Over the past 4 months, we’ve traveled through 9 African countries, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, and spent countless days on safari. So, we decided to slow down and conclude our months-long Africa trip by volunteering in one of our favorite places. That’s how Tom and I found ourselves back on the Greater Masai Mara in Kenya, where we spent 3 weeks counting big cats in a private wildlife reserve.
Read MoreIt’s no secret that Africa is filled with fascinating wildlife. But though we’d seen plenty of elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and cheetahs during our months of Africa travel, there was still one very important animal—and one of mankind’s closest relatives, no less—that we still needed to see. Of course, finding these elusive creatures would require trekking deep into the jungles of Uganda, one of the only places where Africa’s mountain gorillas still live.
Read MoreSlow and steady (aka "pole, pole") is the only way to reach the top of Africa’s highest peak.
Read MoreThe Serengeti—a seemingly endless expanse of wildlife-rich grassland encompassing large parts of Tanzania and neighboring Kenya—has fascinated me since childhood. Starring in countless nature documentaries, the region is famed for “The Great Migration,” the world’s largest migration of animals journeying through the sprawling national park in search of fresh grass. Of course, along with the herds come fearsome predators, including lions, leopards, cheetah, and hyenas vying for their next meal. So it was with great excitement that we dusted off our cameras, practiced our best David Attenborough impressions, and set off to explore this natural wonder for ourselves.
Read MoreThere are so many reasons to travel to Tanzania, which has been blessed with many of Africa’s best things to see and do. There’s incredible wildlife, world-famous parks, white-sand beaches, and Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. That’s why Tom and I spent almost a month in country, which we timed to coincide with the “Great Migration”---the world’s largest migration of wildlife---and the best times to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Read on for travel stories and photos that may make you want to quit your jobs and visit Tanzania, too!
Read MoreWhile the legacy of Cecil Rhodes, one of Africa’s most infamous colonizers, remains controversial, he is an important figure in understanding the history of the region.
Read MoreAfter three nights camping at Vic Falls, we re-boarded our truck for the next portion of our journey, which would take us through Zimbabwe and into Malawi, Tanzania, and Zanzibar with a fresh mix of travelers on board.
Read MoreBefore arriving in Africa, my idea of a safari was hopping into a 4x4 jeep and charging through the bush in search of wildlife. But on the next leg of our journey — through a series of national parks spanning northern Namibia and wildlife-rich Botswana — we were soon to find safaris in Africa as varied as the continent itself.
Read MoreSince crossing over the border from South Africa, we’ve discovered the merits of flying under the radar. No wonder our tour guide, Laban, described the former colony—which offers Africa’s signature beauty without high prices or huge crowds—as one of the continent’s “hidden gems.”
Read MoreAfter a week of camping in Kruger National Park, it came as a relief to finally arrive in coastal Cape Town. South Africa’s oldest city provided a welcome break from the heat, a chance to relax and restock on supplies, and the creature comforts of a plush hotel room.
Read MoreOn our first morning in the park, we quickly spotted 3 of the Big 5 (lions, elephants, and buffalo) as well cheetahs, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, ostrich, and impalas.
Read MoreJen and I arrived in Jo’berg to find South Africa’s largest city reeling from a turbulent post COVID recovery. Yet despite these issues, it didn’t take us long to discover a vibrant, friendly city with tons of character.
Read MoreAfrica— a continent both Tom and I had yet to visit— seemed like the perfect place to travel in the post-covid era. We’d spend our days on safari, our nights camping outside, and everyone on our tour was required to be vaccinated.
Read MoreAs a centuries-old fusion of Caribbean, Spanish and revolutionary traditions, Cuba has developed into something truly unique. Though economic embargoes and communist rule continue to stifle economic growth, the island also offers a lost-in-time sort of charm generally lost in an era of growing globalization.
Read MoreWhile visitors looking for a glimpse of the real Mexico may be disappointed, the Yucatan was absolutely beautiful, and still offered more local heritage more than just sunbathing or partying at an all-inclusive hotel bar. Locals are friendly and rightly proud of their Mayan heritage, while the food and drink is incredible.
Read MoreThe Galapagos Islands host some of the world’s most unique wildlife, and every year hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to see the giant tortoises, exotic sea birds, marine iguanas and friendly sea lions who call this place home.
Read MoreEver since Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution, the Galapagos have become Ecuador’s top tourist draws. But while this volcanic island chain deserves the attention, it’s also a shame because this pint-sized host country — with Andean peaks, Amazonian jungle, colonial cities and sun-soaked beaches— also packs a real punch.
Read MoreMachu Picchu may get plaudits as Peru’s premier tourist attraction, but the Incas were just the last of the country’s pre-Columbian cultures.
Read MoreIt’s impossible to visit Latin America without hearing a lot about one man, Simon Bolivar, the freedom fighter who drove the Spanish back home before founding six South American countries. Along with the requisite avenues, currency (the boliviano) and even its national football team, the country of Bolivia took things one step further by naming its entire territory after "The Liberator."
Read MoreSqueezed in by mountains, oceans, tundra and the world’s driest desert, Chile is — by far — South America’s most diverse country.
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