They say that smell is the sense with the strongest ties to memory. So perhaps the smells of the African savannah at dusk—cool and green, thick with oxygen under a veil of stars, with a hint of dust and whiffs of the fauna that hides in the darkness—hark back to the shared ancestral memory of where it all began.

To continue reading about Janna’s travels, please head on over to the Frosch Insider. For more information on customizing your trip to South Africa, contact your Travel Professional or visit www.kerdowney.com.

March 1 (Denver): Around the world… I still can’t believe it. Everything is finalized; we have our itineraries, and our suitcases are almost packed.  I am excited, nervous and anxious all rolled up into one.  I have learned a lot about preparing for a trip like this.  I have learned about shots, safety precautions, food, currency, visas, and entry and exit fees.  I can only imagine how much more I will learn while I am actually on this trip!

To continue reading about Gina’s travels, head on over to the Frosch Insider. For more information on customizing your trip with Ker & Downey, contact your Travel Professional or visit www.kerdowney.com.

In the last two years, J.J. Watt has made quite the name for himself as a defensive end on the Houston Texans. His motto of “dream big, work hard” is applicable to the work he does both on and off the field, and it is what has inspired Ker & Downey to partner with the Justin J. Watt Foundation for its inaugural J.J. Watt Charity Classic Softball Game as the Home Run Derby sponsor.

The event takes place on Saturday, April 27 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. Festivities start at noon with the Home Run Derby, followed by the softball game. Players from the offensive and defensive lines of the Houston Texans will participate in the seven-inning game.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Justin J. Watt Foundation, which provides after school programs for Wisconsin and Houston area community children to participate in after school athletic activities, keeping them off of the streets, while teaching them teamwork, leadership, and accountability in a monitored environment.

Update: The event was a huge success, raising $300,000 for charity. To see a video recap of the event, click the link below. Thanks to the Houston Texans for the film.

JJ Watt Charity Classic Softball Game Recap

On Saturday, April 27, celebrities and fans will converge on the Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Arizona for the third annual Larry Fitzgerald Double Play Celebrity Softball Game. For the second year, Ker & Downey is proud to partner with the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund as a presenting sponsor for the event. Festivities include a home run derby at 6:00, followed by the softball game at 7:00pm, and conclude with a VIP after party.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund;

“Established by Larry Fitzgerald Jr. to help kids and their families by funding positive activities for kids during the summer and throughout the year, supporting kids and families in crisis, and supporting health-related organizations that work with families.”

Since 2005 numerous charities across the United States have received support from the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund, including the National Breast Cancer Fund, Big Brothers Big Sisters AZ, the Red Cross, and the Diabetes Research Foundation.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. Ker & Downey is pleased to count him as one of our traveled guests and we are proud to support the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund.

In March I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Egypt with my family. Being in the travel business, we’ve done our fair share of traveling, however, we hadn’t traveled as a family together since 2004, so this trip was long overdue. In the weeks leading up to our trip, Egypt spent several days in the news. With a balloon crash in Luxor and rioting at Port Said days before our departure, the Egyptian tourism industry hasn’t been able to catch a break in the two years since the start of the Arab Spring. As a consequence of all the negative media attention, its no wonder the country has seen a loss of 3 million tourists annually and left potential travelers asking themselves whether or not it is safe to a travel to a country beset with turmoil. Admittedly, even my own personal tendency is to shy away from controversy.

From the moment we stepped off the plane, all possible fears were assuaged. We were greeted by airport staff immediately off of the airplane and driven by golf carts past the other passengers to the VIP lounge to sip on cold drinks and have a bite to eat while customs and immigration procedures were cleared on our behalf. After a long international flight, I enjoyed the service provided at the Cairo Airport – a service that’s standard for our Ker & Downey clients in Cairo.

We met our private Egyptologist Hany at the airport and began our tour of Cairo by heading to the Mosque of Mohammed Ali at the Citadel, a wonderfully ornate mosque of alabaster stone, followed by a tour of the Egyptian Museum. It was at the museum we first realized just how bad the tourism industry in Egypt is suffering. A few years ago, the museum would have been full of tourists, shuffling from room to room, peering over shoulders to get a peek at King Tutankhamen’s gold mask. By contrast, we practically had a private tour of the museum at 3:00 on a Saturday afternoon.

