With travel back on the table, we are all excited to make our 2022 plans! There is so much to look forward to and so many options to choose from. The AAC team talked about what we are each excited to do in 2022 and came up with this list. We’re happy to share our ideas to inspire your own!
Our New Year’s resolution is to check an item (or six) off our travel bucket list in 2022! Our list includes trying to see a pangolin for the first time (our best chance is at Tswalu Kalahari), reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest peak) and taking a private whale-watching flight off of South Africa’s coast.
Family travel is high on our list of things we’re looking forward to in 2022. We couldn’t be more excited to travel with our loved ones once again, experiencing new things and making new memories. We might book a private villa to maximize time together, or a private vehicle to make every game drive our own. We will be sure to use our expertise to ensure that there’s something for every family member on the trip – perhaps a pool for the kids, date night for mom and dad, a spa for grandma – you get the idea!
We’re looking forward to a marine safari in 2022. Not only does Africa boast fantastic beaches, but visitors can also swim with whale sharks in Madagascar or off Mafia Island; go shark cage diving in South Africa; enjoy whale watching from land, on the water or from the air; witness the epic sardine run in South Africa; see sea turtles, scuba dive or snorkel on a pristine coral reef at Pemba Island’s Manta Resort; see the incredible wildlife of the Galapagos Islands and more. Our Journey Specialists can help you plan the perfect water adventure.
We’d be remiss to not explore a new (or new to us) winery in 2022. While South Africa’s Winelands of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are deservedly famous, there are several emerging wine regions and vineyards just waiting to be discovered. Ask us about the Breede River Valley, Olifants River and Hemel-en-Aarde – you can be among the first to explore these up and coming regions!
We can never get enough of spending time with Africa’s primates. Visitors can trek to see gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, lemurs and more. These intimate and awe-inspiring experiences are like nothing else on the continent and are vastly different from a traditional game drive experience. They make the perfect complement to a safari.
Exploring traditional cultures and ancient history is definitely on the list of things we’re looking forward to doing in 2022. Spending time with the Samburu in Kenya, learning from Southern Africa’s Bushmen, visiting with Namibia’s Himba, walking with East Africa’s Maasai, exploring the souks and winding alleys in Morocco and visiting the ancient sites of Egypt are all on our team’s wish list!
Getting up in the air is something we’re looking forward to in 2022 – and we don’t just mean flying to our destination. Chartering a private plane or helicopter for scenic aerial viewing or luxury transportation between camps, a hot air balloon safari and airborne adrenaline adventures above Victoria Falls are all things we’re dreaming of for 2022.
Conservation is high on the minds of many travelers. Our travelers have participated in a variety of conservation activities while on safari including rhino notching, game counts, helped on patrols searching for snares and more. We believe that travel should have a positive impact and partner with people in Africa that seek the same goal. We also make a donation to one of our worthy partner charities for every trip we book.
There is nothing more awe inspiring or humbling than having the entirety of the heavens spread out above you with no light pollution to interfere with your stargazing. Sleeping under the stars in Africa is one of the most memorable experiences out there. Home to many International Dark Sky reserves with special treehouse or rooftop sleeping options, enjoying a sleepout in one of our African safari destinations is an experience you’ll never forget!
An African safari is a spectacular choice for a honeymoon or special romantic anniversary. Those of us looking to celebrate such an occasion in 2022 are thinking of a bush and beach escape, a romantic rail journey, sleeping in a romantic treehouse (see above!) and plying the placid waters of one of the world’s great wilderness areas in a canoe. These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg – ask a Journey Specialist for ideas for your customized romantic or honeymoon safari!
We love eating when we travel! Exploring new foods and culinary customs makes a trip more meaningful and we never hesitate to embrace something different. From trying local cuisine like a South African braai or ‘bunny chow’ to dining with giraffes in Kenya, there are a huge variety of exciting culinary opportunities in Africa. We are dreaming of a cooking class as well – perhaps a ‘bush cooking’ (like a camp chef) in East Africa or a fine dining cooking course in Johannesburg or Cape Town – or both! If food sparks joy for your travels, be sure to discuss ideas with your Journey Specialist.
One of our top travel goals for 2022 is to truly get away from it all in a remote wilderness. From the vast Kalahari Desert to Namibia’s wide open and very sparsely populated wild places, we’re keen to have some place to ourselves. We might visit some of Tanzania’s lesser-known and more remote parks like Katavi or Ruaha, or perhaps make our way to Uganda’s extremely remote Kidepo Valley. Hiking from camp to camp in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park is a staff favorite, as is paddling through Mana Pools in Zimbabwe. There are a lot of options in Africa to make a true escape!
Whether you’re excited to travel with family once again or just to get out of your zip code, now is the time to start planning. The possibilities for your customized adventure are nearly endless. Contact one of our expert Journey Specialists to book your 2022 safari!
Photos courtesy of AAC Livingstone Club members Dean and Lisette C., Mary S., Steve Channen and Joe T.; AAC Journey Specialists Diana Ruiz-Lopez and Sara Stark; AAC President Kent Redding; Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa; Sabi Sand Chalkley Treehouse; Singita and Bushcamp Company