Can money buy happiness? For YEI member Anna-Maria Tregoning, one unforgettable event became a priceless gift that she would treasure forever.
There is a saying that money can’t buy happiness.
YEI member Anna-Maria Tregoning would gently disagree. She knows that money cannot buy love, good health or more time with the people we cherish. But she also knows that sometimes it can buy something almost as precious… the opportunity to create memories that last a lifetime.
Looking back, one extraordinary family holiday in Zambia became one of the greatest gifts she and her late husband ever gave themselves and their family.
A family adventure begins
In 2014, Anna-Maria’s husband was working as a geologist in Zambia. Because he spent long periods away from home, Anna-Maria visited him regularly. Together they discovered Zambia’s magnificent game reserves and fell in love with the country’s breathtaking wilderness.
That year they decided it was time to share those experiences with the people they loved most. The plan was simple. Fly the whole family to Zambia and spend a week together in South Luangwa National Park, one of Africa’s finest wildlife destinations.
It turned out to be anything but simple.
Flights from Cape Town to Lusaka were easy enough to arrange, but by the time Anna-Maria booked the final leg of the journey, every local flight was full. There was only one option. They would have to charter a private aircraft. “It was an enormous expense,” she recalls. “But my husband was so excited that his whole family was coming to visit him. We simply closed our eyes to the cost.”
Laughter from the very beginning
On 14 June, Anna-Maria, her children and their partners arrived in Lusaka, where her husband was waiting eagerly at the airport. For their first night together they checked into a luxurious five-star hotel. The family reunion got off to a memorable start.
When Anna-Maria’s son saw his father’s long hair, he immediately decided it was time for a haircut. There was plenty of laughter as father and son headed off to find a barber before the real adventure even began.
Seven Days of Pure Happiness
On Father’s Day they boarded their small aircraft and flew directly into South Luangwa National Park. The flight itself was unforgettable, but nothing compared with the days that followed. The family explored the bush on guided walks, watched magnificent wildlife, enjoyed sundowners beneath African skies and shared delicious meals in the open air.
Yet it was often the simplest moments that became the most memorable.
They laughed at the antics of baboons, marvelled at huge flocks of queleas dancing across the sky and learnt about animal tracks, droppings and the fascinating plants of the African bush.
Before the trip, Anna-Maria admits she wondered how six adults, each with different personalities, would spend seven days together without disagreements. She needn’t have worried. “There wasn’t a single hiccup,” she says. “The bush has a way of relaxing everyone.”
Their guide soon became part of the family, sharing in their laughter and stories.
The shoes that didn’t survive the safari
Like many fathers and sons, Anna-Maria’s husband and son turned the holiday into a friendly photography competition. Each was determined to capture the best wildlife photograph.
Early in the trip, Anna-Maria’s son looked down at his father’s well-worn shoes and joked, “Those won’t make the trip.” He was right. On the very last evening, while chasing just one more perfect photograph, her husband’s shoes finally gave up completely. They literally fell apart. The family dissolved into fits of laughter, creating yet another treasured memory.
The greatest investment they ever made
Looking back today, Anna-Maria doesn’t remember the cost of the flights, the private charter or the luxury accommodation. She remembers the smiles. She remembers the laughter. She remembers watching her husband happier than she had seen him in years, surrounded by the people he loved most.
Only a few months after that remarkable holiday, her husband passed away suddenly and completely unexpectedly.
The safari became far more than an expensive family holiday.
It became the last time they would all be together.
So… can money buy happiness?
Anna-Maria believes the answer is not as simple as many people think. Money cannot buy happiness on its own. But it can buy experiences. It can bring families together. It can create moments that become treasured memories long after the money has been spent.
For Anna-Maria, that unforgettable week in South Luangwa was worth every cent. Some investments are measured not in rands, but in memories. And those memories, she says, are truly priceless.
A YEI member spotlight