We finished our first evening off with a late lunch at Abu El Sid before transferring to the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at First Residence. The following day we met Hany and our driver for a half day tour of the pyramids, Solar Boat Museum, sphinx, Hanging Church, St. Sergius and Bacchus Church, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue before transferring to the Cairo Airport for our flight to Luxor. In Luxor we stayed the night at the Hotel Sofitel Winter Palace in a beautiful room overlooking the Nile River. In the evening we dined on international and Egyptian cuisine at La Corniche Restaurant, and capped off the night with tea in the Royal Bar and chatted about Winston Churchill and other dignitaries that enjoyed cigars and after dinner drinks in that same bar.

We spent the following morning touring the West Bank, where the landscape is constantly evolving with new monuments excavated on a regular basis. Within the last 10-12 years, 35 statues have been found behind the Colossi of Memnon, including an alabaster hippopotamus. The Colossi of Memnon used to be the largest temple in Egypt, but only the two large statues in front remain. Besides a few tour groups here and there, we were the only people touring the Colossi of Memnon, El Deir El Bahari of Hatshepsut, and the Valley of the Kings. As we walked into King Tut’s tomb, two other tourists walked out, leaving us to view the tomb as just a family, an incredible experience I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

That evening we toured the Temple Luxor, a massive temple of Ramses II, as the sun was setting. At dusk the temple is illuminated, creating a dramatic scene that shouldn’t be missed. Currently, archaeologists are working to restore one thousand sphinxes on a mile and a half road linking Luxor Temple to Karnak. Once completed, it will be reminiscent of the original processional road built by Amenhotep III.

We spent four nights aboard the M/S Mayfair on the Nile River sailing from Luxor to Aswan, with stops in Edfu and Kom Ombo. Out of 300 boats on the Nile River, there are only 50 or 60 that are currently operating, while the rest sit docked, waiting for tourism in Egypt to return to normal. Of the 50 to 60 boats that are sailing the Nile, they are operating at less than full capacity. The Egyptian people are very hospitable, and George, the M/S Mayfair’s General Manager, was no exception. He presided over each meal, making sure food was cooked to our liking and suggested wine parings for dinner.

Each temple we visited along the Nile was unique and magnificent and I was shocked at how well preserved the hieroglyphics and paintings are. In many areas of the temples, the colors are still so vibrant that you can almost imagine yourself transported back in time, walking along the halls of these great temples.

At Karnark, the massive 134 pillars in the Great Hypostyle Hall drew me in. Karnak is one of the most visited sites in Egypt, second to the pyramids at Giza, so I was surprised that while it had one of the biggest crowds of tourists we saw on the trip, we still had moments of solitude at the columns to stand among them and marvel at their grandeur.

In Edfu we visited the temple of Horus, which is perhaps one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, before sailing for Kom Ombo to visit the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris. We visited the temples just before sunset, which provided some nice light for photos.

In Aswan we visited the Temple of Philae on Lake Nasser, accessible by a short boat ride. In 1902 the Aswan Low Dam was built, and as a result, flooded the Temple of Philae. A UNESCO building project in the 1960’s removed the temple piece by piece and reassembled it on higher ground about 1600 feet away from it’s original site. We finished the night with a relaxing felucca ride on the Nile River and watched the sun set aboard the MS Mayfair.

We stayed our last night in Aswan at the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile and where part of the film was shot. The hotel was built in 1900, but recently underwent a renovation and is possibly my favorite hotel. It is located on the banks of the Nile River overlooking Elephantine Island and the outdoor terrace is the perfect setting to watch feluccas pass by on the Nile.

On our final day, we flew to Abu Simbel for a day trip to the temples of Ramsses II and Neferteri before continuing on to Cairo. Like the Philae Temple, the temples at Abu Simbel were also deconstructed and relocated on higher ground, a pretty magnificent feat considering they were both carved into the side of a mountain. Tourists usually visit the temple of Ramsses II first because it is the first one you approach as you walk to the temples. Knowing this, our guide Hany took us to the temple of Neferteri first, and we were able to visit both temples in grand solitude.

It would be almost impossible to travel to Egypt without an Egyptologist. We saw many groups with Egyptologists, but in groups of thirty people. With Hany as our private Egyptologist, we not only saw the “highlights” at the temples, we received tours suited to our family’s interests. In the end, we all agreed it was one of the best trips we’ve ever been on.

For more information about customizing your journey to Egypt or any other destination, contact your travel professional or visit www.kerdowney.com.

In the 10 years since it was announced that Brazil would host the 20th FIFA World Cup, the whole country has been preparing for a party. And in the capital of Carnival, you know they know how to celebrate. Brazil last hosted the event in 1950, and this will be the first World Cup in South America since 1978, when Argentina played host to football fanatics. For Brazil and South America, this is a moment to shine. For football enthusiasts in North America, this is a golden opportunity to see the world’s best compete for the ultimate prize without the hassle of a transatlantic flight or losing a day to jet lag.

