Wild Hearts and Island Vibes: A Trip to Tanzania Through Ritu’s Lens
The best kind of adventures are the ones you never see coming.
When Akansha’s engagement was announced, it felt like the universe had pressed pause on all the chaos of life, and in that stillness, we saw the perfect opportunity to reconnect. It wasn’t just the excitement of her upcoming wedding—it was about finding our way back to each other.
Our trio (or people like to call us a semi-circle) Akansha, Muskan, and I, had been inseparable during our college years. We’d lived together, laughed together, and cried together in those tiny hostel rooms, but life, as it does, had scattered us in different directions.
But the minute Akansha got engaged, Muskan and I were already brainstorming the most memorable way to send her off into married life. We were done with basic bachelorette parties that involved crowded clubs and overpriced cocktails.
We wanted something spontaneous, something just for us. And when Muskan (our resident travel planner) came across the idea of a Tanzanian adventure, we knew we’d found something extraordinary.
Tanzania with Thrillophilia was the perfect blend of thrills and calm, wildlife and beaches, exploration and relaxation. But little did we know, the journey would give us more than we had bargained for—and in the best possible way.
Wild and Free
Arriving in Tanzania was like entering a land that had been untouched by time. Our first stop was Arusha, a cosy town brimming with charm, but Serengeti was calling, and we couldn’t wait to dive into the experiences of the wild.
Muskan, who’s not exactly fond of animals, was understandably nervous about what was ahead. But she was a trooper. “Just keep the windows up,” she whispered as our jeep rumbled toward the heart of the Serengeti, her eyes flicking nervously toward the bushes.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Muskan was the one who had made a hundred lists for our trip, but the thought of a lion making a surprise appearance in the open field was enough to turn her nervous. “Relax,” I teased. “We’re not exactly on National Geographic.”
But then it happened. We were cruising through the golden plains, when suddenly—there it was—a lioness, so close, she could have walked right into our jeep. Muskan, whose eyes had been practically glued to her seat, gasped and froze. Akansha, on the other hand, was already snapping photos, her camera flashing in rapid succession. “This is amazing,” she breathed, not even pausing for a moment to take in the scene beyond the lens.
And then, of course, the zebras came trotting by, unbothered by our presence. Akansha, still in her photographer’s heaven, caught them mid-strut. “How perfect is this?” she whispered, eyes twinkling, but her focus was unwavering.
Meanwhile, Muskan had her hands firmly planted in her lap, eyes darting between the wildlife and our guide, who seemed like he was just as used to lions and elephants as we were to order food at a café.
The Serengeti gave us moments that took our breath away.
The wild wasn’t just out there; it was here, with us, giving us stories to tell for years to come. Muskan may have been scared, but she’ll tell you, there was a part of her that was glad she had lived through it.
Beyond the Crater
The next chapter of our journey took us to Ngorongoro Crater. It was as though we had stepped into another world—a world where the air was thick with the fragrance of wild grass and the past was alive in every footprint left behind.
“I feel like I’m in Jurassic Park,” Muskan whispered, looking over the edge of the caldera. “Except, you know, without the dinosaurs.”
Our descent into the crater felt surreal like we were venturing into the heart of Africa. The landscape stretched endlessly before us—lions lounging under the shade of acacia trees, flamingos wading gracefully through the water, and buffaloes grazing as if they had all the time in the world.
But the real magic happened when we spotted a cheetah in full sprint. It was as if the entire world had paused in that split second, holding its breath as the cheetah sliced through the air with the grace of a predator at its prime.
There was a quiet charm to the place. The serenity, the rhythm of nature—it was humbling, and a reminder that sometimes, the greatest adventures come in the most unexpected places.
A Slumber Party to Remember
After the intensity of safari life, we were more than ready for a change of pace, and Zanzibar was the answer. The soft, white sands, crystal-clear water, and the kind of peace that only an island can provide. But instead of letting the relaxing beach vibes be our only souvenir, Muskan and I had one more trick up our sleeves.
We had already planned a little “slumber party” in our hotel room. And by slumber party, I mean that Muskan and I had convinced the hotel staff to bring in extra pillows, blankets, and—wait for it—some delightful local snacks.
With the help of Thrillophilia, who had been so great in organising all the details for us, we managed to turn our hotel room into the ultimate retreat. It was a little piece of home in a foreign land—fuzzy socks, a pile of junk food, and our favourite memories from the trip playing on a loop in our heads.
Akansha, of course, was in her element, capturing every moment for posterity. “Girls, we have to remember this,” she said, snapping photos of the snacks, the blankets, and the three of us bundled together like a giggling mess of joy.
A Bond That Defies Time
Looking back, our Tanzania adventure was so much more than what we had expected.
Muskan’s nervous laughter, Akansha’s endless pictures, and my spontaneous ideas—each moment felt like a piece of us, glued back together in a place that had so much to offer. The wild, the peaceful, the exhilarating, and the quiet all blended into one memorable journey.
As we boarded our flight back home, there was no sadness, only gratitude. We had done it.
We had celebrated Akansha in the way only we could, and Tanzania had given us memories that would last a lifetime.
Read more: Thrillophilia Tanzania Reviews