Lonely Planet

It has always been a bit odd to have a travel guide called Lonely Planet, perhaps it's a calling for travelers to go see the planet on their own.

Or maybe it was meant for those seeking the path less traveled?? Recently I was traveling with a group on a tour of East Africa for 2 weeks, with people from a wide range of backgrounds, ranging in age from their late 40s to mid-70s. I only knew a few people beforehand as we embarked on our journey to see new countries, geographies, cultures, customs, and nature.

It was a wonderful trip, full of beauty and wonder at how amazing our planet and the people are around us. The experiences reminded me there's so much more to life beyond our daily routines, and how simple life can be in nature.

What made the trip special for me wasn't just the places we visited, but the people I traveled with. From the initial awkward greetings to over time, I made deeper connections with my fellow travelers that I didn’t expect. When you travel day in and day out, bouncing along in the back of a truck for hours or squeezing into a tiny plane, hiking through landscapes where wildlife is free, you realize the most important part of traveling is the people you’re with.

Having shared experiences in unfamiliar settings creates bonds that you never realize was possible. Perhaps it's being outside of our comfort zones or being open to seeking new places as a group. We become more open, more curious, more willing to share and connect.

Our group included an ethnologist who had studied baboons with Jane Goodall, a sheep rancher who had retired from the State Department as a diplomat in Niger and raised three adopted children from India as a single mom. All the group members showed generosity, seeking out and supporting local schools and communities where we visited. We had a member who had just completed climbing Kilimanjaro, an experienced mountaineer who had conquered many of the world's highest peaks. There were married couples in their 70s who were lifelong community leaders supporting charitable efforts in Africa, and an author writing about American indigenous stories while learning about Maasai tribe culture. Their stories, their experiences became part of my journey, expanding my world beyond just the places we visited.

It's not a lonely planet where you travel with amazing people and it's always about the people you travel with.