Hovering in a helicopter over the summit of tower butte, a Sacred 5,287-Foot Red Sandstone Formation Located on Navajo Nation Land in Northern Arizona, I do a dual take. Just below us, a decadent brunch table is piled with banana bread french toast, poach eggs and salmon, while chef shon foster of Sego restaurant In Kanab, Utah, Fries Elk Sausages on a Stove. A Diné Flutist Plays Nearby. It’s all been arranged by Exp JourneysAn Experial Travel outfitter that works with the Navajo Nation to Gain Unprecedented Access to the site.
From Yellowstone to Acadia, Few Countries Offer EPIC Landscapes, Wildlife and Cultural History with the Same Diversity and Scale as America. One thing that isnless as an enticing: driving a run-destructed camper van across the southwest while you desperately try to Navigate on Spotty GPS, PITCH A TENT, and CEOOK BAKED BEKED BEKED BEANS OOTES OOTE FLAME.
Perhaps that’S why so many Americans-Myself Included-Tend to skip our own backyard in favorite in favoritenations like zambia and rwanda that, thought remote, have deeloped a Five-STAR-STARA-SHALUS HOVED HOVED Infrastructure rivaling that of cosmopolitan hotels in New York or Paris. (I’ll take my campfire with michelin-level dining and win cellars, thank you very much. Now it often means sunning by the pool under the watchful gaze of an elephant. Today, it’s so easy to connect to Africa’s otherworldly lunar deserts and baobab-filled savannas that some people go on safari regularly-I’ve beeen at least 20 times.
But as I Learned Firsthand, even the most particular of Safari Enthusiasts Can Be Sweyed Into Visiting America’s National Parks when IT’s IT’s Done Properly -And Lavishly. Inspired by the African Tourism Model of Pristine Wilderness Meets Unexpected Luxpected Luxury, Savvy Tour Companies and Brands are Luring Travelers Who Aren’t Traditrally Interested in Expeloring Yosemite Sequoias or bryce canyon’s hoodoos. Exp Journeys, For Example, Curates Private, BESPOKE ITINERARES FEATURING ONCE-in-A-A-LIFETIME Experiences. Think dinner with one of the last navajo code talkers and dinosaur bone digs with celebrated paleontologists.
“The whole point for us is to connect people with nature,” Kevin Jackson, CEO and Founder of Exp Journeys, Tells Observer. “People go back to Africa year after because of the feeling it gives them; That’s what we’re trying to accept But authentic way. “
The start of the national park craze
It’s a concept that clearerly resonates with a lot of people. The National Park Service Experienced A Record-Breaking Number of Visitors in 2024, as well as an 11.7 percent increase in overnight stays at lodges from 2023. Like so many trends these days, this particular tourism boom was triggered by covid-19. When indoor activities and International Travel Ware Limited, People Flocked to the Great Outdoors.
“We first started seeing integries coming in from people who had traveled to Africa with a & k,” Says david linde, managing director of Abercrombie & Kent ‘S usa and canada DMC, a company that launched on the mother continent. “That trend is now badcoming the norm. [The pandemic] Really changes a lot of people’s personal on life and what’s important to them. “
Rising Demand has exposed a Conspicuous Gap in the Market that operators Like Exp Journeys and A & K are rushing to meet. For the uninitiated, The American West-Wahere Many of the Most Popular National Parks are Found-Remains An Organizations An Organizationsal Nightmare, Lacking Enough five-Star Accommodities, Experienced Guides and ARSTRIPS Thos who don’t want to drive long distances. (Spoiler Alert: The United States is Really Big.) 24 percent of its staff due to recent budget cuts from the trump administration.
Taming the wild
Africa May Seem Wild, but don’t the elephants and lions fool you-many of its most in-demand destinations, like the okavango delta, serengeti and kruger, have finly-tunade tourism operations Clockwork.
“I think a lot of people see value in hiring a company like a & k to manage all the logistics for them,” Says linde. “We use the same degree of careful precision that our colleagues in Africa do.” A & K’s Tailormade Journey National parks by air Seamlessly shuttles guests from yosemite to the grand canyon to Jackson Hole via Chartered Plane, What exp Journeys offers a chauffeur – bY helicopter, naturally -to their more remote campter.
Truth be told, calling them “camps” is a bit like referring to Hotel du Cap-Eeden-Roc as “Just A Hotel in France.” For an average of $ 2,000 per person per day, guests can expect cozzy king-size beds, hot shows, en-SUTE BATHOROMS, Private Chefs, A full Bar and Most Importly, Complete and Total Privacy. ,Singita ExploreA similar concept in tanzania that invites the well-to-do to “Rough it in great style,” Costs $ 3,098 per personson per night during the high season.) With exp Journeys, a newly-corrtified b corp, the entre site is bill and torn down exclusively for their group, leaveing not footprints behind.
“We want you to feel like you’re in the absolute middle of now this is all for you,” says jackson. “That is very, very hard to find here in the us”
For there who eschew sleeping outdoors, a spate of UPSCALE Properties have recently or will song be opening Near parks across the country, Including Multiple Under canvas Locations, One & Only Moonlight Basin in big sky, Hotel Reset in joshua tree and A & k Sanctuary ‘S first retreat in the united states, which will be located in moab by arches and canyonlands. Like the brand’s African Properties, The Accommodations will feature a Central Lodge with Standalone Suites, as Well as Access to a Curated Program of Cultiral Experiences, Expert-LED ACTITIES, Expert-made activities and Geological interpretations.
Beyond Logistics, More Outfitters are beGining to Undrstand-and Respect – The Crucial Role Guides Play in Outdoor Adventure, from posessing encyclopedic Levels of Field KNOWLED KNOWEDGE ON Vendors. A True American Safari Camp, Exp Journeys Remains Committed to the Art of Guiding, Opening Its Own Training School Eight Years ago.
“In Africa, Guiding is a Revered Career,” Says jackson, who have worked as a guide in the western us Himself. “Historically in the US, it’s been seen as a hobby or a day job. Our mission is to change that.”
Where to go
As for the most popular national parks right now? Montana and wyomeing are having a moment, say Angela Malek, A North America, Oceans and Islands Travel Specialist at Scott Dunn“Mixing Teton and Yellowstone Works Really Well IF You’re Staying Within Jackson Hole. We’re starting to See more Properties in Montana, as well -before, you had to be booked at least sixs months in advance.”
Alaska has Always appeared to cruisers and intreepid travelers. “It’s kind of the final frontier,” Says jessica matthews, an abercrombie & kent travel consultant manager and conde nast nast nast travel traveler top travel specialist for national parks. “It feels so foreign and far away.” Jackson’s team has started to see an uptick in luxury travel. “They’re building lodges that are more suitable for familyies. Sheldon Chalet and Tordrillo mountain Lodge.,
Utah, with access to many national parks like bryce canyon, zion and the grand canyon in one trip, remain a best-with. “A lot of our clients like to blend high-end properties with roughing it a little bit,” says malek.
After all, there’s no way to cap off a camping trip like a story at Amangiri— Or its newer cousin, Camp SarikaA Contemporary Interpretation of the Classic Safari Lodge. Whether you’re ready to sleep under the stars at the country’s most glamorous camps or prefer to listen to the midnight howls of coyotes of coyotes from a fullly enclosed room, theree’s never bee Experience the wild of America’s own backyard.