Around the Next Corner & Other Tales

Mary Ellen Chown

Air Desk 
Team member since 2018

What’s your hometown?
Melancthon, which is in Ontario, Canada

What’s your favorite thing about working at Mango?
My amazingly talented team

Why do you love to travel?
Because I love to learn and explore cultures and food

What’s your favorite destination in Africa and why?
Botswana because it's untouched and very remote so you feel truly immersed in the African experience

What’s your favorite destination outside of Africa and why?
Britain because I love the history of the country

What’s your dream trip for 2020?
Zambia walking safari

What’s the best thing you ever ate while traveling?
Lamb Curry

What’s the most memorable wildlife sighting in Africa?
Elephant at Kings Pool who came charging out of the bushes behind our vehicle

What’s the most unique souvenir you’ve ever brought home from a trip?
Rain sticks from Africa

What 5 things are always in your carry-on bag?
Sweater, toothbrush, camera, medications and sandals

What’s the foreign currency you have the most of floating around at home?
US dollar

What’s your top travel tip?
Be early so that you allow for extra time

What’s your favorite animal?
Leopard

What do you love to do outside of travel?
Garden

What’s your go-to drink for sundowners?
Tonic & Lime

What’s your favorite movie or book?
Life & Death in Shanghai is the best book ever

What’s your favorite food?
Pizza

What pets do you have?
2 dogs, 2 cats

What’s your perfect summer day?
Full day spent gardening

What’s your guilty pleasure movie?
Up

Gomoti Plains Camp

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Who it’s best for

Wildlife lovers, birdwatchers, photographers, families, multigenerational families, experiential travelers

Activities

Game drives, walking safaris, mokoro rides & boat safaris

Why we love it

Prime access…without the price tag
Found in the famed Okavango Delta, Gomoti Plains Camp is a superb camp that packs in phenomenal value for travelers. The private concession where Gomoti Plains sits is situated right next to several highly desirable concessions home to a handful of luxurious camps that are more expensive. Staying at Gomoti gives you access to this prime location without paying the rates for flashier camps. Instead, all of your money goes toward the safari experience and none of the distractions.

Located in the southern reaches of the Okavango Delta, this area is where the watery maze of canals and lagoons gives way to the northern edge of the Kalahari Desert to create an ecotone (region where two habitats overlap) absolutely bursting with wildlife. Permanent water from the Gomoti River means the camp reliably delivers a well-rounded delta experience throughout the year.

Life in camp
Strung along a picturesque stretch of the Gomoti River, beautiful views permeate every corner of the camp. Whether you are sipping around the morning campfire or reading a great book in your tent, you will be immersed into the setting with every moment. Founded by a former guide, the camp excels operationally so your stay will be effortless and relaxed. You’ll have all the creature comforts you need without any extra frills that add up – fresh, delicious meals, cold drinks, warm hospitality, and an emphasis on excellent guiding.

Explore
Forests of towering leadwood and ebony trees typical of the northern delta blend with the palm trees of Botswana’s desert landscapes. Grassy plains, open pans and offshoots from the Gomoti River provide diverse habitat that supports a huge variety of wildlife ranging from predators to plains game. Thanks to this tapestry of habitats, the Gomoti Plains private concession offers extraordinary game viewing year-round.

Discover the camp’s surroundings on highly productive game drives and walking safaris that have phenomenal sightings of the concession’s wildlife. Track lions as they hunt in the early morning mist, watch for a flash of spots as a leopard slinks up a tree or spend an afternoon with a family of elephants as they splash in the shallows.

It wouldn’t be a visit to the Okavango Delta without exploring by water, and Gomoti Plains Camp provides an amazing water-based experience in addition to their dynamic land offerings. Drift along the river between sky-high papyrus reeds in a mokoro (traditional dug-out canoe) or motorboat. Listen to a chorus of birdsong as you float past animals grazing along the banks or watch as they cross right in front of you. This is a fabulous way to see and photograph water-dependent bird species.

