Life is busy and with everyone’s different schedules it can be difficult making time to hang out with all the girls together in one place. If some of your friends live all over the world, you will know that video calls just aren’t the same as having a heart-to-heart catch-up in person. Arranging a trip to a completely different country, perhaps on the other side of the world to you, might just be what you all need to intentionally reconnect as friends while having the absolute time of your lives.
If we are talking about a women-only trip, it needs to have something for everyone, and offer a balance of exciting adventures and relaxing downtime. A luxury African safari can do just that. There are so many incredible safari destinations to choose from and each one promises a once in a lifetime experience to be shared with those you cherish. There are many reasons why a luxury African safari is a fabulous women-only trip idea. Here are our top five for now:
Connect with old and new friends
Reconnecting with old friends and making new friends at the same time – that’s what a large part of a women-only safari is all about. It is laughing around the pool, sharing dinner under the stars, sighting incredible wildlife and watching the sun’s last blaze of colour as it sets together.
While you might be on safari with your friends from back home, there are still many people to meet and make memorable friendships with. Sit down with women from local communities and listen to their lived experiences as well as the shared stories passed down from generations. There are also many more people back at camp that will welcome you with a genuine smile and who are always up for chatting throughout your stay.
Experience new things together
Going on a women-only safari with your best gal pals gives you so many opportunities to experience new – and sometimes challenging – things in a safe and comfortable space, without judgement. This is particularly so if it is your first time in Africa on safari. Much of what you experience will possibly be quite different to what you are used to.
If you choose to safari in the Maasai Mara, let a Maasai warrior teach you to jump as high as they do or throw a handmade spear as far as you can. Not only are these activities loads of fun, there is so much rich local heritage behind these different practices that you can learn about straight from the mouths of those that continue today to practice them.
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Help build a brighter future for others
There are many ways we can play our part to ensure that are travel has as little impact as possible on the environment and the people in the chosen destination. One of the best ways of going on a responsible safari is choosing a camp that is committed and actively invests in its surrounding environment and wildlife conservation as well as working in a positive partnership with local communities.
Ideally, the community will own the land, its members will also be offered employment at the camp, and camp management will support initiatives within the community in a way that creates empowerment rather than dependency. When you visit on your women-only safari, those fees you pay to enter the area go towards wildlife conservation, anti-poaching efforts and the protection of that environment generally.
Explore the wilderness in different ways
The traditional way is on a game drive, where your guides can cover good distances, while you keep your eyes peeled from the comfort of your seat and enjoy the thrill of seeing that animal you have always wanted to. Then take to the wilderness by foot, being led by an expert guide. For something a little different to get all the girls’ hearts pumping, you can jump on a bike and cycle the area or see the beautiful landscape from above in a hot-air balloon.
There may even be amenities back at camp that allow you to keep up your fitness routine in various ways, all while being surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Some camps have swimming pools that are ideal for doing laps, fully equipped gyms as well as areas to practice different kinds of exercise, perhaps yoga or tai chi.
Allow yourself to be pampered and spoiled
Luxury safari camps offer delightful indulgences that will leave you feeling pampered and refreshed. Special outdoor bubble baths – complemented by glasses of champagne, of course – allow you to soak al fresco, while closing your eyes and taking in the sounds of the bush. Sometimes you might just need that ‘me’ time away from the girls and these kinds of private spaces are just perfect for spending quality time with yourself.
Another luxury is the massage and spa treatments presented by some camps that cater to discerning travelers who enjoy the finer things during their luxury African safari. Your holiday would just not be the same without being able to enjoy a deep and soothing massage by a trained therapist. This is the balance that a women-only trip should be about so that you don’t leave feeling like you need a holiday after your holiday!
Calvin Cottar is Director and Owner at Cottar’s 1920s Safaris. Cottar’s 1920s Safaris is an award-winning luxury 1920s safari camp and private bush villa located in the famous ‘seventh’ natural wonder of the world, the Maasai Mara in Kenya, and owned and managed by the oldest established and continuing safari family in Africa.
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