by Jeff Hood, Senior Luxury Travel Advisor

Long ago, when I was a young boy hooked on my Sunday episodes of “Wild Kingdom,” and later, throughout my teenage and adult years being a National Geographic Magazine junkie, I had yearned to go on an African Safari. Not only did I dream of and study the animals, but I also made it my life goal to get there—a number one bucket list trip!

Helping clients curate amazing African safaris during my 34-year career as a luxury travel advisor, seeing their happiness and wildlife photos while following them along on social media brings so much joy and meaning to my life and what I do. Patiently I waited, took my time, and knew the right opportunity would present itself for me to finally go and experience Africa in all her amazing glory!

Opportunity came knocking back in May 2021 when I was asked to be a guest on an incredible 12-day Tanzania safari with Micato Safaris. I received the invitation, and strangely, it took me a while to open it. I could not contain the excitement and wanted time to check my emotions. I finally opened it and reviewed the itinerary day by day as my eyes teared up. It was my time! The realness of it finally happening truly overwhelmed me. 

Many, many months passed, and it was all coming together perfectly. Three days before I was supposed to get on my plane, the excitement took over my life, and trying to sleep was a major challenge. I boarded my plane heading to Kilimanjaro and had nothing but smiles and maybe a few tears of joy on take-off. Champagne, please!

Upon arrival in Arusha, taking my very first step on African soil is a memory I will never forget. Just like that, we’re off on safari. Willy, our amazing Micato Safari director, played host for the next two weeks. He was brilliant in every facet, and I know I made a new friend for life. 

Each day, game drives start early to maximize your chances at animal viewing in the vast plains and sometimes rugged terrain (all part of the fun)—from your private vehicle, of course (the only way to do safari and feel like a movie star)! 

Seeing my first zebras, lion prides, antelopes, gazelles, warthogs, elephants, and even a spotted hyena was breathtaking—I had to almost pinch myself. Was this reality? Me in the middle of the bush? Was this really happening, or was I still dreaming? To say I was in complete awe is an understatement.

Back to the lodge, or tented camp, in time for breakfast and a little R&R, letting time slip by in the pool cooling off and gazing over the amazing landscapes and seeing The Motherland in all her glory. Lunch, a spa, or a nap, and off I go on another adventurous evening game drive—the perfect time for the night predators to be out on the hunt for dinner. Meanwhile, the staff has been working on a fabulous dinner and later invites us to sit around the fire to recap the day’s highlights. Below were a few of mine:

• Having a massive bull elephant coming right up to our vehicle and staring us down.

• Seeing a pack of hyenas take down a 1,600-pound cape buffalo in a water hole right off the deck from our lodge one evening at dinner. Not for the faint of heart!

• Enjoying a private lunch served on the Ngorongoro Crater floor.

• Visiting the Datoga Village to learn about the customs and cultures of the Masai tribe, even taking in a traditional dance with them. You know, when in Africa!

• Experiencing a two-hour hike in the Serengeti with a local tribe, hunting down prey, trying fresh honey from a killer bees’ nest. Oh, and the tribe named me “lion.” Unforgettable.

All along the way, the lodges and tented safari camps were truly some of the most unique accommodations I have experienced in my career. From the colonial glamour of The Manor estate at Ngorongoro Crater to the jaw-dropping suites at Mwiba Wildlife Reserve, from the elegant Singita Sasakwa Lodge, perched high above the plains to the safari-chic Singita Faru Faru Lodge, and without forgetting the ever so famous Singita Sabora Tented Camp—all were special and checked every box, each in their own ways.

Being on safari, time just stops. You take into perspective what life is truly meant to be, embrace where you are, and look at the majestic beauty of Africa. It’s also not just about the wildlife—and while we all love the animals, it’s important to embrace the people and cultures of the land by listening to their stories and knowing the true simplicity of their lives. You leave feeling humbled and blessed. To be there, to be present, to be thankful for what life has just given you!

I think American author John Hemingway sums it up best: “If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.”