JD, Katie, Brooke, and Alexis meet the baby elephants!

Most of the resident elephants were made orphans from poaching, which unfortunately remains all too common. As a substitute for their parents, trained locals have stepped up to the plate to help the babies. Known among the DSWT team as Elephant Keepers, their role in each orphan’s life is vital: around the clock support to provide whatever they need, from a warm bottle in the middle of the night to an afternoon stroll with their pachyderm pals. The Keepers actually room with “their” baby elephant during their shift! As heartbreaking as the orphans’ stories were, the emotional bond and community support they receive through DSWT left us feeling hopeful about their futures. We even signed up as sponsors of the little one we connected to the most!

As I continued along my East Africa circuit, Absolute Travel’s Sasha Lehman and Leslie Overton attended DSWT’s New York City benefit. Supporters from the tri-state area braved the epic “snow-pocalypse” blizzard to attend the event at the Wild Horses of Sable Island Gallery in SoHo. Despite the record-breaking snowfall, the room was packed. The energy and cocktails flowed as Deirdre Featherstone of Featherstone Design powered the live auction and spurred on the generous crowd; the trip that Absolute Travel donated was quickly snatched up. Hostess Kristin Davis (from Sex and the City fame) offered heartfelt words about her personal experience at the orphanage. I’m sure by the end of the night, most of the attendees were planning their own journeys to Kenya, but those that are not able to get there can rest assured that despite the hardships that these animals face, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is taking good care of them. -Katie

The poolside suites literally open onto the water

We travelled with our nine-month-old daughter, Miss Vesper, whose job this year is to test all the kid’s facilities in the country. I would not say that this hotel is ideal for children due to the open pool areas and the design of the suites, but it is great for little ones who are not yet crawling. They have baby cots and offer babysitting so they are certainly trying to make it as kid-friendly as possible!

The weekend was a perfect example of how ”la dolce vita”  is possible in South Africa. I will encourage many clients to take it a bit slower in the future and visit some of these hidden gems in this amazing country that never ceases to surprise me! - Daniela

Wildebeest in the Great Migration

Living in New York City means that I often tend to prioritize efficiency and speed, but the opportunities I’ve had to take time for myself the past few days has really changed my perspective. I’m not alone: East Africa’s natural wonder seems to draw this reaction out of every member of our little group and we’ve all appreciated the chance to slow down to take it all in.

As we carved our way through Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, Ngorogoro Crater and Grumeti Reserve, we became so much more tuned in to our surroundings: lion cubs tackled their siblings to prep for future hunting days; newborn wildebeest, only days old, camoflauged themselves under the bearded necks of their mothers; a young zebra lost in the migration stared at our vehicle blankly as she awaited the inevitable; a proud bird tried out his best feathery strut as he tried to impress the local ladies. One cannot help but reflect on the perfection of the cycle of life when watching it up close. Although there were moments when it was hard to watch the action that unfolded before our eyes, with each day we could appreciate more that each layer of this delicate system has a part to play in the rhythm of life.

And our days were never complete without a stop on the open plains to sip on a refreshing gin and tonic or pinot grigio to rehash the day’s sights. In fact, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the lodges we have been staying at have contributed a lot to our perfect days — soaking in a private plunge pool overlooking Grumeti’s panoramic plains at Singita Sasakwa Lodge, relaxing under the stars at Lemala Ndutu’s Tented Camp, or playing a tennis match at sunset (on a red clay court made of the dirt from abandoned termite mounds!) at Singita Sabora Tented Camp were moments hard to top.

We’ve just arrived at Vamizi Island, Mozambique, for the last part of this amazing journey. The Indian Ocean has welcomed us with warm gentle waves, and the casually chic villas are the perfect spot to take it all in and reflect, once again, on the bounty of natural beauty around us and our good fortune to be able to experience it all. -Katie

It is a challenge to stand out in New York City, but during November’s marathon, I couldn’t help but notice two Maasai runners in their traditional bright blue and red shukas. Little did I know that only a few months later I would reunite with them on their home turf - and then I would be the one who stood out!

One of the Maasai runners from the marathon!

