TO: West Point Grads
FROM: Pete and Camilla Grimm (USMA 1969)
Dear Academy Grads,
Is a safari to South Africa on your bucket list? If so, jump on this chance to share your adventure with an intimate group of Academy grads, their spouses and/or family and friends. The camaraderie will be wonderful.
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| A Leopard on a Limb |
Safari Details: There are only 2 spots left for couples in any of our 2022 safaris. That safari is from May 13-24, 2022 and includes 4 nights in Cape Town,, 2 nights in Victoria Falls, an overnight in Johannesburg and 4 nights in a luxury camp in the vicinity of Kruger National Park. The cost safari is $5995 per person sharing (excluding airfare).
There are only a few spots for couples available in our 2023 schedule with this same itinerary and a few with one which has 4 nights in Cape Town plus 3 nights in renowned Sabi Sands and three in a luxury private camp in the vicinity of Kruger National Park. 2023 Safaris cost $6495 per person sharing and exclude airfare.
Please click on this link to go to our schedule page to see all available safari dates and availability
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| The View from a Bedroom in Our Villa |
In historic Cape Town, we occupy a villa overlooking False Bay. The villa affords each couple a private ensuite bedroom with an ocean view. From the villa, we tour historic downtown Cape Town and the surrounding area. Planned excursions include Table Mountain, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, the African Penguin Colony, Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope and the Franschhoek and Stellenbosch wine regions, and more. We take full advantage of many fine dining opportunities along the way. To get from Cape Town to our other locales we fly all the way across the country.
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| Close Encounter on a Game Drive |
On the safaris which go to Victoria Falls we will tour the magnificent falls and enjoy activities including Zambezi River cruises.
In the bush we enjoy two game drives each day. A game drive is a guided excursion in the bush aboard an open Land Cruiser in search of the most interesting wildlife sightings available.
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| A Sunset Cruise at Vic Falls |
At the end of the safari, we take you back to the Hoedspruit airport for your flight(s) back to the United States, or alternately, we encourage you to extend your stay to see more of Africa.
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| Our Exclusive Bush Camp |
Accommodations, ground transport, scheduled activities (like dinner cruises), parks fees, all breakfasts and a catered dinner at our Cape Town villa are included. Accommodations, ground transport, scheduled activities, parks fees, all meals and local beer and wines at bush camp(s) are included. All air transport, tips in all locations, meals taken away from our lodgings are NOT included.
For your planning purposes, the current cost of round trip coach flights from most places in the US to Cape Town is between $1000 and $1800 (not included). To insure the group travels together, we will make the flight arrangements from Cape Town to other locations in Africa for the group and invoice you separately. We estimate the cost of the internal flight from Cape Town to Hoedspruit be between $300 and $400. For the Academy Safaris going to Victoria Falls, we estimate the cost of your flights from Cape Town to Victoria Falls, back to Johannesburg and on to Hoedspruit to be $700. Additional guidance on the specific airline reservations you must personally make; a more detailed itinerary and suggested equipment list will follow.
A deposit of half of the cost per person is required at the time of reservation. The second half of the cost, plus the cost of the internal flights we will make for you, is payable 60 days before the safari begins. We request payments by bank transfer or personal check to Pete Grimm at 4111 East Madison St., Ste 69, Seattle, WA 98112. We also strongly suggest trip insurance because your payment is non-refundable if you cancel and your place is unable to be filled.
A deposit of half of the cost per person is required at the time of reservation. The second half of the cost, plus the cost of the internal flights we will make for you, is payable 60 days before the safari begins. We request payments by bank transfer or personal check to Pete Grimm at 4111 East Madison St., Ste 69, Seattle, WA 98112. We also strongly suggest trip insurance because your payment is non-refundable if you cancel and your place is unable to be filled.
Camilla and I have traveled extensively in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana and managed our daughter's wildlife sanctuary, Lapolosa Wilderness, for two years. During this time we hosted numerous trips by Lapolosa Wilderness volunteers and other visitors to Kruger National Park and Big 5 reserves. Seven years ago we began hosting safaris for Academy grads, their friends and families. To date we have enjoyed safaris with members of classes from 1963 through 1980 and some of their friends and family.
Our last safari was in late October 2021 with a group of couples from the classes of 1978 and 1979. It was wonderful. The weather in Cape Town cooperated, and elephant, lions, rhino, leopards and other wildlife appeared as if on cue. Maybe the wildlife had missed seeing safari goers as much as we missed them.
Click on this Testimonials link to read some of the wonderful things participants have to say about their experience. Call or email any questions you may have right away to 206-617-6487 or petegrimm3@gmail.com. For further information visit our website by clicking here.
Let's go to Africa together!
Pete and Camilla Grimm
USMA 1969
Click on this link to go to our FAQs page. You will find many questions answered there and probably raise some of your own.
Academy Safaris reserves the right to cancel or reschedule safaris that are not full. In this eventuality deposits are completely refundable or may be applied to rescheduled dates.
*Other than being a service provided by and for Academy graduates, and its many happy USMA grad couples/guests, Academy Safaris is not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Military Academy.
