Open Heart Safari

6 reviews
Reviews: 6
Tour packages: 1 tour
Group, set date tours
Main focus: Budget
Established: 2013
Headquarters: United States
Languages:
English, German

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About Open Heart Safari
Husband-and-wife team with passion for African wildlife leads annual tour to Zambia. Not-for-profit. You won't be surrounded by crowds of tourists-we go to remote natural areas. Includes walking safaris, night drives, Victoria Falls. We spend meaningful time with rural and urban communities, meet inspirational leaders working for conservation and social justice. We open to the experience with simple meditation, yoga, and group sharing circles. Max group size 10.
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"A life transforming experience"
By: dmo
Safari enthusiast
United States United States
11 kudus
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Reviews (1)
Visited: Aug. 2012 Reviewed: Mar. 30, 2019

I just finished rereading my journal from my Open Heart Safari of almost a year and a half ago, and it still brings goose bumps every time I read it. I had never considered doing a safari before I heard about the Open Heart Safari. But Tom’s passion in describing the trip, the prospect of stunning wildlife with intentional personal and spiritual connection, and a desire to do something special for myself motivated me to sign up. This was a very big commitment for me in terms of time and money. But once the trip started, I never once doubted that I’d made a good decision. By the end of the 2 weeks, it felt as if the entire trip had been designed and executed specifically for my personal benefit. The heart-opening activities (sharing our intentions and reactions with the group, poems, meditations, and movement) were powerfully effective in opening my heart to a deep impactful experience of the wildlife, wilderness, and local communities we visited. I started the trip hoping to get some clarity on my career direction. At the end of the trip I felt a major transformation in my life had been catalyzed, and that sense has continued more than a year later.

Here’s a (no doubt incomplete) list of highlights of the trip for me:

Nature: The majesty of the beautiful animals, the calm, peaceful beauty of the African bush, the expansive starry night sky, and experiencing the natural order of diverse types of animals, each with its own niche in the ecosystem, co-existing and playing their role, all helped me feel part of an amazing unified tapestry.
The people: It was striking how in the rural village of Kawaza, with no plumbing or electricity and few possessions, the people seemed so full of life and joy. I saw more joy in one morning in Kawaza than I see in a year in Philadelphia.
Zebra meditation: Sitting down to meditate, and after a few minutes discovering a zebra peering at me from inches away.
The close bonds and open hearted sharing among the group helped me experience the wildlife and communities we met in a deep way.
The accommodations in and near the parks were wonderful, especially the Gilligan's Island-like creative luxury using primitive materials in Kafue Park. Accommodations in towns were fine. Food was interesting and satisfying, occasionally gourmet. Transport was fine. Safari guides were incredibly skilled and knowledgeable, and eager to share their knowledge. Trip leaders Tom and Laura are gems and they inspired close bonding among the group.

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Countries visited: Zambia
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By: dmo
United States United States
Countries visited: Zambia
Visited: Aug. 2012
Reviewed: Jan. 11, 2014

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"It's like 3 great trips in 1"
Safari enthusiast
United States United States
12 kudus
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Reviews (1)
Visited: Jul. 2013 Reviewed: Nov. 19, 2018

I had been looking for a safari experience for several years and when I heard of Open Heart Safari, I knew it was the one because it provided a multi-layered experience. The leaders know Zambia and they plan the safari itinerary to include plenty of game drives with expert guides who know the animals and their habitats. But also included were several opportunities to interact with locals and learn about their socio-economic challenges. But wait, there's more . . . on top of those wonderful experiences, the leaders facilitate almost daily conversations with participants to share our own and hear others' insights about the day. I can attest that even my husband felt it really enriched the trip - and he was reluctant to go to Africa at all! We both left Open Heart Safari feeling more connected to each other and to the continent we had the honor of visiting.

