Hello and welcome to All Things Travel. What's on your travel wish list? One destination that should definitely be there is an African Safari. Today, we'll discuss why this trip is perfect for all sorts of travelers. Get ready to see the Big Five and be amazed at the beauty of Africa.
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Hello and welcome to All Things Travel. What's on your travel wish list? One destination that should definitely be there is an African Safari. Today, we'll discuss why this trip is perfect for all sorts of travelers. Get ready to see the Big Five and be amazed at the beauty of Africa.
~~~~~~~
Grab Ryan's free download for planning the ultimate family all-inclusive vacation: https://bit.ly/allinclusivevacationtoptips
Grab Julie's free download for a baby and toddler vacation packing list:
https://bit.ly/babytoddlerpackinglist
Ready to plan your vacation? Most families are confused and overwhelmed when planning a vacation. We work with you to plan a trip perfect for your family. Saving you time, money, and stress!
Join the travel conversations and the fun in the All Things Travel Show Facebook group!
Hello and welcome to All Things Travel. What's on your travel wish list? One destination that should definitely be there is an African Safari. Today, we'll discuss why this trip is perfect for all sorts of travelers. Get ready to see the Big Five and be amazed at the beauty of Africa.
Julie:I can't think of a more fitting location to be on your travel wishlist than an African safari. Not only do you learn about different animals and cultures, but you are immersed in some of the most beautiful parts of the African continent. Ryan, what makes you think a safari is worthy of a travel wishlist? Yes.
Ryan:you only dream about seeing. We're going to talk today about the Big Five, and to see them in their natural habitat, and just to be in a completely different place in the world, and the food, and the wine, and the culture, everything about it, just is exciting, to glamp in the safari, while you're seeing things to get up early in the morning and go look for lions as they're waking up or that night, go back and do another thing, photography, you know, just the pictures and everything. I just, I never
Julie:All right. You sold
Ryan:to take this trip, but okay. All right. We're, we're already sold. All right. Well, I've got several options for safaris here that I think you're going to be excited about, Julie. I'm excited to talk about that. You want to plan a trip to an amazing destination, but you don't know how to get started. As your travel advisors, we work with you to create a customized itinerary for your vacation and take the stress of planning away so that you can focus on the fun and creating those African Safari memories. You can reach me, Ryan, at Ryan at CreatingMagicVacations. com.
Julie:And you can meet me at Julie at CreatingMagicVacations. com
Ryan:So, Julie, when you think about an African Safari, what are the top reasons why this should be on a travel wish list?
Julie:Okay, so the number one reason you need to do an African Safari is to go see the big five animals.
Ryan:five.
Julie:Yep. Tell us what they are, Ryan.
Ryan:you've got lions, you've got leopards, you've got rhinos, you've got elephants, and buffalo. And this is normally in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, or Botswana that you're going to see these big five. You'll hear something called the great migration as these animals roam through the different countries. I know when I've worked with clients with a trip like this, that's one of the big draws, that great migration.
Julie:Wow. That just sounds amazing. You might think, Oh, I've seen a lion or I've seen an elephant at the zoo,
Ryan:Not like this you haven't.
Julie:is absolutely nothing like this where they are in their natural environment, their natural habitat, they're on the savannas, they are, going about their daily Life and, and you just get to witness it and that's just so awe inspiring. So another cool thing is to learn about a new culture, right? And African culture is very
Ryan:Yeah, absolutely.
Julie:to here in the U. S. Very different customs, very different foods, very different ways of living. That can be such an amazing learning experience. If you are someone or someone in your family isn't a photography, this is like one of the best trips to take to take photos and to share those photos because the sites are just beautiful, right? Just to get those action shots of the animals. You're not going to get that anywhere else. It's also really important to do a trip like this. There's a lot of conservation and support opportunities available when you go over there. That might be something that's really important to you as one of your reasons to travel over to Africa.
Ryan:Another thing about an African Safari that you may not think of right away is it can actually be a really good family trip. With the way that these are designed, smaller kids, younger teenagers, teenagers, they can certainly go along with the, game visits and things like that to see these. I, I think it could be a great family trip. One of the things that I really like about African safaris is the accommodations can be anything from very, very rustic to ultimate luxury. I mean, some of these places are insanely luxurious. So, You can clamp in a tent, you can camp in a tent, or you could stay in a five star retreat. I've even seen, Julie, there is a hotel in South Africa that I've seen that's a converted train that's elevated above the plane so you can actually watch the animals from your train car that's your hotel room.
