Destination: Tanzania, East Africa

Travel Buddy: Meaghan Lee

Meet Newfoundlander and ‘living in the wild’ model Meaghan Lee! Having travelled the globe with her modelling career, Meaghan is now spending her time in her favourite location of all: Tanzania, where she spends her days amongst wildlife, trading the city life of London, for the east African bush!

Who is this destination best suited for? Tanzania is suited for lovers of nature & wildlife, and anyone who has ever been blown away by any wildlife programme narrated David Attenborough. To imagine Tanzania, think Planet Earth, but live!

When is best to go? Having experienced Tanzania in all its seasons, I would say dry season (July to October) is the best time to visit. This is when the grasses and bush are at their least dense, which means you have a better chance at more wildlife sightings. 

What Beach Bums piece to pack? The natural colours in the Hummingbird dress paired with safari boots is a perfect look for a hot day in the bush. After a long hot week on safari, a visit to Tanzania’s iconic and historic Zanzibar island is an absolute must. You’re gonna want a reversibile bikini (less packing!) like the Frangipani while you relax on Zanzibar’s white sand beaches. 

Tell us about an unforgettable experience? Oh, so many! If I must choose just one, it would have to be the time my boyfriend brought me on hot air balloon safari over the great migration in northern Serengeti. To see thousands of wildebeest from the silence of the sky was a memory that will forever remain in my heart… I cried! The experience was overwhelming, I couldn’t believe I was witnessing one of the most incredible sights our planet has to offer. Another impossibly forgettable experience was the time a elephant charged at our car whilst on safari in Tarangire National Park. Thankfully it was just a mock charge!

Top 3 hang outs/activities: Game drives in the national parks, climb Mount Kilimanjaro (I haven’t yet, but it’s on my list!), beach vacation in Zanzibar.

The best restaurant: Gran Meliá Arusha for rooftop drinks and bites, the view of Mount Meru is amazing! I also love heading to Amber for their butter chicken curry, and George’s Tavern for their huge menu of greek dishes *drool*

The best beach: Nungwi

What souvenir to get? Without a doubt, a piece of beaded jewelry by Sidai Designs. Every piece is handmade by Maasai women in Tanzania, and I absolutely adore everything they make. Their profits go towards offering educational workshops on a range of topics chosen by the women.

Always in my luggage: A safari hat, sunscreen, binoculars, camera, and a sweater or denim jacket for the evenings! It can get chilly here at night!

Top 3 destinations: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Zanzibar.

Reading/listening to in your sun lounge? Reading: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, and The Untethered Soul by Michael Alan Singer. Listening to: Khruangbin

Life hacks to feel confident in a swimsuit: This is going to sound so silly… but… choose the correct sizing for your body! Recently I noticed that my ‘usual’ size bottoms were feeling a bit too snug - being an almost 30 year old woman in an ever-changing body, it was time to up my size! After up-ing my size I immediately felt more confident in my swimsuit, plus it was much more flattering on my hips! Choose correct sizing, and don’t worry about what’s “trendy”, choose styles that YOU want to wear and ones you feel most comfortable in.

Morning dip or night swim? Morning dip in the Indian Ocean :)

Life motto: All the magic you could ever dream of happens outside your comfort zone. If you have a dream, get out there and follow it!

Next on your bucket list? Within Tanzania: definitely climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Outside of Tanzania: I want to visit the Maldives!