There’s just a little more than a year to go before the month-long international battle for bragging rights begins, and if you want to experience the spectacle that comes with the World Cup, listen up. You’re among the first to see Ker & Downey’s exclusive travel packages to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, including luxury accommodations, private transportation, and local tours to fill your time between matches. Watch the final exciting matches held in the two cities, including the finale in Rio, with Ker & Downey’s exclusive accommodation and ticket packages.

Fasano Hotel Rio, Rio de Janeiro

September 2012 found my wife, Gana, and me headed to Tanzania, our “reward” after completing an emotionally draining two weeks at a medical mission in Uganda, handing out 12,000 mosquito nets and assisting doctors and nurses who saw more than 20,000 sickly individuals – most of them women and children. The dichotomy of this trip was going to slap us in the face: One day we were surrounded by 5,000 desperate people just wanting to give their children a chance at life, and the next we were wrapped in the soothing views of Mount Meru at the Legendary Coffee Lodge. But we’ve been confronted with the realities of travel in Africa many times. In Africa one can go from utter despair to ultimate luxury in a heartbeat. We were eager to begin the “ultimate luxury” portion of the trip, which would take us from the Legendary Coffee Lodge to Mwiba Camp; then to the northern Serengeti for visits to Legendary’s mobile camp, Nomad’s Lamai Serengeti Lodge, and Asilia’s Sayari Lodge; and on to the western Serengeti and Singita’s Grumeti Reserves.

But before all this, we had to visit a school. Golgatha School lies at the edge of Arusha in an area of slums where homes are constructed of any discarded piece of tin, wood, or cardboard one can find, similar to other slums in any sizable African city. The school here is supported by individuals from the United States and England, and is a testament to what can happen when dedicated people share a vision of hope. After an afternoon with the children and discussions with the staff, we were back to the luxury of the Legendary Coffee Lodge. The lodge is managed by Russell Hastings, a chef from South Africa who knows how to dish out the luxury. The setting at LCL shouts Out of Africa, especially in the dining experience: When you’re sitting on the veranda looking out over the coffee estate with a South African wine in hand, images conjured by Karen Blixen come easily to mind. The accommodations at LCL are impeccable with fresh-cut roses in each room, satellite television, and wireless Internet – little details that are enhanced by the stunning views of Mount Meru from each room.

After breakfast we met Brad Hansen, our guide for the first portion of the trip. Brad was born in South Africa and came to Tanzania looking for a new adventure. Over the course of the next week I would find that Brad’s knowledge of the bush was almost as incredible as his ability to patiently put us in the right locations to capture unusual moments with animals. A Safari Air flight took our party of three to Mwiba Tented Camp in the Mwiba Wildlife Reserve.

The reserve is a 300,000-acre diverse landscape of acacia forests, riverine bush, massive rock kopjes, and open savanna. The beauty of this scene is that it is all yours – it’s a private concession with just you, the animals, and the blanket of stars at night. During our stay we embarked on game drives, safari walks, and night drives, and we sat in elevated tree “houses” over water holes. One of the highlights for me was walking with Brad through the bush and ending up at a magnificent rock structure with a water hole down below, a place that happens to be the site of Mwiba’s next lodge. As we walked up, we surprised a leopard drinking at the water hole – two strides and he was gone. We sat on top of the outcropping and imagined herds of buffalo below drinking at the water hole, all the while looking toward the endless savanna in the distance.

Mwiba Camp is a six-bed property overlooking a water hole. Each luxury tent has its own private en-suite bathroom with a flush toilet, double basins, and shower, plus views from the veranda toward the stream below the camp. We spent many moments at leisure watching waterbucks, zebras, and impalas in this stream, and even had a nighttime visitor: a curious leopard that decided to walk through camp. The main dining tent serves three great meals a day with drinks included, naturally. This camp is a must for anyone who wants to get away from the safari crowds. Where else can you have 300,000 acres all to yourself?

The next stop on our trip was the Lamai Wedge area of the Serengeti, a region that got its name from the wedge-shaped stretch of land formed by the Mara River on the south and the Kenyan border to the north. Safari Air once again got us there quickly and efficiently, anticipating the properties we would be visiting: Serengeti Legendary Camp, Nomad’s Lamai Serengeti, and Asalia’s Sayari Camp, all located just south of the Mara River. Access to the Wedge is via a concrete river crossing that can be impassible during the rainy season.

