In the summer of 2017, I took my first solo trip to New Orleans and realized my own freedom. Travel began as a personal goal and quickly became a deeper exploration of autonomy, fearlessness, and what it means to live on my own terms. That trip marked the first time I understood freedom not as escape, but as a way of being and a manifestation of who I already was .

I went on safari expecting incredible wildlife sightings. I didn’t expect so many life lessons to surface. You’re, of course, waiting patiently for animals to appear, but the experience is more than just beautiful photographs.

In this article, I share eight life lessons about patience, timing, trust, boundaries, silence, and perspective that I didn’t expect to learn on safari.

In 2021, I visited SINGULAR DUALITY: ME CAN MAKE WE at Roberts Projects in Los Angeles, a solo exhibition by Amoako Boafo that immediately solidified him as one of my favorite contemporary artists.

Known for large-scale portraits of Black subjects, Boafo introduced shadow as a central element in this body of paintings, and through bold color, textured skin, and brilliantly captured emotion, the exhibition explores identity, duality, and psychological depth.

When I travel alone, I don’t negotiate with discomfort. I trust my instincts in foreign cities, pivot when something feels off, and choose experiences that align with my standards. In dating, though, I’ve sometimes silenced this intuition. Solo travel taught me how deeply I know what feels good and how powerful that is when I stop apologizing for wanting it.

I had never been to Kenya before, but when I arrived, it felt strangely familiar. As a Black woman raised in America, I’ve lived inside systems shaped by disconnection. Standing on ancestral land, I realized belonging isn’t always about where you’re born. Sometimes it’s about where you exhale.

As the Year of the Snake ended, I found myself shedding more than I expected—a house, a job, and a relationship. What followed was open space.

According to the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Horse is built for exactly that: motion, independence, and forward momentum. In a moment when many Black women are being pushed out of traditional work structures, this year’s energy invites movement with intention. For us, travel becomes more than leisure; it becomes repositioning, expansion, and a refusal to stay confined.

Martha’s Vineyard may be known for its beaches and charming towns, but this is a moment for the food. This trip was a mix of sit-down dinners, late-night donut runs, and casual comfort food that I loved. Some dishes were good. A few were unforgettable. And a handful, I’d order them again in a heartbeat.

Tucked quietly in the California desert, the Integratron is less about spectacle and more about surrender. From the moment you arrive, the stillness sets the tone for a deeply restorative sound bath experience inside its iconic dome. Visiting just two months after a cancer diagnosis, I didn’t know how much my body needed this kind of rest—but an hour suspended in sound proved to be one of the most rejuvenating wellness experiences of my life. With the Integratron reopening soon, it remains one of Joshua Tree’s most meaningful places for reflection, healing, and reset.

Maho Beach is postcard destination, but it is not a serene and relaxing full day beach experience. It’s windy, crowded, and slightly chaotic, and it is also one of the most unforgettable places you’ll go. Famous for planes gliding shockingly close overhead as they land at Princess Juliana Airport, this beach is a spectacle worth stopping for. This is what Maho Beach is really like.

Seattle offers an exciting mix of iconic sights and time outdoors. This guide highlights the most memorable things I did while visiting, including Pike Place Market, a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island, the Seattle Public Library, and a visit to Snoqualmie Falls just outside the city.

Planning a safari in Kenya means preparing for more than just the game drives. It also means navigating travel vaccines. Before my trip, I compared what I was personally advised to get with what the CDC actually recommends for Kenya. Some vaccines are worth getting no matter what, others depend entirely on your itinerary, and a few can be skipped for most travelers. This guide breaks it all down so you can be proactive about getting the vaccines you need without paying for the shots you don’t need.

St. Martin is one island with two distinct personalities. You’ll land over the famous Maho Beach on the Dutch side and hit Marigot to explore the French side. But you also can island hop to destinations like St. Barths, Antigua, and the best destination for pristine, white-sand beaches—Anguilla. Here’s how I visited St. Martin and Anguilla for just $1500.

If you’re visiting St. Maarten, a day trip to Anguilla is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to expand your Caribbean experience. Known for its white sand beaches and turquoise waters, Anguilla offers a distinct contrast to St. Maarten and with a $150 Viator day cruise, it’s both accessible and worth it.

September in Martha’s Vineyard means thinner crowds and weather that’s still warm enough for the beach. Visiting in the first week of September gave weather in the high 70s and low 80s, open restaurants and shops, and a five-night stay steps from the beach and Circuit Avenue for $1,700, something nearly impossible at peak season.

Lake Elementaita Mountain Lodge was the briefest stop on my Kenya itinerary, but it delivered the most unforgettable view. Perched along the steep edge of the Great Rift Valley, the lodge offers private, house-style rooms with balconies that open to sweeping panoramas of Lake Elementaita. With a spa, pool, rose garden, and staff who shuttle you up and down the hillside, this stay blends comfort with breathtaking scenery. Here’s what it’s really like to spend a night on the Rift Valley’s edge.

Kilima Safari Camp was the first stop on my Kenya safari and, surprisingly, the most luxurious-feeling stay of the trip. Located just outside Amboseli National Park, this tented camp blends natural immersion with comfort, from spacious rooms and excellent dining to wildlife roaming freely around the property. Here’s my honest review of what it’s really like to stay at Kilima Safari Camp, including the rooms, food, amenities, and game drive access.

A hot air balloon safari over Kenya’s plains was an unexpected highlight of my 10-day trip. From an early morning launch and a smooth, low-flying ride over lions, elephants, and giraffes to a champagne breakfast set up in the middle of the savannah, this experience blends adventure and luxury in the most memorable way. Here’s everything you need to know before booking Kenya’s iconic hot air balloon safari.

Packing for a Kenya safari is all about choosing the things that make game drives, long commutes between locations, and early mornings easier. I’ve rounded up ten items that were surprising essential that you’ll be grateful you packed.

For years, I followed the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust online, captivated by the stories of rescued elephants and the keepers who raise them. I never expected Kenya or SWT to land on my 2025 travel calendar, but this sanctuary became one of the most grounding and beautiful surprises of my trip. In this guide, I share what it’s really like to visit, how the Trust supports Kenya’s conservation efforts, and everything you need to plan your own experience.

Shooting in Kenya really pushed me as a photographer. With my Sony a7III, a 200–600mm lens I’d never used before, and a mix of primes and wide angles, I learned quickly what actually works on safari and what doesn’t. Here’s the setup that got me through ten days of wildlife, culture and landscapes.