Planning a Once-in-a-Lifetime African Adventure

The Brief

Every now and then, a brief lands on your desk that’s both exhilarating and a bit daunting.

This one came from my good friends, Ron and Philly — newly retired, ready for their long-dreamed-of “trip of a lifetime.” They wanted to see all the key sights of Africa, experience as much as possible, and do it properly.

They made it clear this might be their one big Africa adventure, so it had to be exceptional — memorable, seamless, and deeply personal. Oh, and they’re good friends with half my social circle in Solana Beach, so if I got this wrong… well, goodbye dinner invitations. No pressure at all.

The Process

As always, we started with a long conversation then another and another. Every great trip begins not with an itinerary, but with curiosity: Who are these travelers, really? What makes them tick?

I asked the usual questions:

· Who’s the princess in the relationship — and why?

· How adventurous are you, really?

· How active do you want to be (or can you be)?

· What does “luxury” mean to you — comfort, service, or experience?

With Ron and Philly, the answers were easy. I’d been trying to persuade them to visit Africa for over fifteen years. Their business was sold, they were healthy (after a few scares), and it was finally time.

Ron, a former winemaker from Napa and lifelong entrepreneur, is a creative maverick — the kind of man who’s as happy behind a camera as he is behind a wine barrel. Philly is his perfect match: curious, warm, endlessly engaging, and the sort of traveler who squeezes every drop of joy from every moment.

Together, they were dream clients — and friends — so I took this one personally. I worked closely with my trusted expert Tracy, who knows every camp, flight path, and safari trick in the book. Between us, we crafted something truly extraordinary.

The Plan

Africa is vast — and I mean vast. The mainland USA fits neatly inside the Sahara. So when you say “we want to see it all,” you’re really saying, “we want to cross a continent.”

To give it context, the distance between Cape Town and Nairobi is roughly the same as between San Diego and Boston. Imagine having three or four weeks to cherry-pick the best of America — from California to New England — and that’s what we tried to do for Africa.

The final route spanned six countries: The UK → South Africa → Zambia → Malawi → Kenya → Rwanda → Tanzania (and Zanzibar).

The Journey

1. The UK – Warming Up Gently Before heading south, we added a soft landing in London and the Cotswolds. Ron had never been to the UK (a fact I found deeply offensive as an Englishman). They stayed at the stylish Ham Yard Hotel in London and then the historic Lygon Arms in Broadway — even visiting the Aston Martin factory for a petrol-head fix before the real adventure began.

2. South Africa – A Toast to New Beginnings We started in Cape Town, staying at the elegant Ellerman House — the perfect “soft landing” for first-timers to Africa, complete with one of the best wine cellars in the country. Then to Stellenbosch wine country, where our team arranged private barrel tastings and a behind-the-scenes visit with a master winemaker.

3. Zambia – Safari, Pure and Simple From wine to wilderness: first stop Tongabezi Lodge near Victoria Falls, then into the Lower Zambezi at Chiawa Camp — one of my personal favourites. Here, they saw elephants crossing the river, hippos wallowing metres from their deck, and took to the water by canoe for that quintessential Zambia magic. Next came South Luangwa National Park, staying at Tena Tena Camp. For Philly’s birthday, we organised a private candlelit dinner on the riverbank — just the two of them, under a billion stars.

4. Malawi – The Soulful Pause After days of safari, they flew to Likoma Island on Lake Malawi, staying at Kaya Mawa — a peaceful, barefoot-luxury lodge surrounded by warm, clear water and vibrant village life. They snorkelled, met local artisans, and simply exhaled.

5. Kenya – People, Culture & Elephants From there, we headed north to the Sarara Camp in the remote Matthews Range — a personal favourite and a model of community-based conservation. Ron, the photographer, was mesmerised by the Samburu people and the elephants at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, while Philly fell in love with the local women’s collective.

6. Rwanda – The Gorilla Trek Their next stop was Rwanda, where they stayed at Bisate Lodge near Volcanoes National Park. After several back surgeries, I worried about Ron managing the hike to the gorillas — but he was determined. He not only made it, he led his trekking group up the mountain and came back grinning from ear to ear. Philly trekked again the next day. Both described it as one of the greatest moments of their lives.

7. Tanzania – Following the Migration To end on a wildlife high, they flew into the Serengeti for a stay at Serengeti Safari Camp | Nomad, following the Great Migration. I had worried it might be “one safari too many,” but it turned out to be one of their biggest highlights — proof that clients sometimes are right.

8. Zanzibar – The Perfect Finale Finally, they ended on Mnemba Island — a private atoll of sugar-white beaches and coral reefs. After years away from diving, both slipped back underwater and rediscovered the simple joy of being weightless in a tropical sea.

The Challenge

Trips like this are a logistical jigsaw — moving parts, charter flights, border crossings, and a rhythm that has to balance adventure with rest.

For me, luxury isn’t about marble bathtubs — it’s about location and authenticity. We mixed ultra-luxury lodges with more classic, rustic safari camps. Every stop had a different feel, purpose, and pace.

That’s how you avoid “safari fatigue.” Game drives twice a day can blur together after a week — but when you mix in walking safaris, canoe trips, gorilla treks, beach days, and local culture, every chapter feels fresh.

The Result

They loved it. Completely.

When I saw them back home, they told me it was “the best trip we’ve ever done — you’ve ruined us for future travel.” Those are words I’ll never get tired of hearing.

The best part? We’re still friends. In fact, they hosted me for dinner when they got back — and we’re already scheming what might come next.

To Ron and Philly: thank you for trusting me to show you my Africa, and to Tracy, thank you for making it happen. This is why I do what I do — to turn someone’s once-in-a-lifetime dream into a living, breathing memory.

Destinations Covered

🇬🇧 UK: London & The Cotswolds 🇿🇦 South Africa: Cape Town & Stellenbosch 🇿🇲 Zambia: Livingstone, Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa 🇲🇼 Malawi: Likoma Island 🇰🇪 Kenya: Samburu Region 🇷🇼 Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania & Zanzibar: Serengeti & Mnemba Island