In my career, I’ve been fortunate to spend an immense amount of time living in and traveling around Africa. I have guided trips through the continent’s premier parks and studied with knowledgeable naturalists; summited Mt. Kilimanjaro; kayaked in Lake Malawi; dune-bashed in Namibia’s Skeleton Coast and rafted down the Zambezi River below Victoria Falls. I have explored Botswana’s Okavango Delta; trekked through some of Egypt’s vast deserts; mountain biked through the bush and tracked gorillas and chimpanzees in multiple countries. I’ve had some amazing experiences while traveling, but I’m often asked to narrow in on my top favorites, which I’m sharing below.
When people press me about my favorite experiences on safari, gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda always makes it to the top of the list. The chance to see habituated mountain gorillas up close in their natural habitat (the only place you actually can see them as there are none in captivity) is one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had in nature anywhere in the world. It feels like such a privilege to spend time with them, observing their behavior and family interactions. It’s an hour that goes by in a moment but stays with you forever.
I am a fan of the great apes and trekking to see chimpanzees in Africa is one of my top travel experiences. Seeing them is so different from watching gorillas – their interactions and relationships are unique. There are many places on the continent that you can trek to see chimps, but my favorite area is Mahale Mountains National Park in western Tanzania. Mahale chimps have been habituated for 60 years and their history is amazing. Mahale is “just down the lake” from another great chimp viewing area, Gombe Stream National Park, where Jane Goodall did her pioneering research.
East Africa’s Great Migration is special all year around (as long as you’re in the right place during the right season!), but I have a soft spot for the birthing season which is early in the year in the southern Serengeti in Tanzania. The Migration makes its way to the short grass plains to feed and give birth following the rains. Up to 500,000 wildebeest and zebra are born in a 2-3 week time frame making it a fantastic time of year to visit. It’s amazing to have the chance to see all of the baby animals and the resulting predator action is tremendously exciting.
I recently had the great fortune to participate in a rhino conservation experience at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve in South Africa. It was one of the most interesting and amazing safari experiences I’ve ever had. After being darted by a trained veterinarian from a helicopter, the rhino (or in my case two rhinos – a mother and daughter) drops and the vet team moves in to ensure the rhinos are doing well under anesthesia. Blood samples and other vital info are gathered, tracking collars are cleaned and readjusted, and if the rhino hasn’t been darted before, the ears are notched for identification purposes. All the while, the participants can safely touch the rhinos – feeling their skin and horns. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you’re interested, contact a Journey Specialist. You can request to join, pending limited availability, for a donation.
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Photos courtesy AAC President Kent Redding