A family favorite
Gomoti Plains is one of our favorite options for not just families but also multigenerational families with children of any age. In the main camp there are 2 two-bedroom family units, meaning 2 nuclear families can stay here with the grandparents in an adjacent tent. They also offer Gomoti Private, a small exclusive use camp nearby that is perfect for a family of up to six. As an added bonus, unlike most camps, they do not charge for use of a private vehicle, which helps make a family safari more affordable without losing any of the convenience. It’s this commitment to bringing the magic of the Okavango Delta to families that makes us love Gomoti Plains so much.

Commitment to conservation
Another reason the camp has found its way into Mango’s heart is its commitment to wildlife conservation. Over the years, they have played host to research teams for both wild dogs and Botswana’s ambitious rhino relocation efforts. This directly benefits and enriches the guest experience by creating strong populations of both highly endangered species. If the researchers are in camp while you are there, they are often very willing and eager to share their work with guests. Having a frontline view of boots-on-the-ground conservation is just one more reason why we love Gomoti Plains so much – this is what ecotourism is all about!

 

Visit Gomoti Plains Camp Yourself

Check out our Hidden Gems of Southern Africa itinerary, which pairs Gomoti Plains Camp with time on safari in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park and a stop at the iconic Victoria Falls. 

Why this itinerary is great...

• Wildlife intensive itinerary combining an impressive number of days in the bush with diverse activities
• What this itinerary gives up in luxury, it more than makes up for in authentic, high quality experiences that are excellent value
• Properties located in prime wildlife areas that include all the comforts you need and nothing extra
• Extend your trip with a visit to Cape Town for a splash of culture, fantastic restaurants and stunning coastal scenery

 

Kristie Noguchi

Bookkeeper
Team member since 2010

What’s your hometown? 
Portland, Oregon

What’s your favorite thing about working at Mango? 
The people I work with

Why do you love to travel? 
The experience of immersing yourself in new places and people

What’s your favorite destination in Africa and why? 
Botswana because of its fabulous array of animals

What’s your favorite destination outside of Africa and why?  
My favorite last-minute getaway for sun is Puerto Vallarta. It’s an easy, cheap fly ‘n flop destination with great food that takes little pre-planning.

What’s your dream trip for 2020? 
Galapagos to see the Blue-Footed Boobies dancing

What’s the best thing you ever ate while traveling? 
Same day catch-and-eat sashimi tuna

What’s the most memorable wildlife sighting in Africa? 
A pride of lions napping while the cubs played

What’s the most unique souvenir you’ve ever brought home from a trip? 
When I was a kid we mailed home a coconut as if it was a postcard

What 5 things are always in your carry-on bag? 
Neutrogena sunscreen stick, sea-bands, book, sunglasses, chewable Pepto

What’s the foreign currency you have the most of floating around at home?
Pesos

What’s your top travel tip? 
Go with few pre-conceived notions, and you’ll have less anxiety when you get there

What’s your favorite animal? 
One day I’d love to see a Pangolin!

What do you love to do outside of travel?
When I have the time, I love to read

What’s your go-to drink for sundowners? 
Vodka/tonic

What’s your favorite movie or book? 
Currently “The Farewell”

What’s your favorite food? 
Dolsot bibimbap, which is a tasty Korean rice dish

What pets do you have? 
2 mutt dogs

What’s your perfect summer day?
83° degrees, on or next to a body of water with a margarita and a stack of trashy magazine

What’s your guilty pleasure movie? 
The Princess Bride

Even though this Earth Day is the 50th anniversary, we can't celebrate in our usual favorite ways. Trails and national parks are closed, beaches are off limits are campgrounds sit empty. Though we may not be out and about, enjoying the glories of nature firsthand, there's still plenty of ways to enjoy a slower paced Earth Day at home. Whether you're lucky enough to have a backyard or live in an urban apartment, here is our list of suggestions to celebrate Mother Earth from the safety of your own home. Don't worry, she'll be waiting for us once all of this over! 

 

1.  Plant a pollinator friendly garden with wildflowers native to your region.

2.  Opt for local, in season produce.

3.  Buy organic whenever possible. Not only does this support the reduction of pesticides and fossil-fuel based fertilizers, but it also produces healthier foods as organic crops are higher in phytonutrients thanks to relying on their natural defense systems against insects.

