Celebs – they’re just like us. They’ve got their bucket lists for lavish vacations, because we know life is about goals. And no list is worth its salt unless a safari is on it. These celebs went all in and brought their A-game at these top lodges that define a lifetime trip.
Sydney Sweeney
Destination: Tanzania
Where to stay: Singita Milele
In March 2025, Sydney Sweeney traded Hollywood glam for Serengeti chic during an epic safari in Tanzania. She and her girl squad took the adventure to new heights with a hot-air balloon ride over the savannah and channeled her inner explorer on a game drive that brought her up close and personal with cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and elephants. Supermodel-esque windswept hair included, obviously. During her time in the Serengeti, the starlet and her friends made themselves at home at Singita Milele, a luxury, private safari lodge in Tanzania’s Grumeti Reserve that offers priceless views of the park’s annual wildebeest migration. Who said you have to forfeit the five-star treatment to become one with the wild?
Chris Hemsworth
Destination: Kenya
Where to stay: The Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara
Even superheroes need a break sometimes. In 2023, the Thor star hung up his cape and jumped in an open-air jeep for a safari in Kenya. He and his wife Elsa Pataky, along with their three children, embarked on what can only be described as family vacay goals. Think sunset game drives, camels in the bush, and photobombs from giraffes. Both Chris and his wife shared Nat Geo-worthy photos of their trip on Instagram. While it’s unclear where exactly the family went, the Masai Mara National Reserve is one of Kenya’s most iconic safari destinations; famous for the Great Migration and the chance to catch a glimpse of the “Big Five” — lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.
Simone Biles
Destination: South Africa
Where to Stay: Jabulani
In February 2025, Simone Biles and her husband Jonathan Owens finally got their Honeymoon moment — two years post-wedding, but definitely worth the wait. The not-so-newlyweds celebrated their marriage with a full-on safari soiree in South Africa. The all-star power couple traded the locker room for the safari camp at Jabulani, a five-star lodge in Kapama Private Game Reserve. In true GOAT fashion, by their second game drive, they had already completed their mission to see all of the Big Five. If that wasn’t iconic enough, Simone also got to feed some of the elephants on the reserve. Bucket list goal complete? More like life goal complete.
Tom Brady
Destination: Tanzania
Where to stay: andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge
What better way to unwind after 23 seasons in the NFL and 7 Super Bowls than a once-in-a-lifetime safari? Just a few months after his retirement that shook the sports world, football legend Tom Brady headed to Tanzania to celebrate his 46th birthday with his family. There were helicopter rides, visits with a local tribe, and get this: a full bar set up right on the savannah. The family got front-row seats to lions, elephants, and zebras. And Tom’s daughter even got to try her hand at milking goats. We love a hands-on travel experience (no pun intended).
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FAQs
Q: Where did Sydney Sweeney go on her safari?
A: Sydney Sweeney went on a safari in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
Q: Are children allowed at The Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara?
A: Children aged six and older are allowed at The Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara.
Q: When is the best time of year to go on a safari in South Africa?
A: The best time of year to go on a safari in South Africa is the winter dry season, from May to September. The lack of water sources cause animals to gather around waterholes and the sparse vegetation makes them easier to spot.
