Travel has been part of Tracy’s story since she took her first trip to Europe at the age of 20. That experience sparked a lifelong passion for exploring the world. After spending 13 years working as a palliative care nurse, Tracy decided to follow that passion and transitioned into the travel industry, turning her love of travel into a career. Helping others plan meaningful journeys felt like a natural extension of the work she had always valued: caring for people and supporting them through important moments in their lives.

Over the years, Tracy has travelled extensively throughout Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and North America. Her trips often include a mix of small-group tours, self-drive journeys, rail travel, and immersive cultural experiences. She is particularly drawn to travel that allows her to connect deeply with a destination, whether that means sharing meals with locals, exploring on foot, or stepping outside her comfort zone.

Continue reading to follow Tracy’s African journeys with exciting African safaris and exploring Mount Kilimanjaro, and discover the unforgettable experiences that made this adventure so special.

Q & A with Tracy

What inspired you to take this safari and Kilimanjaro trip?

I have wanted to visit Africa for about 30 years now. I remember watching a talk show way back then, and there was a lady being interviewed about her safari experience. She talked about a herd of animals running by her tent and how she felt the ground shake. I have wanted to experience that since then.

As far as Kilimanjaro, it has been on my radar for probably just as long. Africa was a trip that I had put on an unreachable level. It was too big and too expensive for me to ever be able to do. I turned 50 this year, and my youngest son asked me what I was going to do for my birthday trip. He said, “Africa?” At first, I said, “no, I wish”. Then I thought, why not? The kids are at a perfect age, and their lives are at a place where they are both able to join. I understand well, from my previous career as a palliative care nurse, we have one shot at life, and we are all just one incident away from life changing drastically.

So I decided to go ahead and plan our safari. I have talked to my kids about Africa from the time they were babies. It was pretty cool to finally be able to plan this trip with my husband and our boys. They are 23 and 25 years old. It really turned out to be such a fantastic age to bring them there. We all got to experience it together, and we all got so much out of it. I was continually impressed with their appreciation for everything that they were taking in.

The safari was booked first. Once I realized that we would be flying out of Kilimanjaro airport, I booked the climb. There was no way that I could be that close and not do it. Also, it made for a great 50th birthday goal. My family wasn’t interested in joining me for the hike, so they flew home the day that I left to start my climb.

I hugely appreciated being able to do this trip as a family. I couldn’t imagine having done it without them, especially since we have talked about doing this together for their entire lives. I was also quite happy to do the Kili climb on my own and not know another person on the entire continent. There was something about that that made it even more special. We had our time together, and it was perfect, and then I had my time solo, and it was perfect. I could not have asked for anything more. I am so grateful for the entire experience.

Did you travel with a tour company? If so, who did you choose and why?

We travelled with G Adventures. As we are a family that enjoys the outdoors and is happy to rough it, we chose the Masai Mara and Tanzania camping safari. I have been on several trips with G in the past, and I like many things about them. They are Canadian-born, but I also like the community involvement with Planeterra and the immersive experiences. This was by no means a luxury trip. It was fairly rustic, which we loved. I knew we would be safe and well looked after with G.

For someone considering Africa for the first time, how would you describe the overall experience?

I would say that visiting Africa is eye-opening, raw and real. We instantly fell in love with it and felt all the feels. We have all agreed that it’s really hard to explain the trip. It is really quite emotional and powerful.

What was your most unforgettable wildlife sighting on safari?

There were so many wildlife experiences, but I was quite moved by a herd of elephants that crossed the road around us. There must have been around 50 of them, and we were completely surrounded by them. They were in no hurry to get past us, so we were able to enjoy them for quite a while. Some of them were only a few feet away, so we were able to watch them pull up grass, and we could hear them eating it. There were elephants of every size. The tiny ones were absolutely adorable.

My sons and I went on a hot air balloon ride in the Masai Mara. My son Josh was looking through his binoculars and spotted some lions and hyenas hanging out near each other. He let the balloon pilot know, and then we headed that direction to see them. It turned out that the lions had a buffalo kill on a rock in the river. The hyenas were waiting at the perimeter for their chance at a piece of meat, but the lions weren’t quite ready to give it up yet. It was so neat to see the whole setting laid out below us. Once word got out about the kill site, many of the jeeps ended up going to check it out. Later in the day, we drove to the site and were able to sit and watch one of the lions eating the buffalo. It was crazy to see how much of the animal had already been eaten in the short amount of time. It was pretty special since it ended up being such a highlight for so many people that day, and it was my son who happened to discover it.

What does a typical day on safari actually look like?

For our camping safari, some days we were in a permanent tented camp, and other days we were in public campsites in a dome-style tent. Our crew would provide us with a hot breakfast each morning. We would pack up our belongings if we were moving spots. We would drop our bags in a designated area, and then that afternoon, when we would get to the next spot, our tent would already be set up, along with our mattress, sheet and pillow. We would collect our bags and get organized for the night. Our lunch was typically brought out with us on safari, and we would set up somewhere under a tree, or often at a designated picnic area that would be complete with tables and washrooms. Each evening, we were provided a hot meal in a covered dining area.

