June 16, 2021
In March of 2020 I had planned to visit Peru on my first educational trip with Travel Beyond. I’d spent a summer in Cusco sixteen years earlier and couldn’t wait to return to my old stomping grounds. But then, just two days before my departure, everything changed. The COVID-19 virus we’d been hearing about in Read more…
June 14, 2021
The dust from the airplane settled as we disembarked the plane. Immediately, we are greeted by a tall man beaming from ear to ear, exclaiming warmly, “Welcome to the Salt Pans!!” The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans (pronounced ma-KHAD-ik-KHAD-ee) stretch across a huge area of Botswana’s semi-arid Kalahari Desert. They are the remnants of an enormous lake that Read more…
June 9, 2021
When you think of safari, what comes to mind? For most it is riding in a 4×4 land cruiser across a vast landscape. This is certainly a common way to view the wildlife of Africa, but it is by no means the only. I recently returned from a two-week trip to the Okavango Delta, located Read more…
May 27, 2021
While safaris tend to be the focus of most trips we plan to Africa, I knew that a return to the beautiful city of Cape Town and the Cape Winelands was a non-negotiable for my honeymoon. Since my first visit to Cape Town many years ago, it has made its way to the top of Read more…
May 25, 2021
Vaccines have always been something to consider while traveling. From yellow fever to tetanus, each country has its own entry requirements. And now with the addition of COVID-19, it can feel overwhelming to keep tabs on what is needed where. While a medical travel clinic is the best source for all vaccine related questions, we Read more…
April 26, 2021
It’s hard to put into words how meaningful it was to return to Africa after almost two years away from the bush. About once a year for over a decade, I’ve been lucky enough to explore many incredible destinations throughout southern and east Africa. But what made this trip even more special was this time Read more…
April 24, 2021
This past spring, Shelly Riera and Todd Giadrosich traveled to Panama on an epic week-long trip planned by Dianna Upton, one of Travel Beyond’s outstanding consultants. Upon returning to the United States, the couple shared some photos and a few reflections about their adventure. What was the best part about traveling to Panama? Panama is a Read more…
April 15, 2021
As a history major in college, I’d always been fascinated by Panama: The arrival of the Spaniards. The creation of (and multiple failed attempts at constructing) the Canal. The United States’ subsequent presence. I’d heard so much about the country and was eager to see the sights of which I’d learned and the ways in Read more…
April 7, 2021
As you prepare for your upcoming adventure, you want to be sure that you’ve packed the perfect equipment for seeing and/or capturing the exceptional wildlife that awaits. While there is no right answer, we asked a few of our consultants to share their expert opinions on both binoculars and cameras. Binoculars: To Bring or Not Read more…
March 31, 2021
Gazing up into the night sky and witnessing billions of stars twinkling overhead, hearing lions hunt and take down a kill, smelling the various scents that mingle on the African breeze; these are just a few of the sensations that flood your senses when you choose the unique experience of an outdoor sleepout. For those Read more…