Next Up: Tanzania (Great Migration Time, Baby!)

I know on one hand, I’m here to educate and inform about destinations and properties you were not familiar, which is kinda the opposite of trying to convince all eight billion of you that you simply must witness the Great Migration. But…I’ve still never watched a crocodile munch its way through a wildebeest, so — wave goodbye to my wife and children — off to Tanzania I go.

If you’ve read every word I’ve ever written (my deepest apologies), this may not be the most thrilling itinerary, because I’m returning to two old classics: Singita Mara River Tented Camp, last visited in 2018 (it’s since had a refurb, in fairness), and Singita Sasakwa, last visited… constantly, over the past eight years — though this time in their shiny new Hillside Suite. Naturally, Sasakwa closes next year for a refurb of its own, so I’ll probably be back next year too. Hard life, I know.

The real interest lies in two things. One: I’m bringing a professional photographer, so I can improve my photography, and the pair of us can get all manly about the bloodbath that is the Great Migration — cheering on lions, pleading with crocodiles to overcome their crippling anxiety and shyness, putting money on leopards to wipe out entire bloodlines. All the fun stuff. Two: I get to try the new Laba Laba properties, Grumeti Art Lodge and Mama Simba. These guys are on some kinda mission to colonise Tanzania….but in a nice way.  They’ve launched so many new properties in the last few years and are really going for it.  My hope is there’s some healthy competition for Singita in Tanzania, and a good alternative to Legendary Lodge for those mandatory Kilimanjaro stays.

I’ve also decided to pack the 400mm f/2.8, a lens that weighs roughly the same as one of my arms. I’ll regret it about eight seconds into the first game drive, when said arm goes dead, but the pictures should be epic.