Game viewing in this area can be spectacular. Many people visit just for the chance of seeing a wildebeest river crossing, which is incredible, but travelers shouldn’t spend their days waiting on a crossing when there are so many interesting things to see. On one of our morning drives Brad decided to continue past the 10 cars waiting at the river for a crossing and drive into the Wedge to look for rhinos. We didn’t find any, but we did spend lunchtime with a beautiful male cheetah, and while having lunch with the cheetah Brad saw something in the distance that piqued his interest. We headed up a dry creek bed and found a pride of lions lazing in the shade. While many tourists would have left the sighting and moved on in search of more active sights, Brad encouraged us to stay and watch these lions interact. As we waited, off in the distance we saw another lioness approaching us with her two little cubs in tow. There was a lot of posturing when this lioness and cubs approached the pride. Brad theorized that this female had left the pride to have her cubs, and had now chosen this time to introduce her new cubs to their extended family. One by one the cubs moved from one pride member to the other, with a proud mother finally “showing” them to the pride male. What a great photo op!

The three camps we visited in this area were all unique, and each had its own charm. The Serengeti Legendary Camp is a mobile camp that relocates each season. It has the old safari charm of bucket showers but the modern convenience of flush toilets. With views toward the valley below, during the day it’s not unusual to see topi, zebras, giraffes, buffalo, and other animals from your tent. The primary reason for discerning guests to consider this camp is that it doesn’t mix clients: You and your spouse or your family will be the only guests. If you would like a private adventure, this is it.

Nomad’s Lamai Serengeti has an exquisite location high on Kogakuria Kopje, netting some pretty stunning views. Lamai Serengeti has just 12 rooms folded into and around the features of the Kopje. The lodge has a relaxed feel with whitewashed wood and a minimalistic approach to decor. Meals are served in the main dining room, again with outrageous views of the surrounding plains. If you like to skip the occasional game drive and read a book or just take in the scene, Lamai Serengeti is your place.

Sayari Camp lies closer to the Mara River than Serengeti Legendary Camp or Lamai Serengeti. From Sayari it’s only 10 minutes to the river, whereas from either of the other properties the drive was up to half an hour longer. Choosing this camp means you can get to the action earlier in the morning and stay later in the evening. Sayari is a permanent camp of 15 tents divided into two wings. Although the largest of the three, the camp has a smaller feel thanks to its two dining rooms; one for the six tents on the right and the other for the nine tents on the left. The camp commands excellent views of the surrounding savanna, and on rare occasions the migration can be at your doorstep. During the heat of the day, the extra-large and billowy tent design and the pool provided a nice respite. Sayari remains one of our favorite safari properties, made more so by the excellent couple managing it, John and Clare Upton.

There are many other properties around the Lamai Wedge that we did not include on this trip. One of my all-time favorites due to its location on the Mara River is Ole Kira camp. It’s a mobile camp with all the amenities, but did I mention that it’s located next to the river with views of one of the crossings? Something to consider, however, is that game drives in this area must follow established tracks, whereas game drives in private concessions are able to move about more freely.

The final leg of our trip took us to Singita’s Grumeti Reserves, where we stayed at Sabora Plains tented camp and Faru Faru Lodge. Also located in the reserve is Sasakwa Lodge: Together, this trio was voted the Best Hotel in Travel + Leisure’s 2011 World’s Best Awards. Singita’s Grumeti Reserves is 350,000 private acres of pure safari nirvana. The three properties are strikingly different, yet they all rely on that exquisite level of detail and service that has helped build Singita’s stellar reputation. Their focus expands beyond opulence, however, as Singita helps the local communities earn income by assisting them in growing the produce that lodge chefs use to prepare unforgettable cuisine.

Sabora Plains is a nine-tent luxury camp on the plains, which allows for near-limitless sight lines in every direction. While relaxing in camp we saw an army of 17 giraffes make their way to the water hole, along with countless gazelles and other animals. It was quite a display while we were relaxing on our private deck with G&Ts. The tents are decorated with trunks and other campaign furnishings of a bygone era, all brought up to modern-day standards with the addition of air-conditioning, wireless Internet, direct-dial telephones, hair dryers, outdoor showers, and your personal Swarovski spotting scope on the deck. There’s a tennis court and swimming pool near the main dining tent for those who want a bit of exercise, as well as mountain bikes, an archery range, and a stable of 16 horses near Sasakwa Lodge for a rather unique horseback game drive.

