Big Animals Expeditions past of 10 years experience has observed Dominica’s west coast hosting approximately five sperm whale families, each with five to nine cetaceans. Females and their calves comprise the majority of these groups. occasionally we will encounter a male, 45 to 55 feet long, easily recognizable being thirty percent larger than the females. Frequently a family will socialize playing in the water, while other times they may remain stationary, totally vertical in the water. Sometimes the pod will swim slowly allowing us to fin with them, while other times their speed picks up as we follow them until they abruptly stop, apparently waiting for us. Each encounter offers a different opportunity, one more exciting than the next.

Upon sighting the whales we begin with two guests in the water, led by expedition leader Amanda Cotton or Amos Nachoum. Once the leader has decided that it’s a good encounter — one when the whales remain calm and are slow moving — the other two guests follow into the water. Then, frequently, the sperm whale or sometimes a whole family of whales moves slowly by you, inspection you and you can also scan his giant head till you find the small eye measuring you up, and then the two of you are connected.

THE TRIP!

Introduction

From JFK Airport for your evening flight. The Safari Pioneers gather in a private lounge put on by Kenya Airways. There is a buzz of excitement. The Pioneers have their safari all ahead of them. Customs, temperature checks, immigration have all gone well, easily even.
 

Seated in the front of a completely cleaned and aired new Boeing 787, allows the Pioneers to experience first-class type service on the direct flight to Nairobi, but with the safari having already begun. Our master chef emerges to serve a first-class dinner on board, taking care of the sensitiveness of social distancing, with trained service protocols Pioneers will become accustomed to over the next two-week safari.

Cut to
Exit Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) around Mid-Morning: Official hosts meet the plane and the Pioneers disembark first and go straight to the new Kenya Airways private lounge, and over refreshing drinks made to order by your Great Plains butler, Kenyan health, immigration and customs suitably attired quickly confirm and connect the Pioneers to passports, Stamp Stamp, and you are cleared.Within minutes, the line-up of Executive Caravans is waiting on the tarmac, and the adventurers are seated in executive configuration, seats freshly swabbed down, ready to take in the thrill of the approaching crossing of the Rift Valley, and far too soon, the descent into a grass runway at one of the 4 chosen camps, each pre-cleared by Kenya’s Department of Health, with each staff member checked and confirmed for the important, and national effort to welcome the Pioneers back to Africa. It is hard not to weep, the welcome, the joy, the deep thanks from the communities delivered by the Great Plains Conservation guides with heartfelt gratitude.

Safari vehicles, adjusted to take just 4 Pioneers now (sensitive to that distancing that has become second nature), head off into an Africa that has seen other crises like this 2020 moment which has stopped the world, come and go since before Man first walked upright right here over 3.5 million years ago.

Zebras and wildebeest compete for the road and dart off, with watching warthogs and gazelle in case the lions, that you will soon see, catch them off guard. Each Pioneers camp is bespoke, with natural settings and fresh air flowing through – the healthiest environments on the planet. Each room/tent thoroughly cleaned and aired before your arrival using medical-grade disinfectants.

Magical names like ol Donyo Lodge – set in the ancient lava flows overlooking Kilimanjaro, where elephants are so closed that from the safety of the sunken ‘hide’ you can almost touch their toenails. Or Mara Plains Camp – designed for space and airflow, where a single tree miles away is the landmark of the camp boundary. Mara Nyika Camp – set up high on platforms under stylish canvas tents and typical East African flat-topped acacia trees. And Arijiju – designed as a Swahili fort ruin with the finest interiors and Borana’s famous lions calling beyond the camp.

Each Pioneer’s safari includes a 3-night stay at each camp, driving from Mara Plains to Mara Nyika and flying the short hop to Ol Donyo and Arijiju. This is personal service all the way.

Revel and relax over the 12-night safari as it grows from one experience to the other – from elephants to lions, cheetah, leopard, wildebeest, endless landscapes, great wine, rolling plains and Kilimanjaro herself, that delicately painted mountain shrouded in ‘lace’. Your cuisine is expertly prepared (naturally with safety and hygiene top of mind of course) but catered to every Pioneers personal taste or allergies. We are known for our personal touches.

After 12 nights on safari, you hit rewind and travel in reverse, with two major differences: it is, of course, seamless but now our Pioneers are loaded with memories, your lives are changed forever AND you know that in the hold of the 787 tons of donated PPE have been left in Africa, helping those in our communities, making life better and assured you played a starring role in bringing much-needed tourism back to Africa.

Epilogue
“We travel to make a difference. This Pioneers Safari is restarting that dream.”

The Philippines are located in the hearth of the coral triangle and are home to iconic animals and dive spots. During our exploratory route, we will be diving Tubbataha, Malapescua, Ticao, Romblon and other less known areas. Join us on the Solitude One, the optimal way to explore this marine life intense region. We’ll also have plenty of time to enjoy the stunning scenery between dives as we sail along.

Embark on our 11-day itinerary exploratory route lead by legendary, Michel Labrecque of N2Pix. Michel has an intense passion for underwater photography and storytelling. His work as a photojournalist focuses on wildlife, conservation and ocean protection.

The package includes an estimated 29 dives. All meals, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, airport transfers and guided dives.

Required level : Advanced Open Water
Water temperature : 84-86°F
Current : Light to moderate
Visibility : 60'-100'
Maximum depth : 130'