Happiness Is Just Around The Bend

Today’s travelers are increasingly savvy about their environmental impact on destinations.  In fact, according to the Center for Responsible Travel, green travel is expected to rise to 25% of the world’s travel market. “Consumers are demanding higher environmental standards in all parts of their lives, including travel,” says Emily Deemer, marketing and sustainability manager at Virtuoso tour operator Natural Habitat Adventures in Boulder, Colorado.  “Ecotourism makes business sense because it helps to preserve a travel company’s greatest assets: the environment, the culture, and the livelihood of host communities.”

The Zanatta-Brown family’s winter break was one for the books: Mary Kaye Zanatta, a member of Virtuoso’s Destinations & Experiences team; her husband, Chris; and their kids, Declan, 15, and Gigi, 13, traveled to Botswana and Zambia on a 12-day wildlife safari with Wilderness Safaris. “It seemed like the right time to take our kids to Africa, and it turned out to be the trip of a lifetime for all of us,” Mary Kaye says. She shares her family’s highlights here: Safari Camps We stayed at three Wilderness Safaris camps in Botswana and one in Zambia. Although they differed in size and style, each welcomed us with its own personality and friendly vibe. The camps are built to have a minimal impact on the environment – no permanent structures with concrete are allowed. At Abu Camp (pictured above) in the Okavango Delta, we had our own private plunge pool in front of our tent. The camp is known for its access to the Abu Herd of elephants. Game Drives and Wildlife Encounters Each day fea...