4.  Enjoy some screen-free entertainment with books, board games, a backyard picnic or play time outside.

5.  Start your own vegetable garden. No yard space? Try a herb garden in your kitchen or balcony. 

6.  Use this time to finally round out your collection of reusable items, including grocery totes, water bottles, travel mugs, cloth napkins, reusable ziploc bags, mesh produce bags, beeswax wrap and countless others.

7.  Read books that celebrate the Earth with your kids. We love this list of teacher-selected books that cover everything from gardening to birds. 

8.  Donate to your favorite local or international conservation organization. To support African wildlife, we love the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Fallen Rangers Fund (mountain gorillas), Rhino Conservation Botswana and African Parks Network. 

9.  Start your own compost to help reuse organic kitchen scraps.

10.  Switch traditional lightbulbs for new energy efficient ones.

11.  Try out delicious new recipes for Meatless Mondays as a way to cut back on meat consumption.

12.  Go birdwatching in your backyard - see how many species you can spot!

13.  Opt for a Rainforest Alliance certified coffee to ensure sustainable practices and fair wages went into your morning cup.

14.  Opt for brands that use organic cotton and natural dyes in clothing to reduce the use of harsh chemicals both in producing and processing the cotton.

15.  Refresh your beauty and hygiene routine with Earth friendly products.

​16.  Use this down time to unsubscribe yourself from junk mail to help reduce unnecessary paper waste.

17. Run a BioBlitz for your kids (or yourself!) A BioBlitz is when you try and find as many different species of plants and animals in 24 horus within a given space. This is often used by scientists looking to engage the public with conservation, while also collecting valuable information about a region's ecological welfare. Try hosting your own version with your kids in your backyard. You can even coordinate with neighbors by sharing photos and lists of what you found.

Whitney Meyers

Office Manager & Do'er of all things that no one else wants to do
Team member since 2016

What’s your hometown?
Plainfield, IN
What’s your favorite thing about working at Mango?
I love that Mango is a small business. We actually invest in what we care about (conservation and getting folks to Africa), and we’re a tight knit crew.
Why do you love to travel?
My background is in Anthropology, so I love learning about people different from myself and my experiences. Traveling is an opportunity to learn more about the world and expand my world view.

What’s your favorite destination in Africa and why?
I loved my time meeting the habituated chimpanzees at Greystoke Mahale in Tanzania
What’s your favorite destination outside of Africa and why?
I’m fascinated by the Near East and I can’t wait to visit .
What’s your dream trip for 2020?
Visiting the remote wilderness of Ethiopia
What’s the best thing you ever ate while traveling?
Fresh baked chicken right from the oven of a stall in the Fez riad.

What’s the most memorable wildlife sighting in Africa?
Really anything with cats, but the first time I saw cheetahs in Kruger National Park, South Africa. 
What’s the most unique souvenir you’ve ever brought home from a trip?
I am the owner of a very ornate rug from Fez.
What 5 things are always in your carry-on bag?
Motion sickness pills, ginger tea, baby wipes, extra set of clothes, and snacks
What’s the foreign currency you have the most of floating around at home?
I currently have a bunch of Moroccan dirham
What’s your top travel tip?
Always pack an extra set of clothes (and deodorant) in your carry on.
What’s your favorite animal?
Leopard!

What do you love to do outside of travel?
I spend a significant amount of time playing roller derby. I sometimes call it my other job.
What’s your go-to drink for sundowners?
A local soda
What’s your favorite movie or book?
Elizabethtown
What’s your favorite food?
Anything that is cooked in the house kitchen, upstairs from the Mango office. Getting overwhelmed by the smell of fresh Mexican food during work is an A+ experience.
What pets do you have?
2 goofy cats (Thomas & Paige) and a bunch of plants inside and outside

What’s your perfect summer day?
Starting the day gardening, lunch on the catio, antiquing in the afternoon, and ending the day drinking beverages on a bar patio
What’s your guilty pleasure movie?
Any Christmas romance movie (like Holiday in the Wild, hahahaha)

 

 

Kelsea Lee

Africa Expert, Conservation Outreach Manager & Marketing
Team member since 2012

What’s your hometown?
Eugene, Oregon

What’s your favorite thing about working at Mango?
Getting to travel and explore new destinations, of course! But also, the fun and energetic work environment

Why do you love to travel?
The world is far too extraordinary to stay in one place! There are so many cultures to experience, places to see, foods to try, trails to hike and cities to explore.

