For a while, all I ever wanted was to see a giraffe in the wild, preferably with Mt Kilimanjaro in the background after reaching its summit. Very much like this first photo. It was a travel dream for a long time. It took a long time to achieve the first part. I had been to different parts of Africa on a few occasions, and while everyone wise had their eyes peeled for lions, cheetahs and leopards and the other members of the "big 5", I wanted to see the humble giraffe. I finally got my wish last year in Botswana (thanks @afsafco ) and it was an amazing feeling. The second part of the dream is one of my only real travel "regrets". A few years ago I undertook the challenge of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. After weeks of training, I joined a small group of 5 trekkers (3 of which were the most annoying people I had ever met...although the 4 of them may have said the same about me!) for the week long trek. The morning of the final ascent, we started the trek at about 2am so we could be at the summit by sunrise. After a few hours of trudging in the dark, inching our way towards the summit, I started to feel light-headed and nauseous. I continued on for another hour, but the guides were quite worried about me. At one point I was crying and I didn't even know it! I managed to reach the crater rim of Gilman's Point (5681m) at which point the guides made the decision to take me back down the mountain due to altitude sickness. The actual summit was only 200m away! 200 effin metres! The guides explained that despite it only being 200m it was still another 1.5-2 hours away, so for my own safety they escorted me down the mountain to our camp. My regret is that I couldn't manage that final 200m. 😥 . Maybe one day. - - - #mtkilimanjaro #tanzania #travelregrets #gilmanspoint #giraffe #elephant #africa #africasafarico #safari #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo #travelinspiration #travelinspo #visittanzania (at Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-arn-xDYFN/?igshid=1wbgab19fa29g

#FUNFACTS: Leopards are the least social - and perhaps the most beautiful - of the African big cats. They usually keep to themselves, lurking in a dense riverine bush or around rocky koppies, emerging to hunt late in the afternoon or at night.

Because our current lodge is located inside the National Park, you don't get the animal sightings to yourself like you do on a private reserve. It's amazing how the "Bush Telegraph: works amongst the guides. Luckily our guide airways seems to know first so we get the best positions. #botswana #safari #botswanasafari #africasafarico #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo (at Chobe National Park, Botswana) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4wkofzDCkG/?igshid=7rwjhbisg38n

The eyes have it. Just some of the animals we came face to face with on our game drives - - #botswanasafari #botswana #safari #safaridrive #gamedrives #wildlife #animaleyes #africa #africasafarico @belmondsafaris #savuteelephantlodge #eagleislandlodge #khwairiverlodge #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo (at Botswana) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5hxW_TDQXZ/?igshid=epa3q9v4j9bi

My last flight with the Botswana Bush Pilots....Khwai River to Kasane. Then it's onto the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. #botswanabushpilots #botswana #safari #botswanasafari #africasafarico #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo (at Zambia/Zimbabwe Border) https://www.instagram.com/p/B42PGnYDGCG/?igshid=pj96o7klc33n

This mornings office view. - - #botswana #safari #botswanasafari #BelmondSafari #belmondkhwairiverlodge #africasafarico #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo https://www.instagram.com/p/B4yqtvWjJiY/?igshid=1jzlqmctcg2ev

It's not all about the animals.... sometimes we have morning teas under the 1000 year old boabab tree, - - #botswana #safari #botswanasafari #africasafarico #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo https://www.instagram.com/p/B4yqp-Bjmld/?igshid=18ea31lp0gfqs

We have now flown to the third and last location of the #BelmondSafari lodges. Another completely different vibe... this one feels even more "authentic African Safari".... think canvas and leather. #belmondkhwairiverlodge #botswana #safari #botswanasafari #africasafarico #Africa #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo https://www.instagram.com/p/B4xk5miDVw6/?igshid=g5yj1jrnc9s9

Now that the ape buffalo have gone, I'm trying to get done work done before we had off for the day. Love this coffee wake up call. #botswana #safari #botswanasafari #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo #africasafarico (at Eagle Island Camp, Okavango Delta. Botswana) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4q_a7gDOf_/?igshid=16lw061wlcc2s

Sometimes the animal encounters are extremely close which is what makes a game drive so exciting...and every one is different as you never know what you're going to see. #BelmondSafari #africasafarico #suvite #botswana #safari #botswanasafari #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo #elephant (at Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5BhDjYDYGD/?igshid=1mwqxx21hhbku

This morning I swam in the Devil's Pool..... drank more of the Zambezi!!! - - #Victoriafalls #devilspool #zambezi #zambia #africasafarico #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo (at Devils Pool Victoria Falls) https://www.instagram.com/p/B46wlmTj9ha/?igshid=yomi85g9jmgh

The animals are great, but it is the people of Botswana that have made this trip. So friendly... and boy can they all sing. I think every one of them got the singing gene. 🤣 Of course, had to get up and join them for a sing song and dance....Luckily there arent any photos.📷📷📷📷 - - #botswana #safari #botswanaculture #botswanasafari #africasafarico #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo https://www.instagram.com/p/B4yqulFDeNr/?igshid=pckfu5af7mkf