Field Notes: Frankie Takes on Tanzania
By Frankie Janssen, Senior Travel Specialist
Frankie Janssen has become one of EXPLORE's top young Africa travel specialists over the last four years. She patiently awaited her first personal exploration of the continent, which was planned two years ago and then delayed twice by COVID. Over this time, she has become remarkably well versed in the innumerable ins and outs of planning African travel, at the most challenging time in history for the travel industry. She implemented countless changes to Explore clients' highly customized, complex safaris, postponed trips to later dates (or years!), reconfigured air travel routes, and moved hundreds of our clients' itineraries, for the most part at no extra cost to clients. Much of this was learned 'virtually' through zoom or conference calls, and a good amount of osmosis, with the constant tutelage and oversight of Katie, Elizabeth, and myself. Finally, her dream came true, and we sent her off to Tanzania. She came back a few weeks ago on fire, filled with vibrant memories of lion prides and African sunsets. The diagnosis is official, and I am afraid it's incurable: She has become a lifelong Africa addict. She recounts her story here for you...
"From the moment I landed, it felt like the wildlife was throwing a party for my arrival with no one else to witness it. An African safari has always called to me as the great adventure I must experience, but until this summer, I had only experienced Africa vicariously through our clients (many, many, many times!) I have been with EXPLORE for four years, and spent hundreds of days planning our clients' adventures and watching them return full of excitement and great stories.
Over time I came to understand the transformational power of Africa. I had long anticipated my first trip to Africa, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be sitting alone with my guide amidst a pride of 15 lions enjoying their evening meal as the sunset over the savannah. Yet suddenly, here I was, hanging out for another afternoon with no companions aside from my guide, three cheetah cubs, and their mom as she stalked their next meal. And then a new day came with another glorious sunrise followed by an entire day exploring a near-empty Tarangire National Park, encountering new herds of elephants around every bend of the river. I eventually lost count of the number of elephants we encountered. There were that many. But I do remember exactly how many other vehicles we saw – one.
Choosing a favorite moment or lodge from my visit would be impossible. They were all magical, from Legendary Expeditions Mwiba Lodge's unabashed elegance and a surprise helicopter flight low over the escarpment, to the relaxed, massive elephants surrounding the classic safari tents of Little Chem Chem, to the surprise dinner served under a 2,000+ year old baobab tree, or seeing 10 different cheetahs in a single day at Asilia's Namiri Plains Camp where the savannah seemed to stretch on forever…Each moment wove into the making of a trip that shouldn't be just once in a lifetime.
The wildlife was prolific and amazing, but it was the people I encountered that made this trip more than extraordinary. The positive energy exuded by the handful of my fellow travelers and the tourism and lodge staff was undeniable – from customs officials to flight attendants to porters, drivers, servers, and guides – it was clear how grateful the members of the tourism industry were to be back doing what they love: connecting travelers to the Africa they know and love, after a year of near silence. Each day I was greeted by the radiant smiles of the staff (all masked!), and a warm welcome back to camp after a long day of safari-ing. Although I was far, far away from home, it was the first time in 16 months I experienced no stress about Covid. Surrounded by wonderful people, the marvels of nature, wildlife, and vast, open spaces, I felt safe, at ease, and cared for every step of the way.
In all honesty, after taking a year plus off from venturing anywhere too far away from home, international travel was a bit unnerving. There are some new hoops to jump through, Covid-19 tests to pass, and a few extra documents to keep track of…yes, I help clients with this daily at EXPLORE, but somehow doing it for myself was different! Yet despite the additional steps it took to get there, everything went smoothly, and after this, I can reassure our clients with even greater confidence that now is the time to go! (See our client reviews below, they agree!)
Since May 2021, Tanzania has required that all travelers arrive with a negative PCR Covid-19 test conducted within 72 hours of arrival. Even with the airline's mask mandate, it's reassuring to know your plane mates have to show proof of a negative Covid test before boarding, which ensures your safe arrival to your destination. As of April, Tanzania's new leadership has quickly brought their Covid-19 infrastructure up to par with the rest of the world, implementing testing facilities, sanitation stations, mask mandates, as well as aggressive vaccination initiatives for the local people. Lodges vigorously enforce all health safety practices and provide travelers with exclusive private meals and an infinitude of social distancing.
This summer, EXPLORE has had many intrepid travelers venture back to Africa (to Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, Mauritius, Seychelles, Namibia, and South Africa!), and reports on the ground literally get better by the day. Covid procedures have been tried and perfected, testing facilities have been clearly established (often tests take place in camp), and the wildlife is yours to enjoy without the crowds – a chance that may never come again as tourism increases while the world recovers from the pandemic, 'wander lust' becomes intolerable, and travelers begin to understand that African travel is as safe or safer than staying home.
If you've been considering when to take your bucket-list trip to Africa, let me shout it from the rooftops, "THE TIME IS NOW!" After a year and a half of dormancy, many of us are craving the larger world. I urge you to get vaccinated if you aren't already, get your passport up to date, call us!, and venture out of your cave again to experience the beauty of Africa's amazing wildlife and soul-expanding expanses. Your adventurous spirit may bring you there, and those rare, remarkable moments will keep you going back.