Honeymoon Safari in Africa.

Congratulations on your engagement! The best thing you have done is finding your love.
The second best thing you are doing is talking to us about your Honeymoon Safari. Being on Safari, with the one you love, will be the icing on your cake. 

Having planned many honeymoon Safaris over the years, we have a few tips on what made their honeymoon a success. Take one tip or take all.

Let's start the planning ...

Start off with some rest.

• Let's take you straight to the beaches of Zanzibar Island or exclusive Mnemba Island. You can catch some zzz's for a few days, enjoy massages by the Indian Ocean water and take leisure strolls on the beach. Recover from your wedding in paradise. 
• Go to one of the National Parks or Rubondo Island with the intent of chilling. Safaris are usually a go-go affair. You usually wake up early to see the sunrise out in the park and can finish the day out. Instead, we will choose a lovely lodge or tented camp with great views from your room. You will still be part of the wilderness experience ... from your room. 

Stay longer in one spot.

• One of the things I learnt from my own honeymoon is the art of staying in one place for a bit longer. There is nothing worse then having to pack and unpack and move especially the first few nights when you are exhausted. 

That one extra thing besides wildlife.

Take your honeymoon to the next level. We know just how to do that. 

• Have a blessing ceremony. We can organize a Maasai ceremony at our camp in Ngorongoro Region with a Maasai elder. Stop at a local religious center in the town of Arusha. We can organize a blessing with the local worship leader.  
• Hire a honeymoon photographer to capture your Honeymoon Safari memories. We can have the photographer shadow you for a day or two, or if you want, the whole Safari. You decide. 
• Donate. Instead of getting gifts from your guests at your wedding, ask to give maybe a portion to a charity in Tanzania. Then go see how your donation will be put to good use. We are sponsors to many wonderful charities in Tanzania. We know your money will be put to great use. Ask us and we can match the organization with your interest.

Excited! Great. 
Together, let's create a perfect honeymoon Safari for you and your loved one. 

Night Game Drive on Safari

When on Safari, you spend a lot of time out searching for game during the day time. The best times are usually early in the morning when the temperatures are still cool and the animals are active… searching for breakfast. As the weather warms up from late morning to early afternoon time the animals, and maybe you too can enjoy some good siesta time. If siesta is not for you, go out and you will still find animals grazing or ‘lazing around’ – still enjoyable to witness. Of course there are some animals who can not rest – never a dull moment. They will get active again late afternoon when the weather cools down.

Most National Parks close around sunset. Private conservation areas don’t have any restrictions and you and your guide will decide when you want to enjoy a night game drive - this can be a last-minute decision. A few National Parks [Tarangire and Katavi, for example in Tanzania and most parks in Zambia] do not have those restrictions either but you do have to have a permit and we have to book a ranger hence we need to know in advance if you want to enjoy this experience.

My first night game-drive was in dark, stormy night of November 2011 in Tarangire National Park at Oliver’s Camp.

Covered in our raincoats, armed with a ranger and a brave wind-bearing spotter in our vehicle driven by Alex the camp manager at that time, we drove out looking for animals. We had night vision goggles to aid in our viewing. We saw three male lion brothers who were later heard roaring around the camp, vultures feasting on an elephant carcass, jackals and more. If it was not pouring, we would have had a two-hour ride heading towards the Silale swamp. Ours was cut short because of the rains. Still, oh what a thrill! 

I have had many more night game drives since then. It is not so much about the wildlife that is easier to see during the day, but the anticipation of spotting the wildlife and the sounds that accompany it in the night. And the rewards can be pretty spookily beautiful.

Take a spin with us at night.
There will be a few surprising things to stare at on your night game Safari. 

Your Kids will Thank You.

Going on a Family Safari is a great investment. We are talking high yield in your family memory bank. You will also be alright with the 'Safari bug' you are bound to catch. Everyone who goes on Safari is struck. At this time, they don't have a fix and no one is looking for one. 

Investment of Time.

We are all busy. School, work, homework, deadlines, practice, etc. Go, go, go. The list is endless. When you are on Safari, you are forced to take a break from the day to day.

