Traveling to Africa at Any Age: My East Africa Adventure at 77

I’ve traveled to Africa many times over the years, but this was my first journey to East Africa—and somehow, it felt like my first time all over again. The moment I stepped into Nairobi, the warm air wrapping around me and the bustle of travelers moving in every direction, I felt that familiar spark. Even at 77, there is nothing quite like the excitement of arriving somewhere new, especially on a continent that continues to teach me something every time I return.

This trip reminded me, in ways both quiet and profound, that traveling to Africa at any age is not only possible—it’s transformative.

Here’s what Africa taught me this time around.

Curiosity and Purpose in Motion: Learning from the Women of Kobe Tough

One of the most impactful moments of my trip happened inside the Kobe Tough women’s cooperative in Tanzania. I first noticed the women’s hands—steady, skilled, moving with the rhythm of generations as they created beadwork and handmade goods. Watching them work awakened my own curiosity. I found myself leaning in, asking questions, wanting to understand not just what they were making, but why they made it with such pride.

As I learned more, the beauty of their purpose came forward. Kobe Tough isn’t just a workspace—it’s a lifeline for women building economic independence and community strength. These women weren’t simply crafting beads; they were crafting opportunity, dignity, and a future for their families.

In that room, curiosity and purpose blended. I was reminded that traveling to Africa at any age is as much about understanding as it is about exploring. Moments like these still expand me, even now.

Connection Is the Real Adventure

I felt this truth most clearly while standing among a group of women in a traditional village. Their clothing, their beadwork, their grace—all so distinct and beautiful. Yet what moved me most was how easily they welcomed me into their space.

We didn’t share a language, but we shared plenty of smiles. We shared womanhood. We shared humanity.

Travel has taught me many things, but connection remains the greatest gift. And the older I get, the more I realize that people aren’t responding to your age—they’re responding to your presence.

Strength Looks Different as We Age

There I was, standing in the heat and dust of a Maasai community, feet firm on unfamiliar ground. I’m not racing across landscapes like I might have decades ago, but I’m stronger in ways that matter more to me now—steadier, more intentional, more aware of my limits and my possibilities.

Traveling at 60+ isn’t about keeping up; it’s about keeping on. Choosing comfort over ego. Choosing joy over pace. Choosing experiences that nourish rather than exhaust.

Strength shifts with age, but it doesn’t disappear. It evolves—and so do we.

Letting Go Creates Space for Wonder

One afternoon, I wandered through a bustling artisan market in Tanzania where a wood carver proudly showed me a beautifully sculpted piece shaped by generations before him. Each groove held a story—a lineage of Tanzanian craftsmanship passed down with care.

That moment wasn’t on any itinerary. It was the kind of encounter you stumble into when you let the day guide you instead of your schedule.

Some of the most meaningful moments in Africa find you when you least expect them.

A Moment Above It All: When a Lifelong Dream Finally Took Flight

There was one experience on this trip that touched me in a way I’m still trying to put into words.

For years, I dreamed of witnessing the great migration across the Serengeti—not just from the ground, but from the air. It was one of those dreams I tucked away, thinking, “One day.” And like many women, especially as we get older, “one day” can quietly turn into “maybe not.”

But this time, “one day” arrived.

Before sunrise, our group climbed into a hot air balloon basket on the open plains. The burners roared, the earth loosened its grip, and suddenly we were drifting above one of the most iconic landscapes on Earth. Book yours here!

And then it happened—the migration came into view. Herds moving in waves, the rhythm of nature playing out beneath us like a living tapestry. From the air, the Serengeti felt endless, ancient, and astonishingly alive.

As I floated there, wrapped in morning light, I felt something inside me settle and rise all at once.
A dream I had carried for decades was no longer a dream. It was a memory. My memory.

At 77, that moment reminded me that traveling to Africa at any age includes saying yes to the dreams we once feared were out of reach.

For every woman who thinks it might be too late—it isn’t.
Sometimes the dream becomes sweeter because of the years it took to reach it.

You’re Never Too Old to Be Brave

Every trip asks something of us. Sometimes bravery is climbing a mountain; sometimes it’s boarding the plane. This East Africa journey reminded me that courage doesn’t always roar. At this age, courage often whispers:

“Go. You’re ready for more than you think.”

And every time I listen, I grow.

What Africa Gave Me—Again

Africa has a way of meeting you exactly where you are in life. It has done that for me over many decades. But East Africa, in particular, opened a new chapter—one filled with curiosity, connection, purpose, and an even deeper appreciation for the strength that comes with age.

To every woman 60+ reading this:
You are not too old, too late, or too anything.

You are just in time—for wonder, for discovery, for joy, for your next bold step.

Adventure doesn’t belong to the young.
It belongs to anyone willing to say yes.

And if Africa taught me anything, it’s this:
You are never done becoming.

Please take a look at all the hotels I enjoyed.

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