artisans will be purchased and given to travelers on this expedition.
This morning we board our private jet and fly to Copenhagen, where travelers connect with commercial flights home.
Limited to 78 Travelers
$62,950 (double occupancy)
$9,525 (single supplement)
For your protection and peace of mind, all passenger payments are secured in a bank escrow account.
Featured Accommodations
Adrére Amellal Oasis, Western Sahara Desert
Adrére Amellal Oasis, Western Sahara Desert
