2012 AFRICAN SAFARIS guided by Claire Vial

Claire worked as a conservation volunteer in Southern Africa for more than 2 years. During this time she assisted several wildlife researchers with their projects and completed two of her own research projects. The first project was in Botswana on a bird called the African Skimmer. The second project was a visitor survey at Addo Elephant National Park, in South Africa.  Using her extensive knowledge, Claire has published more than 60 children's educational books about animals. These books have been photographically illustrated using her images. More than 20 of these books are about African animals. 

Click here to read more about Claire. 

14-day Botswana Wildlife Safari *** FULL - taking bookings for 2013 ***

Price: USD4675 per person sharing*, land only
Date: August 27 to September 9, 2012
Brief: Experience stunning beauty, unimaginable vastness, and astoundingly wildlife in one of the best kept African secrets - Botswana. Travelling by 4WD we spend our first nights in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana's largest wilderness area. This is the wild, unforgiving heart of Southern Africa. The best-known account of this area was the haunting book, Cry of the Kalahari, written by biologists Mark and Delia Owens about their research in Deception Valley. 

From the Kalahari we make our way through to the Okavango Delta by plane. The Okavango Delta is an extraordinary place: a thin skein of water over a thirsty desert, home to vast numbers of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. Fertile yet fragile, it's a wilderness of matchless natural beauty created by seasonal cycles and the fickle ebb and flow of flood waters. It's a wild paradise and one of those places that's a must-see on anyone's list. From the Okavango we move northwards to Savuti marsh, well known for its bull elephants, lions and spotted hyena. The Chobe riverfront boasts one of the largest concentrations of game in the whole of the African continent. Here we take sunset boat cruise to gameview from the water. Botswana's population of elephants is estimated at 120,000 and a large percentage of these frequent Chobe National Park.

Read more ...

14-day Botswana Wildlife Safari (2011)

20-day Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari  *** FULL - waitlisting for 2nd departure ***

Price: USD8690 per person sharing*, land only
Date:August 5 to 24, 2012
Brief:   The low gallop of giraffes toward an acacia tree; thousands of wildebeest dashing wildly across the Mara River in search of food; or a cheetah stalking its prey before the heat of the day are a few of the hun-dreds of scenes in the daily drama of life in Africa. Perhaps you will discover your “safari moment” watching the sun spill across the savannah on an early-morning game drive or chatting around a campfire. Encompassing a dizzying variety of both natural and cultural wonders, this safari into the wilds of East Africa offers an inspiring adventure. 

We have specifically designed this itinerary for those who love wildlife and culture. In Kenya, we use a mix of tented camps and lodges, and in Tanzania we use “Explorer” mobile camping, lodges and chalets.  Covering the most popular game parks and reserves in both Kenya and Tanzania, this safari includes a total of fourteen nights in wildlife national parks, conservancies and game reserves. East Africa is host to the annual wildebeest migration - a spectacular sight! This safari allows us ample time to 'hunt this down' and to allow you the opportunity to see the BIG 5!

Read more ...

21-day Kenya and Tanzania Safari (2011)