You are Cordially Invited to Join Adam Felts Curator, Heart of Africa and Asia Quest and the On an Amazing Conservation Safari to South Africa CAPE TOWN & GREATER KRUGER CONCESSIONS August 10 to August 20, 2020 Parker Travel Associates, Inc. 1959 S. Power Rd., Suite 103-111 • Mesa, AZ 85206 Phone: 800-743-7644 email: [email protected] CST # 2096269-40 OUR HOST – ADAM FELTS I invite you to join me on an adventure of a lifetime in South Africa where I have had the marvelous opportunity to experience its wonders firsthand. It was my first night under the massive array of stars in the Namibian desert. I had just set up my little one-man tent 20 yards from the fire where three Namibian rhino trackers would sleep out in the open. As we prepared the site, Himba, an elderly tracker who spoke no English, reached out with an offer of homemade jerky. Excitedly I accepted the gift and quickly took a bite. The taste … not what I had hoped. I could not swallow it. When Himba turned, I threw the jerky behind me just as far as I could. Dread choked me with the realization that I had just bated lions and hyenas to our campsite. I fretted through the evening. Back in my tent, exhausted by hours of worrying about the jerky- eating predators, sleep finally came. Scratching noises woke me with a startle. The memory of the tossed jerky and thoughts of lions in the campsite overwhelmed me. I sat alone trying to make a plan while listening to the scratch, scratch, scratching. I unzipped my tent and looked out. Fifteen yards from me, a male lion with a massive mane was lying in the shadows. I quickly dropped back and zipped the tent. With few options, I made a plan to get to the Land Rover parked on the other side of the fire. I grabbed my flashlight and rallied what courage I could. In one movement, I unzipped my tent, jumped out, and started to run, shining the flashlight at the lion. The lion. I came to a stop, looked around to see if the trackers were watching and walked back to my tent past the lion-shaped luggage and equipment. As I climbed in my tent, I noticed the flap on my tent scratch, scratch, scratching against the canvas in the breeze. Well, I have learned a lot over my 20 years at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. I have been fortunate to have had opportunities like tracking rhinos in Namibia, traveling to Australia to talk about rhinos, and leading a safari in Tanzania with a wonderful group of fellow wildlife enthusiasts. Starting out as a keeper with elephants and rhinos and now the Curator of both Heart of Africa and Asia Quest, I have had the privilege to play an active role within the Columbus Zoo and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums community. I value the work we do in conservation, animal care, and education as well as the memories we help create for families and friends of the Zoo. Africa is everything you think it is. This trip is another captivating opportunity to see the Big Five, hundreds of bird species, diverse landscapes, local communities, and even luggage masquerading as a lion. I look forward to sharing this trip to South Africa with you where we will see and do things we will never forget and create memories of a lifetime. Adam Felts Curator, Heart of Africa and Asia Quest For further information contact: Patti Cattey at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium at [email protected] or 614-724-3558 or Terry Caldemeyer at Parker Travelat [email protected] or 800-995-4422 OUR DESTINATION – CAPE TOWN & KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Our journey begins with a memorable visit to Cape Town, where highlights will include Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens, the Cape Peninsula (including Boulders Beach, Seal Island, and a funicular trip). Then, we’ll fly to the Greater Kruger National Park area, and spend two nights at Gomo Gomo Game Lodge within the Greater Kruger Park (Klaserie Nature Reserve), and lastly three nights at the magnificent Moditlo River Lodge in the well-known Hoedspruit area, both of which are home to the Big Five, along with many other wildlife species. We also visit the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre and the “Moholoholo” Animal Rehabilitation Centre. OUR ITINERARY August 10 – Depart Columbus brimming with diverse flora and fauna, Cape Town Depart Columbus early this morning on Delta Airlines, and consistently captivates the hearts of all who visit. fly to Atlanta, where we board a connecting, overnight, non-stop Delta flight destined for Johannesburg. Winchester Mansions. Situated along the scenic Sea Point Promenade and facing the Atlantic Ocean with its majestic August 11 – Arrive backdrop of Table Mountain, Winchester Mansions in Cape Town Cape Town is an iconic seafront hotel that has maintained Upon