The Journeys

That Stayed With Us

Travel reveals something new each time we step into a different landscape. This year, our Travel Designers crossed continents, returned to beloved regions, and discovered places that shifted something within them. The learning is constant, and the variety truly endless.

As the year draws to an end, we reflect on our Travel Designers’ personal journeys and invite you to hear about their travels in their own words. Imagine settling around a gentle campfire after a day in the bush, the night settling in as the flames glow softly. We share the places we wandered, the moments that stood out to us, and the small details that made the greatest impression. These stories shaped our year, and we hope they inspire your own sense of curiosity and connection.

Leora Rothschild

A year of encounters, connection, and unexpected wonders

What a year it has been. My journeys carried me from the savannas of East Africa to the sunlit villages of Puglia. Kenya and Tanzania set the tone, filled with sweeping plains and a new property in the Mara that captured my imagination the moment I arrived. One morning, I watched an older lion defend his territory against determined young challengers. The rawness of that moment stayed with me and reminded me of why I return to this region so often.

Time with the Datoga Tribe brought laughter and warmth. We shared honeycomb straight from the hive and exchanged stories in a way that felt honest and unguarded. Rwanda followed, and the Land of a Thousand Hills welcomed me with its rolling slopes and generous spirit. A private dinner at the soon-to-open Kigali Pinnacle Hotel felt like a rare privilege. Evening boat rides on Lake Rwanyakazinga created a sense of calm, even as crocodiles, buffalo, and a leopard watched us from the banks. The team at Magashi felt like family, and their lighthearted session of animal crawls still makes me smile.

Nyungwe Forest offered cool mountain air and birdsong, but nothing compared to sitting quietly in the mist with a silverback gorilla only a few feet away. Experiences like that stay with you.

Later in the year, Puglia brought a different kind of magic. I danced with Giorgio, an artist and fashion designer, and listened to a private concert by a philharmonic violinist and an opera singer whose voice filled the room with a soft, soaring beauty. Palazzo Ducale Venturi held us with its thoughtful details and gracious hospitality.

These moments reminded me why we do what we do. Travel shapes us. Connection deepens us. And every journey brings a story worth remembering.

Charlene Boxshall-Smith

Tribal encounters, wild spaces, and memories carried home

In March, I traveled with Leora through Tanzania and Kenya on a journey shaped by wildlife, culture, and deep connection. Our adventure began in Tanzania at the Ngorongoro Crater, where the descent into the ancient caldera revealed a world brimming with life. From there, we continued to the Ndutu region for one of the most meaningful cultural encounters I have ever experienced.

Walking with the Hadzabe Tribe as they foraged and hunted felt incredibly authentic. When they discovered a wild beehive and invited us to taste the honey straight from the comb, the moment felt almost suspended in time. Meeting the Datoga Tribe later that day added a different kind of warmth. The embrace of the Datoga matriarch was simple yet filled with sincerity.

We traveled north into the Serengeti, where the plains stretched endlessly, and the resident wildlife kept us captivated. A family of bat-eared foxes became one of my favorite sightings of the whole trip, a reminder that magic often lies in the smaller details.

Crossing into Kenya, the Masai Mara welcomed us with its open skies and familiar sense of possibility. One afternoon, we witnessed four male lions confronting one another over territory while hyenas called nearby, and an elderly lioness approached a fresh kill. The scene was intense and unforgettable.

We ended in Nairobi with a bit of shopping and full hearts. Journeys like this stay with you long after you return home.

Pam Langhoff

Returning home, rediscovering Cape Town, and savoring every moment

This year brought something rare. Time to rediscover my hometown of Cape Town with the eyes of a traveler. I grew up there, surrounded by its mountains and coastline. After years in the United States, returning always brings a sense of belonging. When the plane descends over Table Mountain, a familiar calm settles in.

I wandered through the city with a sense of curiosity. I visited the spa at The Silo Hotel, enjoyed lunch at the Granary, and sat at the One & Only with a latte while watching the light shift across the mountain. Dinner at Black Sheep was as delicious as ever, and listening to live music at the Blue Room added a touch of rhythm to the evening.

