The reality of African safaris today as offered by over 30 major overland operators is one of 20 or more people crammed into modified cargo trucks, traveling populated routes lined with trite tourism. Over 80% of the Morocco to Cape Town route is paved and most operators use 2 wheel drive safari vehicles.

The time has come to move overland safaris out of Africa and into Canada. But with the added comfort of a specially equipped luxury 4x4, personalized service, distinctive accommodation and Canadian backcountry professional knowledge to deliver reality travel unmatched in Canada.

GeoQwest Excursions Ltd., was formed by career explorationist Steve Noakes as British Columbia's first overland safari company specializing in professional caliber off pavement touring. Finally, a carrier exists that can truly showcase the years of promotion of the province as "Super, Natural British Columbia".

British Columbia hosts Canada's most dramatic scenery, cultural heritage, abundant wildlife and some of the most remote wilderness road networks in North America. Climbing onto busses, trains or rental RV's and cars, the estimated 25,000 kilometres of forestry, ranching, rural living and mining backroads has remained inaccessible to visitors. Even rental agreements for 4x4's do not allow travel off pavement. Much of the province's dramatic landscapes and ecology have remained the domain of backcountry resource professionals.

Company founder Steve Noakes is a former corporate exploration geologist and specialist in remote terrain reconnaissance. A GeoQwest associate is a registered professional forester who has integrated forest information into the tours. Plans for 2003 include introduction of a professional fisheries biologist to complete an unparalleled knowledge circle of British Columbia's natural and working culture.

"I encourage our clients to take part in navigation." explains Noakes from the company head office in Kelowna, BC. "We visit areas rather than routes and take advantage of local knowledge and spontaneous opportunity. Many sites are found guided only by our Global Positioning System. I want to give our guests a true sense of wilderness exploration rather than rehearsed tourism."

GeoQwest tours are designed in discussion with clients to build trips around their interests, be it wildlife, native culture, landscape, hinterland heritage or whatever. I want our clients to feel they are visiting BC with a friend and to show them places and things possible only when traveling with a local. Our groups are kept small with single vehicle trips of 4 to 7 guests. Flexibility and opportunity are paramount as is possible only with small groups. Most of the people GeoQwest encounters in the backcountry are not used to finding tourists there. Small group size allows more intimate relationships with real Canadians.

GeoQwest mining heritage, forestry, wildlife, backcountry cultural events and professional caliber landscape interpretation tours have seen enthusiastic response from international travel writers and photographers, visitors from the UK, Germany, Japan, the USA and eastern Canada.

The safari concept has come a long way…from the dusty plains of Africa to the forests and mountains of Super, Natural British Columbia.

###