Area/Topic
Africa, Safaris, Conservation, Business

Alan Feldstein
Founder & Owner
Infinite Safari Adventures

For two decades, Alan Feldstein worked as a successful entertainment and marketing/advertising attorney in Los Angeles. In 2000 after racking up 450,000 frequent flyer miles he asked his wife where she wanted to go in the world. She replied “I have always wanted to go on a safari in Africa”. That trip to Africa it changed his life. In 2005 he summited Mt. Kilimanjaro and then tracked chimps in the Mahale Mountains. It was there he met his future East African Ground Partner who shared a love of kayaking. In 2008 he took his children to Africa and on that trip became one of the first people to kayak off the coast of Tanzania. It was there and then that he decidedto leave the practice of law and share his passion for Africa and adventure to create Infinite Safari Adventures.

Alan is a member of the Adventurer’s Club of Los Angeles and the international Explorers Club where he was the Southern California Chapter Chair. He also sits on the boards of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Saving The Survivors, and The Bird School Project. In 2023 he and his wife, Journalist Diane Haithman, founded the Infinite Safari Foundation which is dedicated to humanitarian, educational and conservation initiatives in Africa. It is funded, in part, from a donation of the cost of each Infinite Safari Adventure safari that is created. He is also the author of The Best African Safari - Tips from an Obsessive Planner a definitive guide to help people plan their best safari.

https://www.infinitesafariadventures.com/

summary
Alan Feldstein, founder of Infinite Safari Adventures, shares his journey from being a lawyer to starting a safari company in Africa. His passion for travel and adventure led him to explore different parts of the world, including Africa. He fell in love with the wildlife and the people of Africa, which inspired him to start his own safari company. Alan emphasizes the transformative experience of visiting Africa and the importance of unplugging from technology to fully immerse oneself in the beauty of the continent. He also highlights the positive impact of tourism on local communities and the need for responsible travel. The conversation explores the importance of tourism in Africa for conservation and community development. It highlights the role of tourism in inspiring governments to prioritize conservation and the economic benefits it brings to local communities. Human-wildlife conflict is identified as a major challenge, and various solutions such as education, community involvement, and innovative technologies are discussed. The conversation also touches on the issue of overtourism and the need for responsible tourism practices. The personal connections and cultural experiences that travelers can have in Africa are emphasized, along with the reminder to seize the opportunity to visit Africa now.

takeaways

• Passion for travel and adventure can lead to unexpected opportunities and career paths.
• Africa offers a transformative experience for travelers of all ages.
• Unplugging from technology allows for a deeper connection with nature and the local culture.
• Tourism plays a crucial role in supporting local communities and economies in Africa. Tourism plays a crucial role in inspiring governments to prioritize conservation and in providing economic benefits to local communities in Africa.
• Human-wildlife conflict is a major challenge that needs to be addressed through educatio

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