Safari & Asia travel: why solo women, couples, and families are looking beyond Europe
Slow travel, solo women’s journeys, family safaris, and the big news we’ve been dying to share.
I’m going to tell you something that might surprise you, coming from a European travel specialist: some of the most exciting trips I’m hearing about right now aren’t in Italy, Spain, or the UK.
They’re in Kenya. Vietnam. Japan. Thailand. South Africa.
For the past year, I’ve been getting more and more inquiries from clients asking about safaris, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Women traveling solo or families looking for a trip that goes beyond the beach resort. Couples who’ve done Europe and want something that shakes their world a little.
And I kept thinking: I need to be able to say yes to these trips with the same level of expertise and care that I bring to a custom Italy itinerary or a women’s group tour in Scotland. So I did something about it.
Big news: meet Jennifer Day, our Asia & Africa specialist
Jennifer Day, an Asia and Africa travel specialist.
I’m thrilled to announce that Jennifer Day has partnered with the Olegana Travel Boutique team as our dedicated Asia and Africa travel specialist.
Photo©: Jennifer Day
Jennifer isn’t someone who read about these destinations in a guidebook. She lived in Japan for nearly a decade, teaching and exploring across Asia. That experience fundamentally shaped the way she designs travel with deep cultural sensitivity, insider access, and an understanding of these regions that you simply can’t get from a brochure.
She specializes in bespoke journeys throughout Asia and Africa: private safaris, conservation-focused camps, culturally rich itineraries across Japan and Southeast Asia, and transformative experiences that go far beyond a typical vacation.
As a mother of three, Jennifer also brings a personal understanding of family travel. The logistics, the pace, the need for experiences that captivate both a ten-year-old and a forty-year-old at the same time.
She’s the real deal, and I couldn’t be more excited to have her working with our team.
The people behind one of the best bespoke travel experiences: Anna Fishman(left), who specializes in curated journeys across Europe and the Caribbean, and Jennifer Day(right), an expert in crafting immersive experiences throughout Asia and Africa.
Mention “Olegana” when you book with Jennifer and get $100 off your trip!
The slow travel revolution: why longer stays are replacing bucket lists
Here’s what’s happening in luxury travel right now, and it’s something I’ve been saying to my clients for years: travelers are increasingly choosing longer stays in fewer destinations, prioritizing depth, flexibility, and meaningful connection over fast-paced itineraries that leave you more exhausted than when you left.
This is especially true in Asia, where two-week itineraries are becoming the standard for American travelers. And it makes sense, when you’ve flown twelve hours to get somewhere, you want to actually be there. Not race through it.
Photo©: pexel.com/Vlada Karpovich
In Southeast Asia, that might mean spending a full week in Vietnam’s central coast rather than trying to squeeze Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City into five days. In Japan, it means staying long enough to discover the quiet residential neighborhoods of Kyoto, not just the temple circuit. In Thailand, it means trading the tourist trail for a cooking class with a local family in Chiang Mai and actually learning their story.
This is exactly how we design trips at Olegana whether it’s Europe, Asia, or Africa. We’ve never been about checking boxes. We’re about creating space for the moments that stay with you.
Solo women’s travel: why Africa should be on your radar
I know what you’re thinking. Africa? Solo? As a woman?
I asked Jennifer this question directly, and her answer was emphatic: a well-planned safari is one of the most supported travel experiences you can have, especially for women traveling alone.
Photo©: UnSplash/Ellena McGuinness
The best safari lodges and camps are intimate, boutique properties, often just a handful of rooms. You’re not anonymous. The staff knows your name, your preferences, your comfort level. Many properties now feature female guides who bring an intuitive, nuanced perspective to game drives. You’re in a WhatsApp group with your team from the moment you land. You are genuinely looked after.
5 things Jennifer wants you to know before your first safari
Photo©: Jennifer Day
Patience is part of the experience, and it’s what makes it so special. Wildlife isn’t on a schedule, and sightings don’t happen every minute. But when they do, they’re unforgettable. The quiet moments, the stillness, the anticipation… and then suddenly, everything changes.
Location shapes everything. Where you go, the type of reserve, and even the time of year will completely influence your trip. Watching the migration in Maasai Mara feels entirely different from a slower-paced safari elsewhere. There isn’t one “best” safari, only the one that fits what you want most.
Packing is easier than most people expect. Think simple, comfortable, and practical. Neutral clothing, a few layers for early mornings, and pieces you can rewear go a long way. Most camps offer daily laundry, so you can pack lighter than you think.
Once you arrive, everything is taken care of. Meals, drinks, game drives, and transfers are typically included, which allows you to fully settle in and enjoy the experience. The only extra you’ll want to plan for is gratuities, which are an important part of safari travel.
What makes a safari truly exceptional goes far beyond the room. It’s the guides, the level of service, and the access to wildlife that define the experience. Staying in a private conservancy or reserve creates a much more intimate and uncrowded setting, often turning a great safari into an extraordinary one.
