Kent Redding, Africa Adventure Consultants, Denver
A former camp manager in Tanzania, Redding plans safaris and Kilimanjaro climbs that tread lightly on the earth—and your wallet. He urges every client to spend at least one night at a tented camp and excels at planning roughing-it adventures such as multiday hikes (866-778-1089; kent@adventuresinafrica.com; adventuresinafrica.com).

Nina Wennersten, Hippo Creek Safaris, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey
Wennersten favors small camps and lodges, as well as private reserves bordering national parks, so you feel that yours is the only vehicle on game drives—even in the crowded Ngorongoro Crater. Instead of staged events, her itineraries include actual cultural experiences such as tribal weddings (866-930-9124; nina@hippocreeksafaris.com; hippocreeksafaris.com).

Madagascar

Monique Rodriguez, Cortez Travel & Expeditions, Solana Beach, California
Rodriguez, an honorary consul of Madagascar, knows the best spots for the island's famous flora and fauna and has leads on traditional ceremonies—including the Fitampoha, Tsanga-tsaina, and Sambatra—that reflect the soul of Malagasy culture (800-854-1029; monique@cortez-usa.com; cortez-usa.com).

Morocco

Joel Zack, Heritage Tours, New York City
Zack wrote a book on Morocco's architecture, and the connections he forged help clients to see the culture inside the Casbahs. Have your camera ready for the "magical hour," he says: the period just before sunset, when the light over the High Atlas Mountains is ethereal (800-378-4555; joel@heritagetoursonline.com; heritagetoursonline.com).

Seychelles

Astrid Breuer, Michael's Travel Centre Inc., Agoura Hills, California
A Seychelles native, Breuer knows the hottest Mahé hangouts and La Digue beaches and can guide you to undiscovered outer islands such as Alphonse and Desroches (818-889-2246; astridb@michaelstravel.com; gotoseychelles.com).

Southern Africa

Julian Harrison, Premier Tours, Philadelphia
This South African native, co-author of Fodor's African Safari, can have you herd-counting by jeep, horse, elephant, or balloon. In Cape Town, he advises, take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain in the early morning, before clouds obscure the view (800-545-1910, ext. 429; julianh@premiertours.com; premiertours.com).