Jim Holden, President

ext 122 | e-mail: jimh@africantravelinc.com

Twitter: @JimHoldenAfrica

“Africa is on everyone’s bucket list; take advantage of African Travel’s singular focus on Africa, and USA location, to plan your ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to Africa.”

When you call award-winning African Travel, Inc., President Jim Holden answers the phone with his friendly African-accented, “Jambo!,” and you know that Jim is the real deal. Born in Lusaka, Zambia, he spent his childhood roaming the remote African terrain. A sequel to Out of Africa could easily be made about his pioneer family and his own personal childhood experiences.

Jim’s Grandfather first set foot in Africa in what is today Kenya. He arrived by ship from England in the early 1900s to prospect for diamonds on behalf of George Pauling, the millionaire British builder of the railways in Africa. Jim’s Grandfather didn’t find diamonds, but he took a long safari, traversing the length and breadth of Kenya, often in the company of other well-known personalities such as Blayney Percival, one of the first Game Wardens in Kenya, and Frederick Courtney Selous, the famous big game hunter who became a good friend of Theodore Roosevelt and took Teddy on safari.

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Anais Chavez, Senior Safari Specialist

ext 107 | e-mail: anaisc@africantravelinc.com

Anais Chavez has been in the travel industry all her professional life. While her travels have spanned the globe, her heart has been firmly planted in Africa. Her knowledge and tenacity provide the ability to meet all challenges. Anais never ceases to amaze with her will to accomplish what appears to others as “impossible”! She sets her own personal goals with none more important than creating a safari experience that captures the essence of Africa earning her bragging rights when her clients return. And all this she can do in Spanish too!

Beth Engelhart, Safari Specialist

ext 161 | e-mail: bethe@africantravelinc.com

Beth brings us over twenty-five years experience in the tourism industry, of which the past twenty was spent living and working in Southern Africa. Her inquiring, adventurous spirit led her into many of the game rich safari areas and tourist areas in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Her life in the bush, working in these three countries, has left her with extensive knowledge, experience and intimate insight in organizing custom safaris for her clients . Her effervescent nature gets the African adventure started from the first phone call!

Diane Bell, Senior Safari Specialist

ext 119 | e-mail: dianeb@africantravelinc.com

Diane has been with African Travel for 20 years! She just recently returned from Botswana, Zambia and South Africa. Her first trip ever to Africa was to Botswana back in 1980. A few years ago, Diane fulfilled a life-long dream to see the pyramids in Egypt and she now enjoys helping clients design unique itineraries that combine the antiquities of the Pharoahs with the wildlife of East Arica. With her many years of consulting experience, Diane is a great resource for planning FIT and group travel.

Hilda Tashjian, Senior Safari Specialist

ext 155 | e-mail: hildat@africantravelinc.com

Marking her 16th anniversary with the company, Hilda loves creating family safaris almost as much as she loves being a mother. Groups are Hilda’s specialty and she is skilled at custom-designing programs incorporating themes such as ‘cuisine’, ‘wine’, ‘culture’ and, of course, ‘children’!

Jennifer Luckow, CTC, Senior Safari Specialist

ext 113 | e-mail: jenniferl@africantravelinc.com

A native of Great Britain, Jennifer is a Travel Industry veteran with many years in both retail and wholesale. She is quite familiar with South Africa – having lived there for nearly 10 years. She has also visited Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Lower Zambezi in Zambia and considers herself an expert when it comes to the fascinating and varied country of Namibia. Most recently, she returned from an amazing adventure in Botswana – and is only too willing to share her magical time there with you. Jennifer loves the challenge and rewards of creating perfect ‘dream’ safaris where comfort is guaranteed but the ‘Animal Kingdom’ dictates the day.

Margie Vogel, Senior Safari Specialist

ext 159 | e-mail: margiev@africantravelinc.com

Margie Vogel has worked in the travel industry for twenty six years, specializing in Africa for the past fifteen. On her most recent trip to Tanzania, she witnessed thousands of wildebeests and zebras grazing in the southern Serengeti, game viewing in the beautiful and remote Katavi National Park, and, relaxed in Lupita Island, a private resort on Lake Tanganyika in the southwestern part of Tanzania. She gets the most enjoyment from her job when planning itineraries. She creates the perfect adventures by asking all the right questions: the client’s budget, general interests, any must sees, and level of activity which are all important aspects. She combines this with her intimate knowledge of the diverse areas in Africa to design excellent custom safaris. 

Mirlin Manshon, Senior Safari Specialist

ext 163 | e-mail: mirlinm@africantravelinc.com

Before moving to California with her family and joining African Travel, Mirlin Manshon spent a decade in the safari business while living in South Africa. She was a frequent visitor to hotels and safari lodges, learning first-hand which properties were particularly suited to the discerning American market. Mirlin loves creating custom-designed safaris, and is a great source of knowledge for those clients who want to talk to a safari expert who has ‘been there and done that’.

Susannah Zani, Product Planning Manager

ext 111 | e-mail: susannahz@africantravelinc.com

Susannah joined African Travel in 1998 bringing with her a wealth of knowledge, having both lived in and traveled extensively throughout Eastern and Southern Africa. After 13 years as a Senior Safari Consultant creating innovative safaris at all price points from moderate to premium, sharing her destination knowledge, and introducing travelers to Africa’s colorful cultures, phenomenal scenery and wildlife she became our Product Planning Manager. Keeping our team up to date on the latest and greatest, brochure production and special offerings, coordination of travel agent familiarization trips, finding unique and memorable one of kind experiences for our clients and building strong  relationships with our African partners are just a few of her many responsibilities.

