Hiking up Kilimanjaro takes a lot of work and preparation. I couldn't have gotten ready for this trips without scouring the internet and blogs for packing lists, tips, and tricks to held me on my way. Feeling like you're ready for the trip is a huge way to help yourself mentally prepare and become confident that you can make it to the Summit!
Read MoreMy Trek Up Kilimanjaro with GreenPaw Adventures
Let me start with the many thank you's - Thank you to GreenPaw Adventures, our amazing guides and porters, and of course, my fellow hikers for all their hard work and fierce determination to make it up the mountain.
We did the 6 day route up Machame Route to Uhuru Peak then return via Mweka route. This is one of the more popular routes for those hoping to summit in just a week’s time and I can see why. Plenty of beautiful viewpoints, plus lots of opportunity for acclimation to defeat altitude sickness!
Read MoreGIVE: We Opened a School in Tanzania!
Even though we'd only been on our GIVE program for 8 days, we were blessed to be a part of a project that was over four years in the making!
school, musicians and local community members began to arrive to celebrate the opening of Skuli Ya Kairo Give. The GIVE program had been working on the school for over four years, and it was the day that Nursery Schools Level 1 and 2 plus Primary Schools Levels 1 and 2 were set to open. The excitement in the air was electric, and the more that you looked around, you couldn't help but grin from ear to ear!
Read MoreChasing Rainbows at Victoria Falls
At the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia sits one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World - Victoria Falls. Formed from a drop in the gorge in the Zambezi River, the falls are one of the most impressive in the world. They rival that of Niagara Falls in size - just depends on which way you measure!
Read MoreGIVE: Why Volunteering Matters
When I signed up to travel to Tanzania with GIVE, I didn't know what to expect. I had always envisioned traveling to Africa for a volunteer opportunity, but what I found when I arrived was even more amazing than I anticipated.
After arriving on the island of Zanzibar, we settled into our hotel, Baby Bush Lodge, and then were off to see the school which we would be help building for the next ten days. During orientation, I was hooked on a few things that our leads told us stuck with me for the duration of the trip (by way of my journal).
Read MoreOne of South Africa's Hidden Gems: The Midland Meander
When you're traveling for an extended period, every once in a while you end up with a few extra days in between your planned stops. They're often hard to fill because you think you've planned to see all the famous highlights. These used to be a struggle for Mom and I to find a way to fill, but over time, we've found that our random trips can be some of the hidden gems.
During our trip to South Africa, we ended up with a few days between when we were in Durban (city on the east coast) and Johannesburg (the capital). Originally, we had just planned to fly between the two, but then we heard about an area called the "Midland Meander." Once we heard that it was a haven for shopping, we were in!
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Daytripping to the Cape Point, South Africa
If you are looking for a day trip outside of Capetown, heading down to "The Cape" is a great way to spend it.
It's less than a 2 hour drive from Capetown and there are plenty of worthwhile stops along the way. It's a great chance to visit a wondrous spot where you feel like you're standing on the edge of the world!
Read MoreStellar Wine in the Stellenbosch Mountains
South African wines are becoming an up and coming trend as a new wine on the circuit. They've been around since approximately 1659, but they're just starting to fill the shelves of liquor stores in the United States. And just outside of Capetown, there is a region called the Stellenbosch Mountains - which is responsible for some of those delicious Cabernet Sauvignons hitting shelves.
On our travel along the Stellenbosch Wine Route, there were two stops that you need to put on your "Don't Miss" List!
Read MoreMy Top Three Stops in Capetown, South Africa
When you first mention South Africa to anyone unfamiliar with the area - two cities to visit come to mind - Johannesburg and Capetown. Johannesburg, the capital city. And Capetown, the southern city on the sea.
Exploring Capetown was fun, but overwhelming, as our family didn't have a definitive plan for the city. Within the city, we hit just a few of the highlights. If I could do it again, I would choose (almost) the same three, because they were all extraordinary.
Read MoreKhaki Fever
It's a disease you can only catch on safari. You don't know it's coming until it hits you, and when it hits you, you don't even know that it's real. It feels something like what I imagine a heart attack feels like. But instead of speeding up, your heartbeat slows until you feel like it's beating in your head.
It's the short shorts, the perpetually wind-blown hair -- those boots. Women fall in love with them, men want to be them. Everything about the boys in khaki is dangerous, and you're a apparently a daredevil.
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