Overview
Why use Ker & Downey?
"These (traditional) safaris still exist, but most tourists do not take them. Rather, they go on a tour. They are crowded eight thick into a minivan and hauled over the dreadful roads from lodge to lodge, day after agonizing day. The lodges have 100 rooms each, and each has a tacky gift shop. Relatively little time is spent on game drives, and the drives themselves are limited to the truncated tourist route. Schedules are military. If this is Tuesday afternoon, those must be impalas."
Jon K. Tillinghast, Endless Vacation
Ker & Downey is a USA based tour operator that arranges itineraries in Africa, Egypt, India, select locations in South America and New Zealand. They will develop a perfect honeymoon safari or custom travel arrangements to other adventure destinations for those clients looking for something ‘off the beaten path’.
Their Philosophy
The focus of the Ker & Downey USA business is custom-made itineraries… they don’t have “set departure” programs where “if it’s Tuesday those must be Impala”. The itineraries seen here and on their website can be taken as is or can be fully customized for you. Ker & Downey excels at developing itineraries from scratch specifically tuned to your individual requirements, whether it is for a romantic honeymoon, an adventurous family vacation or a relaxing getaway with friends.
The Properties Chosen
Ker & Downey research properties extensively and the properties recommended must fit with their philosophy of using traditional safari camps that are small and in exclusive settings where guests can honestly say: 'We had it all to ourselves!' If they must put you in a safari property that does not meet these standards due to lack of availability, consultants will make sure you are aware of the differences.
Special Needs
They’ve assisted with clients that required wheelchairs, used special breathing apparatuses, and had other needs. Whatever the situation… they can usually work it out.
The Staff
Every consultant at Ker & Downey travels at least once a year to one or more of the destinations marketed. This is part of the company’s annual training program. The staff has over 200 years of travel experience. Several staff members have made over 50 trips to destinations and some were even born and raised in Africa. The result is a motivated and dedicated staff that loves what they do.
Ker & Downey’s Roots
They got their start in Botswana in 1962 where they pioneered the concept of low volume tourism through the development of Ker Downey Selby’s photographic safari camps. They still operate camps in Botswana; Shinde – a great big game experience and is probably THE BEST all-around experience in Botswana, Kanana – the ultimate “Okavango” experience, Footsteps – an interpretive camp which features walking safaris and mokoro trips through the delta, Edo’s Camp – a Kalahari experience which offers rhino and the opportunity to interact with Bushmen, and Okuti – located in the Moremi National Park and is a great camp for family safaris. No where else in Africa can you get away and feel like you were a part of a true safari experience like you can with Ker & Downey in Botswana. Four camps are located in private concessions where guests have the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with nature and where guests can honestly say: 'We had it all to ourselves!'
Operating in the USA since 1980, the company continues to focus on safari travel. In 1999, arrangements were concluded to market the five-star Nile cruisers of Trans Egypt Travel and thus the expansion into the Egypt and Middle East markets. In 2005, the company expanded to host luxury safaris to India, New Zealand, and parts of South America, including Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and cruises to the Galapagos Islands.
Eco-Sensitivity
While the world awakens to a new sense of conservation, Ker & Downey has been practicing ethically minded operations for many years. Ker & Downey camps located in the Okavango in Botswana will always remain small and traditional. Keeping the structures “traditional safari” means the electrical requirements will remain small. They will never have air conditioning as they feel this is destructive to the environment and gets away from the traditional nature of the experience. Where possible, solar panels are used for electrical requirements, however there are generators available. Physical structures will never be so elaborate that their existence interferes with the natural surroundings. The camps will remain quaint, unassuming, and tucked into the environment. Ultimately only a footprint will remain.
Today
Whether you desire to go on safari in Africa or India, on a cruise around the Galapagos islands, immerse yourself into an Indian village in Brazil, cruise down the Nile, or visit the Maori in New Zealand… Ker & Downey can arrange your travel the way you like it… private, personal, and with confidence.
Travel & Industry Awards
- Named Among the World's Top Ten Tour Operators and Safari Operators, Travel & Leisure Magazine - 2000
- Outside Magazine’s 2006 Prestigious Trip of the Year Award for Brazil, South America
Affiliations
- Thebe Tourism Group
- Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA)
- IATA
- American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA)
Payments Accepted
- American Express
- Diners Club
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Reservation Policy
An advance payment of 20% of all services per person is required to effect land and or airline reservations to secure reservations more than 60 days prior to departure. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation penalties imposed on Ker & Downey by its suppliers are stringent. The following terms apply effective as of the date Ker & Downey receives written notice of cancellation. - 180 days or more prior to departure: $250.00 per person.
- 179-91 days prior to departure: 10% of the tour cost, per person.
- 90-46 days prior to departure date: 25% of the tour cost, per person.
- 45-15 days prior to departure date: 40% of the tour cost, per person.
- 14 days or less prior to departure date: 100% of tour.
Other Travel Offerings
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