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!
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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:
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
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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