Africa in the time of CoVID-19

To my guests going on Safari in 2020 - Thank you - you have been patient and kind while working with me in postponing your Safari to the many parts of Africa; your Safari deposit funds have kept our many initiatives going at this unprecedented time.

Conservation. Community.
The Safari deposit funds you have paid are being used for wildlife conservation and community. My amazing Safari partners and my curated list of Safari lodges, who support wildlife directly or by partnering with many organizations that are responsible for keeping our wildlife safe are working hard to keep wildlife safe as we 'speak'.

Also supported are the many communities surrounding the parks/ conservations. The symbiotic relationship between the community and the Safari lodges is a win-win in so many different ways depending on the location, the Safari lodge, etc.

Besides continuing our support for Big Life Foundation, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, RCVC to name a few, we are doing our best to send money to friends in Kenya and Tanzania who are giving meals to people who can't go out to work due to lock-down to small clinics who have lost all funding with only a trickle of tourists. 

All in this together.
I am hopeful that once the world is safe to travel again, we will travel with consciousness.

We are grateful that our Safari partners and Safari lodges that we work with value conservation and are committed to personally being custodians of the wildlife or partner with companies in the front line taking care of our wildlife. Besides wildlife conservation, without supporting the community, wildlife is in peril. All of these components are essential to sustainability practices.

This was very important to us before the crisis and we are even more committed to making sure this is the cornerstone of all our partners.

Many of you - hello friends - have seen our Safari partners' commitment in-depth first hand. You will have visited the villages/ schools to see first hand how your funds have helped; from clean water, education, de-snaring, farming produce, and more. If you have any special stories you want to tell us more about how their commitment impacted you, please do share.

How you can help my friends?
If you want to support right now when travel is at a standstill please email me and I can point you in the right direction - either a gofundme created by our Safari partner for their initiatives, your specific Safari guide, the Safari lodge, and the crew, a charity you visited, etc. we are here to help.

If you want to know more about what your Safari will be funding, please contact me and I can send you information.

Stay safe and healthy rafikis [friends].
This. too. shall. pass. I look forward to chatting with you about your Safari somewhere in magical Africa soon.

My 5 minutes of fame.

That's me on TV! My 5 minutes of fame.  
Great Day Houston had a Father's Day segment and I was asked to share how being on Safari would be an amazing Father's Day gift. Debra Duncan, the host was really easy to chat with and asked a few spontaneous questions such as shopping for Tanzanite in Tanzania and how Africa gets a bad reputation. I wish I had more time; I was having a blast chatting with her and sharing about Safaris in Tanzania.

So if you want my autograph, I am happy to oblige. :) Or get me back on TV. I am up for talking Safaris in Tanzania.  

Slow Travel on Safari.

If lucky, one of the feelings you will experience on Safari is the slow pace. A wonderful feeling, really!

There is a sense of routine that forms on Safari.  Since the staff will take care of everything for you, it allows the luxury of this relaxed, laid back feeling to sink in so you can really take in the incredible, natural surroundings. For example, you have your day planned by your guide and Safari lodge [thanks to all the planning you and I will do before you get to the ground], you are 'driven around' in your Safari vehicle, meals taken care off, activities arranged, etc. You can allow yourself to surrender in these wonderful places. You are detoxing from the hustle bustle of your day-to-day.

Dip in Lake Tanganyika, after a trek to see the chimps. Photo taken by Julien Polet, the manager of Greystoke Mahale at the time.

Three ways to enhance that for yourself.

Take time to enjoy the park.
To really get the feel of the park or a corner of the park, make sure to settle in. Unpack your bags and spend at least 2 nights in each of our lovely lodges so you can really sink in that vastness of the terrain you have the privilege to explore. Most of the parks and conservancies in East and Southern Africa are huge. Give yourself time to dig deep into the park and you too will start feeling like you are 'at home'.