Campi ya Kanzi is nestled between the Chyulu Hills and Amboseli and Tsavo West National Parks, with dramatic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro from its 280,000 acres. This unique project is the vision of Italian husband and wife team Luca Belpietro and Anotella Bonomi, whose goal was to build a partnership with the local Maasai as a way to protect their cultural heritage and local wildlife. Luca’s exposure to Kenya began when he was a little boy accompanying his father on hunting expeditions in eastern Africa. Over time, his purpose for being there evolved and he dedicated his work to protecting the fragile ecosystems and demonstrating that conservation is a means of profitable survival. Their passion for and knowledge of this corner of the world was very evident to us, and certainly was recognized among the people they now call their neighbors.

View from Campi ya Kanzi

Campi ya Kanzi is not trying to be a cultural immersion program, but we all left with a much better appreciation for traditional Maasai life. And one of our traveling companions, JD, spent the afternoon running alongside our guide Parashi to his village. It turns out that they had finished the NYC marathon within four minutes of each other just months before!

We are already planning our Maasai friends’ visit to our home turf when they return to New York next year!

- Katie (and Brooke)

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The colorful night lights of Odaiba

Tokyo-bound travelers hoping for something a little different should consider venturing across Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba, an artificial island in Tokyo Bay that is home to a vast entertainment/shopping/dining complex that in its glitzy excess can only be compared to Las Vegas and Dubai. Complete with a ferris wheel, artificial hot springs, countless restaurants, and even a replica of the Statue of Liberty, it is both a magnificent spectacle and a cultural lesson on the Japanese enthusiasm for all things kitschy, over the top, and fun. Unlike tourist attractions that are rarely visited by locals, Odaiba is popular among Tokyo residents, especially young groups and couples.

We think an afternoon at Odaiba would be perfect for a family with children; couples would likely prefer a night-time visit to enjoy dinner and a spin on the ferris wheel. In addition to the restaurants and rides, there are enough shops to satisfy even the most dedicated consumer, so an entire day could easily be spent exploring Odaiba’s many attractions. Visitors can get to Odaiba from Tokyo by monorail, coach or car.

What a busy year for Absolute Travel – so much has happened, it’s difficult to know where to start! Perhaps the most important aspect of the year was that it marked our 20th anniversary in travel, a big achievement for a company that started in the New York City studio apartment of its founder!

Our staff had many too adventures this year to mention them all, but highlights included Brooke’s unforgettable journeys to Mali and Chile, Sasha’s exploration of Oman and Dubai, Katie’s visit with Uganda’s lowland mountain gorillas, Chloe’s time in China, and Jessica’s whirlwind trip through India. Additionally, we opened the doors of our brand new office in Cape Town, South Africa, and happily welcomed two tiny new travelers to our team: Leslie debuted fabulous Fergus in April and Daniela introduced adorable Vesper in June. And though we were sad to say farewell to some of our longtime staff members, we supported their decision to pursue new paths and they will always be part of the Absolute Travel family. We are also thrilled to soon be welcoming several new staff members who share our passion for travel.

Absolute Travel also continued to be active in supporting charitable causes in 2009. While in Uganda, Katie became involved with Conservation Through Public Health, an organization that works to save the lowland mountain gorillas. We have been so inspired by Katie’s passion for this cause and the energy she has put into spreading their message. Ken also continued his longtime involvement with the Program for Survivors of Torture, which provides a healing community for survivors of politically motivated torture; we are very glad that he actively supports this important work. In the coming year, we hope to continue our involvement with organizations and people that are so tirelessly working to improve the world.

As part of our foray into “new media,” this year we also launched a blog to further chronicle our adventures and a Facebook page. We will be updating these frequently and invite you to visit both for the latest news and information about Absolute Travel!

In closing, we’d like to toast to a happy holiday season for you – and, hopefully, 20 more years in travel for ourselves!

The Amanfayun in Hangzhou

It is exciting to see Hangzhou gaining recognition and we hope that travelers will start considering it as a destination worthy of several days. Readers may recall that in our May 2009 e-newsletter, our intrepid travel specialist and China expert Chloe Marsala encouraged China-bound travelers to consider adding Hangzhou to their itineraries. During her time there, Chloe feasted at Dragon Well Manor, an exclusive private dining venue and serious foodie favorite; took in Zhang Yimou’s Impressions West Lake performance; and saw an albino peacock on a bicycle ride around West Lake. She also inspected Hangzhou’s other luxury property, the Fuchun Resort, and was quite impressed.

We will continue to follow Hangzhou’s blossoming reputation as a luxury destination for visitors to China – the Amanfayun will surely help cement its status as a new must-do!