Craig Beal
Travel Beyond, Wayzata, Minn.
Phone: 800-876-3131
Email: craigb@travelbeyond.com
A former nuclear engineer and submarine officer, Beal knows how to pay close attention to detail. His South African–born mother founded Travel Beyond, taking him on his first safari at age four. He’s adept at navigating the complicated logistics of getting clients to and from remote safari destinations, and he briefs them beforehand on any backup plans. When he isn’t in Africa—staying at new lodges and meeting top guides—he’s talking about it at conferences as a cofounder of Safari Pros or in online forums such as TripAdvisor and FlyerTalk.
New Favorite: Zimbabwe’s game-rich Hwange National Park finally has a top-tier lodge: the nine-tent Linkwasha Camp. Located on a private concession in the park, off-road game drives are private and away from the crowds. The reserve is also one of the most diverse in Africa, with an ecosystem that transitions from the Kalahari Desert to the woodlands of northern Zimbabwe.
Specialties: Southern Africa, Rwanda and Kenya