WHERE TO NEXT?
Dear Traveler,
Imagine watching the cheetah above on a hunt – sprinting at 70+ MPH chasing a gazelle. Or coming upon a male and female lion during one of their week-long mating rituals. Or seeing recently born baby baboons clinging to their mamas.
One of the beautiful parts of a safari is the surprises. They are everywhere!
This September, we’re taking you on a wild ride with our safari-focused newsletter!
We understand that planning a safari can feel overwhelming. The number of decisions – from choosing the right country and lodges to figuring out the best time to go to understanding the regional differences in the experiences. Not to mention the questions about costs, vaccines and how far in advance to plan your trip. It’s a lot.
But we are here to help you navigate through these questions and tailor an unforgettable safari experience that’s just right for your family.
Think of us as your safari sherpas, guiding you through the wilderness of options to design your perfect adventure.
This month’s newsletters will each focus on one area of Africa, define a popular safari word (you’ll feel more in the know when you understand some of the lingo) and share inspiration and information to help you navigate one of the absolute best adventures you will go on in your life!
So, let’s embark on this journey and start dreaming about the incredible memories you’ll create in the heart of the African bush.
Last week’s most popular article was The Under-The-Radar Family Destination You Should Know About.
This week’s inspirational articles include the 13 most beautiful places you’ve never heard of, it’s the year of group travel, slow travel adventures and the best beaches in Southeast Asia.
The informational articles include private jet terminal luxe makeovers, the rise of the $1000 a night hotel room and Europe reaching a breaking point with so many visitors.
Happy official start to fall! I hope you had a fun-filled Labor Day weekend. Ours was full of visits to the driving range, an epic day mountain biking with friends at Kindom Trails followed by a visit to Mike’s Tiki Bar (and several other bike rides), hiking and paddleboarding on the river. Lucky Tigger enjoyed most of these with us. I hope yours was the perfect combination of active and relaxing for you!
I’ll be writing you next week while I’m en route to Telluride.
Where to next for you?
Have a wonderful week!
Warmly,
Below:
- This week’s highlight – Tanzania and Kenya
- Where to Next? Singita Sabora Tented Camp
- Articles to Inspire+Inform
TANZANIA & KENYA
📷 Singita, Ross Couper
East Africa is made up of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda. Breaking them down further, Kenya and Tanzania are “traditional” safari destinations to the see the Big 5 and other wildlife.
The main reason travelers venture to Rwanda and Uganda is to go gorilla trekking. There are other adventures there and we will talk about all of them later this month.
For today we’re focusing on Tanzania and Kenya.
Highlights:
The Great Migration – includes 1.6 million animals that continuously migrate between Kenya and Tanzania. Wildebeests, zebras and to a lesser extent, gazelles and Eland make their continuous pilgrimage across the plains and through the treacherous river crossings in search of adequate grazing. These vast herds are unique to East Africa.
Time your visit right to see tens of thousands of baby wildebeest and zebras being born.
See the Big 5 (including black and white rhinos) plus hippos, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and warthogs.
Visit the Ngorongoro Crater to see large populations of lions, elephants and black rhinos.
Take a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara National Park or Serengeti National Park.
Experience the vibrant culture of the Samburu and Masai tribes.
Visit rescued baby elephants at the Sheldrick Elephant Sanctuary (which we can privatize just for you if you want to have a more exclusive experience).
📷 Sheldrick Elephant Sanctuary
If having a giraffe eat out of your hand or from your breakfast plate is a must, with proper planning enjoy a stay at Giraffe Manor.
If you are active and a bit adventurous, but not up for the 6-8 day hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro, take advantage of doing a challenging but doable day hike on this legendary mountain.
For those interested in an epic hands-on conservation experience, the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) experience is a must. Join their CEO in a Robinson R44 helicopter and witness first hand the incredible work this organization does to protect the local elephant population.
Track MEP collared elephants and discover how helicopters are used in the protection of wildlife in the Greater Mara Ecosystem. Then stop at a remote ranger camp and meet the rangers who have dedicated their lives to this project, before landing at the MEP campus for a tour of the operational headquarters.
A good read about our family’s safari is “Just Back from Kenya.” We love to be active so in addition to game drives in vehicles, we went horseback riding, walking, camel trekking and mountain biking for our adventures in the bush. Thrilling experiences for all of us!
A trip to Africa is not just about the trip – which of course is incredible!
It is about the people you meet, the awe-inspiring wildlife encounters and
the moments you share with friends and family.
These are memories that will last a lifetime.
Definition – Boma
A boma is traditionally known as a livestock enclosure or corral to secure and protect people’s livestock. A boma can be used for wildlife conservation too – and has many different purposes.
Safari lodges use the word Boma to describe a gathering place where guests meet for candlelit dinners in an open air atmosphere surrounded by walls, often made of tall reeds.
📷 &Beyond
Why plan your safari with Mimi?
