The Sunny Travelers

09/01/2026

The best vacation isn’t necessarily the best vacation for YOU. ✈️

Some travelers want a beach chair and nowhere to be. 🌴

Others want culture, food, history and adventure.

Some will happily wake up before sunrise for wildlife. 🐘

And others want luxury, incredible service and time to simply enjoy it all.

None of them are traveling wrong.

The best trips are the ones that match how YOU actually like to travel.

And plot twist...you’re allowed to be more than one. 😂

So, which traveler are you?

08/26/2026

🐘So...why DOES an African safari cost what it costs?

If you've ever started researching a safari and experienced a little sticker shock, you're definitely not the only one.

But here's what I've learned after experiencing safari for myself: You can't price a safari the same way you would a typical Caribbean vacation.

There are so many moving pieces happening behind the scenes.
✅Where you safari.
✅When you go.
✅How long you stay.
✅Your guide and vehicle.
✅Park and conservation fees.
✅Where you stay.
✅How you travel between locations.
✅Whether your experience is private or shared.

And then we start adding those bucket-list extras... hot air balloons, bush flights, Zanzibar, multiple countries, gorilla trekking... you see where we're going. 😂

That's also why two itineraries that both say “7-Day Tanzania Safari” can be thousands of dollars apart.

They may look similar on paper while offering two completely different experiences.

So instead of asking only:
“How much does a safari cost?”

I want travelers to start asking:
“What am I actually getting for my investment?”

That's exactly what I'm breaking down in my newest blog:
🦁How Much Does an African Safari Really Cost? What You're Actually Paying For.

If Africa is on your bucket list, read this one before you start comparing safari prices.

Because the cheapest safari isn't automatically the best value, and the most expensive safari isn't automatically the best experience.

The goal is finding the right safari for you. 💛

🔗 Click the picture to read the full blog.

💾 Save this for when you're ready to start planning Africa, or send it to that friend who's been talking about going on safari!

Discover what an African safari really costs and learn how destination, season, accommodations, park fees, transportation, and add-ons affect the price.

08/24/2026

Before I experienced safari for myself, I saw the price and wondered the same thing...

💰Why does a safari cost THAT much?🤔

But once I started traveling through Africa and understood everything happening behind the scenes, the price began to make a whole lot more sense.

Here's what I've learned:

🦁Two safari itineraries can look almost identical on paper and offer two completely different experiences.

That's why I don't believe in comparing safaris by price alone. You have to understand what you're actually getting for that investment.

And trust me, there's A LOT happening behind the scenes that most travelers never see.

💛 I'm breaking this ALL the way down in my next blog.

How Much Does an African Safari Really Cost?

Until then, I'm curious...

What do YOU think makes safari so "expensive"?👇🏾

08/21/2026

📍 Random Video Friday: Mexico City 🇲🇽

This experience was on a WHOLE other vibe. 😂

Watching a wrestling match in Mexico City had the inner kid in me smiling from ear to ear. The energy, the crowd, the costumes, the excitement... you really had to be there.

And it reminded me of something.

There is NOTHING like seeing and experiencing this world through your own eyes.

A camera roll can capture the moment.
A TV show can show you the destination.
A social media feed can inspire you to go.

But none of them can do real life justice.

They can’t recreate the sounds around you, the energy of the crowd, the food you tasted, the people you met, or that feeling of realizing, Wow... I’m really here.

Sometimes the best part of traveling isn’t checking something off a bucket list.

It’s letting yourself be curious, trying something completely different, and giving that inner kid another reason to smile. 💛

Some things aren’t meant to just be watched. They’re meant to be experienced.

08/19/2026

📍 Kilimanjaro Coffee Lodge | Tanzania 🇹🇿

Most travelers think the adventure begins when they spot their first elephant.

Mine began with a cup of coffee. ☕️

Before heading out into the wild, I spent time at Kilimanjaro Coffee Lodge, tucked among lush coffee plantations near the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.

And I'm so glad I did.

Instead of rushing straight into safari mode, this gave me a chance to slow down, settle into Tanzania, and experience a completely different side of the country.

Here's what stood out:

☕ Fresh, locally grown coffee and the chance to learn more about Tanzania's coffee culture
🌿 Beautiful gardens and peaceful surroundings that made it easy to unwind
🛏️ Comfortable accommodations with plenty of Tanzanian character
🍽️ Delicious meals and fresh local flavors
💛 The kind of warm hospitality that makes you feel genuinely welcomed

One of my favorite experiences was touring the coffee plantation and learning how coffee makes its journey from bean to cup.

And it reminded me of something I say often:

Tanzania is so much more than the safari.

Yes, the wildlife is extraordinary. 🐘🦁 But so are the people, the food, the landscapes, the culture, and those slower experiences that allow you to really connect with a destination.

That's what thoughtful travel looks like to me.

It's not just checking places off a list. It's intentionally weaving together experiences that allow you to actually experience the place you're visiting.

So tell me...

☕️ Would you spend a night on a coffee plantation before heading out on safari?

💾 Save this for your future Tanzania adventure.

✈️ Share it with someone who has Africa on their list.

08/13/2026

Everyone knows about Africa’s Big Five… but have you heard of the Little Five? 👀

These tiny creatures earned their names because they share something in common with their much larger counterparts.

Meet the:
🐘 Elephant Shrew
🦁 Antlion
🦏 Rhinoceros Beetle
🐃 Buffalo Weaver
🐆 Leopard Tortoise

Small in size, but definitely not short on personality.

One of the things I love most about safari is realizing that the magic isn’t only in spotting lions, elephants, and giraffes. Sometimes the most fascinating discoveries are hiding right under your nose.

So next time you’re on safari, don’t just look for the Big Five.

Keep your eyes open for the little guys too. 💛

Which one surprised you the most?