What’s your favorite destination in Africa and why?
I love Madagascar because it’s truly like nowhere else on Earth. It feels like a hidden world forgotten by time, where nature retreated to do her most creative experimentation in form and function. Over 90% of the plants and animals are found nowhere else. The landscapes and marine ecosystems are equally incredible too, so you’ll never run out of amazing things to see.

What’s your favorite destination outside of Africa and why?
Antarctica is one of the most special places I’ve ever been to. Words can’t do the landscapes justice and seeing thousands of penguins parading along at once is possibly one of the most charming wildlife experiences you can have. Seeing all of the whales and dolphins amid the icebergs is very memorable too. If you ever get a chance to go, I strongly recommend taking the icy plunge and going scuba diving. Hearing the humpbacks singing and the giant icebergs creaking and cracking is amazing!

What’s your dream trip for 2020?
I would love to go to Japan for the Olympics then eat my way through the rest of the country afterward. Bring on all the sushi, tempura, udon and gyoza! Or I would love to explore the landscapes of the Central Asian Steppe – Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

What’s the best thing you ever ate while traveling?
Greek salad in Oia with homemade feta and olive oil, and peak season vegetables picked right from the garden, still warm from the sun

What’s your most memorable wildlife sighting in Africa?
We were sitting down for dinner under the stars in South Luangwa, Zambia when all of a sudden, we heard a resident female and young male lion mating behind the tent immediately next to the dining area. That was memorable enough, but then the dominant male caught wind of what was happening and came in to fight the younger male and chase him off. All of this was unfolding about 50 feet away from us while our guide had us crouching down behind the table!

What’s the most unique souvenir you’ve ever brought home from a trip?
Paintbrushes with parrot feathers instead of bristles from the Venezuelan rainforest

What 5 things are always in your carry-on bag?
Lip balm, unscented hand lotion, wet wipes, phone charger and headphones.

What’s the foreign currency you have the most of floating around at home?
Madagascan ariary and Venezuelan bolívares

What’s your top travel tip?
Always bring a full change of clothes and some extra underwear with you in your carry-on! You never know when delays or lost baggage will occur.

What’s your favorite animal?
Bumblebees! I did a fair bit of research on pollinators and gained the nickname ‘Crazy Bee Lady’ amongst my friends.

What do you love to do outside of travel?
I love cooking new recipes, perusing farmers markets, going for trail runs, going to Portland Timbers games and doing pub trivia or board game nights with my friends.

What’s your go-to drink for sundowners?
Either a good local beer or a gin and tonic with extra lime

What’s your favorite movie or book?
I love anything written by Barbara Kingsolver.

What’s your favorite food?
Chicken pho with all the fresh herbs and lime – delicious in every season!

What pets do you have?
I have a lot of high maintenance houseplants…do those count?

What’s your perfect summer day?
Early morning trail run in Forest Park followed by stocking up at the farmers market with all of the seasonal produce. Spend the afternoon at the river with friends, then all head home for a big evening of grilling and enjoying all those farmers market goodies. End the night with a backyard campfire, s’mores and drinks. 

What’s your guilty pleasure movie?
I’m a sucker for the 80s rom coms. I love Sleepless in Seattle and Dirty Dancing.

 

 

 

Suzanne Spencer

Mango Safaris - Africa Expert
Team member since 2017

What’s your hometown? 
Boulder, CO

What’s your favorite thing about working at Mango? 
Talking to people about travel to Africa

Why do you love to travel?
Opens my mind and expands my way of thinking.

What’s your favorite destination in Africa and why? 
DRC or Rwanda.  I love observing the gorillas.

What’s your favorite destination outside of Africa and why?
Too many to list – I haven’t been somewhere that I didn’t love. Well, I am not too keen on humid jungle settings.

What’s your dream trip for 2020?
Sudan and Chad

What’s the best thing you ever ate while traveling?
Can’t think of one meal but 6 weeks in Cape Town was a dream come true with the incredible restaurants to choose from.

