Tuesdays are for Traveling: Safari!

When I was a teenager, my family took a trip to Kenya and Tanzania.  My aunt lived in Nairobi while she was working for CARE, so we had a fascinating inside look at what it's like to live there.  In addition to experiencing the local culture, though, we went to the Maasai Mara for a photographic safari.  I'm sure it was incredible but all I can remember is being a mortified 13-year old watching lions mate with my parents.  (To be clear, the lions weren't mating with my parents.  I was just with my parents watching lions mate with each other.  Now that I think about this, it could have been MUCH worse.)

Now that I'm all grown up (and then some), I think I could better appreciate nature in action.  How amazing do these uber-luxe places look?

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania

Singita Sabi Sand, Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Singita Kruger National Park, Sweni Lodge, South Africa

ol Donyo Lodge, Mbirikani Group Ranch, Kenya

Mombo and Little Mombo Camps, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Singita Grumeti Reserves, Sasakwa Lodge and Faru Faru Lodge, Tanzania

So many options!

If you don't have a boatload of cash and two weeks of vacation time saved up, you could also check out this place near Glenrose, Texas:

Just like an African safari?  Maybe not.  But I went with my nieces last year and they LOVED it!  Getting to feed the giraffes even made me feel like a kid again.