Travel That Matters

Emmy-award winning filmmakers, conservationists, and luxury-safari pioneers Dereck and Beverly Joubert speak with Bruce about their incredible adventures, their efforts to document and preserve African wildlife, and how to get the very best out of a safari experience.  

The Jouberts’ safari company, Great Plains Conservation, manages some of Africa’s most exclusive camps—in locations from Botswana’s Okavango Delta to the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe and the Chyulu Hills of Kenya. Part of the environment—and set on a massive private concessions—the camps offer almost unprecedented access and proximity to animals of all kinds. One such creature, a mother leopard they call Fig, is the star of the Jouberts’ latest film, Jade-Eyed Leopard (narrated by Jeremy Irons). The big cat was so comfortable in the area around Great Plains’ Mara Plains camp that she gave birth under one of the tents.  

In addition to prime wildlife viewing, Mara Plains and other Great Plains camps offer an opulent experience for guests, with dining and accommodations that have earned many of them Relais & Chateaux membership. But it is the wildlife experience that stands out most—and the Jouberts explain why. They dive into the benefits of private concessions versus public parks, not only for the safari experience but for the ability for guests to have a more positive impact—and meaningful interactions—with local communities.  

Although much of the story revolves around a love of wildlife, the Jouberts’ tale at its heart is a story about their love for each other. Their bond has been forged over years living in the bush. And while they have their own harrowing tales—including near-death experiences that have brought them closer together—their commitment to documenting and conserving African wildlife has never diminished.

For More Information Visit: 

https://greatplainsconservation.com/

http://www.wildlifefilms.co/dereck-beverly

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Learn more about the podcast: https://www.curtco.com/travelthatmatters

Hosted by: Bruce Wallin

Produced by: AJ Moseley and Darra Stone

Music by: Joey Salvia

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch joins Bruce to talk about international luxury travel in the
post-pandemic world. Virtuoso is a leading name in luxury travel with a network of nearly
20,000 advisors worldwide. As people were stuck at home, many of those travel advisors—a term Upchurch much prefers to ‘travel agents’—pivoted to help their clients plan big-ticket
trips in the distant future. But as borders open, Upchurch says Virtuoso is seeing
unprecedented demand for this summer and beyond.

Now that we’re ready to venture internationally again, how will we do it, where will we
go, and what will we find? Will we return to our favorite destinations—some of which we were guilty of loving too much in what Upchurch calls the pre-pandemic Golden Age of Travel—or will we take advantage of our renewed freedoms to explore new and off-the-beaten-path destinations? Upchurch dives into issues of over-tourism, the lasting impacts of the pandemic, which destinations are booming—and which ones aren’t—and the fundamental question of why people travel for leisure. He also shares some of his own travel plans, including the trip he’s most excited about: a journey into space on one of Virgin Galactic’s inaugural flights.

Locations Mentioned in the Wallin Wrap-Up:

Peru

Aqua Nera river cruiser from Aqua Expeditions

U.S.

Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans

Spain

The Ritz Madrid, which recently reopened under the Mandarin Oriental flag

Villa Magna, which is reopening as a Rosewood Hotel

Four Seasons Madrid

Japan

Aman Kyoto

Park Hyatt Kyoto

Hotel the Mitsui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto

Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi

 

Learn more about Virtuoso and book your next trip with a Virtuoso travel advisor: https://www.virtuoso.com/travel

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Learn more about the podcast: https://www.curtco.com/travelthatmatters

Hosted by: Bruce Wallin

Produced by: AJ Moseley and Darra Stone

Music by: Joey Salvia

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Explore the world’s most extraordinary travel experiences with award-winning editor, writer, and luxury travel expert Bruce Wallin (National Geographic, Departures, and longtime editorial director at Robb Report). Each episode will inspire you with fascinating stories about unique, life-shaping journeys—and connect you to the remarkable people who make them possible. Gain insider access to extravagant hotels, impactful adventures, and secret hideaways, and discover the magic of travel at its very best.

Learn More: curtco.com/travelthatmatters

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.