Travelingking

Imagine . Create . Experience

A good man, a very good man...

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Patrick Ungugo, Safari Director for Micato Safaris, with Barbara and Lauren King at an airstrip in Tanzania, July, 2005

Last Friday when he was planning someone's safari to Tanzania, Michael King called the New York office of Micato Safaris, voted World's Best Tour Operator and Safari Outfitter 8 years in a row by readers of Travel + Leisure. Michael and Diana, one of Micato's top safari planners, discussed various options, each offering their opinions on which lodge would be the best fit for Michael's client. During this collaborative effort, Michael requested that Patrick Ungugo, Head of Micato's Safari Directors, escort his client on the safari. "After all, I want the best possible Safari Director and you can't get any better than Patrick," Michael declared.

For a moment, Diana was silent, then cleared her throat. "Michael, I'm so sorry to tell you, Patrick died a few days ago...a massive stroke."

Michael was stunned, finished his conversation with Diana, and then shared the sad news with me. Michael and I first met Patrick in 2004 when the Kenya Tourism Board and Micato Safaris hosted a safari for a group of US travel advisors. Patrick was warm, friendly, and jovial, a walking field guide to all flora and fauna we saw! So, when we returned to Kenya with our children in 2005, we requested Patrick as our Safari Director. He was an expert in his craft, regaling us with stories, drawing both Josh and Lauren into conversations and away from their iPods. In October, 2010, we saw Patrick again, this time in his new position as the Head of the Micato Safari Directors. He helped orchestrate a very successful Virtuoso Chairman's Safari for top producers. When we approached him, Patrick remembered us and asked us how our kids are doing. Of course, we had to show him the latest photos on our phone of our kids with their kids and he gushed appropriately!

When I thought about what to say about Patrick, I thought of many anecdotes---his joke about the cheetah cub perched on the hood of the Land Rover next to ours, "You may drive Jaguars--here we drive Cheetahs", his loving description of the Masai people we visited, his leading the other Safari Directors in a joyous round of "Jambo, Jambo Bwana", a popular Kenyan folk song, last October---but Patrick was so much more than that. In addition to being a devoted husband, a loving father, a trusted and valued employee, a man who never knew a stranger, Patrick was a good man, truly a good man. And, after all is said and done, what finer tribute can be said than that? Thank you, Patrick, for gracing our lives and for sharing your love of Kenya with us. Rest in peace, dear friend, as we will always carry you in our hearts.

Here's your copy of our latest book: Safari, So Good!

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via bookshelf.mypublisher.com

Last month 5 intrepid (okay, strike intrepid, insert "fun-loving") travelers from the US went on safari in Botswana, Zambia and South Africa. This bestseller (do 3 copies make a book a bestseller?) is available for your viewing pleasure...Safari, so very, very good!

Safari with Micato - The World's Best!

Contact me today!
Barbara King, ASA
Great Getaways Travel
913-338-2244
barbara@greatgetaways.travel

See page 100 in Micato's 2011 brochure for Barbara King's rave review of Micato Safaris!
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View More Details >> Micato's sojourns are deliberately luxurious. Safari lodges enchant with such unadulterated luxuries as private plunge pools and personal butlers. Cultured safari guides educate, instruct and amuse, while itineraries offer an array of experiences from the sophisticated pleasures of Cape Town to the celebrated savannahs of the Serengeti and the wilds of Botswana.

View more details >>

New bookings only. Not valid with any other offer. Gift credit provided upon final payment. Fares, schedules, Virtuoso exclusives, events and amenities are subject to availability and blackout dates and may change without notice. Unless otherwise stated, prices are in U.S. dollars, per person and based on double occupancy. Restrictions may apply. See your Virtuoso travel advisor for more details and applicable restrictions. Virtuoso is not responsible for any errors in pricing. The trademarks VIRTUOSO, the Globe Swirl Logo and SPECIALISTS IN THE ART OF TRAVEL are registered trademarks of Virtuoso, Ltd. Virtuoso, Ltd. has a U.S. copyright registration for the Globe Swirl Logo, ©2000. All rights reserved. Virtuoso CST#2069091-40 351106 03/11

© 2011 Virtuoso, Ltd. | 505 Main Street, Suite 500 | Fort Worth, TX 76102

You snooze, you lose!