Barbara Gish, Air Supervisor

ext 114 | e-mail: barbarag@africantravelinc.com

Barbara manages African Travel’s extensive group of airline relationships, ensuring that we can offer our customers many options and routes to get them to Africa and within the continent. She has been with the company for over 20 years and loves to travel to Africa whenever she can.

Nora Gregorian, Airfare Specialist

ext 157 | e-mail: norag@africantravelinc.com

Nora Gregorian has joined the African Travel’s team in November of 2010.

Over 25 years of experience in travel industry, recipient of several Quality Service awards and an avid traveler, Nora has a vast experience in group reservation, leisure travel and airline rate desk. She has extensive travel background and is a Destination Specialist for Europe, South Pacific, and in near future for Africa.

Her hobbies include volunteer charity work and fund raising for several nonprofit organizations and monthly book-club participation.

Teresa Hovsepian, Airfare Specialist

ext 120 | e-mail: teresah@africantravelinc.com

As one of African Travel’s top air experts, Teresa is a great resource for our clients, as well as our in-house reservations staff. Teresa joined our staff back in 1994, but has over three decades of travel experience. She is especially knowledgeable about international fare and ticketing, and is – of course – an Africa aficionado!

Kim Severini, Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Direct Line: (646) 338-9383 | ext 104 | e-mail: kims@africantravelinc.com

Kim Severini is a travel & hospitality executive with more than 20 years of successful senior marketing and sales experience in diverse sectors that include luxury hotel, airline, tour operator, cruise line, Destination Management and the Walt Disney Company.

Kim’s diverse experience in managing high performing teams, developing strategic sales & marketing plans, launching new business units, cultivating vast connections in the travel industry, understanding of the retail travel agency channel, and experience in destination marketing give her the credibility to tackle the most complex issues and initiatives.

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Pamela Foster, Director of Sales and Customer Service

Direct Line: (818) 507-7893 | ext 106 | e-mail: pamelaf@africantravelinc.com

Pamela’s love of travel led her from her native New Zealand to the South African Tourism Board for 15 years, where she managed the office. Over the years, she traveled throughout Africa including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Pamela’s zest for selling Africa is transmitted to those she meets and works with in field sales.

Dawn De Arrastia, District Sales Manager, South East

Direct Line: (818) 319-6379 | ext 109 | e-mail: dawnd@africatravelinc.com

AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN

Since she was a young girl, Dawn knew she wanted to travel and see the world. After college she pursued her dream and kicked off her career in travel with World Airways. Dawn has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years in all capacities including luxury cruises (Crystal Cruises), upscale tour operators (Grand Expeditions), and award winning airlines and rail Tours (Virgin Atlantic, Finnair and Rocky Mountaineer). Dawn has traveled many places throughout the world but South Africa remained the most memorable and closest to her heart.

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David Schwenk, CTC, District Sales Manager, North East

Direct Line: 717-419-5186 | ext 105 | e-mail: davids@africantravelinc.com

CT, DC, DE, KY, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV

David brings to African Travel over 19 years experience in the travel industry. Launching his travel career as an international tour director, David has held sales positions for both domestic and international tour operators, covering the Eastern USA. He is currently responsible for sales implementation and support in the Northeastern USA from Virginia to Maine.

Jessica Smith, District Sales Manager, West Coast

Direct Line: (818) 636-5372 | ext 108 | e-mail: jessicas@africantravelinc.com

AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY

As far back as Jessica can remember she has always dreamed of traveling the world. Her first trip overseas was a full-tuition scholarships at age 16 to study in Ireland. Following that trip the next decade of her life was spent achieving her dream of world travel. She started with the traditional backpacking trips through Europe, Central/South America and the United States. In 2005 Jessica ventured out to conquer her goal of traveling overland Cape Town to Cairo. Africa would be her finale ‘grand finale’ journey.

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Karen Dobleski, District Sales Manager, Midwest

Direct Line: (312) 241-6350 | ext 110 | e-mail: karend@africantravelinc.com

IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OK, SD, TX, WI 

Karen joined African Travel in late 2012 bringing with her 30 years of travel industry experience, with the last half focused exclusively on Africa.  With great respect for their conservation efforts, and a love for its beautiful wildlife, magnificent open spaces and warm people, Africa has touched her deeply.  She feels extremely fortunate to have had many opportunities to travel throughout Southern and Eastern Africa.  Karen offers a wealth of knowledge as she has spent a great deal of time designing customized itineraries as a senior destination specialist as well as sales manager.  She enjoys introducing Africa to the intrepid traveler, sharing her vast experience, insight and passion for this life-altering destination and is thrilled to be doing so in conjunction with our travel agent partners throughout the Midwest. 

Cynthia Atkinson, Office Manager

ext | e-mail: cynthiaa@africantravelinc.com

Cynthia Atkinson was born and educated in East Africa. She moved with her family to South Africa as a teenager where she completed her education. After her marriage, she moved to the USA with her husband and young daughter. She began her travel industry experience in the airlines in both South Africa and the USA, before joining African Travel, with a brief period working for a South Pacific Tour Operator. She has traveled extensively in East and South Africa, as well as Europe and Australia.

Cynthia has been a proud member of African Travel for more than 15 years and has been the office manager for more than 2 years.

Tina Moreno-Groman, Operations Supervisor

ext 152 | e-mail: tinam@africantravelinc.com

Celebrating her 22nd anniversary with African Travel, Tina is an example of multi-tasking, at its best! She supervises all aspects of our documentation department and manages our Quality Control initiatives. In addition to those responsibilities, Tina is also our in-house IT specialist. She has traveled extensively through Africa, but her favorite trip is the Botswana safari, which she enjoyed with her travel agent husband.