Bateleur Camp in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley
A PHOTO QUEST At andBeyond’s newly renovated Bateleur Camp (andbeyond.com) at the foot of the Oloololo escarpment on the rim of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, find fully customized photographic safari vehicles and specialist photographic guides who assist guests in capturing standout wildlife images. These new vehicles—which should be booked ahead to ensure availability—were designed by photographers and feature clever advances, including open sides for unobstructed, elevated views and seating in the center so guests look out rather than forward. Instead of benches, the five guest seats are individual, gas-lifted, 360-degree swivel chairs with custom camera mounts to provide a smooth base for equipment. The truck is loaded with electrical charging points for camera batteries and air-conditioning to allow for longer drives, which is especially valuable during the migration season when it’s impossible to pull your eyes away from those heartstopping Mara River crossings (conveniently located just a mile from Bateleur). Another improvement prolonging customer satisfaction: the onboard bar. —Colleen Curtis
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Fall 2019
Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzinia
A JET JOURNEY Private jet in bush terms is not quite the same as rush hour at Teterboro Airport—these runways are short, and there is no room for Gulfstreams or Global 6000s. But Calmeyer of Roar Africa says her clientele base of CEOs is very happy with the Cessna Caravans and PC-12s that allow groups of eight to move quickly and comfortably through the region with expedited international border crossings. It’s a far cry from the commercial bush flight system that, while far better than driving from camp to camp, can nonetheless feel crowded and somewhat haphazard due to the unpredictable flight plans. “It’s a no-brainer,” once you explain the advantages, says Calmeyer. Comfort and convenience aside, these small jets enable travelers to plan more ambitious itineraries, combining destinations that would be impossible to cover in 10 days relying on commercial routes. Grant Telfer, who heads up andBeyond’s Mwewe Ranger Training School, knows the advantages of leading this kind of journey. “You can much more easily include the gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda this way, and then go on to Ngorongoro Crater, the Maasai Mara, the Serengeti, and even Victoria Falls, Botswana, Namibia, or South Africa,” he says. Another bonus is having the same guide throughout your journey, supplemented with local expertise at the various camps and lodges where you stay. Together you can work out a strategy of what you want to see, do, and avoid, with the convenience of revising as you go. Some of the larger safari outfitters, including TCS World Travel (tcsworldtravel.com) and Lakani (lakani.com), have added private jet packages to their portfolios, enabling couples and smaller groups to take advantage of the luxury and flexibility without shouldering the entire cost. The itineraries are fixed but the range is much more comprehensive than what can be covered in a trip that relies on commercial routes. —C.C.