That time spent in the Safari vehicle out game driving, with your camera capturing all that you can see, is time well spent together. Chatting, planning, life talks... it all happens when you have the gift of time. Uninterrupted time. Pauses are always welcomed for a cheetah spotting or an elephant herd. 

You will spend time in the Safari lodges and tented camps; to just chill in the lounge or your room, connecting as a family. You will love our Bush TV time. Take a book, listen to music or write in your journal. Time, moments, together to last a life-time. 

Investment of Education.

Learning never really stops. Whether you are on your winter, spring or summer break - or taking a break from school and learning about the world - the best education is to experience first hand.

Learning happens throughout your Safari. On Safari, you will spend a lot of time with your Safari guide who will share a wealth of information on wildlife. Ask them about conservation efforts. Go to the root of the issue, you will see the other side of the coin. Talk to them about the people. In Tanzania for example, there are 152 tribes - what is their language, tradition, food, clothing and more. If you are going to a Hadza or Maasai village, you may get to partake in oral tradition, the way it was done hundreds of years ago. 

The Safari Lodges will have their own teaching. The crew will share regional dances. Ask them to introduce you to traditional and modern, internationally recognized songs, and of course food. They will incorporate lots of local dishes for you to try out. Be adventurous.

Investment for the future of our Planet. 

"Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." - Miriam Beard.

I have been lucky to plan many family Safaris over the last 16 years for children ranging from 3 years old to 18 years. All come back with the same theme. Thankful.

The children are thankful they got to experience something completely different than what they are used to at home. As a parent, you have just opened their eyes to how other people live in our planet and how we are all connected. Differences to be embraced. Similarities to be celebrated. We need more of that in the world right now.

Help them realize how precious and endangered the wildlife are and how they need our help to be safe. The more we know, the more we can do. And if they have spent time with wildlife, the more they will understand the importance of protecting them for generations to come. 

A few of my children clients who have grown up, continue to sponsor organizations like Rift Valley Children's Fund because they made a stop there when visiting Ngorongoro Crater. Some became supporters of organizations like David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust after stopping by for a visit. 

What Next?

Make your Family investment and head out on a Safari.
We can help you plan one that will be the highlight of your travel memory bank. 

Capture the Golden Hour.

On every Safari we plan with you, we know you can't wait to experience the amazing wildlife, the people, and much more on your Safari to Tanzania. 

I am going to share another experience on Safari that you will come to love. Natalie and Sheree, two Houston Bloggers who joined me on Safari, and I have some great memories of this epic time. 

The Golden Hour.
What is this hour? If you are a photographer, you know. For those who are curious, it is an hour after sunrise and before sunset.  The light around this time is just amazing. If you are not a morning person, it will make you a morning person on Safari. In the evening, you will eagerly anticipate this time.

In Tarangire.

My two Safari stories, where I got to capture Natalie and Sheree with the golden light are:

One. In Tarangire,  we were driving back to Oliver's Camp from our late afternoon game-drive when Julie, the camp manager flagged us down. She had a nice spread of drinks and yummy banana chips with salsa for us to enjoy while we captured this enchanting moment. A family with 5 children from Tennessee where also there with us who entertained us with some cheerleading and football. Not to be outdone, we also danced to Toto's, The Rain's Down in Africa under Sheree's dancing instruction - we have videos to prove. 

Two. After a siesta at Dunia Camp in Serengeti, we set out around 4:30 pm from camp armed with champagne as it was our last night in Serengeti. Our guide found us the perfect spot beside Lake Magadi to capture the magical time while we sipped our champagne. We were all feeling rather emotional at this time. This was our last night together on an amazing Safari in Tanzania. 

In Serengeti.

The evenings are all about those minutes where the light just fires up the Earth. Everything looks amazing. The day is saying good-bye, wishing a good night and promising a glorious day on Safari the following day. 

For me, this time always reminds me to feel lucky I get to be on Safari, my absolute favorite place, surrounded by the precious and ever endangered animals in our fragile eco-system. I never want to take these memories for granted.

