"Not all who wander are lost," so said a wise guy. My mom tells me that my first trip (not counting the trip home from the hospital) — like, the first real trip — was at the viable travel age of 3 months. The destination was New York City to pick up my grandparents, who were flying from India, at the aiport. And, naturally, in true Indian travel fashion, we made a pit stop at Washington D.C. along the way because no Indian itinerary is complete without cramming in as many famous landmarks as humanly possible. Apparently, I was already bitten by the travel bug back then even though I have zero memory of the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, or anything else I “saw.” I am guessing I was just along for the ride, probably more interested in my bottle than in any historical landmark. Does the first trip count if I don’t even remember it? 🤔

THE IDEA My trip to Tanzania in the summer of 2024 left me in awe of the country—its people, wildlife, and natural beauty were unlike anything I had ever experienced. Along the way, I met many wonderful people, including members of the Sukuma and the Maasai tribes.  Despite the country’s rich natural resources and booming tourism, the local economy remains impoverished for most Tanzanians. Lazarro, our safari driver and friend, shared that most safari companies in the Serengeti are foreign-owned, with only a handful being locally owned and struggling to compete. He dreams of starting his own safari business with just one van but is held back by high bank interest rates that he cannot afford to repay. During this trip, I also visited the Kambarage Primary School near Serengeti and was struck by the sight of aound 60 students packed into cramped 15’x20’ classrooms. Many wore torn uniforms, and some carried their books in hand. Although the school had a kitchen providing free lunches,...