TANZANIA: San Jose residents Julianne, Alison and mom Anita Phagan recently traveled to Tanzania with their friends Steve and Karen Brandon of Livermore and Anne Ortiz of Milpitas. Their sightseeing stops included the Ngorongoro Crater (pictured, with the Phagans) and several national parks. Tanzania “is truly the heart of humanity!” Anita says. “And the animals in their protected national parks are simply breathtaking. We were lucky enough to see a rhinoceros here, as well as all the Big Five — and even some of the Little Five, like the Leopard Tortoise.”

TRAVEL TIPS: “We recommend looking at maps of the animals’ movements: late August is drier and animals follow the rivers and water spots. Wildebeest are already north into Kenya. But Tanzania offered a massive variety of birds and animals.”

Share your travels with us! Send a photo of yourself on your latest adventures to jburrell@bayareanewsgroup.com. Tell us where you are, who everyone is and where they’re from, and share a travel tip or two to help fellow travelers.