Faru Faru is Singita’s contemporary property and one of Gana’s favorites. Stone and canvas building materials meld with the two rim-filled pools to create a tranquil yet inspiring setting just above the water hole. Meals can be taken in a variety of locations around the main area, providing for quaint and private dining. There are eight suites and one villa, each with unobstructed views through their floor-to-ceiling, wall-to wall windows. As at Sabora Plains, each suite is fitted with all the modern conveniences and, yes, even your own personal Swarovski spotting scope.

During our two-night stay at Faru Faru, we saw lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, elephants, and many species of plains game. At the nearby rhino reserve, one can observe the black rhinos that are being reintroduced to this area through the efforts of the Singita Grumeti Fund, Tanzania National Parks, and Frankfurt Zoological Society. The annual migration makes its way through Grumeti between June and September, but the resident game in the area is absolutely incredible and makes this an ideal year-round destination.

At each of the properties we visited on this trip, we found the local guides to be knowledgeable and ready to please. That said, I prefer to use a private guide like Brad on my trips into the bush. As someone who likes to get the best out of my limited photographic ability, I find that private guides generally have a better understanding of how to set up a viewing so you can capture it effortlessly. Brad’s patience rewarded us with a fairly rare lion sighting – I venture to say that most guides would have left that particular viewing before the real drama unfolded.

Are you ready to visit yet? Consider that the long rains in Tanzania are historically during April and May and the short rains are in November. I would advise travelers to broaden their horizons, and not to rely too much on seeing the migration, which can limit the opportunities to see other very interesting things. If the migration is non-negotiable, be prepared to pack a lunch and drive all day. This annual spectacle is fluid and wildly unpredictable: It could be in one spot one day and 20 miles away the next. Regardless of when you choose to travel to Tanzania, there is no shortage of amazing sights and luxurious accommodations to keep you thirsting for more of this beautiful, untamed region.

For more information about customizing your own journey to Tanzania or any other destination, contact your travel professional or visit www.kerdowney.com.

Ker & Downey’s Congo is miles from anything one might see on news reports from the region – more than 900 miles if we’re counting. The Republic of the Congo is a small, stable democracy separate from the more turbulent Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Odzala-Kokoua National Park is far removed from the more populated regions in the south.

The northern rain forests of the Congo Basin form the second largest collection of rain forests in the world, second only to the Amazon. This is Joseph Conrad’s Africa, the Dark Heart of the continent that still remains wild and rugged. There are no trails here, no paths cut between acres of marshy high grasses and lush marantace­ae. There are also no roads – preparing for this trek is not unlike preparing for a duck hunt in a backwoods marsh. High-water waders will serve you well. The only trails you’ll find have been forged by the animals, like an “elephant highway” through a swath of thick mud, a route so deteriorated when compared to its forested surroundings that it appears to have seen thousands of years and untold numbers of rough gray feet.

Surprises are plenty on a trek through the un­cut foliage, and guides and researchers know this jungle as a second home. They’re in tune with the flora, fauna, and the subtle signs that, yes, there will be activity ahead. Frasier, the guide who accompanied Reid on his trip, seemed to have a sixth sense fixed on the wildlife of the area. As they were trekking, Frasier stopped the group and conjured a Narina Trogan out of the thick greenery to land on a particularly attractive branch just above their heads. This is the kind of magic one can expect from Odzala: elusive birds and curi­ous creatures appearing all of a sudden as if they had wondered into the frame of a painting. The park is home to 16 species of primates, including chimpanzees, black-and-white colobuses, mang­abeys, and western lowland gorillas. The gorillas are new enough to habituation to be more cautious than the larger silverbacks and mountain gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda. Forest elephants and buffalo are among the other wildlife found here, distinguished from their cousins elsewhere on the continent by their smaller statures and horns and tusks that have adapted to the jungle surroundings, curling back behind the buffaloes’ heads and pointing down toward the elephants’ feet to avoid snagging on the tangle of trees.

The attraction of Odzala is the high concentra­tion of bais, clearings in the woods with salt-rich soils that harbor a variety of plants that prove irre­sistible. These clearings are not unlike shadowbox dioramas of the forest, giving visitors a front-row seat to activity that would otherwise be shrouded by dense foliage. Ornithologists will be awestruck by the more than 400 bird species that call the park home.

