Plush African Safaris Also Help Locals

Even if you rang in 2009 by lounging poolside at a fabulous resort, chances are you already feel like you need a vacation, particularly if you live in one of the many places that's experiencing record cold at the moment. And if you're the type of traveler that loves an exotic adventure, it doesn't get much better than an African safari.

Driving through game reserves and camping near lions doesn't necessarily mean roughing it. Throughout Africa, many tour operators, like Abercrombie & Kent, offer luxury safaris, where gourmet dining, plush bedding and even a personal butler are as integral to the trip as the wildlife that surrounds you. These trips aren't cheap, but what for many travelers becomes the adventure of a lifetime, each package's indulgent features help to insure a truly memorable experience.

But what if you want to give back as you're on that dream getaway? andBEYOND has that covered. For this unique tour operator, sustainability and adventure go hand in hand, with outreach and conservation as an inherent component of every trip. The group maintains lodge accommodations at game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries throughout Africa, plus many locations in India and Latin America too; each property has built ways to help its community into the daily routine. And that comes without sacrificing any luxe pleasures, like old-school footed porcelain tubs, working fireplaces and beautiful swimming pools if you need to relax after a day of adventure.

One of andBEYOND's standout properties is Kirkman's Kamp, an 18-room hotel in South Africa's Sabi Sand Game Reserve, right next to the Kruger National Park. It would be easy to focus on its glamorous décor — not to mention the lions, leopards and giraffes you can see each day — but what really makes Kirkman's special is its connection to the community. For example, the property reaches out to its neighbors to offer lessons in environmental conservation and AIDS prevention. It's taught local women to make some of the hotel's amenities, like candles, and start a business selling them back to Kirkman's and other businesses. And it's financed and built improvements to the local infrastructure, like a new kitchen in a preschool nearby. Plus there's an extensive recycling program in place to preserve both the property and its vibrant surroundings.

Nightly rates at Kirkman's start at around $300 — which includes accommodation, safaris and three gourmet meals daily — but andBEYOND offers four nights for the price of three at many of its South African locations throughout February and March, the height of summertime there. Looking for a spring break trip you can really feel good about? This is one destination that's definitely worth considering.