Decompressing takes time; stay at least 8-9 days.
I may not be too far from the truth when I say our lives are on the run. Whether you are a family with young or adult kids, a couple, or even retired, we travel to escape. The first few days on Safari, you are still getting in the groove of how to relax ... or at least that is what most of us feel. Then we slowly start putting the phone away longer and are not craving for wi-fi. Your body is learning to relax. The game drives start become more enjoyable; you are decompressing. One of the reasons you are taking a Safari right?  

Friendships.
The longer you spend time with your guide, the lodge crew, the other travelers you will meet on Safari, your family and friends, the deeper the connections that will start to form. So much fun if you can open up and chat with your Safari mates.

One of my favorite things on Safari is to chat with the guide and lodge crew. Tanzania has over 100 tribes and each one has an amazing story to tell. My Lost in Translation blog post came from my time chatting with these knowledgable guides. I still keep in touch with many of them. They have taught me a lot.

Evening game drive in Ruaha. You can't help but appreciate the vastness, the silence, the unknown.

The #traveldeeper hashtag - that's what we want you to achieve. If you can afford to give yourself the time and depth of slow travel, do it! They will create amazing experiences creating lifelong friendships.

I look forward to being on Safari [or any trip] so I can slow down the pace of life.
Ready to enjoy some slow travel time on Safari? We can make it happen.

Trekking Tips for Mahale Mountains from Greystoke.

I have rubbed shoulders with chimps. Yup, I rubbing shoulders with no other than a male chimp called Christmas, who lightly whacked me with a twig [no harm was done] - what an unforgettable present. 

To successfully hike the mountains, I have some tips for you [in no particular order] especially for amateur hikers like me. Tips collected from personal experience and collected from other experienced hikers. Rain and sleek or dry, these should come in handy. 

// Wicking clothing.
It is hot and humid in the mountains. Having moisture-wicking clothing was more comfortable but on the day I did not wear that fabric, I was drenched. Not a deal killer for me but if you are sensitive to sweating, definitely look into moisture-wicking clothing - you can use it for your Safari as well. 

// Raincoat. 
Greystoke Mahale provides a poncho but for a smaller person like me, I found myself tripping on the way up and down the mountain. Having my own rain jacket would have been more comfortable. I do have to say that the poncho did cover my camera packed back-pack when it was raining hard so if you do take a raincoat, see if it will cover you and your back-pack. Or stick with the poncho.

// Gaiters.
When Sally said she was getting this, I was not 100% convinced I should get the gaiters but I am glad I did. It kept my socks very dry. Which leads me to then next must item ...

// Waterproof hiking shoes  - if you can.
I had Columbia Peakfreak hiking shoes and I could not have been more comfortable. They gave me traction, kept my feet dry and kept me blister free. I wore mine with Smart Wool socks. Happy hiker here.

// Camera solution.
A fellow trekker could not use his lens because of moisture. Make sure you have a water proof protection / backpack for your camera on the climb - he had it around his neck, and making sure you have a good seal for your lens + camera. Have a back-up as well if you can. 

Another personal note - I lost my lens cap on the mountains and some chimp is playing with that. In the fluster of climbing up fast, setting up the camera quickly, etc., I dropped my lens cap and realized too late. Note to self - secure your lens cap with a cord. 

// Camera Tip.
Learn your camera. Have it set for the quick shooting in low light and definitely know your settings if you are planning on using manual. The camp manager and guides like Butati at the camp were helpful with suggestions. It is dark, humid, and the chimps can be 5 ft. away to 50 ft. so what type of lens to carry is the million dollar question.  I had my 70-300 mm lens and used my iPhone for the close-ups.

// Other trekking notes.
- Energy bars and sweet bananas were provided by Greystoke Mahale - they really helped with giving the group a nice boost on the trek.
- Bring extra cash. There were other people besides our guides who took care of us like the trekkers who start early to find the chimps and Tanzanian government rangers.
- Self care items like for blisters, scratches from the forest, balm for the hard trek. 

Anything else we can add to these tips?
Besides these few tips, do make sure you are fit to make this trek. It can be long and steep up the mountain, and you truly want to enjoy the whole experience.