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Countries visited: Botswana Zambia
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United States United States
Countries visited: Botswana Zambia
Visited: Jul. 2013
Reviewed: Jan. 06, 2014

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"Amazing and Fantastic Trip to Zambia"
By: Liz
Safari enthusiast
United States United States
12 kudus
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Reviews (1)
Visited: Jul. 2014 Reviewed: Mar. 02, 2018

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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Countries visited: Zambia
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By: Liz
United States United States
Countries visited: Zambia
Visited: Jul. 2014
Reviewed: Mar. 30, 2015

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"A Journey Like no Other!"
By: sph
Safari enthusiast
United States United States
11 kudus
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Reviews (1)
Visited: Aug. 2012 Reviewed: Feb. 26, 2017

This was the journey of a lifetime! South Luangwa Park is teeming with incredible animals — so abundant, varied, natural and free, beautiful, graceful, powerful, funny, accessible and exciting, not to mention photogenic! Kafue is remote, wild, scenic and exciting. We missed nothing by passing up Tanzania except the crowds. And we gained a day at Victoria Falls, worthy of anyone’s bucket list.

What sets this safari apart, though, is the human interaction, both with the local people and with our travelling companions. A day and an overnight in a thatched-hut village out in the bush mixing with the people, two days and an evening with young people and adults deeply involved in grass roots community development and conservation. Opportunities almost every day to reflect and share within our group on what we were doing and seeing –always with lots of laughs. Periodic yoga and other movement, skillfully led by Laura and suited to our capabilities. We had some great conversations and look forward to staying in touch with one another across the country. Who knows, maybe even a reunion somewhere!

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Countries visited: Zambia
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By: sph
United States United States
Countries visited: Zambia
Visited: Aug. 2012
Reviewed: Jan. 14, 2014

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"Extraordinary Experience"
Safari enthusiast
United States United States
43 kudus
Reviews (1)
Visited: Aug. 2012 Reviewed: Feb. 08, 2017

Wow! I can’t imagine a better way to experience the “real Africa” than with the Open Heart group. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and definitely exceeded expectations.
I went on the trip with my 72-year-old father, and we both had such an incredible time and it was a wonderful experience to share together. One of my highlights was seeing a wild leopard just a few feet from our jeep – it was so magnificent & moving, it almost brought me to tears. And spending a day volunteering in a slum in the capital, seeing the way the people lived and being able to make a small contribution, was also very moving. It’s hard to know what to do with feelings like that since those experiences were so much more intense than my daily life here. Having a close group that I could process that stuff with and share how we each experienced things made a HUGE difference in my time there.
I loved the Open Heart activities (yoga, meditation, reflection, etc.) – they helped me feel more present & connected. I was able to experience Africa on a deeper, more meaningful level. From day 1 our group really opened up to one another and experienced a heartfelt connection, which Tom was instrumental in initiating. So many times on the trip I thought how grateful I was to be with this group and that I wouldn't want it any other way.
The itinerary was a great mix of spending time with spectacular wildlife in beautiful national parks, and then spending time with local people in various settings. The food & the lodging were both over & above what I expected.
Tom and Laura did a wonderful job leading the group. Tom is incredibly knowledgeable about Africa and the animals we saw (and the guides in the national parks were exceptional too). Laura did a great job leading the group in yoga & expressive movement sessions, which really made a difference in feeling embodied in the experience. The two of them make a great team.
This really is a once in a lifetime experience, and I really think going with Open Heart Safari is the best way to do it.

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Countries visited: Zambia
11People gave this
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United States United States
Countries visited: Zambia
Visited: Aug. 2012
Reviewed: Jan. 08, 2014

11People gave this
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"A journey of self discovery"
By: Red
Safari enthusiast
United States United States
11 kudus
Photos (0)
Reviews (1)
Visited: Jul. 2013 Reviewed: Jun. 25, 2016

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.
Don’t miss an Open Heart Safari. Put it at the top of your bucket list!

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Countries visited: Botswana Zambia
11People gave this
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By: Red
United States United States
Countries visited: Botswana Zambia
Visited: Jul. 2013
Reviewed: Jan. 18, 2014

11People gave this
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YAScore: 58/100
Based on 6 reviews

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