So happy I got to share this experience with two amazing travel partners who enjoyed it equally and know they too felt the magic power of the golden hour. 

You absolutely must experience this for yourself.  You will never forget this light. 

"Amazing Trip to Africa."

I have known Aarthi and Prabath B. for a long time. Prabath's brother, Prasanth and I went to university together, and Prasanth and his wife Ali went on Safari in 2004 when the now glamorous Sayari Camp had just opened and was a luxury mobile camp. When you have been planning Safaris for as long as I have, you see a lot of evolutions. 

When Aarthi and Prabath emailed to say it's now their time to go on a Safari, I knew I had to make their Safari just as special as Prasanth and Ali's. I meet them at a coffee shop in Houston where I started taking notes. After listening and sharing ideas about their lodging style, activity interest, etc., I knew I had to incorporate Oliver's Camp, Plantation Lodge and Lamai Serengeti to their August itinerary - yes, I did give them the choice of Sayari Camp - but Lamai Serengeti won. 

It was such a pleasure showing Tanzania to Aarthi and Prabath Boya. 

The happy couple with some great backgrounds. Memories to last a lifetime.

Wildlife. 
They saw an abundance of wildlife on Safari including a crocodile dragging a wildebeest down when unsuccessfully trying to cross the Mara River and leopard mating in Serengeti.
What a sight that must have been to see!

Choice of lodges.
You don't have to go far sometimes to see wildlife. Here they are, enjoy an afternoon siesta at Oliver's Camp and Lamai Serengeti when elephants and zebras came close to their room. One of the reasons why we are picky about the lodge choices - you always want to be part of the environment, not secluded behind glass windows - unless you want that experience as well.  

"A huge thank you to Mefi Pishori Alapat and Journey To Africa Safari for arranging our amazing African Safari. Loved every minute of our perfect vacation from the beautiful lodges to the incredible guides. And best of all, we can check the great wildebeest migration off our bucket list! Can't wait to go back!"

For more of their photographs, see their albums on Facebook.
Tarangire | Ngorongoro | Serengeti | Zanzibar Island

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

Yes, Safari Party

Tanzania, you bring so many people together. 

When Jann came back from her second Safari where she took her friends to Tanzania, asked if I would come to California for a post Safari party, I said YES. I am so glad I did.

We shared so many different Safari stories over glasses of wine. Jann, my lovely friend knows how to throw a great party. She asked the McLeans who had been on the first Safari with her as well as friends who are interested in going to Tanzania - the Safari bug is contagious. 

The group that went with Jann enjoyed a reminiscing party. We enjoyed going over the Safari photos and there were many good ones to ooo and ahhh over. And yes, lots of Safari Stories.

Judy and Kathy talked about their wonderful time with the Maasai ladies in Mkuru. Jeff, the only guy in the group, called himself the harem leader -- maybe like the impalas. He really enjoyed his time with the Hadzabe tribe. The hunting for food and berries was truly an experience he would want people to partake on their Journey To Africa Safari. Karen and Linda were just so happy they said Yes to joining Jann on her Safari. 

Here's to saying Yes.
Yes to going on a Safari with Jann.
Yes to meeting up with a great bunch of friends and sharing our Safari Stories.
Yes to many more Safaris to Tanzania in the future for Jann, Judy, Kathy, Karen, Jeff and Linda and their friends.

Yes. Make your Safari Party happen. I would love to come for a pre or post Safari Party.
I am always up for a Tanzania chat. 

Tanzania with Mefi

I LoVe being on Safari.
Absolutely love the feeling of being in the wild, with abundant wildlife and myriad of amazing birds, the amazing scenery of this un-spoilt land, and the people. 

My smile pure joy and pretty much 'on' the whole time.

My Safari this past May was just that. And I got to share this with two Houston Bloggers Sheree and Natalie. This is my second time taking guests on Safari with me and seeing Tanzania through their eyes has just added to my Safari love affair. 

When my guests travel with Journey To Africa, I plan Safaris where I draw upon the many connections I have in Tanzania from my years living there. I also tap into all the Safari knowledge I have accumulated in the 16 years I have had the pleasure of showing clients my Tanzania. 

