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As we reflect on the trip of a lifetime, and all of the adventures we had, this final post will highlight some of the things we don't want to forget!
Each of us took some time to reflect and share our thoughts.
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Kathie: Meeting the African people was one of my favorite moments. They are happy. relaxed, helpful and very happy the way they live. Being under the starlit sky at night with a bonfire and all the animal sounds, I felt humbled and blessed at the same time. Most of all, no more zoos for me!
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Laura: I wasn’t sure what to expect, and everything exceeded my expectations. Interacting and learning about the Maasai was a highlight for me. Being immersed in the culture with the people that we met, and the vast open land and animals will forever be part of my heart. The welcoming feeling everywhere we went helped me feel at peace. I so appreciated all of the surprises along the way. I loved the slow way of living and was able to relax and fully embrace it. POLE, POLE!!
The people we met along the way!
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| Mama Stella at Wine to Water East Africa |
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| Moses - our butler at Siringit Villa |
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| Chef Frederic and Chef Mary at Siringit Villa |
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| Goodbye From Siringit Villa |
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| We can't forget Francis! We spent 6 days with him driving around Tanzania. He was amazing!! |
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| Devotha, our server at Neptune Lodge took Care of us!! |
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| Our friends at Siringit Serengeti Camp |
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| Francis and Aunt Rose had a SPECIAL connection! :) |
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| The warriors at TAASA Lodge kept us safe after dark. |
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| The friends we met at the Maasai village, including our tracker's wife and daughter, Selena |
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| We can't forget Wilson! He was our butler and server at TAASA and went above and beyond to take care of us at all hours!! |
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| Our friends at TAASA Lodge will always be in our heart! |
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| Boni and Ole, our tracker and driver while at TAASA. They never gave up and were always finding something new and exciting for us! |
Our unprecedented arrival in Tanzania
Driver Slang:
It was fun talking to our drivers and learning some of the phrases they use as they drive tourists around. Two of our favorites...
ALTs: Animal like things - as they are driving around looking for animals, they often encounter ALTs. :)
Speed Bumps: Often on the dirt roads, there are true speed bumps created to slow down the vehicles. Francis referred to them as "dead police." Ole and Boni referred to them as "sleeping police."
Amenities that we won't forget:
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| The welcome drinks! After returning from each game drive, regardless of the time, we were greeted with a fun drink. It was a cool and refreshing treat after being out on the dirt roads and open spaces for hours. Mango juice was a favorite. A favorite of Don's was the Taasa Bomba! |
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| The first night at Neptune Lodge, we pulled down the sheets and a hot water bottle was there warming the bed. This was part of the turndown service at each location we stayed at. At TAASA, they called them Bush Babies. :) After a long day, you could crawl into a warm bed, ready for a great night's sleep. |
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| Our Wake-up calls. You didn't just get a phone call or a knock on the door. You were greeted by your butler with the morning beverage of your choice and a cheery Jambo. I miss those morning alarms!! |
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| Don't drink the water!! We were reminded to not drink the faucet water while in Tanzania, and were provided with either bottled water or filtered water (filtered to US standards) in our bathroom area and in our sleeping areas at all times. |
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| Watch out for those flies! Our Serengeti fly swatters were something that we hadn't seen before and were very useful, |
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| The cocktail selections every night at dinner - at each location we had so many different options for our before dinner drinks. We loved the Serengeti beer, as well as the specialty cocktails and some old favorites done the Tanzania way. |
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| The meals were amazing! We had three course meals for lunch and dinner every day. We started with soup and appetizer, then main course and EVERY meal ended with a beautifully crafted dessert. |
Soup
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| We asked for some of the recipes for the soups while at Siringit Serengeti Camp, and Peter (our butler) hand wrote these recipes for us. Notice there are no measurements, just ingredients. :) |
Baby Animals
Bumpin' and Getting our steps in
Even though safaris seem sedentary (lots of sitting in jeeps), your non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) skyrockets:
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Early mornings, standing for wildlife sightings, balancing in the vehicle — constant small muscular engagement.
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Walking around camps (especially luxury tented ones spread out over large areas) adds hidden steps.
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Heat exposure and rough terrain subtly boost energy expenditure — your body works harder regulating temperature and balance.
You may have been burning 500–800 extra calories/day just from environmental effort.
Tanzania’s climate plays a big role:
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Warm days, cool nights = your body keeps recalibrating temperature (that thermoregulation burns calories).
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Altitude: many safari regions (like the Serengeti or Ngorongoro highlands) are 4,000–6,000 feet above sea level, which slightly increases resting metabolism and can reduce appetite.
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Constant daylight exposure resets circadian rhythms, improving hormonal balance (especially insulin and cortisol).
Even if you “ate like crazy,” the food itself is very different from typical Western excess:
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Safari lodges pride themselves on fresh, local, minimally processed ingredients — grass-fed meats, fresh produce, unrefined starches.
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Limited ultra-processed foods means fewer hidden sugars and preservatives that cause inflammation or water retention.
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You likely ate better quality calories — filling, nutrient-dense, metabolically friendly.
Safari life enforces a rhythm:
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Early dinner, long sleep, late breakfast = an unintentional intermittent fast of 12–14 hours.
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Early mornings and long drives delay mindless snacking.
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This stabilizes insulin and blood sugar, favoring fat burning — even with generous meals.
You were probably:
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Sleeping better (no blue light, natural fatigue from fresh air and early rises).
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Disconnected from stress — no email, no news, no cortisol spikes.
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Stress reduction dramatically improves digestion and fat metabolism.
On safari, indulgence is conscious — a ritual, not a binge:
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A sundowner gin and tonic while watching elephants feels different than mindless drinking at home.
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You savor food and stop when satisfied, not stuffed.
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Mindful enjoyment activates the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) system — digestion and nutrient use become more efficient.
All of this — movement, real food, natural rhythms, stress relief — works synergistically. Your body effectively “recalibrated”:
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Reduced inflammation and bloating.
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Improved insulin sensitivity.
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Enhanced fat oxidation, even with high food intake.
So you felt indulgent, but physiologically, your body was finally working optimally again.
From my research:
NEAT on a Safari: A Perfect Storm
Even though it feels like a relaxed trip, safaris push NEAT through the roof:
Constant micro-movements: standing up for sightings, twisting for camera angles, bracing in the jeep.
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Walking distances: luxury camps can be spread out — you might walk 5–8k steps without realizing it.
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Environmental resistance: uneven terrain and soft sand engage stabilizing muscles constantly.
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Thermoregulation: your body burns energy maintaining core temperature amid heat, wind, and altitude.
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Unstructured activity: unpacking, exploring, photographing, socializing — all of it adds up.
The result: even with large meals, your total daily burn (TDEE) goes way up.
Vast open spaces
The language
From our first day at Siringit Villa to our last, we embraced learning the Swahili language. We wanted to respect the people we were meeting, and also engage in conversation that showed them we were trying. :)
Though everyone spoke beautiful English, we did learn a few key phrases that we used consistently through our adventure.