Odzala is experienced in two sections at two fantastic camps, both having just opened in 2012. Lango Camp lies where the savanna meets the marsh on the edges of the Likoli and Mambili Rivers. Ngaga Camp, the second you will visit, is raised on wooden platforms and walkways to capture views of a bai just beyond. The camps are identical in construction, both having been crafted from locally sourced natural materials, bamboo, sustainable hardwoods, and raffia matting. The B’Aka Pygmy groups have inspired the architec­ture of the spaces, each round in design with one wall left open to act as your window into the wild. Reid remarked that his window was a television of sorts – a 24-hour National Geographic special on Odzala.

Not only does the camps’ isolation make for an intimate experience, but they offer a staff that is genuinely friendly and truly happy to welcome visitors, as they live most of the year in the quiet solitude of the park. Meals at both camps meet ex­acting standards, with French cuisine prepared by a classically trained chef – just another surprise in the middle of nowhere.

The second leg of Reid’s adventure took him to Tanzania, where he previewed the newest in a long line of outstanding Singita properties – the Mara River Tented Camp. This is the only camp on the river, situated to offer visitors an unmatched view of the Great Migration. Mara River Tented Camp is positioned so that a game drive isn’t even necessary – simply look out from the teak decks of any of the six luxury tents to watch the scene. While spectacular, this seasonal main attraction is not the be-all and end-all for the camp. Resident game is abundant year-round, and Reid saw two lion kills on his trip.

More than 98,000 acres of wilderness surround the camp in the Lamai Triangle of the northern Serengeti, and with the blessing of the Tanzanian government, Singita pounced upon this little-known region of the park to offer discerning trav­elers the only luxury tented option in the Lamai. Cécile & Boyd’s Interior Design crafted spaces alive with contemporary African design elements and vintage-inspired furnishings. A minimum environmental impact was of utmost importance during the camp’s conception: Power is all solar-generated, and natural and recycled building ma­terials add to the sustainable design.

Singita’s fingerprint of opulence is on every feature at the camp, from the exceptional team of gourmet chefs who serve fine dishes along with homemade ice creams and smoothies, to the in­credible plunge pool at the main tent overlook­ing the river. While it’s possible to while away the hours wrapped in the comforts of camp, a trip into the bush in open-sided vehicles should not be avoided. Lamai is teeming with resident plains game and big cats, and the Mara is home to hippos and crocodiles, ensuring a show on land and in the water for guests who want to explore.

As a first primate experience, a trip to Odzala will enchant and spoil you. Ker & Downey’s Ulti­mate Africa journey gives you a peek at the diverse environments that shelter Africa’s primates in the Congo Basin and Rwanda’s mountains, plus the spectacle of the Great Migration in the Serengeti. This 22-day jaunt from Odzala to Rwanda to the Serengeti is well suited to the adventuresome who are looking to forge into the wilderness and take in a panorama of Africa’s many varied locales.

For more information about customizing your own journey to Odzala-Kokoua, the Lamai Trian­gle, or any other destination, contact your travel professional or visit www.kerdowney.com.

Even after being quickly catapulted into popularity by The Lord of the Rings, New Zea­land has maintained a unique charm that seems untouched by the outside world. The pristine wilderness of Taupo and the Bay of Islands, contrasted with the cosmopolitan cities of Auckland and Queenstown, provides a harmonious balance between adventure and relaxation in luxurious accommodations. New Zealand seems to offer something for everyone, so it’s no wonder the country is quickly becoming a golfer’s paradise. Our New Zealand Golf Adventure whisks you by private jet to the most scenic locations, where you’ll play on courses with landscapes so gorgeous you’ll struggle to keep your eyes on the ball. The distinctive courses are challenging for experienced golfers, yet accessible and enjoyable for all skill levels.

This incredible trip begins in Auckland, the “city of sails” and Polynesian capital of the world. The golf starts at the Titirangi Golf Club, set between the Waitakere Ranges and Manukau Harbor. The developers took the original nature of the site into consideration during the club’s inception, so the bushland par-70 course has elevated tees and rolling fairways. This beautiful landscape is one of the reasons it is consistently ranked as a top course in New Zealand. After a full day of golf, including a clinic with the club professional, unwind at the waterfront Sofitel Auckland, which overlooks Waitemata Harbor. Floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies provide views of the marina, and the well-appointed rooms have deep soaking tubs and rain showers to rejuvenate sore muscles.

The tour of incredible courses and scenery continues with a northbound flight to the Bay of Islands and two nights at Kauri Cliffs, located on 6,000 acres near Matauri Bay. Tee off here on a course named the 18th best in the world by Golf magazine. The 7,120-yard, par-72 course has 15 holes with views of the Pacific Ocean, while six are played along cliffs that plunge into the sea below, making for one extraordinary water feature. At the lodge the views continue, with a 180-degree panorama of the ocean or golf course from your room. Tennis courts, a tranquil spa, and three secluded beaches will fill the time between hitting the links.