There was so much interest in Africa on our recent social media posts that Jennifer is working on something special: a women’s group safari trip to Africa in 2027.
Stay tuned if you want to be the first to know when she announces it, and make sure you’re on our email list!
Solo women’s travel: Asia’s slow, soul-filling appeal
Photo©: Jennifer Day
Asia has quietly become one of the most popular destinations for solo women travelers and Japan, in particular, is extraordinary for solo travel. The public transportation is flawless, the culture is deeply respectful, and the food scene alone is worth the trip. Imagine spending a week in Kyoto: morning walks along quiet canal paths, an afternoon at a private tea ceremony, evenings in tiny izakayas where the chef prepares your meal right in front of you.
Vietnam and Thailand offer a different kind of magic, one that’s warmer, more spontaneous, more sensory. A private cooking class in a Vietnamese home where you shop at the market together first. A sunrise visit to Angkor Wat with nobody else around. A boat through the quieter waterways of Lan Ha Bay instead of the tourist-packed routes of Ha Long.
The key to solo travel in Asia, just like in Africa, is having the right partner on the ground. Someone who knows the neighborhoods, the guides, the properties that make a solo woman feel confident and cared for. That’s exactly what Jennifer brings to our team.
Speaking of Japan, Jennifer is currently building a women’s group trip to Japan for 2028.
If the idea of exploring Tokyo, Kyoto, and beyond with a group of incredible women sounds like your kind of adventure, get on our email list so you’re the first to hear when she launches it.
Why families are choosing Asia and Africa (and why their kids love it)
If you think safaris and Asia are just for couples and solo travelers, let me change your mind.
Some of the most transformative family trips I’ve seen are safaris. Think about it: your kids aren’t looking at a screen. They’re looking at a real elephant, twenty feet away, in total silence. They’re learning how a tracker reads footprints in the dirt. They’re sitting around a campfire listening to stories from someone who grew up on this land. No theme park competes with that.
Many of the best safari lodges now have dedicated family programs, junior ranger activities, and child-friendly game drives with shorter routes and more interaction. And the inclusive nature of safari where meals, activities, and transfers are all built in takes the logistical stress off parents completely.
In Asia, families are discovering that places like Japan are incredibly kid-friendly: bullet trains are an adventure in themselves, the food is endlessly fun to explore, and cultural experiences like samurai lessons, sushi-making classes, and temple stays capture imaginations in ways that no museum can.
Vietnam and Thailand work beautifully for families too. The warmth of the culture, the incredible street food, the beaches, the combination of adventure and relaxation. And with longer itineraries becoming the norm, families can actually settle into a destination rather than rushing through it.
We’re ready when you are
Photo©: pexel.com/Vlada Karpovich
Whether you’ve been dreaming of a safari for years, or Asia just popped onto your radar, or you’re a solo woman wondering if you can really do this - the answer is yes.
With Jennifer now working with our team, Olegana Travel Boutique can design the same thoughtful, deeply personal, expertly crafted trips in Asia and Africa that we’ve been creating in Europe for years. Same philosophy, same level of care, and completely new horizons.
And if group travel is more your style? Jennifer is building a women’s group safari to Africa in 2027 and a women’s group trip to Japan in 2028. Both are in development now, but we invite you to join our email list to be the first to know when spots open.
Let’s talk about what destination is calling you.
Anna Fishman, the heart behind Olegana Travel Boutique. Anna’s passion lies in crafting journeys that go beyond the guidebook. She thoughtfully curates every detail to balance sophisticated exploration with the kind of real, genuine connections that turn a trip into a lifelong memory.
Ready to go beyond Europe? Message us to start planning your Asia or Africa journey.
Then, grab a time on our calendar for a free consultation here.
FAQ
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Absolutely. Many luxury safari lodges now have dedicated family programs, junior ranger activities, and child-friendly game drives. The all-inclusive nature of safari, where meals, activities, and transfers are built in takes logistical stress off parents completely. Kids are captivated by real wildlife encounters in ways no theme park can match.
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Slow travel means spending more time in fewer destinations, prioritizing depth and meaningful connection over fast-paced itineraries. In Asia, this trend is accelerating: travelers are choosing two-week stays focused on one or two regions rather than racing through five countries. It allows for genuine cultural immersion, better food experiences, and a more relaxed pace.
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Yes! Our Asia and Africa specialist Jennifer Day is currently building a women’s group safari to Africa for 2027 and a women’s group trip to Japan for 2028. Join our email list to be the first to know when spots open. We also design fully custom private trips to both regions for couples, families, and solo travelers.
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Layers and comfort are key. Most lodges do daily laundry, so you don’t need a large wardrobe. Essentials include comfortable walking shoes, a warm layer for early morning game drives, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Neutral earth tones are recommended. You’ll want cash for tipping, this is an important part of safari culture.
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