Why I Hired a Safari Expert (And I'm a Travel Agent)
There's a joke in our family that's been running for at least twenty years.
We always knew Dan had a complicated relationship with anything involving the outdoors, so the math was simple. Wait until the kids were grown, married, and well into careers where a safari was actually on the table. All they had to do was take their mom. It was a small ask, really. We laughed about it for years.
Then my daughter graduated from law school. And it occurred to me that surprising her with a trip to Africa was exactly the kind of thing a devoted father does for his little girl. Dan never had a chance. We jumped on it, paid our deposit, and moved on before he had time to reconsider.
Cape Town. Phinda Private Game Reserve. Victoria Falls.
Our family of four, finally doing the trip we've been dreaming about since the kids were little.
Even Travel Agents Call in Backup
I plan trips for a living. And for this one, I handed it off to a specialized Africa travel company without a second thought. Not because I couldn't do it. Because I knew better.
For international destinations I have never personally visited, especially ones involving multiple countries, shifting entry requirements, internal flights, and game reserve logistics, I always bring in a specialist. Someone who knows this region the way I know the properties I've personally vetted for my clients.
Here's a perfect example of why it matters… We had our hearts set on a great white shark dive. Plenty of tour companies are still marketing it. What they're not telling you is that orcas have moved into the area and the great white sharks are gone. Our specialist knew this before we built an entire day of our itinerary around a disappointment. That one conversation was worth every penny.
Book Earlier Than You Think
We booked this trip in May of 2025 for August of this year. That is over a year of lead time, and for the properties we wanted, it was necessary. As a matter of fact, one of the places we looked at in April was already gone by May. The luxury lodges worth staying at do not have last-minute availability. If you wait until six months out, you are choosing from whatever is left.
Africa is worth doing right. And doing it right starts earlier than most people think.
If this trip has been living in your someday category, it is time to give it a date.
P.S. Not sure where to start? Get inspired with one of these itineraries →