Your private jet then makes its way south to Taupo and a unique golf experience at the Kinloch Club. This par-72 course is surrounded by Lake Taupo to the south and the Kinloch hills to the east, and is currently the only Jack Nicklaus ex­clusive signature club in New Zealand. You’ll stay at one of the world’s most famous retreats, Huka Lodge, located on 17 acres of manicured grounds. The iconic lodge sits above Huka Falls on a bend of the Waikato River and has 25 suites designed to reflect the beauty of their surroundings.

Then you’ll balance the days of golf with some downtime at Timara Lodge, a charming five-room property on 600 acres of land. The grounds include a 25-acre English garden, five-acre lake, and a rose garden with 350 varieties of roses. The well-appointed rooms have Italian marble bathrooms, Italian linens, and modern amenities.

The journey concludes with four nights overlooking Lake Wakatipu at Matakauri Lodge, a sister property of Kauri Cliffs just a few minutes from the heart of Queenstown. All 11 suites and villas have private terraces with magnificent views, cozy fireplaces, and generously sized bathrooms. You’ll have the opportunity to golf at two clubs in the area. At Millbrook, try out one of the three courses design by Sir Bob Charles. A mix of parkland and links, groomed fairways and greens set the scene for the perfect round of golf. At the Hills Golf Course, your final round commences in a 500-acre valley. No two holes are alike, and the elevated tees have 360-degree views of the snow capped mountains. Unique sculptures by local artists complement the course’s natural beauty.

When you aren’t working on your swing, exclusive tours and excursions round out your time in New Zealand. Near Auckland, you can visit an artist on Waiheke Island and enjoy a private tour of the Con­nell’s Bay Sculpture Park. You’ll interact with the lo­cal Maori people in Taupo as your Maori guide, a direct descendant of the high chief of the Ngati Tuwharetoa tribe, provides insight into the tribal heritage and the legends surrounding the Taupo area. In Wellington, a visit to the Weta Workshop gives you the chance to see props from The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and Ava­tar while learning about the artists who created them.

Epicureans aren’t forgotten on this journey – they’ll find steamed mussels and Sauvignon Blanc in Marlbor­ough Sound and taste Pinot Noir at the Valli Winery in the southernmost wine-making region of Central Otago.

New Zealand is an adventurer’s playground, and the outdoor activities go far beyond the links to reveal even more of the islands’ beauty. Take a helicopter ride above Milford Sound for picturesque views of Mitre Peak and a landing on a glacier. In Taupo, another helicopter takes you to White Island, an active volcano, to walk on the crater floor before landing on the breath­taking summit of Mount Tarawera.

Private jet transfers throughout the entire 14-day journey allow you to take in incredible scenery at every turn and from every angle. In a country with distinctive golf courses and varied, unforgettable landscapes, the only thing you’ll need to consider is which to pull out first: your driver or your camera.

For more information about customizing your own journey to New Zealand, contact your travel professional or visit www.kerdowney.com.

In his 1880 poem “The Scotsman’s Return from Abroad”, Robert Louis Stevenson declared whisky “the king o’ drinks” and connoisseurs of fine spirits agree. There is no better place to experience the world’s finest whiskies – and the stories behind them – than Scotland.

Usquebaugh: The water of life. Sure it’s water, happily enhanced with a little peat, grain, yeast, and time, aged for years and even decades until its golden hue is just so, its aroma singing from the mouth of a tumbler. Of all the world’s varieties, whisky can’t be labeled “scotch” unless it’s made in Scotland, a distinction reserved for the bevy of brands produced in more than 125 distilleries across the country. Each region has its own unique nuances in flavor, from smoky to fruity to woodsy, and for lovers of fine spirits, nothing compares to sampling the world’s best with a view over the Scottish countryside.

