A Globetrotter, A Travel Guide, An Author, and a Safari Expert Uncovering the Beauty of the African Life

Travelling is an unconventional career. It is intriguing, adventurous, and thrilling, but it comes with multiple challenges in the long run. As a travel enthusiast with a true passion for travelling, one has to discover the roads less travelled and the unexplored destinations to create a larger-than-life experience for their clients. One such out-of-the-box yet fun-filled and captivating experience lies in safaris. Adventure safaris are the perfect gateway amidst nature to feel the majestic wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. Encountering life-changing experiences and living an extraordinary life full of exciting adventures, Sara Kearns, the Owner of Travel with Sara is setting new standards of luxury travel with her brainchild.

Sowing the Seeds of Travel with Sara

Sara was born during World War II in the UK. She was blessed to have supportive and amazing parents, who encouraged her at every step of her journey and taught her an unwavering spirit of passion, purpose, and determination. They motivated her to pursue her dreams and be a go-getter to accomplish her goals. She credits her lifelong spirit for adventure to her parents, who stood by her even when others laughed at her career ambitions.

As a child, Sara’s father regaled her with stories of the Dark Continent inhabited by wild animals and colourful people, places with strange-sounding names like Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar excited her. He told tales of journeys from Cairo to the Cape, plus Dr. Livingstone’s trek across the continent. The exotic animals and brightly plumaged birds filled Sara’s imagination, she was enthralled.

Sara’s first travel safari experience to Africa with her father was nothing but magical and it ignited the spark and a burning desire to explore more of the continent and keep coming back. Life came full circle when her dream came true after Sara joined British Airways formerly known as BOAC as a stewardess, this was her ticket to the world and Africa was high on the long list of places she wanted to go.

The journey began and she never looked back, in fact, Sara married Frank M Kearns, a foreign correspondent with CBS News who was an African expert. He went on to be a Benedum Chaired Professor of Journalism at The PI Reid School of Journalism WVU in Morgantown WVA. After several safaris and many miles of global travel, Sara says, “I am doing what I love best, sharing my beloved Africa with you.”

With no signs of stopping, Sara even at the age of 80+ continues to run her boutique travel company, Travels with Sara successfully. Her company offers luxury and private guided travel safaris and tours to South Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and its most popular places.

Offering Exceptional Travel Safaris and Experiences

Sara’s motto says, “Travel with a legend” and she usually takes small groups of people as few as one, curating one-of-its-kind expeditions of her clients.  She adds, “I provide a very personal service for those wanting the very best in luxury travel. Who doesn’t like being spoiled??? Travels with Sara will make those dreams come true.”

She escorts several trips a year to experience the different seasons; wet, green, and dry. For the intrepid traveler, she organizes scintillating trips from start to finish leaving no detail undone. Her trips lean towards conversations, new friendships, off-the-beaten-track and family-owned properties.

Travel with Sara curates highly personalized safaris that match her clients’ unique schedules and budgets. Sara looks after her clients with utmost dedication and wants to bestow them with the best possible experience. Everything is handled by Sara and she pays close attention to the details not missing a point. “This is great for people travelling with children, ensures clients don’t get lost, doesn’t make mistakes, gets them on the right plane and place, as well as helps especially single people, or people who have a lot of fear“, she adds.

Sara customizes every detail of her trip minimizing any unwanted situations keeping everything organized and promising the clients maximum fulfilment. It is a truly inclusive holiday when Sara handles all the reservations, and transportation, and the holiday also includes amazing food and drinks, games, and other excursions. Sara’s long-standing experience of the African continent makes her clients enjoy the safari the most. She loves introducing travelers to every aspect of the wildlife including the sense of different smells, sounds, tastes, and more.

Sara believes that Travel is a special thing and hence, she encourages people to pursue their travel dreams and come out of their comfort zone. A safari is the best way to indulge in an experience that is life-changing and at the same time serves travelers with lifelong memories. For any traveler who is worried about the budget of the safari or has travel anxiety, Travel with Sara comes to their rescue. Sara assures her clients that it is not impossible to fit a luxury travel experience into their budget. Her doors are wide open and Travel with Sara will make sure that their clients can afford the luxury without burning a hole in their pocket.

One of the reasons Travel with Sara stands tall and strong is because of the first-class guidance that it offers its clients. Understanding the inner beauty of the African continent and embracing its wildlife, culture, history, food, and more sets Sara apart from her peers. She says, “You’ll come home a lot smarter and wiser. Also, it awakens the senses, it smells better, it looks amazing, the sounds you hear—you become much more aware.”

Not Just a Traveler but Also an Author

“Learning is something you do until you die because there’s always something new to learn.”

Apart from being an outstanding guide and avid traveler, Sara is also a distinguished author, who has written several guidebooks to help new and experienced travelers plan their African adventure safaris. With her first-hand knowledge, she has published a guidebook on the best camps and guides in the business called “Sara’s Signature Safaris, Ultimate Sourcebook East Africa”.  She also is finishing up the second instalment on Southern Africa. This book provides some insider secrets and insights into the best camps, experiences, perspectives, and more of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. Curated from Sara’s personal experience, this book serves as the ultimate sourcebook for every safari enthusiast.

As a solo traveler or anyone who can’t afford a guide, this book is all one needs as it provides every minute detail of the safari adventure. Sara is also working on a memoir entitled “80 Years of Adventure“, which will briefly cover all her travel stories and experiences.

With her decades of rich travel experience, Sara encourages fellow travelers to explore unknown territories and relish the adventures of a lifetime. All the excuses and reasons will vanquish with Travel with Sara, as Sara says, “There’s always another way” and “The door is wide open“.

Keep Going and Keep Growing

Sara’s journey is remarkable in every sense. She is a beacon of inspiration to many travelers who only dream of accomplishing their travel dream. Withstanding multiple challenges, Sara’s success embodies constant courage and the spirit of never giving up. Her ability to keep learning, embracing the odds, and overcoming new challenges in her eighties is a true example of “It’s never too late to start living your dream”. She declares, “Retirement is not a good thing if you’re just putting your feet up—it’s crazy! I want to be excited every day.”

For Sara, every trip is as new and as fascinating as the first one. Her energy to keep going and growing is contagious in many ways. Sara’s professional journey and career is a classic example of “Turning your Dreams into Reality and Loving your Life to the Fullest.”

Notable Testimonials

“I’d like to tell you how much I enjoyed my trip to Botswana, led by Sara Kearns and Travels with Sara. I had a splendid time. Sara assembled a fascinating group of people whom I enjoyed thoroughly. Each of the sites/camps we visited was different and each was beautiful, with helpful and skilled staff. Sara led us through the adventure, her enthusiasm and good spirits always evident”. – Gretchen Gibbs NY

“Sara Kearns, Travels with Sara, is incredibly knowledgeable and insightful about travel. Thanks to her experience and astute ability to listen and organize, our recent 18 days; four-country trip went off without a hitch.” – Gerald Davis