And let me tell you, it has been one of the best experiences of my life!

A Typical Day on Safari in Tanzania and Kenya.

Everyday is a different day on Safari. No agendas; just you and your Safari guide making plans on what to see, where to go, how long to be out, and more. Here are guidelines to navigate your day on a Tanzanian Safari.

Morning.
For the most part, I'd say on Safari, waking up early should be the norm even if you are not a morning person. Why? Sunrise. This time of the day is truly glowing. 

Your wake-up call can be any where from 6:00 am onwards.

1. You can decide to have breakfast at the lodge. Enjoy coffee in your room, then head to the main area. Majority of the Safari lodges in the national parks have a deck looking out at the park. Enjoy the sunrise while eating breakfast.  
2. Start around 6:30 am and go out looking for wildlife in the early morning, when the sun is lighting up the African soil. Have breakfast around 8:30 -9:00 am [or when your stomach calls for food] in the middle of the national park. This should be your choice at least once or twice in each national park.

Afternoon.
Depending when you have started, you will have two choices. 

1. Stay out for lunch in the parks. If you have stayed in for breakfast, go out and stay out for a bit longer. There are many picnic spot your guide will take you or in some cases, you will eat in the car while watching the rhino crawl or in the middle of the Wildebeest Migration.
You can come back to the Safari lodge at your own leisure for your afternoon siesta.

2. Come back for lunch at the Safari lodge. If you have been out from early morning, this can be an option. And if you want, squeeze in an outdoor shower when the sun is out. 

Late afternoon / Evening.

Around 3:30 - 4:00 pm, you will be heading out again if you have been in the Safari Lodge. Go out to capture the evening golden hour. If you've had enough for the day, stay back. There are no rules. 

You will be out and about until 6:30 pm, stretching it to 7:00 pm before you have to return back. Many a rush drive back have been had as you want to soak in every last light on Safari.
Also, this is the time for sundowners. The time you park your vehicle, enjoy a drink while watching the glorious sunset in Africa. You will pinch yourself, you are on Safari.

Night-time.

Pure cozy. Campfire, Safari stories by the camp manager or staff + dinner.
Some stories that have to be heard like this Maasai warrior telling us about his right of passage by hunting lions. Keep an open mind - it's not all black and white, lots of grey, lots of changes that need to be made, lots of traditional ways that have to alter, lots of cultural stories that need a new course - listen. 

In the end, you decide your travel style. Some clients want to be out all day; they want to soak every minute of being on Safari. Others want to relax a bit more; have all meals or more meals at the lodge and go out on game drive at leisure. 

Whatever your style, you will love your day on Safari. 

Wellness Safari.

I was recently interviewed by Travel Weekly about wellness travel trends for 2017.
Here is what I think wellness Safari means when I plan these Safaris for my clients. 

" When I think of wellness that my clients have been craving when on their Safari in Tanzania this year, I think of human connection wellness. We have definitely seen more request for cultural stops. And they are requesting not meeting them the touristy way or quick photo op, but rather to spend a few hours or days, interacting one-on-one, to get an insight into a different world. 

I think the shift is because we see more stories on social media, news and sometimes we make up our minds or we are given opinion that we accept without research but until we see, listen and experience the other side, we really can't judge until we see it for ourselves. Parents have told me they want to open their children's eyes, an investment in their future. 

We have had a few groups visit the Maasai tribe ladies with a local friend to see them make jewelry or making leather the natural way so they can support their families. Clients have come back saying these stops are eye-openers and the simplified questions 'why do they choose to live like that' answers are more complex because change takes a lot of time, investment and personal desire. 

I like to take kids [and adults of course] to see the one of the last hunter gather tribe, the Hadzabe tribe in remote Lake Eyasi region. These tribe members chose to keep their ancient ways of life in this modern world though wide cracks are forming in their lifestyle. One 16 year old client told me he wishes people would not force change on them as what we perceive as 'backward' is actually a happier earth based lifestyle and we could all learn from them. That is the type of response that is rewarding.

