To Safari or not to Safari

When we first started talking about doing Kilimanjaro next summer, the idea of a safari seemed like a perfect compliment to our trip. It doesn't seem to make sense to travel for over 24 hours to Tanzania, climb Kilimanjaro and then hop right on a plane and come home without truly enjoying the African Serengeti. 

So what one earth could stop us? Well, there are actually two things. Time and money. My very wise Grandfather once told me there's plenty of time to make yourself money, but money can never buy you back your time. Well in this case, Rich and I both have full-time jobs that usually keep our vacations to around 5 days. We took 10 days for our honeymoon nearly 4 years ago and haven't taken much more than a long weekend here and there since. We've already determined that getting to Kilimanjaro, climbing and then returning will take 11 days, travel included. Add a safari after our climb and we will need to each have 21 days off in order to make it happen. Couple that with an additional $2300 per person and we have a big decision to make! 

We feel like the timing next summer could not be better in terms of our careers. My contract ends next August and I will be graduating from my MBA program in July, and Rich will have just returned and will be awaiting moving orders. My Dad-- well he's worked hard for the last 30 years, so he's now enjoying retirement (if you call running an oil company in your spare time "retired"). 

Decision date is rapidly approaching though, so we have a lot to think about in the meantime. If we do add on a safari it will be with the same company we choose to do our Kili climb with so that we save money and also don't have to worry about transferring our gear.