Founded in December, 2001, Unique Adventures is owned and operated by Judy Parsons, a veteran of 30 years in the travel industry as a tour operator, designing and operating programs into Africa.

A home based company providing personalized service and custom safaris to individuals and travel agents, Unique Adventures Inc. works on a repeat client - referral basis. We have a wide network of reception/ground operators within Africa that assures clients receive top value for the dollar spent and personal attention while on their journey.

We offer experienced guides and competitive pricing, an in-depth knowledge of the destinations, creativity, special interest itineraries and a wealth of international contacts.

Judy Parsons began her travel career with Scantravel West Africa in 1978 when the Roots phenomenon hit the travel industry. As operations manager, she designed programs encompassing the slave castles of Ghana, Alex Haley's village, Traditional African Medicine, African Arts and Crafts tours, pilgrimages to find individual Roots to villages and remote spots.

In 1981 she founded African Holidays Inc., an award winning company with headquarters in Tucson and offices in London, UK, and Lusaka, Zambia. She served on the international board of directors of the Africa Travel Association in the 80s; was awarded the Togo Trophy for outstanding and creative marketing of West Africa, and the Mulungushi Award from Zambia for special interest safaris, including taking professional minors from the United States into Zambia's copper belt.

Adventure travel with an emphasis on wildlife has long been a passion. The company has operated polar bear safaris to Churchill, Canada, several tours to Victoria, BC to attend the Victoria Jazz Festival, and escorted trips into Baja, Mexico. African destinations sold regularly include Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania.

A few recent special interest tours include the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town, a tour for the Federal Magistrate Judges Association to South Africa, Climbs of Kilimanjaro, Birding tours to Tanzania, a Water for People project to Malawi & Zambia, family reunions to Kenya plus numerous individual custom designed safaris.

Judy has made 39 trips to Africa updating knowledge on the destinations.

Unique Adventures belongs to the Marana Chamber of Commerce, the Tucson Southern Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce, Association of Promotion of Travel to Africa (APTA), Arizona Presenters Alliance, the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jazz in AZ and the Tucson Jazz Society.

In addition to travel, the company creates and operates special events and books musicians and entertainers to perform in a variety of venues for numerous functions. These have included non-profit fund- raisers, hotels, private parties, retirement communities, galas, dinner dances and festivals.