From “I’m Too Afraid” to “Why Did I Wait So Long?”: A Traveler’s Story Nov 24, 2025

Sometimes the best way to understand a place is through one person’s story.

Meet Karen.

She’s 62, from Denver. She had dreamed of an African safari for 30 years.
She also had:

• A folder full of scary articles printed by her sister.
• A list of “what ifs” as long as a giraffe’s neck.
• A real, human fear of the unknown.

The Decision Moment

One night, watching yet another Serengeti documentary, she said to her husband:

“If I don’t do this now, I’ll regret it forever.”

They chose Exg Safaris for an African safari. They asked every hard question:

• “How safe is it, really?”
• “What happens in an emergency?”
• “How do you protect our health?”
• “What is the security like at the lodges?”

The answers were calm, clear, and specific.
Fear didn’t disappear, but trust began.

Day 1: The Airport Surprise

Karen expected chaos.
Instead, she found:

• A quiet airport.
• A guide holding a sign with her name.
• Cool towels, Champaign, juice, Wine, and a bottle of water waiting in the jeep.
• A smooth drive to her hotel.

Her first message back home?

“It’s so calm here. I feel silly for being this scared.”

A tiny rush of joy, she had faced fear and found comfort instead.

Day 2: The First Lion

On their first game drive in the Serengeti, they saw:

• Elephants in the distance.
• Giraffes near acacia trees.
• Zebras everywhere.

Then, a lioness was under a tree.

The jeep went silent. Karen’s heart raced. She gripped the seat.

Her guide whispered:

“You’re safe. She’s resting. Just watch.”

The lioness yawned, rolled on her back, and closed her eyes again like a house cat on a Sunday afternoon.

Karen exhaled and started to cry.

Not from fear. From overwhelming awe.

Her whole body lit up with a rush of excitement, a warm feeling of connection with her guide and her husband, and a deep sense of “I am alive.”

Day 4: The Campfire Confession

One night, by the fire, Karen said quietly:

“I almost didn’t come. I thought it was too dangerous.”

Her guide smiled and said:

“Many guests say that. But you came. That’s what matters.”

Other guests nodded.

One said, “My friends told me I was crazy. Now they’re all begging me for photos.”

This is how new stories spread: around fires, not on fear-based headlines.

Day 8: The Goodbye That Says Everything

At the end of the trip, as they drove back to the airport, Karen watched the savannah fade into the distance.

At check-in, she turned to her husband and said:

“Why did we wait so long? We should have done this ten years ago.”

Back home, when friends asked if she felt safe, she told them the truth:

• “Yes, completely.”
• “The Exg team took care of everything.”
• “I felt more looked-after there than in some US cities.”

If you see yourself in Karen, older, cautious, bombarded by scary messages, know this:

You don’t have to be fearless.
You only have to be willing to let reality be your guide.

Tanzania is not a perfect country.
But it is a place where people like you come with fear… and leave with tears of joy, already planning a return.

Make Inquiry Now