African Safaris Consultant

In 2023, I finally checked off one of my biggest bucket list items - an African safari! I organized a group of 9 to join me on the 17-hour flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, where we met up with another agent and her group for a total of 23 adventurous adults. What followed was absolutely the experience of a lifetime.

We saw ALL of the Big 5 and so much more! I'll never forget walking within 10 feet of a cheetah who had just finished her impala dinner and was feeling sleepy and content. We got within 5 feet of lions (safely in our vehicle, of course), and had a massive elephant walk right past me - so close I could have reached out and touched him. What amazed me most was how many animals we spotted daily and how expertly our guides could find them using their radio network to share Big 5 sightings with other vehicles.

We stayed in fantastic air-conditioned lodges - yes, real comfort, not actual tents! - and did twice-daily game drives. Early morning at 5 AM was definitely the best for wildlife viewing, then back for breakfast. Our afternoon drives went until sunset with "sundowners" before heading back to the lodge. The Chobe River area in Botswana was my favorite - watching elephants swim from our safari vehicle was incredible.

Our group of mostly aged 55+ travelers got along beautifully and made lifelong friendships. The highlight for group bonding? Two 20-something sisters in our group did a tandem bungee jump over Victoria Falls while we all held our breath and cheered them on. It brought us even closer together!

My advice for future Africa travelers: it's expensive and that flight is LONG (upgrade your seats if possible!), but it's absolutely worth every penny. Don't overpack - laundry service at the lodges is incredibly inexpensive. And keep your stomach meds easily accessible (trust me on this one!).

This trip reminded me why I love organizing these bucket-list adventures - there's nothing quite like sharing once-in-a-lifetime experiences with fellow travelers.