This year marks the bicentennial of David Livingstone's birth, and several safari outfitters are offering tours in honor of the Scottish explorer's life.
As one of the first Westerners to traverse sub-Saharan Africa, Livingstone is most famous for discovering Victoria Falls, which he named for the British monarch at the time, and as the subject of the famous quote, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" from Welsh explorer Henry Morton Stanley in 1871.
Here are some ways your clients can relive some of Livingstone's journeys:
• Robin Pope Safaris is offering In the Footsteps of David Livingstone, a package that traces the explorers' journeys in Malawi, through 2014. Two of Livingstone's major explorations involved Malawi, where he discovered Lake Malawi. The tour includes a drive through Blantyre, namesake of Livingstone's birthplace in Scotland and the river that led him into Malawi. The package includes stays at Mkulumadzi in the Majete Wildlife Reserve; Mvuu Lodge in Liwonde National Park; and the Robin Pope resort of Pumulani on Lake Malawi. Rates start at $3,802 per person. Visit www.robinpopesafaris.net.
• Norman Carr Safaris is offering a 14-night In Livingstone's Footsteps trip to Victoria Falls, the South Luangwa Valley, the Lower Zambezi, all in Zambia, and Lake Malawi. The company says, "Guests will retrace some of [Livingstone's] historic and scientific explorations of these countries' river systems and behold Victoria Falls as he beheld it, when he famously said, 'Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.'" Rates start at $9,470 per person and are all-inclusive. Visit www.normancarrsafaris.com.
• Jacada Travel introduced two itineraries visiting places in Tanzania and Zambia that Livingstone uncovered, including Victoria Falls, the Great Rift Valley, the Mahale Mountains and Lake Tanganyika. The 12-day Great Livingstone Explorer from $16,108 per person starts with a northern Tanzania safari, then visits the Mahale Mountains and their chimpanzees. From there, guests helicopter to Victoria Falls. On the 12-day A Zambian Adventure in the Footsteps of Dr. Livingstone, from $6,216 per person, Jacada supplies experts on his travels on a trip to Livingstone's memorial, the South Luangwa national park, the Lower Zambezi and Victoria Falls. See www.jacadatravel.com.
• Tongabezi Lodge, upstream of Victoria Falls, is celebrating the bicentennial with a Livingstone Immersion Package of add-ons for all new 2013 bookings: Add-ons include lunch for two on Livingstone Island; a visit to the Livingstone Memorial Plaque or the David Livingstone Museum, the largest and oldest museum in Zambia, to see memorabilia such as his letters, clothing and journals; and a tour of the city of Livingstone. See www.tongabezi.com.
Follow Johanna Jainchill on Twitter @jjainchilltw.