A drive up the coast brought me to Perivoli Lagoon House, where the chef created meals I still think about. Sunset on a private reserve with a gin and tonic in hand felt like the perfect way to end the day.

What made this trip truly special was sharing it with members of our team. Cape Town is beautiful, but the company you keep gives each moment its meaning. Here is to the memories still to come in 2026.

Storm Keen

Rwanda’s gentle power and a journey that left an imprint

My travels took me across Australia, South Africa, Mozambique, and Rwanda, yet Rwanda became the journey I still hold closest. The country’s slopes feel as if they rise and fall in soft waves. Tea plantations stretch across the hills, and the people greet you with kindness and ease.

Magashi Camp in Akagera became a place that felt immediately welcoming. Each lodge offered a sense of stillness, but nothing compared to gorilla trekking. Standing with a gorilla family only a few feet away is something I will never forget. Their expressions, their patience, and their quiet acceptance of our presence felt deeply moving.

There always comes a moment when the camera lowers, breath steadies, and everything becomes still. That is the moment that stays with me.

Viji Krishna

A year written across continents, ending in a journey inward

This year carried me from Norway’s polar nights to Japan’s cherry blossoms before guiding me toward a journey that felt more like a calling. India welcomed me with a sense of recognition and depth.

Haridwar introduced me to ancient rhythms. The sound of bells, the movement of the river, and the presence of the people along the ghats reminded me that life has its own natural flow. Standing at the water’s edge brought a sense of grounding I did not know I needed.

Devprayag deepened that feeling. Watching the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda merge into the Ganga felt like witnessing something sacred. The foothills near Ananda offered crisp air, soft morning light, and quiet paths that encouraged reflection.

This journey felt like an invitation to return to myself. Some places guide you inward as much as outward, and India did exactly that.

Ruthie Detwiler 

Salt air, sea breezes, and a place that felt like a dream

I spent thirty days exploring Kenya this year, from Diani Beach to Lake Nakuru, Laikipia, the Masai Mara, and the island of Lamu. Every stop offered something beautiful, but my stay at Manda Bay became the moment that defined the entire trip.

I have always loved the water, so being on a quiet, uncrowded island felt like a dream unfolding around me. I spent my days paddleboarding, kayaking, water skiing, swimming, and wandering along the sand at low tide. Those long beach walks were my favorite. The shoreline seemed to stretch without end, offering a peaceful place to think, breathe, and simply be.

My room opened straight onto the sea, and I fell asleep each night to the sound of waves drifting to the shore. Soft breezes moved through the windows, carrying the scent of the ocean with them. The hammock on my front deck became my little sanctuary. I would sit there with a book, swaying gently while listening to the water.

The food at Manda Bay was another highlight. Each meal felt thoughtful, beautifully prepared, and often set in a different spot overlooking the water. The entire experience felt serene and unhurried, a place where everything aligned in the most natural way. I left feeling renewed and grateful for the time I spent there.

Aimee Olson

Forest encounters that stayed with me

I traveled to Kenya and Uganda this year, and the experience that left the greatest impression on me was spending time with chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in Uganda. Although they are both primates, their worlds feel entirely different. Their behavior, their energy, and even the rhythm of the forest around them carry their own distinct character.

I spent an hour with each species, quietly observing their interactions and daily routines. Watching chimpanzees move through the treetops with effortless agility, then tumble and chase one another on the forest floor, felt lively and joyful. Only a day later, I found myself seated just a few feet from a gentle gorilla family. Their presence was calm and steady, almost meditative. That contrast made the moment even more powerful.

It became one of the most moving wildlife encounters I have ever had. I would return in a heartbeat for the chance to experience it all over again.

Looking Toward 2026

As a team, we traveled far this year. Some journeys brought wonder. Others brought a connection. Each one shaped our understanding of the world and strengthened the care we bring to every conversation.

A new year now waits with its own stories and landscapes. We look forward to the places that will move us next and to the journeys we will help create for those who travel with us.

If you feel ready to begin shaping your own story, talk to a Travel Designer. We would love to explore the possibilities with you.