With Omicron cases plummeting around the world, the strictest of countries opening back up, an absence of new variants (touch wood), and summer just around the corner, call it a trend or call it a command, your job is to dust off your passport and just go travel. 

The New York Times recently wrote about the travel trends related to this expected boom in travel. We will let you read the nitty gritty about rental car and hotel room trends, but draw your attention to travel on small cruise ships to luxury destinations, sexual intimacy vacations, and the return of big city travel destinations. 

We are going to regularly highlight amazing travel experiences you can book with our partners at Valerie Wilson Travel. Some of these are on trend, others are trips we think you should simply set your out of office notice now for, but all are worthy of a honeymoon or ‘why the heck not’ trips. And as our title indicates, we are going to start with a big one.

African Safari: Lions and Rhinos and Buffalo, Oh My!

“If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.” John Hemingway felt it in his bones; you will, too. The moment you see a cheetah training her cubs to stalk, a leopard asleep in a tree, or a herd of elephants loping across the savannah, you will understand the term the ‘real world’ really means. Truly, there are few—very few—experiences that are as exciting, meditative and transformative as a safari. And lest you think Africa is solely about big game, reality is there are so many more activities to make your African trip the most memorable you will ever take.

Below is a two-week itinerary through Tanzania and Zanzibar designed by Valerie Wilson Travel which we encourage you to book now for an amazing summer excursion. It is worth noting that we at Men’s Vows have personally enjoyed these countries and felt nothing short of incredible hospitality while there. But if your safari sights are set on South Africa or Kenya, Valerie Wilson Travel will design an equally amazing journey.

On arrival in Arusha, Tanzania, right at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, you’ll luxuriate at the aptly named Legendary Lodge for a recovery spa session and exquisite bird peeping before heading off the next day to…

Chem Chem Lodge which is nestled between Tangier National Park and Lake Manyara. For two days you will glamp under the stars ahead of your morning and evening game rides. From Chem Chem you’ll head off to…

Kogatende where you will experience the Serengeti from the skies on a balloon safari and live among the animals in Bedouin-style tents. If you’re here between July and August, you will experience the great wildebeast migration. From here you will make your way to…

Singita Grumeti Tented Camp where elephants, giraffes and other wild life will make their way right outside your tent, one of the most luxurious tents you’ll ever experience. Having taken in the greatness of the African plains and wildlife, you’ll head over to…

Mnemba Island, Zanzibar for days of beaching, kayaking, paddle-boarding and glamorous beach-side lounging and where the biggest game you’ll see might be a round of cards! From here, you will make your way back to the world you no longer know as real!

Summer is just around the corner and this trip should be waiting for you when spring takes its final bow. Drop Ellie at Valerie Wilson Travel a line to start planning your African dream vacation or honeymoon now.