Ryan Hilton, Admiral Travel Gallery, Sarasota, Florida
Recommended Generalist
A native Zimbabwean, Hilton has spent more than 600 days on safari in the past 10 years. A former photo-safari guide in South Africa, he is an avid wildlife photographer who can give in-depth advice regarding selecting photo equipment and reading animal behavior in order to capture the best shots. He can get you into small camps in South Africa's private game reserves—camps normally restricted to the reserve's owner and closed to the public—or set up a private dinner and wine tasting in the cellar of a famous wine estate (941-951-1801; ryan@admiraltravel.com).

Phoebe Weinberg, Greatways Travel, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Recommended Generalist
Looking to combine the most game-rich lodges and camps with a few luxuriant days in Cape Town and the nearby wine country? Weinberg's twice-yearly trips to Africa over several decades, coupled with her encyclopedic knowledge of the most elegant lodgings, means she knows precisely which property, room, ranger, and guide to book. She preps all of her clients with an inch-thick customized book filled with details on every aspect of their upcoming trip, from dining recommendations to photos of the staff at the camps (313-886-4710; phoebe@greatwaystravel.com).

Safaris for Families
Mark Nolting, Africa Adventure Company, Fort Lauderdale
The author of Africa's Top Wildlife Countries and African Safari Journal, Nolting spends 6 weeks a year on the continent. After 10 safaris with his 11- and 14-year-old sons, he knows exactly what works—and what doesn't—when taking children to Africa. If quad biking on Namibian sand dunes or playing soccer with Masai schoolchildren will keep your kids happy, he's your man (800-882-9453; safari@africanadventure.com).

Safaris with a Conscience
Cherri Briggs, Explore, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
With offices in Botswana and Zambia, Briggs spends six to eight months of the year in Africa, perpetually scoping out new territory. Having served on the boards of several African conservation organizations, she applies her environmental ethics in choosing accommodations—from rustic-yet-authentic mobile tented safaris to luxe lodges—and fosters client participation in community and wildlife projects. She loves cutting-edge locations, such as Gabon and Central African Republic, and can have you meeting bushmen in the Kalahari or working with scientists. Lion-stalking at night with veterinarians, anyone? (888-596-6377; info@exploreafrica.net).

THE AMERICAS

Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay
Vanessa Guibert Heitner, Limitless Argentina, Buenos Aires
An Argentine native and former professor of Latin American literature who moved to Buenos Aires four years ago, Heitner takes particular delight in introducing travelers to her country's cultural and ecological diversity, from the trendy neighborhoods of B.A. (where she has entrée into artists' studios and private galleries) to the wine regions of Salta and Mendoza (where she can arrange private tastings). Her sophisticated sensibilities, taste, and eye for value also extend into Chile and Uruguay (202-536-5812; vanessa@limitlessargentina.com).