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!

With gorilla trekking, you are on foot, often forging your own path to find the gorillas. There are no fences, no regular patterns, no plan. I trekked for two days in a row in the two days could not have been more different. The weather, the time of year, the mood of the gorillas…all factor into where and how you find the gorillas. It's like the gorillas make you work for that encounter! It’s exhilarating and so engaging. 

The unprecedented events of 2020 have turned the trip of a lifetime into the trip you should take in the months ahead.

Imagine a throng of wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson’s gazelle catapulting themselves down the steep banks of the Mara River. They’re exhausted from their journey, kicking up the dust as they run, but you can still see crocodiles snapping their jaws at the many hooves through the haze. Beneath you, the ground vibrates. Your excitement is visceral, born from a natural phenomenon as old as life itself.  

With a growing number of luxury eco-lodges, a plethora of flights from both the U.S. and Europe, along with an increasing interest in seeing animal conservation in action; tourism to Africa has been on the rise. But this year, Africa is experiencing a drought... not of rain, but a drought of tourists due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. This goes beyond just canceling a ‘trip of a lifetime’, the lack of tourism has a profound impact on the people, the wildlife, and the fragile ecosystems where they coexist.

These socially-distant destinations are ideal to combine with your next safari. and offer a vast array of experiences: From wine tasting to scuba diving and shopping to golfing. Which one will you pick?

If there’s one thing we can be sure of in 2020, it’s that experiencing this planet is an enormous privilege which we will never againtake for granted. While we prepare for travel in America’s backyard in the short term, we’re also looking forward to experiences in remote destinations that celebrate nature as well as our own wellbeing. After all, who doesn’t need something to look forward to?

From our outdoor soaking tub overlooking the dotted landscape of Laikipia, wine glasses in hand, we watched a parade of elephants slowly amble into the sunset. Karibu, or welcome to Kenya, where moments like these make you feel as if there’s no place more romantic or secluded in the world. This is the Africa with which I fell head-over-heels in love — and the setting for the first, wild adventure of my married life.

Trekking the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda had been a dream of mine for many years, so when the opportunity arose for me and my friend Holly to do it, it was truly a dream come true. The anticipation and excitement ran rampant in my mind the night before our first trek. I was up before the sunrise, wondering how the day might actually materialize.

Having visited numerous times over the years, South Africa is one of my most favorite places to explore. Whether it is for safari or for city culture, it will never disappoint. My most recent trip confirmed my deep fondness for this part of Africa.