David Attenborough’s voice sounded in my head as the Landrover bounced down into the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Plains. I had watched so many documentaries and dreamed about seeing vast herds of animals on the plains all my life, but nothing could prepare me for the amazing opportunity to be there in person. Looking over the Serengeti … Continued
By Richard Bangs In the early days of Expedia.com, our business strategy was based on the agency model; taking a small commission on every hotel booking. Problem was, it usually cost more to process a booking than the commission brought in, so what we lost in margin we made up for in volume. Then a … Continued
We travel for an abundance of reasons: to discover new cultures, tastes, smells and even ourselves. Exploration challenges us to leave our daily routines behind; as the saying goes: “life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” These days, travel might be considered somewhat a right-of-passage for a young woman, in the US alone an … Continued
Richard Bangs is a judge in our We Said Go Travel Writing Contest. The Gratitude contest will close December 10, 2015. Please share your story of gratitude! When our rafts were bitten by crocodiles or hippos, complications presented we hadn’t imagined. We were in Ethiopia making a series of first descents down big rivers that fall … Continued
My Journals come in all sorts of colours. Folio no. 1 is a happy kelly green with gold stamped lettering. It remains my favourite one because it was my first one, and contains in its pages my first visits to Africa and the Middle East. Folio no. 2 is Schiaparelli pink with silver gilt. Folio … Continued
I came to wander almost every city street in Stone Town, Zanzibar, Africa because the hotel receptionist said to me, “A map? You don’t need a map, getting lost is half the fun.” She was right. And there was no map anyway. Calling the narrow passages that were also unofficial obstacles courses ‘streets’ might have … Continued
With barely a sound the 160 kilo/ 350 pound gorilla walked right in front of me on the jungle hill side. Mountain gorillas only exist in high terrains of south western Uganda and neighboring Congo and Rwanda. For some, having the opportunity to hike to a family of mountain gorillas is the trip of a … Continued
Moonplay in Egypt We were lounging in a felucca on the Nile River, ripples of eternal water lapping at the sides of this sailboat of ancient design. We were waiting, and some were getting tired of waiting. The tour guide—young, handsome, and rather sexy—and another member of the tour group—also young, attractive, and rather … Continued
Congratulations to Ken Budd for his 2014 Gold SATW award for his article, “Kenya: Holding Elijah.” Ken Budd’s 2013 story on his volunteer experiences in Kenya and recent media criticism of voluntourism won gold on October 16 in the Society of American Travel Writers’ Lowell Thomas awards, which honors the best work in travel writing and media. Gary Arndt of … Continued
“Makgadikgadi? I asked what was out there, and they said ‘Nothing-only idiots go there.’ I thought fine, that’s the place for me.” Jack Bousfield, 1963 It was indeed this quote by the famous hunter, adventurer and safari operator, Jack Bousfield that convinced us to plan the most memorable breakaway imaginable. A Saturday in June marked … Continued