Julie:Wow. And I think that that is something that a lot of clients don't think about is having a luxury accommodation on a trip like this. I think that they have something in mind and it's not luxury.
Ryan:Right.
Julie:also probably don't see it as a family trip. So I think those are really great things to point out.
Ryan:And I think the last reason that the African Safari makes sense for your tribal wish list is It's one of the most unique trips that you could take, especially from our mindset as, you know, a North American traveler. I can't imagine this not being in the top three when it comes to unique vacation experiences.
Julie:I would. I would 100 percent agree. It can be a little bit daunting to think about and that's why I can't wait for Ryan to share these two trip options with us.
Ryan:Yeah, I'm excited too, but first, you know what I want to do. I want to talk about where in the world does all things travel, Julie.
Julie:Where are we?
Ryan:So, I went back to our last couple episodes, and a city that popped up that I don't think we've ever talked about on this show is San Francisco, California. Have you been to San Francisco, Julie?
Julie:I haven't.
Ryan:San Francisco has tons of things to see and do. It's a gorgeous city. But you know what? I went with the tourist heavy hitter. I just couldn't get off of this one. I went with Alcatraz, because why wouldn't you go to Alcatraz if you're visiting San Francisco?
Julie:That sounds very cool.
Ryan:It was once the most secure federal prison in the United States and held notorious inmates like Al Capone. After it was decommissioned in 1963, the prison is a museum that welcomes millions of travelers every year. You catch the ferry from Pier 33 and you go out, you check it all out. You can take guided tours, you can walk around by yourself, and you can also look for Sean Connery as he escapes The Rock, if you will.
Julie:I mean, just what an idea. Let's put these prisoners out
Ryan:Yeah, I mean, absolutely. And what's funny to me, the first time I went to San Francisco is how close it is to San Francisco. So it's not like it's off, completely on its own. I mean, unfortunately, these prisoners are just looking at the city of San Francisco the entire day, like, I want to go over there and ride a streetcar. Well, hey, listener from San Francisco, we are excited to be in the Bay Area with All Things Travel. Reach out to Julie or I via Facebook or via email, because I have a nice little thank you gift for being featured on today's show. Alright Julie, so I have two different trips to share today with two very different companies. And I chose these because you're kind of doing similar things, just in a very different way. So I think this gives you an idea of the range of what you could do here with an African Safari. Our first trip is with our travel supplier, Exotica. Why do we love Exotica, Julie?
Julie:We love Exotica because it is group travel and it is affordable.
Ryan:It is a done for you vacation in the way that you can book it and you're done. Everything is taken care of for you. You have all the details. You're set to go. The thing to consider though with a trip like Exotica is there's not a lot of wiggle room. What you get is what you get. So as long as the trip makes sense for you, the price is right, you're ready to go. So I looked at a Nairobi Wildlife Safari and Nayahuru. And you are in Kenya for nine days. Seven nights in Destination, so you've got those two travel days. And let me break this down for you. You fly into Nairobi. It's an overnight flight and you get into Nairobi you meet your guide and transfer at the hotel you basically have that first day to get acclimated on the next day. You're in Nairobi you are taking a tour of the capital you have the option to add a coffee farm tour and an option to add a visit to the national museum bomas and kazooie beads and so you can learn a little bit more about culture and i will say from having folks travel with exotica before julie these add ons are not super expensive and they're very easy to fit in with the time there
Julie:And I think that's, what's really great about this company with Exotica. Like you mentioned, the trip is very done for you, but then you can add on to it. And I think that's just such a great option. And it's not like there's one add on available. There's usually multiple to choose from.
Ryan:absolutely. So the next day, you're going to the world famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. So you're going to pass through small little towns as you make your way to the Maasai capital. You're going to arrive at the lodge in time for lunch and soak up the views. You're going to enjoy the rest of the afternoon on your leisure. Getting acclimated to the Maasai Mara and you can also add this day a reserve afternoon game drive and what you'll find with these trips, Julie, is you kind of do game drives at different times of the day and on different days throughout your trip so you could see the big five here on this day. Check that off your list or see it for the first time. That next day then is all about the game drive. You have a full day game driving where you are seeing the big five, your wildlife spot and you have train spotters that are with you the entire day. And one of the cool things here is up until this point, you've been staying at hotels, but now you're actually staying in a camp. So you've got that glamping kind of experience.
