If you're looking for safaris, game lodges, exotic foods, and breathtaking natural beauty, Zimbabwe is the place.

The highlight of our trip was seeing Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is one of the most spectacular waterfalls on the planet and is said to be the world's largest sheet of falling water.

There are few places more Insta-worthy, particularly if you catch a rainbow — we saw a double one over the falls.

I also really loved Imire: Rhino and Wildlife Conservation, located about two hours from the capital of Harare. There, we went on a game drive and encountered plenty of African wildlife. Then, we had a delicious lunch in the game park overlooking an animal-studded waterhole.

It felt like pure magic.

Cape Town, one of South Africa's capitals, didn't disappoint with its spectacular coastal views, a top-notch foodie scene, and great shopping options.

A highlight of our trip was riding on the cableway up to Table Mountain — our gondola had a offers 360-degree panorama of the city.

We spent a whole day walking around the V&A Waterfront and spent a lot of money at its wonderful shops and restaurants.

From there, you can also catch a ferry to Robben Island, which was once a prison for political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela during apartheid, but is now a museum.

The road trip from Cape Town to Knysna — which included a section of the Garden Route, a breathtaking stretch along the coast — was also absolutely stunning. We were lucky enough to stay with family in Knysna who had a beautiful, secluded property on the side of a hill, complete with access to a private beach.

I felt like I was in a movie the moment I arrived in Marrakesh

Donkey-drawn carriages cruised up and down laneways while snake charmers, folk dancers, and trinket vendors vied for my attention.

I enjoyed the delightful chaos and quickly fell in love with the vibrant colors, mouthwatering food, and rugged landscape of this North African country.

The standout for me was our three-day tour from Marrakesh to the Sahara Desert. We journeyed across the Atlas Mountains and explored ancient kasbahs along the way, then eventually rode camels into the desert.

On our final night, we ate chicken tagine (a traditional Moroccan dish with a spiced sauce) under the stars, then slept in a Berber desert camp.

In the land of the pharaohs, I marveled at millennia-old colossal monuments like the Pyramid of Giza, the Great Sphinx of Giza, and the Abu Simbel temples.

The outstanding engineering capabilities of the Egyptians have to be seen to be believed.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is also a must-see if you're in Cairo. It houses the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the mask of Tutankhamun and his sarcophagus.

With beautiful beaches and plenty of theme parks, the Gold Coast in Australia's Queensland is filled with things to do.

The Gold Coast has a sub-tropical climate with about 300 days of sunshine a year, so you're likely to encounter optimal weather for outdoor activities.

My favorite activity here was walking the trail from Tallebudgera Creek to Burleigh Heads, which goes through Burleigh Head National Park. I witnessed plenty of scenic ocean views along the way and often stopped to watch the surfers catch a wave.

If chill island vibes, monkey spottings, and melodious insect cacophonies appeal to you, Ubud is the place to go.

One of the top attractions is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, home to more than 1,200 monkeys. You can explore ancient temples and meet the local long-tailed macaques in their natural habitat.

Just make sure you follow the rules and don't take any food or water bottles with you. I learned that lesson the hard way when one enormous monkey leaped on my backpack, giving me the fright of my life.

Another highlight for me was sitting on our veranda at the Green Field Hotel while overlooking the rice fields at sunrise and listening to the cricket orchestra.

My 8-year-old son and I sat out there one morning for about two hours while everyone else was asleep, chatting and enjoying the sounds of nature around us.

For a nice, easy nature hike, check out Campuhan Ridge Walk. I loved the scenery and took my 4-year-old with me. At one point, we stopped for a rest on the trail, and I looked up to find the biggest spider I'd ever seen lurking right above us — so keep your eyes peeled.

Bonito, which means "beautiful" in Portuguese, lives up to its name. The town is in the southern region of the Brazilian Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland. We stopped here on our way from Rio de Janeiro to Bolivia and fell in love with this hidden paradise.

Surrounded by lush forests, Bonito has amazing crystal-clear rivers where you can spot an abundance of fish while snorkeling.

During our trip, a massive thunderstorm rolled in above us when we were snorkeling. Watching the fish dart around underwater as raindrops landed on my back was such an awe-inspiring experience.

When it comes to epic coastal scenery, warm people, delicious food, and historical sites, Cape Town delivers.

One of our favorite spots was Groot Constantia, the oldest wine estate in South Africa. We had a mouth-watering lunch and did a wine tasting before learning about the history of Cape farmers at the Manor House Museum and walking through the grounds.

Cape Town's sun-soaked beaches were also postcard-perfect. The water can be pretty chilly, however, even in the summer. I only dipped a toe in, but if you enjoy a little cold-water therapy, feel free to dive right in.

When envisioning a safari, the image of a hot, sunny African day probably comes to mind. Although that's often the case, weather on safari can be unpredictable and have a huge impact on the overall experience.

South African winters — which last from around June through September — can be surprisingly cold, especially on early morning game drives. That's why I recommend bringing a warm jacket, hat, and gloves during these months.

The good news is that the best wildlife-viewing opportunities often occur in cooler weather. The lack of rain usually makes the animals easier to spot since scarce water forces them to gather around watering holes.

Self-driving in places like South Africa's Kruger National Park is a fantastic experience — if you know what you're doing.

For a first-timer, hiring a game ranger or opting for guided drives can be an invaluable experience. This is because these guides are wildlife experts trained to spot animals the average viewer may not notice by themselves.

Countless times, I've had rangers spot big cats and even elephants that I would've driven right past because they were camouflaged with the trees. I've learned plenty about the terrain, animal behavior, and history of the park from these guides.

Private reserves are protected wildlife areas owned by individuals or organizations. They usually offer the same wildlife-viewing options as national parks, but a few key differences can make going private a better option.

In some reserves, rangers are allowed to drive off-road to get you closer to the action, whether that's a pride of lions or a herd of elephants.

You're also less likely to encounter large crowds at a private reserve. For example, in some popular national parks, it's not unusual to find 10 or more vehicles jostling for a view of an animal sighting. However, in private reserves, the number of vehicles is limited.

The catch is, of course, that private reserves are more expensive. But in my opinion, the intimate and exclusive experience is well worth the extra cost, especially for a first-time safari-goer.

Before my first safari, I didn't give much thought to the smaller animals. I was focused on the Big Five — lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo.

But one of the unexpected joys of safari is witnessing the incredible variety of smaller creatures that call Africa home.

For example, Africa is a birder's paradise, and even if you don't consider yourself a bird enthusiast, it's hard not to get caught up in the excitement.

Some of the less-famous animals — like wild dogs, cheetahs, servals, and hyenas — are stunning to see, too.

People often underestimate the importance of a pair of binoculars.

The guide will typically have a pair and offer to let you have a look, but that typically means sharing with five other people who are all trying to check out the same thing.

When you board the safari vehicle, you'll usually have a chance to chat with your ranger beforehand. If it's your first time, let them know.

If your guide thinks you've seen the "everyday" stuff, they might whizz past zebras or skip talking about some basic animal behaviors and fun facts.

However, for a first-timer, these are magical and exciting experiences. If you let them know you're new to this, game rangers will usually want to make your first time as memorable as possible.