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y child bride (of 57 years) sired destinations, a rough number of days
and ace travel agent, Laura to spend in each, and preferred dates. En‐
Gable, was exploring ideas gage a travel advisor to do all the research
for a memorable escape to and provide options to match your budget.
M celebrate my 80th birthday in For example, what areas do you want to
July. We had been enthralled more than a visit, and for how long? Determine travel
decade ago by adventures in South Africa, time to get there and return (e.g., 24 hours
Botswana, from California to
Namibia, Zambia, Nairobi through
Zimbabwe, and France or Ger‐
Victoria Falls. man airports,
Laura had been with additional
to Kenya, Tanza‐ connections to
nia, and Rwanda Kilimanjaro or re‐
on two previous mote airstrips in
trips with her the wildlife pre‐
best friend. Our serves). What is
timing could be your daily budget
perfect to see for experiencing
the start of the the wilds of
Great Migration, Africa, from bud‐
with millions of get tents ($150 to
wildebeests, ze‐ $300 per person
bras, and per night) to mid-
gazelles on the move. range camps and lodges ($300 to $800 per
She started research and highlighted person per night), luxury tented camps and
the different options for what I called our lodges ($800 to $2,000 per person per
East African Trifecta, such as seeing the night), and mobile tented camps ($400 to
migration in the Serengeti, visiting gorillas $1,000)? The lodges and the higher-end
in Rwanda, and marveling at the vast camps have more extensive facilities, infra‐
beauty of the Masai Mara. She said the structure, and showers and toilets in the
East African experience was sometimes tents or rooms, with Wi-Fi in most camps.
overwhelming, with the sheer magnitude of Prices can be 30-50% higher during
the plains going from horizon to horizon peak season (typically July-October). The
contrasted with getting within a few meters more expensive options include game
of lions, giraffes, and other wildlife on drives, park fees, three meals a day, daily
game drives. We would be in the heart of a laundry if needed, sundowners, and all
region where evolutionary evidence sug‐ beverages except premium brands.
gests that mankind began millions of years
ago. The Great Migration
Because of the complexity of the plan‐
ning, the multitude of options for lodging Our journey started at LAX, which con‐
and travel, and the coordination of many tinues to undergo its own evolutionary ex‐
moving parts, we worked to develop a periences. We enjoyed the Air France flight
rough travel plan. This is recommended for to Paris (Charles de Gaulle, CDG) in a well-
anyone on complex trips. Plug in the de‐ designed business class section on a Boe‐
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