Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association Offers "Botswana Unmatched" Vacation May 29, 2010

GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION
OFFERS ADVENTUROUS
"BOTSWANA UNMATCHED" VACATION
African Naturalists and Los Angeles Zoo Director John Lewis Lead the Way
Through the Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta
Trip Spotlights Region's Exceptional Wildlife,
Exotic Plant Life and Vast Ecosystems
Optional Extensions to Cape Town, South Africa
and Livingstone and Victoria Falls, Zambia Available
May 29 to June 8, 2010
The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), a private, non-profit organization that supports the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, presents BOTSWANA UNMATCHED, May 29 to June 8, 2010, a unique GLAZA-sponsored vacation to Botswana/Southern Africa accompanied by professional African naturalist guides as well as Los Angeles Zoo Director John Lewis. The trip, which spotlights exploration of the area's exceptional wildlife, exotic plant life and vast ecosystems, is a journey through the Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta where travelers experience the euphoria of a southern African safari. An optional pre-extension to Cape Town, South Africa and an optional post-extension to Livingstone and Victoria Falls, Zambia are available.
BOTSWANA UNMATCHED is operated by Classic Escapes, whose mission is to provide educational and entertaining experiences that nurture and directly support diverse wildlife and cultures around the world. The firm has established the Classic Escapes Conservation Fund, which provides a percentage of profits to support conservation and wildlife researchers performing their critical work in the field. Project support has included environmental education efforts in India and Bhutan, wild dog and cheetah conservation in Botswana, Kenya and Namibia, and global Earth Day education via school internet programs.
The BOTSWANA UNMATCHED adventure departs from Los Angeles and begins with a relaxing evening in Johannesburg, South Africa. The next morning, guests are whisked to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve for one of the most remote and unspoiled experiences on the continent. The Kalahari’s verdant grasslands are home to an abundance of plains animals, such as southern giraffe, red hartebeest and meerkat. Predators are also prevalent, with jackal, brown hyena, near-mythical black-maned Kalahari lion and some of the best cheetah viewing in Africa. Then it’s off to the Okavango Delta, the earth’s largest inland water system, for an unparalleled variety of flora and fauna. In mokoros, motorboats and on short walking safaris, the group will search the quiet waterways and rich wetlands for giraffe, zebra, impala, lechwe and more than 350 bird species. The exclusive camp overlooks a lagoon with prolific birdlife and resident pods of hippo. Drives and fishing excursions are also available, and guests can observe researchers studying regional herds of elephant. Next is the private Linyanti Reserve, where guests will again enjoy luxurious accommodations -- thatched-roof tents with private lounges and dipping pools -- and impressive wildlife. Highlights include massive elephant herds and ample populations of kudu, giraffe and zebra. Major predators, such as lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and hyena, are regularly sighted, and birding is outstanding. Slaty Egret, Racket-tailed Roller, Dickenson's Kestrel and Verreaux's (Giant) Eagle-Owl are among the various owl species, birds of prey, wetland and woodland birds that can be seen. On the final day, guests enjoy one last wildlife drive before flying to Johannesburg via Maun and on to Los Angeles.
Two optional extensions are available for travelers looking to maximize their experience, including a five day pre-extension to Cape Town, South Africa, which includes Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Boulders Beach, District 6 and a day-trip to the renowned wine lands region, with delightful accommodations on the Victoria & Albert Waterfront. A four-day post-extension to Victoria Falls, Zambia features a guided tour of the world’s largest waterfall, a sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River and a visit to a local village.
Itinerary and sequence subject to change.
The BOTSWANA UNMATCHED land package is $5,995 per person (double occupancy), plus $2,295 per person for the pre-extension to Cape Town and $1,495 per person for the post-extension to Victoria Falls. Single supplements are available as are airfare packages.
The travel program is among many offerings presented by the private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, founded in 1963. This year marks more than four decades of GLAZA's success in supporting the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden's work as an educational resource for the citizens of Los Angeles, and as an international center for the conservation of endangered wildlife. GLAZA provides funds and other services for Los Angeles Zoo exhibits, conservation, capital projects, education programs, community outreach, research, and more through fund-raising and an endowment, membership, special events and more. GLAZA currently has 65,000 member households, the second largest membership base of a cultural organization in Los Angeles. Many of its nearly 300,000 individual members have sustained their GLAZA support for more than 20 years. The Los Angeles Zoo is an international leader in the conservation of endangered species and one of the city's major cultural and entertainment resources.
For detailed descriptions of BOTSWANA UNMATCHED including a free brochure and more information, please call Melissa Grossenbacher at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, (323) 644-4792, or visit http://lazoo.org/calendar/travel/index.html.

Official Website: http://lazoo.org/calendar/travel/index.html