Arlene Wong and her "traveling sistas" stayed in Tau Lodge, South Africa, earlier this month during independent travels before their Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari adventure.
By Arlene Wong, 12-time traveler from Oracle, AZ
Whether I’m traveling with my husband, relatives and/or a band of friends, sharing the gift of travel with others has truly enriched all my experiences. Typically, when we return from a trip, my husband, Mark, develops a slideshow that we share with friends, neighbors, and relatives. As a result, for some, it sparks the interest in travel—especially with O.A.T.
Following our retirement and relocation to Tucson, AZ, from Northern California, we started traveling with O.A.T. In 2016, we were on O.A.T.’s Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari adventure and, as fate would have it, we were extremely fortunate that Karen Thews and her two adult sons—Brennan and Jonathan—were, too. Mark, Karen, and I struck up what was to become a lifelong, loving friendship and we became chosen family to each other. Mark and I continue to enjoy our traveling experiences. However, now that I have my band of "traveling sistas" which has grown over time, Mark feels more comfortable to "sit out" some travel experiences that don’t interest him. The support of traveling with O.A.T. as a solo traveler also supports this.
Arlene’s husband, Mark, joined the "traveling sistas" on an independent tour of Wadi Rum during The King's Highway from Amman to Petra pre-trip extension to O.A.T’s Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht adventure.
In 2014, Karen’s husband, Eric, had passed away and a close relative told her "You’re not going to spend the rest of your life in mourning" and introduced her to traveling with O.A.T. Her first O.A.T. trip was the Ultimate Galápagos Exploration & Ecuador's Amazon Wilds adventure and became the most healing event that projected her into a new life of joy without her beloved husband. Before Eric’s passing, they had signed up for the Safari Serengeti trip—which was to include their sons. However, Eric’s diagnosis prevented them from going on that trip. Two years after Eric’s passing, Karen and her sons took that trip that crystallized into a special bond of love among us. Mark, Karen, and I have traveled together each year since then, enjoying such trips as O.A.T.’s The Baltic Capitals, Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari (the first time), Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht, Kenya & Tanzania Safari: Masai Mara to the Serengeti, and more. Mark sat out the next two trips but, in December, Karen and I did Heart of India—including the Nepal: Kathmandu & Pokhara post-trip extension—and, just this month, Ultimate Africa (for the second time) with our growing traveling band of friends.
Arlene and Karen—the original "traveling sistas"—in Kathmandu during an extension of O.A.T.’s Heart of India adventure in December 2023.
Karen’s sister-in-law, Jean Thews—who coincidentally also lives in Tucson (like Mark and I), is retired, and wanted to travel—was invited to join us in 2018 on our first Ultimate Africa trip. In the past, Karen and Jean didn’t see each other very often as they were both busy raising families and lived in different states. However, since traveling together, their bond has deepened and Jean feels more secure traveling with friends and relatives that love and appreciate one another’s strengths and focus and "have her back and she theirs."
The "traveling sistas" at Victoria Falls during O.A.T.’s Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari adventure.
In 2023, we invited Deb Chinn—a cousin-in-law of Mark and I—to join our 2023 Egypt & the Eternal Nile trip. Mark, Deb, and I share a special bond of friendship and Deb "can feel her late husband Lou’s presence" while spending time with us. When Karen and Deb met, they felt an immediate and special connection as they were both widowed—and they continue to inspire one another and help each other as they move forward with their lives.
The "traveling sistas" were surprised by Noss—their Trip Experience Leader from their first Ultimate Africa trip six years ago—when embarking on the trip for a second time earlier this month.
So, over the last eight years, the "traveling band of sistas" has grown and we four ladies have traveled together to far flung places that we might not have ever experienced without the bond of friendship propelling us. While we continue to meet wonderful people on our O.A.T. trips, we also know we’re not alone and will look out for each other no matter the circumstance. We love that O.A.T. provides these magnificently executed adventures and all we have to do is show up with what we need—each other.
Last year, the "traveling sistas" celebrated Arlene’s birthday during The King's Highway from Amman to Petra pre-trip extension to O.A.T’s Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht adventure.
We communicate and see each other as we can throughout the year when we’re not traveling together, enriching each other’s lives and empowering one another to take steps we might not otherwise. We’re all challenged by differing life experiences, including getting older and especially life as a widow. The gift of travel with each other has strengthened us as individuals, emboldened us, bonded us as a "traveling band of sistas," and is a special gift to our hearts and souls.
Arlene and her "traveling sistas" stopping for tea cookies on a morning game drive during their Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari adventure.
On our recent July 2024 Ultimate Africa trip, we were treated to spectacles of nature not even imagined. As we gazed into each other’s eyes while sharing a jeep, we knew the joy and excitement each of us were experiencing that only the close bond of friendship could provide. We watched 17 wild dogs (they’re endangered and it’s rare to see so many together) chase a leopard up a tree, a hyena mom watching over her den of cubs, and three male lions lined up behind a female each waiting their turn to mate. We’re wowed at every turn and bump on the road!
Karen, Jean, Deb, and I (and another friend of Deb’s who was also on a previous trip with the "traveling sistas") are headed to Morocco for O.A.T.’s Morocco Sahara Odyssey adventure in April 2025. Then, in September 2025, Mark, Karen, Deb, and I are headed to Turkey and Azerbaijan with O.A.T. on their Turkey’s Magical Hideaways adventure and Untouched Azerbaijan pre-trip extension. Mark and I went to Sicily in Fall 2024, and Karen and Jean are heading to Nepal in November 2025 and Rwanda in September 2026, with still more O.A.T. trips planned for this "traveling band of sistas."
The gift of travel provides us perspectives on life not gained otherwise, and thanks to the "band of traveling sistas," our horizons keep expanding.
Bring your own band of "traveling sistas" on our Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari adventure.