Our safari jeep had a guide and a driver who was able to answer any questions we had. The jeep had room for 7 guests with enough storage for each person to bring a carry-on-sized bag to go in the back and a small day bag to have at the seat.

We travelled to different areas, so sometimes we would see animals enroute from one area to another, and other times we were actively looking for animals in the parks. There was no shortage of animals wherever we went. I also loved when we drove on the highways. It was so interesting to see life on the side of the road. The Masai shepherds are moving their cattle and goats, and different shops, markets and vehicles. There was always something interesting out the window.

What surprised you most about travelling in Africa?

I felt like I was in a National Geographic magazine. The images that I saw in the old magazines when I was a kid were what we were seeing. It was incredible.

Where did you go on safari, and why did you choose that region?

I was intrigued by the idea of the Masai Mara so that was a top pick for me. The Serengeti seemed like a spot we wouldn’t want to miss. When it came time to decide on a tour, I was very happy to find the combination of the two.

What were the accommodations like, and did they feel comfortable after long game drives?

The tents were comfortable with the mattresses and pillows that were provided. The permanent tents had really nice washrooms. When we camped in the public campgrounds, the facilities left a lot to be desired. We brought wipes for bathing for those days, as we were told ahead of time that showers weren’t always available in the public campgrounds. This is what we signed up for. As I said previously, this was a rustic tour. We wanted that, and it was perfect for our family.

Next time, I may prefer more of a luxury experience, but camping was definitely what I wanted my first African safari experience to be.

Why would you recommend climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to others?

I would highly recommend climbing Kili, especially the 8-day Lemosho route that I did. It has a higher success rate because of the amount of time on the mountain to acclimatize. Altitude sickness is real, and there are about 10-12 deaths per year due to severe altitude sickness, which causes cerebral edema and pulmonary edema. Also, the Lemosho route is beautiful! It starts in the rainforest and then goes through the heather/moorland zone, then the alpine desert and finally the arctic zone. Each zone offers its own unique beauty.

I was constantly in awe of the porters. They are absolute beasts. Every day, I was so impressed by the attitudes and determination of all the crews that kept everyone motivated, fed, housed and safe.

How physically challenging was the climb, and how did you prepare?

The climb was actually a little easier than I had anticipated. The Edmonton river valley is the extent of my local hiking area, so I wasn’t able to do much in the way of good altitude gains. My treadmill has a 40% incline on it, so I would put on my 18-pound day pack and my hiking boots and watch a couple of movies while I hiked up my imaginary mountain. I did several 3-hour stints on the treadmill like that. I also had the opportunity to train for the elements of summit day because it was winter here at home. I would go out snowshoeing or hiking with a backpack and test out my clothing choices. Once I was on the mountain, I felt like I was adequately trained. One thing that I feel really gave me an edge on summit night was the fact that I have worked so many night shifts over the past decade that it was a non-issue for me to be awake all night. Many people struggle severely with the lack of sleep on summit night, but my body adjusted to it with no issues. The summit night hike begins at midnight, takes approx 7-8 hours to reach the summit, then you have to get down to a lower altitude. There is a 3-4 hour downhill back to camp, followed by a rest for an hour or two, then pack up and hike down for several more hours. It makes for an extremely long day. Unfortunately, I forgot to tighten my boots for the way down, so I will be losing a couple of toenails from the bruising.

How did it feel reaching the top?

It was surreal. As we got close to the summit and I realized that it was going to actually happen, I got a bit giddy and for a moment felt quite emotional. After all those years of seeing photos of people on the roof of Africa, it was finally actually me up there. It was pretty cool.

If you had to choose, what was your favourite overall moment of the trip?

I’m not sure that I would consider this a favourite moment, but it was for sure a very powerful moment for all of us when we visited the Kibera slums in Nairobi. It was such an impactful visit to see how people live so differently from us. We will all remember it forever, how we felt while we were there. It’s a place that I would like to return to and spend some time learning more about what life is really like in the slums for nearly a million people.

Why is working with a travel consultant important when booking a trip like this?

There are a lot of logistics with travel vaccines, visas, customs, currencies, etc. It is important to go prepared and have someone available in case you need assistance.

Tracy’s journey through Africa was filled with remarkable wildlife encounters, meaningful cultural experiences, and landscapes that left a lasting impression. From time spent on safari to moments connecting with local communities, the trip offered countless reminders of how powerful travel can be.

If Africa has been on your travel wish list, Tracy would be happy to help turn that dream into reality. Reach out to Tracy to start planning your own African adventure.

DREAMING OF AN AFRICAN ADVENTURE?

When you’re ready to book your next travel plans, contact one of our Tier One Travel consultants. They will find the perfect place for your next vacation and will craft something incredible that is suited to your unique needs and will make sure your travel plans will be as stress-free as possible.

One call; endless experiences!