- I understand this is a once in a lifetime experience for you. I take the time to truly understand your family, your desires, preferences and reasons behind wanting to go on this big adventure.
- Selecting lodges ideal for you is a key component. I know the non-negotiable features to look for in my clients’ lodges and experiences (no big mass market lodges for us).
- I will help you understand the factors influencing a safari budget so that you can talk with me about what you value the most.
- I’ve got your back and will ensure you are well taken care. When you arrive in Africa, you will be met as you get off the plane, whisked through VIP immigration, have local guides who are great storytellers and be attended to throughout by my trusted partners on the ground. 24/7 emergency assistance is always there for you.
Fill out a Safari Inquiry
🌟 One of our favorite lodges in East Africa is Singita Sabora Tented Camp, located in the Serengeti, Tanzania. The Serengeti is renowned for its annual migration of wildebeest, zebra and gazelles and Singita Sabora Tented Camp puts you in the heart of this incredible sight.
Why is Singita Sabora Tented Camp so special?
- The location is perfect! You are situated in the middle of the vast plains of the Serengeti and surrounded by nothing but the wilderness. By far the clearest skies and most peaceful days ever!
- The small, luxury camp has just a handful of tents ensuring a personalized and exclusive atmosphere. These tents are not the tents from your camping trips when you were a kid. They are spacious, filled with comfortable furnishings, dining and fitness areas and private decks with views over the plains and roaming wildlife.
- The mini bar at the main lodge is perfect for pick-me-ups throughout the day. It is stocked with little nut balls, dried fruits, parfaits, cookies and chocolates. Mini baskets are provided to bring these snacks on game drives.
- The boma. The positioning of it at the main lodge allows guests and staff to gather for a drink or bite and share stories and appreciate the moments of their days on safari.
- Singita has an extensive cellar of premium wines including some of Africa’s most sought after private reserves, exclusive releases and limited and rare bottles. Personalized wine tastings are available with Singita’s sommeliers.
Do as much or as little as you like:
- Go on a brisk hike to an observation point where the rangers are on the look out for anything suspicious throughout the reserve. Chat with them about what it’s like spending weeks at a time up there before hiking back down.
- Set out on daily morning and afternoon game drives with your field guide. Mix in guided safari walks for up close experiences in the wilderness. During your stay you may see bat-eared fox, buffalo, cheetah, Colobus monkey, eland, elephant, gazelle, leopard, lion, Maasai giraffe, topi and wildebeest.
- Massage treatments are available in the wellness treatment rooms or in your tent. There is a fully equipped fitness center (a rarity at lodges) and and private fitness areas in every tent.
- Families are welcome and children’s activities include cooking, board games, stargazing, arts and crafts and swimming in the lodge pool.
- If there at the right time of year and wanting a physical challenge, join the Ranger Run. It’s a 21 km run while carrying 22 kg backpacks in solidarity with rangers across Africa and the anti-poaching efforts they carry out. The anti-poaching team runs alongside Singita’s NGO partner, the Grumeti Fund’s staff, locals, Singita guests and whoever else wants to participate. It is an amazing experience and the route takes runners past the rhino enclosure.
‼️ Don’t miss…. a sunrise hot air balloon safari. Fly in the air gaining a different perspective of the vast Serengeti plains. Observe large groups of animals from above as they migrate, graze or if you are lucky, chase on a hunt. One of the most magical experiences I’ve had on safari!
📷 Singita Sabora Tented Camp
Reach out to plan your trip to
INSPIRATION
This Medieval Castle on a Lake Near Salzburg Is 2024’s Most Idyllic New Hotel, Vogue
The 13 Most Beautiful Places on Earth You’ve Never Heard Of, Outside
So Long, Solo: It’s the Year of Group Travel, Virtuoso
The History Of Edinburgh Fringe, 100 Princess Street
Want a Rich, Rustic Taste of Spain? Head for the Hills of La Rioja., NYT
‘It was more than a journey, it was an immersion’: readers’ favourite slow travel adventures, The Guardian
An F1 Racer’s Guide to Milan, BBC
The Best Beaches in Southeast Asia, Condé Nast
INFORMATION
In a Bid to Wow Fliers, Private Jet Terminals Are Getting Luxe Makeovers, Robb Report
Your ‘hot’ passport photo could be a problem at the airport,
The Washington Post
College Football Is in Chaos. Fans Can’t Get Enough., WSJ
The Rise of the $1,000-a-Night Hotel Room, WSJ
Influencers hyped the Amalfi Coast for years. Now it’s a ‘theme park.’
(an example of why these are both good ideas: 1) going in the off season 2) working with an expert to keep you away from the masses)
Was This the Summer European Tourism Reached a Breaking Point?, NYT
Good News for Deal-Seekers This Fall: Travel Demand Has Softened, NYT
How soon is too soon to visit after a disaster?, BBC
(If you aren’t able to access an NYT or Washington Post article, send me a note and I’ll send it to you in a PDF.)