The earliest documented record of distilling in Scotland was made in 1494, but historians estimate the art may have begun as early as 500 A.D., with the arrival of the Dalriadic Scots to the Isle of Mull on Scotland’s western shore. Just south of Mull is the Isle of Islay, the “Queen of the Hebrides” and one of Scotland’s major whisky-producing regions. Eight distilleries are in operation today, and as many as 23 were active simultaneously in past centuries. Established in 1779, Bowmore is the eldest of the bunch, with the capacity to produce two million liters annually. The peat of the nearby Laggan River serves as the natural filter for this whisky, giving it a smooth and full-bodied taste. Farther to the west, Kilchoman is the island’s youngest distillery, and its traditional floor-malting techniques and “Islay-only” processes of growing barley, malting, distilling, aging, and bottling, have quickly made it a unique and highly desirable brand. On the island’s northeast coast there’s Bunnahabhain, along with a town of the same name that was born out of a need to house distillery workers in the 19th century. The rugged coastal scenery here makes for a nice panorama as you sample the distillery’s offerings; the ruined wreck of the Wyre Majestic sitting atop the rocks is a reminder that the magnificent shores are deceptive and treacherous. Islay itself is as diverse as the whole of Scotland’s distilleries. As tasters travel north to south across the 239-square-mile island, the flavors change from mild and light to intense and peaty, with brands produced in the south considered the strongest in the country.

The same wide range of flavors can be found in Speyside, a hotbed of whisky production in Scotland’s northeast. More than 50 distilleries share some 1,000 square miles, cranking out whiskies that go into household names like Chivas Regal and Johnnie Walker, and also producing the world’s top two single-malts, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich. The former survived turbulent years during the Great Depression to become instrumental in Great Britain’s economic recovery after World War II by exporting to its thirsty neighbors across the Atlantic, and today remains the best-selling malt whisky in the United States.

Cardhu Distillery produces its namesake brand as well as the family of Johnnie Walker blends – a rainbow of red, black, green, gold, and the coveted blue, all of which can be sampled after an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the distillery. Interestingly, Cardhu also helped give birth to one of its competitors – Glenfiddich founder William Grant purchased the old stills from Cardhu in 1885 and put them to work one year later. Today at Glenfiddich, rum casks from the Caribbean, Spanish sherry butts, and Bourbon whiskey barrels from the United States all lend themselves to the maturation process and produce an amazing array of rich flavors. The oldest distillery in the Highlands is Strathisla, founded in 1786 and noted for its double pagoda silhouette and original cobblestone courtyard. Aside from being visually stunning, it also has the distinction of being the birthplace of world-renowned Chivas Regal and its 12-, 18-, and 25-year-old blends. Although founded by different families and using unique recipes, the whiskies of Speyside reveal a web of interconnectivity. Ownerships have changed and the storms of two World Wars have been weathered, but a common ground of tradition and innovation bind the generations who have prospered thanks to the water of life. During the annual Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, held May 2 to 6 in 2013, the region’s distilleries throw open their doors for a whirlwind week that celebrates the food, culture, history, and of course the spirits that have shaped the way of life here.

The distilleries of the Highlands range beyond Speyside, and most notable among these is Dalwhinnie, the highest in elevation of its brothers. Private tastings of its creations feature the acclaimed 15-year-old, described as a smooth and medium-bodied treat. On the famed Isle of Skye, Talisker reigns as the lone distillery, an operation that at one time paid for its lease with annual 10-gallon casks of its distinctive spirit delivered to clan leaders. Talisker’s seven ages are less peaty than its cousins on Islay, instead emphasizing a smoky, spicy flavor.

Edinburgh’s scotch whiskey experience displays thousands of the finest and rarest scotch whiskies in the world, surprisingly, by way of Brazil. The collection was started in earnest by Brazilian businessman Claive Vidiz in 1973 and was curated and treasured over the next 35 years. In 2008 the beverage company Diageo, a major player in today’s whisky industry, purchased the collection and had each bottle shipped back to its homeland – an estimated 2 million–pound investment in national posterity. To date there are 3,384 varieties sitting untouched in a state-of-the-art glass-walled vault. Among the thousands of unique finds: a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue autographed by Grand Prix driver Juan Pablo Montoya, one of only 69 Strathmill single malts produced to celebrate Speyside Distillery’s centenary, and a special edition of Dimple Pinch purchased for $1,000 in 1969. Beyond its impressive display and sheer volume, the collection is a panorama of the industry that has come to define Scotland.

Ker & Downey’s Water of Life excursion is a pilgrimage to Mecca for the whisky connoisseur, as well as for those with the basest of appreciation for the handcrafted treat. Guests are chauffeured on a journey through the countryside to Speyside and Islay, with ample opportunities to take in the historical sites and imbibe along the way. Experience a fantastic private cruise on the infamous Loch Ness with a spread of fresh seafood and an incredible view of true Highland beauty. Bed down in picturesque Gregorian estates, enjoying private visits to castles and ruins on a journey that blends the charm of yesteryear with the storied past and promising future of whisky in Scotland.

For more information about customizing your own journey to Scotland or any other destination, contact your travel professional or visit www.kerdowney.com.