Adventures in Africa: Expanding Our Travel Horizons

We recently checked off three new countries on two new continents in less than three weeks. Here’s what I learned: Don’t let fear stop you from exploring!

Your Budget Travel Buddy

Hi, my name is Stephanie. My husband Drew and I love to travel, and we are currently working on visiting thirty countries before I turn thirty! We have two countries left and less than a year to do it! You can follow our journey on Instagram: @travelwiththetimmers 

Africa has been on my bucket list for a while, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t think I would ever actually get there on our budget. That’s the amazing power of learning to acquire and leverage credit card points and miles! You can learn our strategies for this by following us on IG.

How I Stumbled Upon Sherpani

As we prepared to set out on our biggest adventure yet, I started to wonder if I should invest in an anti-theft bag. Some other travel accounts we follow on Instagram have recommended carrying a slash-proof bag to protect your belongings. Since we were visiting two new continents, I liked the idea of having an added layer of security.

I first discovered Sherpani bags at a boutique in a small town in northern Michigan. I wish I were the type of person who could just find a great product and buy it, but I have to research it to death first. So, I started on one of my classic deep-dive research benders.

I spent days upon days researching anti-theft bags, trying to find the best one out there. Sherpani’s innovative strap design really intrigued me! Other anti-theft bags have a heavy strap, which I knew would bother me. I kept coming back to Sherpani because of their designs, patterns, and company values. I'm really impressed by their commitment to sustainability, equality, and safety. 

Upon receiving my Sherpani bags, I knew that my research had paid off! With my new Soleil backpack and Prima crossbody in tow, I felt ready to embark on our big trip with an added sense of security and confidence.

Travel Safety in Kenya

A new place can feel unnerving, especially when you know you are going to visibly stand out as a tourist. We started our adventure in Nairobi, Kenya, unsure of what was in store. We were leary of civil unrest, political conflict, and police corruption in this large city.

On our red-eye flight from Egypt to Kenya, we met a woman from Nairobi. She said there were certain days to avoid the city due to protests and demonstrations but that otherwise, it would be completely safe. She shared a few tips with us about places to visit on our layover for the way back home when we would travel through Nairobi again. Speaking with a local helped to ease our worries, and she wasn't the only kind stranger we met on this trip. We were amazed by the welcoming nature of every Kenyan person we encountered!

For me, as a female traveler, exiting the airport always feels like the most vulnerable spot (probably thanks to movies like Taken), but in Nairobi, I felt completely safe! Our Safari guide, Ben, was right there, ready to pick us up. We boarded our Land Cruiser and were off on our big Safari adventure!

As we drove past Nairobi and the surrounding towns on our way to the Maasai Mara, I took in the scenery, keeping my eyes peeled for that first wildlife sighting. The first animal we saw was a baboon! Ben was so used to seeing them that he just kept driving by! It is amazing to me how diverse our world is, how what is common for one person is so rare for another. The context for how you experience something can completely change how you see it. That's why I love traveling and expanding my understanding of this great big world. 

African Safari: A Bucket List Experience

After arriving in Maasai Mara, we sat down to eat lunch outside. Hippos were splashing in the river onsite at our camp! Drew even found a hippo footprint right outside of our tent. We were a little uneasy about these wild animals being so close, but the staff assured us that we were safe (and they were right).

After lunch, we visited a Maasai Village and learned about the customs and culture of the Maasai tribes. We sang traditional songs with them, learned about the value of their cattle, and how the men have three or more wives. While everyone in the village was extremely kind and welcoming, it was a little intimidating to immerse ourselves in their culture while our driver stayed back in the car with our valuables. I was grateful to have the reassurance that my belongings were safe in my Sherpani bags.

The next morning, it was time for our first safari game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. That day, we spotted six cheetahs, a lion, and more giraffes, elephants, zebras, warthogs, and wildebeests than we could count!

It was an incredible experience to see these massive and majestic creatures in their natural habitat. I quickly realized how our zoos can’t even come close in size to the habitats these animals are used to exploring.

I learned so much about these incredible animals during the following eight days of our Safari. I felt safer than I ever imagined possible while getting so close to giant elephants, fierce lions, and towering giraffes.

A Birthday Abroad

After exploring the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater, we hopped on a little plane to the next leg of our big adventure: Zanzibar, Tanzania. This beautiful island has some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world! Arriving at night at any new location always makes me feel a bit uneasy, and again, I was grateful to be carrying my Sherpani bags.

We celebrated my 29th birthday in Stone Town, Zanzibar, at a restaurant called Beach House. It was a beautiful spot on the water with incredible seafood. The staff even sang Happy Birthday to me in Swahili!

We love celebrating special occasions with experiences rather than gifts. We've made memories celebrating anniversaries and birthdays everywhere, from Kihei, Maui, to Savannah, Georgia, to San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is always fun to experience how different cultures celebrate birthdays or anniversaries, too! We couldn’t get over how incredibly welcomed we felt by every person we met on this trip! “Karibu” means welcome in Swahili, and that is probably the word we heard most throughout our travels.

The next morning, we set sail in a tiny boat for Prison Island & Nakupenda Beach. We met some giant tortoises, swam in the clearest water, and ate the best lobster I have ever had! We stayed at Paje Beach Apartments & Hotel, the cutest boutique beach hotel. They greeted us with a welcome beverage and superb customer service. We can genuinely say this about every single place we stayed in Kenya and Tanzania, as well as our quick stopover in India on our way home.

Lessons Learned

The US could learn a thing or two from the hospitality we received from all of the people in these countries—we sure did. We now aim to extend the same warm Karibu welcome at home to the tourists of Michigan.

Traveling to a new part of the world can feel scary, especially when the cultures and customs are not something you are familiar with. But doing your research and being prepared will help you feel more confident stepping into those new spaces. Fear easily could have stopped me from traveling so far from home, meeting these wonderful people, and having close encounters with the animals, but I didn’t let it, and you shouldn't either!

Here is my invitation to you: Get out and visit the places that scare you! You just might be pleasantly surprised by what you find. I'm willing to bet you'll come home with stories, lessons, and expanded horizons.

Happy Travels,

Stephanie Timmer

Sherpani Guest Author | @travelwiththetimmers

 

By women for women, the Sherpani Travel Blog talks about all things travel (& all things Sherpani!). Explore topics like solo travel, destination guides, women's travel safety, personal essays, and much more! This is a space to amplify female voices and celebrate our belief that travel restores the human spirit.