Yesterday afternoon I opted to stay at Fairmont Mara Safari Club rather than take the afternoon game drive. My bad! While dreaming about lions and leopards, the rest of the Virtuoso crowd actually saw them---and a herd of elephants, too! Grrrrr! The rainy season seems to have begun a little early. Some background: there are 2 rainy seasons--the long rains are in March and April and the short rains are in November. Apparently, elephants aren't into rain showers and migrate uphill when it's soggy outside. So, although we saw several elephants in November, 2004, we were told that was unusual. Can you believe the elephants and the leopard had the gall to wander around when I wasn't there???

Last night it rained but that didn't stop the Virtuoso bunch from having a good time. David Hanson, Terrie Hanson and Keith Waldon, of Virtuoso fame, decided to play a trick on Alex Sharpe, Regent Cruises. They planted a rubber snake in his tent. There was one teeny, weeny problem---they put the snake in the tent of Sharon and Michael Fake, Travel Experts! When Terrie shared the prank with David Lowy, Renshaw Travel, he told Terrie she was a polysyllabic word that meant a person who enjoys teasing others (can't remember the word-it's from a German word, I think). That made her pause while Elaine looked up the definition on her phone.

This morning we went for a morning game drive, hoping to see the leopard and elephants we missed yesterday. Alas, it was not to be; however, we saw a mama lion and her cubs, some mongooses (Google claims "mongooses" is more common than "mongeese"), an elephant, lots of antelope (again, Google opts for no "s"), ostrich, giraffes, zebras, dik dik, gazelles, wildebeests, impalas, hyena and a stork. It's amazing how quickly we become jaded because I and several others were heard to whine, "Oh, another zebra" or "Just some more impalas" as if we see them every day of our lives! 

This morning's treat was a gourmet buffet breakfast in the bush. Only Fairmont and Micato would know that we Virtuoso members are inveterate shoppers---they invited some Maasai to join us and set up a gift boutique on a traditional red and blue plaid Maasai blanket! We spent time visiting with Sean Walwyn, Fairmont Hotels. He's lived in some amazing places. He was born in Jamaica, moved to Barbados, schooled in the UK, worked in Kuwait, Istanbul, Japan, and Canada (to name just a few of his posts).

This afternoon is another game drive and we have one more chance to spot some wildlife tomorrow before we wing our way to Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club for two nights. Chris Cahill, COO of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International will join us there along with Sean, Serge and Leslie, who have escorted us so far. 

Okay, enough jabber! It's time for lunch and, God knows, I haven't eaten in at least 3 hours!

Photos from today are at: Mara Safari Club Day 2-Virtuoso Chairman's Safari. I just checked and I'm having difficulty uploading photos to the Internet. While I'm trying to upload 36 photos, only 6 have uploaded so far and I've been waiting 2 1/2 hours! My laptop's battery is low, so if you don't see all 36, I'll try again tomorrow from Mt. Kenya Safari Club. I can't complain because I'm sitting in the middle of Kenya away from any city and I'm still able to communicate with you. I think I'm beginning to sound like an "Ugly American". Oy! 




I could have danced all night!

Be grateful for small things, as in you can't hear me sing! Actually, I couldn't have danced all night; however, I enjoyed watching the native African dancers at the Chairman's Safari dinner at Lavington, home of Felix and Jane Pinto, founders of Micato Safaris. What a memorable evening!

To avoid being stuck in a traffic jam, we were escorted by Nairobi police to Lavington. On arrival we were greeted by a host of people dressed in various traditional African costumes. As Michael and I entered the Pinto's home, we reflected on our previous visits there: the family photos of Dennis and Anna as children; photos of Jane winning the ping pong championship in Kenya; the gorgeous statues; the urns everywhere one looked filled with dozens and dozens of roses; and the meals we've shared with the Pinto family on previous safaris to Kenya.

I'm at a loss for words (don't be shocked!) to describe this treasured evening. After cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres we paraded through a hallway lined with the famous African Children's Choir singing a song of welcome and we stepped into a tent filled with crisp white linen covered tables, chairs covered in various animal prints, and centerpieces of intertwined animal horns filled with birds of paradise and other flowers. Food was plentiful and oh so delicious. Some of the many offerings were: Roasted Kenya vegetables, Medallions of beef tenderloin, Grilled Rock Lobster, and Giant Prawns. If that wasn't enough we each received a dessert of assorted sweets such as flourless chocolate cake, vanilla bean creme brulee, and meringue with fruit coulis.  During the meal we enjoyed a multimedia event of traditional African dancers, modeling of African fashion, and music. The finale of the evening was an incredible performance by the African Children's Choir, who also performed at Virtuoso's Travel Mart in Vegas last August. They will be returning to the US to do a series of concerts to raise money to help the children of East Africa. If I find a schedule of their venues, I'll post it here. Trust me, attending one of their performances will envelop your soul with delight and hope.

