Inside Information on Adventure Travel in Africa

Delta Willis searched for fossils alongside the Leakeys, organized writer Stephen Jay Gould’s first trip to Africa, and served as expedition photographer for a Land Rover road test across the Sahara. Now she is back from exploring new lodges and travel conditions for the Fodor’s 2002 Guide to Kenya & Tanzania, with travel tips from people she describes as “the real survivors.”
“The third Survivor series being filmed in Kenya’s Shaba Reserve is just more hogwash,” she says. “The whole theme to that program is rejection. It’s not about physical skills or healthy mental focus, it’s about political skills. I am in touch with people in Africa, such as Tony Fitzjohn, whose life story was featured in To Walk With Lion, and Kuki Gallmann, (www.deltawillis.com/people_places.htm) whose life story was featured in I Dreamed of Africa, plus filmmakers like Alan Root, who flew a hot air balloon across Mount Kilimanjaro. These people have confronted the worst hells Africa can deliver, and emerged with invaluable wisdom. I not only want to pass their insights on, but in many cases can arrange for you to visit their favorites places in Africa, or meet them.”

In her first career with British TV, Delta Willis worked with the world’s best wildlife filmmakers, including the National Geographic team of Des & Jen Bartlett, Alan Root, and underwater cinematographer Al Giddings, who filmed the opening sequences of the real vessel for the movie TITANIC. She was a guide for Lindblad Travel in China when the country first opened its doors to Western tourism, and has organized a river rafting expedition for ABC-TV in New Zealand. She has written for Adventure Travel, Outside, Natural History, Travel Africa, and Audubon magazines, and has extensive contacts in the world of ecotourism and conservation, including elephant experts Iain and Oria Douglas Hamilton, and Cynthia Moss. Her website gives tips on the best places in Africa to watch elephants http://www.deltawillis.com/watch_elephants.htm.

Willis has appeared on NBC-TV and The Oxygen Network to talk about travel in Africa, plus been a speaker at the American Museum of Natural History, NYU, the PBS program “Connie Martinson Talks Books,” NPR’s “All Things Considered;” Leonard Lopate’s “New York & Company” on WNYC, And “Pulse of the Planet.”

Willis served as a judge for the International Wildlife Film Festival in Montana, and has written two books about the Leakey family. In addition to updates on travel in Africa, she provides photography tips, and a free packing list. www.deltawillis.com was the first site to have an associate link to Travel Smith online. Her Map & Chat Room is particularly useful for women to exchange travel tips. Inside Information on Zimbabwe contains smart tips for travel anywhere. http://www.deltawillis.com/insidezimbabwe.htm