Laura Tober

Luxury Travel Designer

About Me
I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and reside in the city with my family: my husband, daughter and dog. We love to adventure together and enjoy sharing the world with our young daughter. I have lived in New York and Germany. And my travels have brought me to many places in Africa, the South Pacific, Asia and Europe. There is always more to experience both at home and abroad!

My Style of Travel
While I make a point to see all the highlights (they are popular for a reason!), I particularly enjoy getting off the beaten path. I believe there is a different type of travel for each season in life. From unique experiences like meeting the Himba women in Namibia to biking the winelands in South Africa. I always try to connect with the locals and try all the food. Having a variety of experiences is important to me.

Favorite Destinations
Serian’s Serengeti South Camp in Tanzania; Duba Plains in Botswana; Grootbos and Babylonstoren in South Africa; and Hoanib Valley Camp in Namibia.

Travel Tip
Rent a good camera and/or lens for your trip! I recommend a minimum 200mm telephoto lens and an extender for those close up shots. And do your research on how to shoot animals in different environments. There are many circumstances that appear in safari that you can’t practice here at home. You Tube is really helpful for this. Having a few tricks ready-to-go will ensure photos to bring home that you can keep for a lifetime!

Most Memorable Experience
Staying on the Zambezi River, we went out for sundowners and wildlife spotting. Our guide, Wellington, was excellent! From far away, he spotted a herd of elephants crossing the river from Zambia to Zimbabwe. We drank our G&T’s as they did somersaults and happily played in the water. And then the storm in the distance took a swift turn and headed straight to us! The elephants decided to head back and we thought we should do the same. The storm moved much faster than we could and we got caught in the pouring rain on the boat. We docked, raced back to the main lodge for protection and the staff was ready with towels and wine! We may have been soaked but we couldn’t have been more happy.

In my carry-on…. Noise-cancelling headphones, snacks, a scarf and hat, change of clothes (for my arrival destination), phone charger and any prescriptions/medicines.

When I’m Not Traveling, I…Enjoy exploring my city, spending time with my family, trying new restaurants, and meeting new people. A good book or movie, wine, and exercise are also on the agenda.