What’s the most memorable wildlife sighting in Africa?
I love watching baby elephants especially when they are just learning to use their trunk.

What’s the most unique souvenir you’ve ever brought home from a trip? 
Not unique, but I try to bring home local fabric.  I also have a serious mask collection that line my office walls.

What 5 things are always in your carry-on bag? 
Book, water, headphones, pen and paper

What’s the foreign currency you have the most of floating around at home? 
I have boxes of foreign currency from all the change I forget to take out of my pockets before going home.

What’s your top travel tip? 
Go into your trip with an open mind as it is often the small experiences that have the biggest impact.

What’s your favorite animal?
If African wildlife 1) Gorillas 2) wild dogs 3) elephants otherwise I love dogs.

What do you love to do outside of travel?
Ski, run, hike, tennis, sewing, reading, spend time with husband, family, dog and pals.

What’s your go-to drink for sundowners?
Cold beer

What’s your favorite movie or book? 
Too many books to list.  I just re-read the City of Thieves and a Gentleman in Moscow.  Both are excellent.

What’s your favorite food?
Anything with Asian spices and noodles

What pets do you have?
One incredible dog – Luna Belle

What’s your perfect summer day?
Going for a long hike

What’s your guilty pleasure movie?
I love animated movies like Madagascar or Kung Fu Panda

 

 

BRIAN HUGGINS

Mango Safaris - Africa Expert & Token Guy in the Office
Team member since 2006

What’s your hometown?
Hillsboro, OR

What’s your favorite thing about working at Mango?
Helping folks realize their travel dreams and working with the Mango team to create these amazing experiences.

Why do you love to travel?
I am open to all experiences. I love to learn about and interact with other cultures, see the natural facets of a destination, take it all in.

What’s your favorite destination in Africa and why?
Greystoke Camp for the very special chimpanzee trekking you can do there. I have never felt more up close with nature.

What’s your favorite destination outside of Africa and why?
SE Asia, all over. For the people, culture, cruise, weather, diving and much more.

What’s your dream trip for 2020?
Antarctica/Galapagos.

What’s the best thing you ever ate while traveling?
Many small street food items in places like Chiang Rai, Luang Prabang, Mui Ne, Hat Yai, Geroge Town, etc.

What’s the most memorable wildlife sighting in Africa?
Hard to narrow to one. I’ll go for the time we saw a large lion pride hunt, capture and eat two buffalos while on the Selinda Reserve in Botswana.

What’s the most unique souvenir you’ve ever brought home from a trip?
I tend to look for small little things that catch my eye or have a meaning so I have things like a small sculpture, or carved bowl, even a cheesy small key chain or other little items that can spark memories of adventures passed.

What 5 things are always in your carry-on bag?
Phone, book, glasses, headphones, sleeping pills.

What’s the foreign currency you have the most of floating around at home?
Probably Vietnamese Dong. But in African currencies, for sure ZAR.

What’s your top travel tip?
Try to keep an open mind.

What’s your favorite animal?
Elephant

What do you love to do outside of travel?
Friends, family, movies, reading, eating at fun spots.

What’s your go-to drink for sundowners?
Used to be a G&T or two, but these days I go for sparkling water.

What’s your favorite movie or book?
To many to choose from, so let’s just say The Alchemist for book and The Reservoir Dogs for movie.

What’s your favorite food?
My absolute favorites are very simple…eggs over medium on top of steamed rice with chili sauce and scallions.

What pets do you have?
The office cats love me for some reason, but sadly I have allergies so have zero pets at home.

What’s your perfect summer day?
A nice hike along the Willamette, breakfast with some friends, farmer’s market stop, back nine at Heron Lakes Blue, cook out under the stars.

What’s your guilty pleasure movie?
Pitch Perfect.

 

 

TERESA SULLIVAN

Mango Safaris Co-Founder
Team member since 1999

1. What’s your hometown?
Portland, OR

2. What’s your favorite thing about working at Mango?
It is incredibly rewarding to help our family of customers create life changing journeys to Africa.

3. Why do you love to travel?
I enjoy experiencing all of the beauty and power of mother nature on our Goldilocks planet. Also, I believe that I am a citizen of the earth and that we have much to learn and share with each other.  
To quote Mark Twain
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."