It's these mind changing / human connection wellness Safaris that I am excited to share more in the future. "

What do you think?
Wouldn't this be a life changing Safari. A peek into another culture and lifestyle. And combine that with amazing wildlife and maybe the traditional wellness - massage - and you have opened your eyes to a whole new world. 

Let's get you on Safari.

Style on Safari.

Let's talk about how to look good and comfortable on Safari?
- Good because shouldn't we always pay attention to how we dress at anytime. And if we think we look good, we feel happy.
- Comfortable because that is just what you need on Safari. You will go from game driving in either a closed or open vehicle with dust flying in to enjoying dinner on arrival at the camp because you stayed out a bit too long enjoying the evening's golden hour. Nothing wrong with that by the way.

These two ladies should know a thing or two about style. They are after all Houston's leading fashion bloggers. Sheree and Natalie are both wearing Kuhl's Rekon Jacket. The jacket is versatile enough that you can wear back home. Sheree is wearing her Kuhl Pants and Natalie is wearing her Prana pants. You get the general idea - no wrinkle pants, pants that dry up quickly and can be zipped open into shorts. Some even have bug repellants. 

Having 2 to 3 such pants is all you need on Safari. Re-wearing is totally acceptable on Safari. 

Style Tips:
- Sheree and Natalie upped their style with a bandana. They wore is around their necks as well as using it as a hair accessory. Always a good idea to have items that work in multiple ways. 
- Buying local jewelry. Sheree and Natalie got to shop at the Tanzania Maasai Women Arts's shop on our Tanzania with Mefi Safari. You too can do that before you head out on Safari. The lodges in Arusha will have local accessories in their gift shop. Or bring your own from home.

My buddy Carlos with his friend John and our amazing guide Ayoub.
Keep it neutral to distract bugs who love blue and black - though I am guilty of wearing those colors. Neutral colors also let you blend in with the environment. Keep it comfortable. Look for breathable clothing especially if you are going during the hot months.
Dri-fit clothes really do feel good when you are sitting in the vehicle for many hours under the sun. They can transition easily to evening wear by the campfire and dining tent.  

Style Tips:
- Up your game with a belt but only if you like. You decide how you want to be comfortable. 
- Important accessory here is hat. Not only does it look good, it is a necessity to protect yourself from the African sun. Baseball cap is just fine. 

I had such a great time planning this family Safari. We surprised Yanni for his 17th birthday in Serengeti. What a lucky kid! 

Style Tips:
- Good shoes. Not only is the ground uneven in some spot but there are twigs, tall grass, tiny creatures - who are much needed by the eco-system, crawling around ++. Up your game with some good hiking shoes that will take you beyond a Safari. Not a fan of those, even your daily sneakers will do.
- It does get cool in the morning and evenings. Scarfs not only keep you warm, but also add some glam. Men, get a vest or fleece jacket with good neck coverage.

Not into style. No worries. You're on Safari. Nobody cares how you dress.
*Just wear closed shoes though. 

Now let's get you on a Journey To Africa Safari. 

Elephant Day

August 12 - every year.

On this day, all of us who love elephants so much, come together and remind ourselves on why these animals are so precious to us and what we need to keep doing to safe guard their future. 

Why Love Elephants?
Love them for their intelligence. Love them for the many emotions they display. Love them for their loyalty. Love them for the way they respect the dead. Love them for their grace. Love the little ones for their adorableness. Just love them.

Elephants are not just amazing to experience on Safari, they are incredibly important for our National Parks as a whole. From the water holes they create for other wildlife - especially important in the dry season, the seeds they transfer when they poo, the tree pruning they do along the way and much more. 

We need your help. Some trustworthy charities + organizations that do many great things for the African Elephant. Together, you and I can keep enjoying these amazing creatures on Safari.

David Sheldrick | WildAid | Elephantopia | Big Life Foundation | HoneyGuide Foundation