Venture Capitalist extraordinary, Tim Draper loves the wildness of Africa and its potential for adventure. The love affair began when the California-based Draper first went on safari years ago and has endured enough for Draper to put his money where his heart is as one of the investors in a new East African resort, Lupita Island. Recently he returned Tanzania to celebrate one of those significant  birthdays, the Big Five-O, on Lupita Island on Lake Tanganyika . The resort is run by luxury safari company, Firelight Expeditions.

For my 50th birthday, my wife and I celebrated with our closest friends in one of the most beautiful places in the world: Lupita Island. Many people do not know that Lake Tanganyika is not only the world's second largest freshwater lake but it is also the second-deepest. In addition to having a private island to ourselves in the middle of this incredible lake, Firelight Expeditions arranged amazing trips for our group to places that few outsiders visit: Katavi and the Mahale Mountains.

For the first few days at Lupita Island, we took a helicopter ride to Kalambo Falls, kayaked around the island, and snorkelled and scuba-dived in Lake Tanganyika. In the evening, we enjoyed cocktails at sunset and terrific meals by the chef. I even visited the gym, which has some of the best views on the island, for a few workouts. On the fourth day our group split up into two groups: one visited the chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains, the other went on safari at Katavi National Park. It was a great way for our group to experience other parts of Tanzania. When everyone returned to Lupita Island, we were looking forward to a few more days of pure relaxation. We visited a local fishing village, where villagers lived in simple huts with thatched roofs. Their livelihood consisted of fishing and curing the fish in several different ways. The impact Lupita Island has had on the local village has been tremendous. I couldn't have imagined a better way to celebrate my birthday. The staff at Lupita Island were gracious, hospitable and took care of every need. We look forward to returning in the near future.

Contact: [email protected] Ultimate Luxury:  A private helicopter ride to Kalambo FallsMost Indulgent Moment: relaxing in a plunge pool with a lake viewInsider Secrets: the gym has some of the best views on the islandThe Little Things: Attentive staffJunior Luxies: No specific facilities but welcomeDent in the platinum: Luxury Resorts Link: www.firelightexpeditions.com