4. What’s your favorite destination in Africa and why?
Okavango Delta – you cannot feel the presence of man or the year. you have truly fallen into nature.

5. What’s your favorite destination outside of Africa and why?
Indonesia - snorkeling remote islands by sailboat is wild!

6. What’s your dream trip for 2020?
K-Pop concert in Seoul with my daughters

7. What’s the best thing you ever ate while traveling?
Chocolate mousse frozen hard on the outside from liquid nitrogen

8. What’s the most memorable wildlife sighting in Africa?
While drinking coffee, we watched 3 wild dogs chase an impala into the river in front of us. The wild dogs had their breakfast caught but were foiled when a giant crocodile came out of the water and stole the impala for himself.

9. What’s the most unique souvenir you’ve ever brought home from a trip?
I have a long list here…
A carved threshold of a Zanzibari door
3 carved walking men
A large scrap metal bird

10. What 5 things are always in your carry-on bag?
Cozy scarf, eye mask, lip balm, great moisturizer, hopefully a great page turner

11. What’s the foreign currency you have the most of floating around at home?
South African Rand

12. What’s your top travel tip?
Get a good manicure and pedicure before you travel. No dishes on vacation!

13. What’s your favorite animal?
Elephant

14. What do you love to do outside of travel?
I love spending time with family. I have two girls ages 9 and 12. And I am obsessed with the game of tennis and spending time in my garden.

15. What’s your go-to drink for sundowners?
Sparkling water

16. What’s your favorite movie or book?
Cutting for Stone or Lincoln in the Bardo

17. What’s your favorite food?
Tuna poke

18. What pets do you have?
2 cats and 2 office millennials

19. What’s your perfect summer day?
Sleep in, drink coffee, work in the garden and play tennis

20. What’s your guilty pleasure movie?
Indiana Jones

 

 

CASEY HERMANSEN

Mango Safaris Co-Founder
Team member since 1999

1. What’s your hometown?
Denver, Colorado

2. What’s your favorite thing about working at Mango?
Creating amazing travel experiences for people in a very special place.

3. Why do you love to travel?
Seeing the world, meeting people of different cultures and gaining empathy.  I love exploring the world with my daughter and husband.

4. What’s your favorite destination in Africa and why?
Kenya – for the family safari industry, Mozambique for the vibe, Botswana for nature at its best, the Seychelles for the most beautiful beaches.

5. What’s your favorite destination outside of Africa and why?
Probably Italy – love the people, the language, the food and the lifestyle of making the most of each day.

 

6. What’s your dream trip for 2020? 
I’m taking my greater multi-generational family of 12 on safari in Kenya and Tanzania – it is a lifelong dream of mine to have us all there with the kids, having fun together.

7. What’s the best thing you ever ate while traveling? 
Mangos in season in Mozambique, Rambutans in season in Indonesia.

8. What’s the most memorable wildlife sighting in Africa?
Watching cheetahs compete for territory with my daughter.

9. What’s the most unique souvenir you’ve ever brought home from a trip?
A one piece ski suit from Hong Kong or the metal and driftwood bird I brought home from Zimbabwe.

10. What 5 things are always in your carry-on bag?
iPhone, reading glasses so I can take my contacts off on a long flight, gum, hand lotion and Dermatone lip stick.

 

11. What’s the foreign currency you have the most of floating around at home?
Pesos

12. What’s your top travel tip?
Use a specialist to help you book your trip.  You get the same costing trip but so much more value – saving you time and having someone with intimate knowledge make recommendations for that area.

13. What’s your favorite animal?
Elephants

14. What do you love to do outside of travel? 
Ski, cook, see live music, tennis, eat at great restaurants

15. What’s your go-to drink for sundowners? 
A Pimms cup

16. What’s your favorite movie or book?
The Far Pavilions, Celestine Prophecy and Shadow of the Sun

17. What’s your favorite food? 
It was cheese, now it is becoming bread.

18. What pets do you have?
A kitten named Dexter

19. What’s your perfect summer day? 
A float down the river with family and friends – being out in nature.

20. What’s your guilty pleasure movie? 
It's a TV show - Survivor