In August, Bushtracks President David Tett hosted an Africa by Private Jet expedition: exploring Africa’s Great Rift Valley from the Kalahari to Ethiopia over 16 days with 25 travelers. Here David shares some of his photos and highlights from this extraordinary Africa by Private Jet program.
The combination of exciting destinations, personal and authentic experiences, and my wonderful group of fellow travelers made this journey one none of us will ever forget. As one of our travelers said,
“I’ve been on safari many times, but never on one so unique. We felt like we were seeing Africa, without tourists, as it was 100 years ago.”
Our first stop was the Okavango Delta. Here we saw a rare herd of sable at Vumbura Plains. The big black bull is impressive, and one of the biggest I have ever seen.
![Rare herd of sable at Vumbura Plains](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_d60e1ea642534112a19e8eb75d4b32dc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_d60e1ea642534112a19e8eb75d4b32dc~mv2.jpg)
A soup stop surprise during our night drive in the Okavango Delta. Really hits the spot as you head back to camp for dinner.
![Guides prepare a soup stop surprise during a safari night drive in the Okavango Delta](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_dfb5aad529ee4424bd521223317a8f1b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_dfb5aad529ee4424bd521223317a8f1b~mv2.jpg)
Our group was warmly welcomed at every stop. Here is Naledi Boitumelo, one of the charming camp staff who looked after our private jet group at Vumbura Plains
![Bumbura Plains Camp staff Naledi Boitumelo](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_c1dc5062adf840e1b10d19245b1eb4db~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_c1dc5062adf840e1b10d19245b1eb4db~mv2.jpg)
Our bush jet has high wings which means a quiet comfortable ride, clear views of Africa below, and an impressive performance that got us in and out of short regional runways like here in Maun, Botswana.
![Bush jet with high wings](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_74eaaf16668248ce9449a6417e63603a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_74eaaf16668248ce9449a6417e63603a~mv2.jpg)
This journey followed Africa’s great Rift Valley all the way from the Okavango to Ethiopia. Here you can see it clearly, guiding the mighty Zambezi River along the rift and the Zambezi escarpment
![Aerial view of the Zambezi River from the bush jet](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_423335c2f60e4af4a20b05de1ab7f95e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_423335c2f60e4af4a20b05de1ab7f95e~mv2.jpg)
A surprise water lunch for our private jet group – cold beer and wine, a wonderful “picnic” lunch that keeps the feet cool in the Zambezi sand.
![Surprise water lunch for the Africa by Private Jet group](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_a1e7ac3b8b6a49fc811704c3bbd6eacf~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_a1e7ac3b8b6a49fc811704c3bbd6eacf~mv2.jpg)
Expert canoe guides in the Lower Zambezi know how to get us safely close to these elephants.
Now this “commute” to Sausage Tree Camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park is one you will want to do every day!
![Travelers commute by boat to Sausage Tree Camp while enjoying the mountainous view](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_838d3acace0048aca150db2d2103761f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_838d3acace0048aca150db2d2103761f~mv2.jpg)
Lamai has location, location, location. This stunning camp is set on a hill overlooking the Serengeti.
![Stunning camp is set on a hill overlooking the Serengeti in Lamai](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_e56747d16beb4e9a9addbe77ee75d439~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_e56747d16beb4e9a9addbe77ee75d439~mv2.jpg)
Working our way through herds of migrating wildebeest in the Lamai Wedge, Northern Serengeti.
![David Tett with migrating wildebeest in a field behind him](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_658fe677047f433bba53ed391be2c640~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_658fe677047f433bba53ed391be2c640~mv2.jpg)
A clear and rare view of Kilimanjaro – after 25 years of safaris, this is only the second time I have seen the snows of Kilimanjaro from the air.
![A clear and rare view of Kilimanjaro from the bush jet](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_85b743c6a68c48f6805b0ba83b653fa3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_85b743c6a68c48f6805b0ba83b653fa3~mv2.jpg)
Gazing up at a vibrantly colored door at Ura Kidane Mihret Ethiopian Orthodox Church on Lake Tana.
![Vibrantly colored interior of Ura Kidane Mihret Ethiopian Orthodox Church on Lake Tana](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_cec409fc4df148dd836f4d36fdc83372~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_cec409fc4df148dd836f4d36fdc83372~mv2.jpg)
Our group went to a restaurant in Addis Ababa where the locals go for entertainment. We were treated to a wonderful show, great music, and traditional Ethiopian food.
![Restaurant in Addis Ababa where the locals go for great music and traditional Ethiopian food](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_54dbe77feb084c8d9867c4782c6b3160~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_54dbe77feb084c8d9867c4782c6b3160~mv2.jpg)
A procession of Ethiopian priests and worshipers at Lalibela, a very active site of worship for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
![A procession of Ethiopian priests and worshipers at Lalibela](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_f526f07e37af45c9baddc6ee03c2cd81~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_f526f07e37af45c9baddc6ee03c2cd81~mv2.jpg)
We witnessed a rare “dress rehearsal” of the Timkat, or Epiphany, festival, generally held in January. The traditional dress and ceremony were stunning, and very moving.
![A rare dress rehearsal of the Timkat Epiphany festival in Africa](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6beb6f_6d6a0b3ea97048409366d077b10e5696~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/6beb6f_6d6a0b3ea97048409366d077b10e5696~mv2.jpg)
An incredible journey along Africa’s Great Rift, ending at Lalibela in the verdant, beautiful and historical highlands of Ethiopia.
Join David Tett and Pulitzer-Prize Winning Guns, Germs, and Steel Author Jared Diamond, on the 2016 Private Jet Expedition