Open Heart Safari
- Located In:
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United States
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Tour Types:
- Mid-range tours with set start dates and a fixed itinerary
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $280 to $305 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Ana M Perez | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experiencing Africa
The trip was very special. OHS is much more than a safari. It provided me with what I needed to experience Africa at its finest. I was able to open my heart to a whole ecosystem that captures the spirit of human beings, animals and nature in a way that gets in your heart and you have a mindfulness experience.
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> Watching elephants walking into the sunset, or a group of lions eating a buffalo very close to us, hearing about the daily problems in the village, learning about we can do to prevent poaching, practicing yoga with Laura, listening to the poems read by Tom, and allowing it all to penetrate in your heart...this is what I call a mindfulness experience.
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> I felt in communion with the Universe and with my inner soul in a way that even today helps me get through the day when I am sitting in traffic or having a hard day at work...I did not take many pictures with my camera but i keep movies in my head that remind me of the holiness of the universe we live in and the respect we need to have for all life around us...
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> The experience I had in Africa with OHS and the rest of the group was incredible … more than I expected … OHS was the main reason I was able to ‘experience Africa.’
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Email lisa | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
YOGA
daily yoga was a perfect accent to a wonderful experience! and to be interrupted by elephants passing by...well you can imagine.
Life changing experience
My trip to Zambia with Laura and Tom is life changing and soul touching . Their efforts, knowledge and passion made this trip very special and unforgettable. Thank you Laura and Tom. I can't wait to go on another journey with you.
Ling
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Email Rachil | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Traveling w/Open Heart was a community connected, heart centered ultimate animal kingdom experience!
From beginning to end I felt safe and well taken care of by Tom and Laura and all the people they contracted with; from drivers, lodges and local villages to internal air travel and eateries. After a day of regrouping, at a beautiful lodge near the airport, from a long day of travel; our second day- first day of Safari was so memorable. I remember thinking I could go home now and the travel would be totally worth it! The sound in the air, the color of the sky and the abundant variety of wild animals was more than I could have ever imagined! The crazy thing is- it only got better: each day unfolded to awe me in it's own unique way. One early morning an elephant strolled by my tent and stopped to graze on the tree right in front of me, monkeys foraged around the camp and hippos sang in the river. A unique aspect of Open Heart Safari is their grassroots community efforts and the connection with the locals. One night we visited and stayed over night in huts at a traditional village. The adults were welcoming, children playful, and the food delicious. Africa was a musical menagerie. Its a memory I will carry with me always.
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Email Liz Brown | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
I can't imagine a better trip to Africa than
My two-week trip to Zambia was thrilling and fantastic. Almost immediately upon our arrival, I saw an elephant wandering through the grounds of our lodge. I was so amazed to realize that we were located right in the middle of the wild animals’ habitat!
There were so many exciting things: the passion of the dedicated wildlife guides; a pride of lionesses stalking some cape buffalo and giving chase right in front of our jeep; stopping to watch a group of giraffes, being mesmerized by the way they move, enjoying their alert eyes and ears; watching a leopard walk right in front us, thrilled to see this beautiful, graceful, somewhat reclusive cat. I laugh every time I think of the hysterical and endearing warthogs; I was captivated by the zebra and loved looking at their stripes. I felt privileged to be a part of it all.
All this would have sufficed, but we were also introduced to local people in intimate settings – getting a chance to see how they lived their lives and start to appreciate their reality. Tom has had close contacts in Zambia for many years, which afforded us the opportunity to meet and interact with local villagers, community organizers, and local conservation activists.
This was such a deep and moving experience for me. It was enriched and heightened by sharing it so intimately with the group. We had a lot of fun together, laughed a lot and bonded closely – all enhanced, in turn, by the magnitude of what we were experiencing together.
It’s hard for me to imagine that we could have as rich and full an experience without the insights, guidance, connections and organization offered by Tom and Laura.
I treasure the fact that I took the chance on this trip. … I’ve come home feeling fulfilled, peaceful and satiated – and thinking about returning some day.
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Email Red B. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A truly extraordinary experience
Safari is a Swahili word which means journey. For me this safari turned out to be a journey of self discovery as well as a study of the native wild life. I also gained an understanding of the day by day struggle in a rapidly expanding African country to develop an ecologically balanced understanding of the relationship between man, the native birds, animals, and aquatic life and the earth which we all must share.
The Open Heart Safari website contains a section entitled “who should go?’ This is Tom’s list of what or who makes a good fit for an Open Heart Safari. Each item on the list is “right on” and the trip is designed to make sure that the experience is one that will have a significant impact on the participants. You will be cleansed of preconceptions, your values will be challenged and changed, your emotions will be jolted, there will be tears and laughter, and possibly some sheer terror depending upon your reaction to up close and personal encounters with Nile crocodiles, full grown six ton elephants, and a hippo named Lucas who may just sleep outside your door! And believe me, your heart will be opened.
And perhaps best of all, you will become, as I did, close friends with and share some unforgettable experiences with a group of like minded people who care deeply about the enjoyment of nature and wildlife and the preservation of one of the last truly wild and natural places on our planet.