And I take my own advice and plan my own Safaris accordingly. 

Natalie and the kids having a good time.

Our first stop was the village of Mkuru with my friend Tati. Tati and I go way back to early 2000 when she and Paul Oliver used to run the original Oliver's Camp. The Oliver's Camp that was a mobile camp before the current luxury glamping. 

She has started a project where she works with an Italian jewelry designer to create modern jewelry using traditional methods, each hand-crafted by Maasai women at the village, or at her store in Arusha. 

The day was spent with the Maasai ladies and their children who showed us how they live in a lifestyle that is so different from our western ways. Having grown up in Tanzania, their lifestyle is not surprising to me, but observing from Sheree and Natalie's perspective was an eye opener.

We had lots of discussions on this difference. I feel we need to come to terms that just because it is different, it does not mean it does not work. That lifestyle works for most of them and those that seek change, have options like work shops and teaching colleges. We can not force change on anyone unless it is desired.

Trying out original Maasai necklaces.

This day also presented many commonalities. Jewelry. Sheree and Natalie got to indulge with fashionable accessories worn by the Maasai women themselves as well the jewelry that is Maasai-inspired. A fun day.

Then ...  a glorious Safari. Ah! My favorite activity. 

Our first stop was Tarangire National Park. For Natalie, her request when we met in Houston, Texas for our pre-Safari planning was she wanted to see elephants since she missed seeing these mighty giants in South Africa.

Well, her wish got fulfilled - over and over again. Sheree, her eyes were just lite with awe. Her first ever Safari and any animal that moved made her jump with delight. Pumped me up to be with a first timer on Safari.  We were serenaded by birds, amused by elephants, babies and young ones as well, given a show by monkeys, peeked by giraffes and more. Tarangire, as always, did not disappoint. 

There is also the people connection you make on Safari. Natalie had brought in a bag full of under garments from Peach. We got to hand deliver the bag to our friends at Rift Valley Children's Home. This home is truly a special place for the many children who would have had to struggle but instead found love, support, shelter built warmly by Mama India and Peter. Asante for all your do guys. We support you!

Our Safari Life. Pretty Amazing.

Ngorongoro Crater was our own little park. The advantage of going in May is that high season is not in full swing. Besides Sheree showing us her ninja moves and flamingo dance, Natalie taking a post breakfast nap, we got to spend time with the endangered black rhino, three lion cubs just a few months old, zebras, flamingoes and more. Fazo, our guide, helped out Mama Simba, the local Crater researcher, in updating her on the new cubs. We just chimed in on how we thought those little goobers were so darn cute. 

Sheree, co-piloting.

Our last stop, mighty Serengeti. Sheree flew us there, well, almost. She used to be a pilot about 20 years ago and she has not forgotten. The pilot let her handle a control or two and Natalie and I held our breath when she pulled the knobs. Suffice to say, we landed safely.  :)

Serengeti! Serengeti Shall Never Die. Really, this place never disappoints.

The different habitats gifted us with a range of wildlife. Cheetahs in the plains near Namiri, Wildebeest and Zebra Migration in the tall grass around Central Serengeti, elephants in the savannah bushes, giraffes near the acacias, lions on the kopjes warming themselves, 100 + smelly hippos that we were so lucky to see, baboons and so much more. And birds, don't over look birds. These beauties were everywhere. Sheree would draw upon her Colorado birding knowledge and Natalie, I have to work on her some more for our next Safari together. 

The Crew at Dunia Camp. We were sad to leave on our last day.

Besides amazing wildlife, birds, landscape, on Safari there is friendships to be made, dancing to be enjoyed, lots of stories to be shared with people from all over this World and Tanzania. 

This is why I love my Safari Life. I encourage you to come on a Journey To Africa Safari.
There is so much to explore in amazing Tanzania. 

Sign up for our newsletter if you want to know when I will be leading a group on Safari to Tanzania or another part of East or Southern Africa. But, with me or not, I encourage you to go - Life Worth Exploring.