Julie:Wow. I mean, this just sounds like such a cool trip. I'm looking at some of these other available activities and there's, there's going to the hippo pools. I mean, that sounds
Ryan:Yeah, so the next day again, you are checking out the Masai. You're traveling around to different parts of that area and checking out the landscape. You have an optional Crescent Island walking safari that's included there. As Julie said, you've got options for add ons like the Thompson Falls and Hippo Pools. And then, after those several days, you're back in Nairobi and you're ready to head home. So when we talk about done for you vacation with Exotica, you have your trip insurances included, your departures from main U. S. airports, I chose Chicago because that's the main hub closest to me for this place, so you've got your international flights from the U. S. to Nairobi, you have seven nights in their hotels and lodges, You have seven breakfasts, two dinners, and four lunches. You have transfers and safari with an English speaking guide. You have your game drives and your park entries, so everything that's either included or you add on. You've got all of your guides during excursions, all of your transfers, and all of your taxes. Okay? The only thing that's not included is a Kenya Visa, and the requirements there based on what based on what you need to do. And then tipping for drinks and things like that, just as you would on a normal vacation. And Julie, this price for this trip,
Julie:Amazing.
Ryan:it's under 2, 000 per person.
Julie:I mean, that's phenomenal. And I do want to say that that is a sale, but Exotica has promotions frequently
Ryan:they absolutely
Julie:advisors, they tell us when they're having these
Ryan:Yes. Yes.
Julie:the other cool thing about them is they have, and maybe you're going to mention this and I'm, and I'm cutting you off, but they have different categories you can choose from. So if that sounds affordable to you and you're like, Oh, I could do a little bit more, you can upgrade to
Ryan:and I will say for this particular trip, the category that I had, their charm category, kind of their lead in, is the only one they have for this trip, but other trips that Exotica has, you can, and you can also choose different flights, I will tell you from, from booking folks, the flights tend to be more on the Not so great flights, but you can modify that, change that, and yeah, the pricing is still very, very reasonable.
Julie:I would agree. Like you said, the only level available with this specific trip was the charm category, it's still, when you read the description of charm, it's hotels that each have a minimum of four stars on trip advisor. They do have solo availability and for solo travelers. And I think that's pretty cool.
Ryan:And with Exotica, they guarantee if two people sign up for a date, the trip will run. So You, you have the option. It does happen where your group of two or four or six has their own private trip the entire time.
Julie:you imagine?
Ryan:it'd be amazing. It would be amazing. Now Julie, let's step into the second type. Let's step into Kensington. Kensington travel. Why do we love Kensington?
Julie:I love Kensington because their trips are completely customizable. We can get in touch with our support there, our representatives there, and They have a specialist for nearly every country and that person has been there. They are familiar with all the activities. You're not talking to somebody who's just reading about it online. They are very familiar with those destinations You can say, Hey, these are the activities my client is interested in. They will provide us with an itinerary and then we can customize that in any way that we want.
Ryan:That's exactly my experience, Julie. So I actually have folks that are looking at this trip right now that I'm going to talk about. And I did just that. I called Kensington. I talked to the African department. I talked to someone from Africa and I said, I like this trip, but they want more time looking at game. They also want to minimize the driving. So that they fly everywhere rather than taking, you know, a six hour trip here and a six hour trip there, and they need to do a balloon ride over the Mara, and I had, within several hours, I had an itinerary that was exactly what these folks wanted.
Julie:Service is phenomenal.
Ryan:So this is a nine day trip, the Kenya Active Adventure. And just to give you an overview, and then I'm going to talk about each day. You're going to meet orphaned elephants at a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. You're going to follow the footsteps of the Samburu Warriors on a bushwalk. You're going to go on night game drives. You're going to track giraffes, lions, and leopards in 4x4s. And you're going to stay at Wonderful accommodations and safari camps. These are some of the best places to stay. So your first day you're getting to Nairobi you're checking in, you're getting settled. That second day then, you're going to Mount Kenya, where you go to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. It's a world renowned rescue and rehab initiative for orphaned elephants. And so you get to spend the day, and you can also see animals like the black rhino. And You can foster an elephant while you're there. Then, after that, you go to the Mount Kenya National Park and drive through villages and up through the mountains. On that next day, you're going from Mount Kenya to Samburu. And you have a two to three hour drive, and that's the longest time you're driving. Everywhere else, you are flying so you're going to take a walking safari when you're there at Samburu and you're also now staying at a camp. You're staying at the Elephant Bedroom Camp and this is an all inclusive camp. So one of the things I like about this trip too is everything's included once you're there. That next day, day four, is the main attraction. This is where you're going to come face to face with wildlife by doing your full game experience. The next day, you are going to fly from Samburu to Wai Waikipia. And then you are going to do an ultimate safari experience if you want to, or you're going to relax at the resort. You can do cultural tours, biplane safaris, quad biking, and more. It's a private property, so they really are able to customize it to however you want to do it. It sounds absolutely amazing. They have elephants there, they have a tree nursery, they have education programs. That next day, then, day six, you are loading up on the custom built four wheel drive open sided vehicles. So think Julie when you're Animal Kingdom, but you're doing it for real.