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65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing blend of wildlife, scenery, local people, traveling companions, plus Victoria Falls. Wow!
I was looking for a good safari company with my daughter, Katie. We had chosen one in Tanzania and were prepared to book it. Katie then heard about Open Heart Safari from a friend who knew Tom Bennigson. We both surveyed Tom and his ideas over a long phone conversation with him and came away convinced that he knows what he is doing in Africa, that he understands what it means to be "open hearted" himself, and that he had actually crafted a safari experience that lived up to that name. We then had a conversation with Laura, who was just as courteous and responsive to our questions. We were hooked. We not only felt at ease with the leaders, but we figured that other people who would be drawn to this type of safari would be the type of individuals we would want to travel with.
The safari itself surpassed our greatest expectations. South Luangwa National Park is overflowing with amazing animals - so diverse, abundant, majestic, amusing, accessible, natural, free, and exciting - never mind photogenic! Kafue is pictorial, removed, wild, and thrilling. We did not feel like we missed anything passing up Tanzania except for the hoards of people. We also acquired a day at Victoria's Falls, which deserves a spot on everyone's bucket list.
What makes this safari unique, however is the exchanges with other humans - both with the locals and our travel group. An entire day and night in a thatched-hut village in the bush mingling with the people, two days and a night with both youth and adults engaging in a grass roots community conservation and development project. There were opportunities almost every day to think back and share with our group what we were experiencing and witnessing - always with plenty of laughter. Occasional yoga and other movement, artfully led by Laura and matched to our abilities. We had some wonderful conversations and are looking forward to staying in contact with each other across the country. Who knows - we may even arrange a reunion somewhere!
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A transformative life experience of connecting with wildlife, wilderness, and local communities.
I made a big commitment in this trip in terms of time and money. However, once the trip got underway, I never second guessed whether or not I had a made a good decision. By the time 2 weeks had passed, I felt like the entire trip had been planned and carried out exactly for my own benefit. The "heart-opening" activities we participated in, including movement, poems, reflections, and sharing our reactions and purposes with the group, were incredibly effective in opening my heart to the deeply meaningful experiences of the wilderness, wildlife, and local cultures we visited. By the time the trip was over, I felt as if a major transformation in my life had been initiated.
I always felt comfortable in our accommodations, which were usually stunning and oftentimes felt magical. The flow and atmosphere of the trip were great, combining a variety of activities with plenty of time to rest and relax. Tom's passion, knowledge of Africa, and sense of humor lit up the atmosphere. The local guides in the parks were professional, entertaining, and knowledgable. The only "crowds" we saw were groups of animals - we hardly ever came across other people. Tom and Laura's connections allowed us to meet people and learn about the challenges facing both rural and urban communities, including conservation and poverty.
Here are some of my highlights:
- Nature: The serene, quiet beauty of the African bush, the nobility of the beautiful wildlife, the immense starry night sky, and getting to witness the natural order of the different types of animals, each one with its own place in the ecosystem, co-existing and acting out their part. It all helped me feel like I was part of an amazing unified existence.
- The people: It was amazing to me how in Kawaza, a rural village with no electricity, plumbing, and little possessions, everyone appeared to be so full of life and happiness. I saw more joyful people in one morning in Kawaza than I see in a year in Philadelphia.
- The close connections and open hearted sharing amongst the group helped me connect with the wildlife and communities we met in a meaningful way.
- The "zebra" meditation: Sitting down to reflect, and a few moments later discovering a zebra peeking out at me from only a few inches away. I alternated between feeling terrified and calm.
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Email Katie H. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience
Wow! Traveling with the Open Heart group is by far the best way to experience the "real Africa," as Zambia as called. The opportunity to visit with local people in addition to witnessing spectacular views of the wildlife made for a much more well rounded experienced. I found it very meaningful to be able to take in and share our experiences. I was given the opportunity to experience Africa on a deeper, richer level. I frequently pondered on how thankful I was to be with this group, and that I would not want anything to change; it certainly surpassed my expectations.
The guides and leaders, Tom and Laura, are excellent. Tom's extensive knowledge and experience, in addition to his flexibility and great sense of humor, were greatly appreciated. Laura did a wonderful job directing the group in expressive movement and yoga sessions, which really made an impact in helping us feel subsumed in the experienced. I loved the Open Heart activities, including yoga, sharing, reflection, and mediation. Tom was instrumental in initiating a heartfelt connection within our group from day 1, and we really opened up to one another. This "open heart" element made my exchanges with the local community, wildlife, and the environment so much more significant, and helped me in feeling more in tune and connected.
I went on this trip with my father, and we chose Open Heart Safari after looking at various tour companies in Kenya & Tanzania and learning that Zambia would be less touristy & crowded yet still have the same diversity and plethora of wildlife. We had been trying to plan a trip with a safari and then find a way to volunteer, but Open Heart conveniently offered that as part of the package. It was wonderful traveling with similar-minded folks. Meeting with local conservationists and spending the night in a local village were also opportunities we really enjoyed. Visiting Victoria Falls was amazing. On a basic level, the food and accommodations were both excellent.
Overall I greatly recommend traveling with Open heart!