US Air Magazine on Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel: Travel with a Heart

"...Tours of a similar vein are being offered at the high end of the travel spectrum. Exquisite Safaris, for instance, provides what is billed as "private, luxury, philanthropic travel."

Company founder David Chamberlain also believes that the Habitat for Humanity model is a good one, but that there are only a limited number of people who will sign on for it. His approach differs in that it incorporates humanitarian elements into far-flung travel itineraries - and he feels there's a big demand for it. "It's about not rolling up the windows of your limo on the way to your resort," says Chamberlain, who offers trips to destinations on nearly every continent, "but really seeing the place you're visiting - both the good and the bad."

Ted van Beuren, who traveled with Exquisite Safaris two years ago with his son, says the altruistic portion of the trip, which involved interacting with children in an impoverished slum, changed his life. "I'm 45 years old, and I want to do something significant with my success," says van Beuren. "I [know] I'm not going to change the world. I'm not going to cure cancer, but I can make a difference. I could have done it in Pennsylvania where I live. But going to a place that's going through a real struggle challenges me to ask myself, 'Well, what can I do?' And what you can do is hopefully impact one person's life, to see a kid's life change in a short period of time. When you get over there and realize there are other things in life besides the concerns in your small community, [you realize that] you can't just go to see the gorillas in the mist or watch cheetahs in the evening."

Although Chamberlain's company caters to fairly affluent individuals by offering them safe, non-labor-intensive interaction with some of the more needy communities of the world, this brand of immersive travel isn't just for the millionaire set."

Learn More:
The The One's Who Do: Visionary Philanthropic Travelers
Family Office: Philanthropic Travel
World Travel Market London: Luxury Travel with a Conscience
Travel Philanthropy: Creating Peace
The Fable of Stone Soup
Understanding Philanthropic Travel
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Travel Connoisseur Magazine on Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel Worldwide
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Richard Branson: Philanthropic Traveler
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