Julie:Right?
Ryan:So you are doing a guided bushwalk. You're doing a jeeped game day. And then on day seven, you're flying from Lycopaia. to the Masa Mara in Kenya. And then you are doing a full guided tour there for game. If you want to see animals, this is the trip for you. This is the day where they're going to focus on lions. They have Pride of Lions there that they focus on with offspring, with females, adult males. And you're going to be spending time seeing them. You're going to be sitting down to a full African dinner that night, a fireside chat with other guests and people telling stories. You're going to have cocktails and you're also going to be spending time looking at the starry sky that day. That sounds like the best vacation day ever.
Julie:Yeah.
Ryan:the next day, then you are going to have a full game day at the Masamara that is known for the Big Five. So again, that lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo, and leopard. So you've got plenty of time there. Now, one of the things that I did with my group, Julie, is they wanted to do a balloon ride on this day. And so they actually, as part of it, are taking a balloon ride over the Mara to see animals in that way.
Julie:Amazing. And Ryan, I hope that you include a link to this tour because the accommodations that, you know, listeners can go and look at the pictures of these accommodations, they're just amazing.
Ryan:I mean, you're talking about beautiful hotels, you're talking about safari clubs, you're talking about bedroom camps, you're talking about lodges, I mean, just the, the different types of places that you're staying. And then after all this, They take you back to Nairobi, then you fly out that next day. So, Julie, this is obviously a very different trip. This is very high end, this is very customizable. This starts at just over 9, 000 a person and does not include flights. And, I will say, depending on the time of year, it can be more expensive. So, my folks that want to go right in smack dab of the migration, they're going at the end of July. They are adding a couple extra game days. They're doing the balloon ride. This is, with flights, this is about 17, 000 per person.
Julie:But this is really a once
Ryan:This is
Julie:right? And like, this
Ryan:extreme once in a lifetime, absolutely.
Julie:When you are showcasing these companies that we work with and we can book these trips through, this is really showing our expertise as a travel advisor and the best ways that we can work with our clients, because we have the relationships with our travel partners to know, Which travel partner, which tour is going to be best for you. We, like Ryan said, we get on the phone. We talk to these people that help us plan these trips for you. And without them, you would just be Googling African safari. This is where we really
Ryan:good, good, good luck with that, right?
Julie:So it's just amazing.
Ryan:Well, there you go, Julie. I was excited when I started to pull this show together and to see the different options. Like I said, this is not a trip I've thought much about, but boy, I don't know. I, I could talk myself into this pretty easily.
Julie:When we talked about it being a family friendly destination, I'm trying to think what would be the youngest age I would take kids, and I really don't know. I'd have to do a lot of thinking on that.
Ryan:Yeah, and this would be, and again, the Kensington option allows you to really customize it for you. So I think you would
Julie:great about that.
Ryan:You could really say, Hey, you know, I'm bringing along my young teens. This is what they're interested in. I'm sure if you wanted to do there, there are add ons that you can do like a photography class with a professional photographer. You can really customize it how you want to do it. I'm excited as always to continue this series because we've got some even more. Really special travel must dos travel wish list, you know bucket list. However, you want to frame it There's some fun trips coming up
Julie:Yeah, these have been some of my favorite episodes for sure. You want to plan a trip to an African safari, but don't know how to get started. As your travel advisors, we will work with you to create a customized itinerary for your safari and take the stress of planning away so you can focus on seeing those big five animals. You can reach me at Julie at CreatingMagicVacations. com
Ryan:You can reach me ryan at ryan at creating magic vacations. com We look forward to talking to you next week on all things travel We look forward to talking to you about Jeez, oh peeps. We look forward to talking to you next week on all things. Oh here. Let me We look forward to talking to you next week on all things travel Yikes.