Tomorrow we're off very early for the Fairmont Mara Safari Club for 3 days. We look forward to returning there and enjoying sitting on the deck overlooking the Mara River and its perennial crowd of hippos!

As soon as I can, I will upload photos from this evening's extravaganza. Now the angels of Africa are inviting me to go to sleep! May angels visit you in your dreams!

Jambo, Jambo bwana (Swahili for Hello, hello, sir): Virtuoso Chairman's Safari Day 2

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Another glorious day in Nairobi! We began the day with breakfast and a visit from a cheetah, one that Jane Pinto rescued as an orphan! Next came the good luck wooden animal necklace and complementary safari hat followed by a series of welcomes. First, we heard from Jake Grieves-Smith, Chairman of the Kenya Tourism Board, followed by Serge Simard, Fairmont Hotels Regional VP, Africa and Asia. Serge presented a check for $3500 to AmericaShare in honor of Virtuoso's Chairman's Safari to Micato Safari's Dennis Pinto. The Pintos established this charity and 100% of donations reach the recipients! Check out www.americashare.org. Alex Sharpe,of Regent Seven Seas and another of our hosts, commented that he never has looked forward to a business trip as much as this one! Bill Smith, of Crystal Cruises and also our host, crystallized (no pun intended, honest!) my feelings about Kenya, "Kenya is so much more than the magnificent animals. Look into the eyes of the people and they'll touch your soul!"We met all the Micato staff that help create that special magic that is Micato's hallmark and had a briefing for the days ahead in the Masai Mara. After that, Virtuoso members and staff brainstormed about our strengths and opportunites, something I look forward to because I get to interact with the best advisors in the industry!

At noon we boarded coaches, and with a police escort (not for security, but to help navigate through the traffic!) we arrived at the home of Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger, US Ambassador to Kenya, for a gourmet luncheon in a tranquil garden setting.

Some random thoughts: 

 

  • The sense of optimism is palpable in Kenya 
  • The Swahili word for stranger," mgeni", is also the word for guest
  • In 2010 100,000 visitors from the US will visit Kenya and I hope you are one of them

 

I'm off to change for dinner at Lavington, the home of Jane and Felix Pinto, founders of Micato. I thought you might enjoy listening to Jambo, Jambo bwana and reading the English translation: 

Translation of Jambo bwana lyrics 

Jambo - Hi
Jambo bwana - Hi sir
Habari gani? - How are you?
Mzuri sana - Very fine
Wageni mwakaribishwa - Visitors are welcome
Kenya yetu - Our (country) Kenya
Hakuna matata - (there are) no worries

Verse
Kenya nchi nzuri - Kenya is a nice country
Nchi ya maajabu - A beautiful country
Nchi yenye amani - A peaceful country

Kenya yetu - Our country
Kenya wote - All Kenyans

Photos from today's events are at: Ambassador's Luncheon

1-4-1: Take a Safari, Educate a Child

This morning I realized I hadn't shared a huge, as in life-changing, initiative begun by our friends, Micato Safaris. They call it 1-4-1, which means when we help you plan a Micato Safari, Micato will send a child of the slums to school. Let me say it in the WIIFM mindset (what's in it for me): You take a safari, experience the animals, the vistas, the people of Africa, perhaps experience a "defining moment" in your life AND a child, often orphaned at a young age and without hope, is given the opportunity to attend school, his or her own "defining moment." Bottom line, cut to the chase, the end product, yada, yada, yada: you take the safari you've always dreamed of and this action becomes a gift to a child in need, to you, and to our world. Mother Teresa said, "If you can't feed a hundred people, feed just one." If I can't educate 100 children, I CAN educate just one.

The African Children's Choir sang to us today, their sweet voices filling our hearts. Seeing them reminded me how important it is for us to invest in the most precious resource in our world, our children. Now you have a way to give AND get. How cool is that?

In 2012, as part of our celebration of 20 years of creating life-changing experiences, Michael and Barbara King are planning to take a few people on a safari to East Africa. Options will include additional experiences such as Gorilla Tracking, relaxing in the Seychelles, or visiting Victoria Falls. If you want to join the Kings of Travel, the Kings of African Travel, email michael@greatgetaway.com or call us 800 546 TRIP (8747). For each traveler, Micato Safaris will send a child to school-now that's what we call a true Win-Win!

Below is a video we made from a trip to South Africa in September, 2009. The voices you hear are the same ones we heard today, the African Children's Choir:

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