96 TRAVEL+LEISURE | SEPTEMBER 2019
childhood in Zimbabwe, and
speaks Swahili. She ran safari
camps in Kenya before
transitioning to the travel
advisor role; now, she
specializes in multicountry
trips across the continent
with eco-minded activities,
resident guides, and stays at
luxurious lodges and resorts.
Additional specialties:
Morocco, adventure travel,
honeymoons, and family
travel; minimum daily spend:
$750 per person; 888-870-
0903; maryann@betty
maclean travel.com.
Elizabeth Gordon
Born in Kenya and raised in
Nairobi and Paris, Gordon
creates itineraries with
cultural, conservation, or
wildlife-centered themes.
She can arrange experiences
such as a multiday hike
with members of the Masai
community that includes
visits to private homes, or
a trip to the Reteti Elephant
Sanctuary in Kenya.
Additional specialty: South
America; minimum daily
spend: $750 per person;
212-226-7331; elizabeth@
ejafrica.com.
Julian Harrison
The South Africa native,
fluent in Afrikaans and Zulu,
can arrange sustainability-
focused multi-park, multi-
country trips throughout the
continent—from chartered
flights and wildlife tracking
at ultra-luxury lodges to
walking, canoeing, or
mountain-biking safaris.
Additional specialty: Indian
Ocean islands; minimum
daily spend: $500 per
person; 800-545-1910;
julianh@premier tours.com.
Michael Lorentz
Because he worked as a
guide for 33 years, Lorentz
can design layered experi-
ences for all kinds of safari-
goers. For off-the-beaten-
path trips, Lorentz has
knowledge of lesser-traveled
destinations like Chad and
Ethiopia’s remote Omo River
Valley. Additional specialties:
family safaris and conserva-
tion travel; minimum daily
spend: $1,000; 27-21-
447-0053; ml@passage
toafrica.com.Mark Nolting
During his more than 30 years
at Africa Adventure Company,
Nolting has forged long-lasting
relationships. He can plan
multigenerational trips—he
frequently visits the continent
with his sons—as well as
more adventurous options,
like gorilla trekking, canoeing,
and photographic safaris.
Additional specialties:
Ethiopia, Morocco, and
Egypt; minimum daily spend:
$800 per person; 800-882-
9453; safari@african
adventure.com.Leora Rothschild
The South Africa native
founded Rothschild Safaris
in 1998. To connect her guests
to people and cultures—not
just animals—during safaris,
she might plan backstage
access to a local band’s
sound check or a hands-on
lesson with a Cape Town
graffiti artist. Other
specialties: multigenerational
travel, family travel, Australia,
and New Zealand; minimum
daily spend: none; 800-405-
9463; leora@rothschild safaris.
com.Teresa Sullivan
A cofounder of Mango Safaris,
Sullivan jets off to Africa each
year. Her team spends
two months all told vetting
new properties, like Namibia’s
Hoanib Valley Camp, and can
plan helicopter trips around
rain forests and treks to
glimpse mountain gorillas.
Minimum daily spend: $500
per person; 503-282-9009;
teresa@mango safari.com.T+L TravelAdvisory BoardTravel + Leisure’s TAB is a select group
of owners and operators of the
country’s most important agencies,
representing a range of industry
leaders, from expert trip planners to
successful business owners. Even if
they don’t plan trips themselves, they
can refer you to the best associate for
your needs.Marcus Barlow
Barlow, a 30-year American Express veteran,
now serves as the vice president of global
servicing for American Express Travel &
Lifestyle Services. He oversees more than
1,500 counselors across North America
who provide bespoke concierge services
and help card members get the most out
of their rewards points. 602-537-4245;
[email protected].Shelby Donley
Donley is the owner and president of
Camelback Odyssey Travel. She specializes
in luxury travel across land, sea, and air.
Donley has scoped out adventure-packed
destinations on every continent but
Antarctica and can book private yachts for
fishermen in the Seychelles and barge cruises
across Europe. Specialty: fly-fishing and
adventure travel; 602-266-4000; shelbyd@
camelback travel.com.Jack Ezon
Last year, Ezon launched Embark, a luxury
travel agency with a focus on millennial and
Generation X clients. He sits on the advisory
boards of numerous hospitality companies,
including Aman, Belmond, and Ritz-Carlton.
Ezon has the world’s top general managers
and best guides on speed dial. Specialties:
destination celebrations, honeymoons, and
multigenerational travel; 212-651-3750;
jezon@embark beyond.com.Barkley Hickox
Hickox, a partner at Local Foreigner, is
celebrated for her destination knowledge and
flawless execution of complicated travel
logistics. She oversees all planning, whether