arrival in its original Cape Dutch architecture and is popular Johannesburg, among local and international guests. Personalized clear South African and professional services ensure that the every need of Immigration and business and leisure travelers alike is met. Customs formalities, and then board a connecting August 12 – Cape flight to Cape Town. Town After breakfast, depart Upon arrival in the on a brief tour of the mother city we will be Cape Town area. Weather met by our tour guide, permitting; we’ll start who will take care of us with a cable car ride up every step of the way, Table Mountain, the while we relax and enjoy our Cape Town portion of our prominent, flat-topped journey. Once the group has gathered, we proceed to the landmark. From the top, motorcoach, and your hotel for overnight. After check-in we’ll enjoy a fantastic at the hotel, enjoy some leisure time before dinner. Our view of the Cape Town guide will brief us on the next day’s activities, the pick-up area and appreciate some time, etc. Dinner and overnight. Winchester Mansions. of the mountain’s great (Meals aloft, D) biodiversity including over 2,200 species of plants! After the visit, descend and proceed to the Kirstenbosch Cape Town. Resting at the confluence of the Indian and National Botanical Gardens, acclaimed as one of the Atlantic oceans, sandwiched between the slopes of the great botanic gardens of the world. Few gardens can iconic Table Mountain and the glistening sapphire waters match the sheer grandeur of the setting of Kirstenbosch of Table Bay, the exceptionally scenic city of Cape Town is against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. After lunch in a class of its own. Some cities boast rich culture, vibrant at Kirstenbosch, we proceed to the Cheetah Outreach nightlife, a cosmopolitan atmosphere and extraordinary Foundation, a project supported by the Columbus architecture, while others boast breathtaking landscapes Zoo. We’ll see some of the important work being done and extraordinary natural wonders. Cape Town is lucky to conserve and protect these magnificent felines. A enough to be blessed with all these attractions and so brief panoramic tour of some of Cape Town’s other key much more. With its bustling harbor, world-class beaches, sites, including the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, is on top-notch vineyards, and its mountainous surroundings the schedule before returning to the hotel. Balance of the afternoon at leisure. Perhaps you’ll decide to visit August 16 – Gomo Gomo Game Lodge to the shops and other attractions at the nearby V & A Moditlo River Lodge (Hoedspruit) Waterfront, such as the Diamond Museum or the Two After another early morning game drive and breakfast, we’ll Oceans Aquarium. Winchester Mansions. (B,L,D) depart Gomo Gomo and travel to Moditlo River Lodge. On arrival we’ll have some leisure time followed by lunch and an August 13 – Cape Town afternoon game drive. Moditlo River Lodge. (B,L,D) (Cape Peninsula Full-Day Excursion) After breakfast, we’ll depart on a full day tour of the Cape Peninsula. Admire spectacular scenery as we drive along the coastline of the Atlantic and through the elegant suburbs of Bantry Bay and Camps Bay, and on to beautiful Hout Bay. Enjoy a trip to Seal Island. The adventure Moditlo River Lodge sits at the heart of the Blue Canyon continues with visits to Chapman’s Peak to admire the Conservancy, a stretch of protected land in close proximity views from the highest point, Cape Point Nature Reserve, to the world-renowned Greater Kruger National Park and to visit the Cape of Good Hope, and the Cape Point is home to an astonishing array of fauna and flora. The Lighthouse. We’ll also visit Boulders Beach with its Penguin lodge was designed to combine the rustic nature of a colony. Winchester Mansions. (B,L,D) bushveld retreat with the style and elegance you’d expect of a first-rate safari destination. Visitors can look forward August 14 – Cape Town to Hoedspruit to every comfort and convenience, including game drives (Greater Kruger) conducted by passionate, knowledgeable field guides; a Early this morning after breakfast, we’ll make our way full-service restaurant that serves the very best in South back to Cape Town international airport and fly directly to African wines and cuisine; as well as al fresco boma Hoedspruit. From there it’s a barbeques prepared by talented chefs. short drive to the Gomo Gomo Game Lodge, a private and August 17 – Moditlo River Lodge (Hoedspruit) intimate camp situated in the In between the morning and afternoon game drives there is prestigious Klaserie Private an opportunity to visit the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Nature reserve with some Centre whose main focus is on the conservation of rare, of the best game viewing.