Penny Lancaster, the 54-year-old former model and television personality, has always had a flair for adventure and romance. But in a recent string of candid media appearances, she’s hinted that her next big journey might be more permanent—possibly leaving the UK for the country that has captured her heart: Tanzania. The revelation came as Penny opened up about her life with legendary rocker Rod Stewart, 81, and their globe-spanning romance, during a heartfelt conversation on ITV’s ‘Love Your Weekend’ with Alan Titchmarsh.
According to The Times and Everything Gossip, Penny and Rod’s love story has always been marked by grand gestures and unforgettable destinations. The couple’s romance began in 1999, blossomed with a proposal at the Eiffel Tower in Paris in 2005, and was sealed with a wedding in the picturesque Italian town of Portofino in 2007. Since then, their lives have been a whirlwind of international travel, family milestones, and spontaneous romantic escapades.
Last year, they celebrated Rod’s milestone 80th birthday aboard a yacht cruising the Caribbean, surrounded by family and friends. But it’s their time in Africa—specifically Tanzania—that seems to have left the deepest impression on Penny. Speaking on the LNER Routes podcast, Penny confessed, “Tanzania, that’s one place that really...my heart and soul is there.” She added, “I said to the boys when we got to take them there the second time round, ‘If you ever want to know where mum is going to end up, this is the place.’”
What is it about Tanzania that draws her so strongly? Penny explained, “It’s the culture, and the light, as a photographer it’s stunning. I first went with Rod, before I had children, and I remember him etching a heart and our initials into a tree. Before he said I love you he wrote it in a tree. So it was all very romantic. It was like those movies, kind of whisked away in your safari outfits across the Serengeti, and we said when we do have children, we must take them back and we did.”
The family’s Tanzanian adventure was nothing short of magical. They stayed at the exclusive Mwiba Lodge, nestled within a 51,000-acre wildlife reserve, and explored some of the country’s most iconic natural wonders. Penny recounted, “We stayed at the Mwiba Lodge and visited the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, flew over Mount Kilimanjaro, and got up early each morning to watch the animals at sunrise. It was wonderful. Rod and I had been on safari before we had kids, so the best bit was seeing it through our sons’ eyes. They were blown away.”
For Penny and Rod’s sons, Alastair, 19, and Aiden, 14, the trip was more than just a safari. The family immersed themselves in the local culture, learning about the Mwiba tribe and visiting local schools. Penny shared that her eldest son would love to return—not just for the wildlife, but because the experience “really touched him too.” Throughout the journey, Penny documented moments like coming face-to-face with an elephant, sharing her awe and gratitude with her followers.
While Tanzania holds a special place in her heart, Penny’s life with Rod is filled with romance no matter the location. On the February 15, 2026 episode of ‘Love Your Weekend,’ host Alan Titchmarsh set the tone for a Valentine’s-themed show by asking Penny about her husband’s romantic side. She responded, “[He’s] just romantic all year round.” Alan, ever the entertainer, quipped, “Ugh, hate him,” before bursting into laughter along with Penny and fellow guest, Olympian Matt Whitlock.
Penny went on to describe Rod’s spontaneous approach to romance: “He said to me the other day ‘Darling, give me three or four days out of the calendar coming up soon and I’m going to take you somewhere special. I’m not telling you where I’m taking you, just give me three or four days, get the school run covered and all of that.’ That’s the kind of guy that I’m married to. He doesn’t particularly enjoy—and neither do I—being told when to be romantic. So Valentine’s Day is the commercial love, isn’t it? Whereas we like the spontaneity and we’re both very, very romantic. Whether it’s a train ride or up the Eiffel Tower, where he proposed to me.”
The Eiffel Tower proposal remains a highlight, and Alan was duly impressed. “He proposed up the Eiffel Tower?” he echoed, before turning to Max and joking, “Bet you can’t match that, Max. I certainly can’t.” But Penny had more romantic tales to share. When Alan inquired if she’d ever traveled on the Orient Express, Penny revealed, “Yes, we did that for our wedding anniversary last year. It was a new route they were taking from Paris to Portofino, and we got engaged in Paris and we were married in Portofino. It had to be done.” Penny clarified that she had organized the trip herself, adding another layer to their tradition of marking anniversaries with meaningful journeys.
The couple’s penchant for travel and adventure is well-known, but Penny’s recent comments suggest that her connection to Tanzania is more than just a holiday romance. She’s joked with her sons about making it her permanent home, and the memories forged there—both before and after children—seem to have left a lasting imprint. “If you ever want to know where mum is going to end up, this is the place,” she told Alastair and Aiden, hinting at a future far from the UK’s familiar shores.
Meanwhile, Rod Stewart continues to embody the classic romantic, whether he’s carving declarations of love into Tanzanian trees or whisking Penny away on surprise trips. Penny’s anecdotes paint a picture of a marriage built on shared adventures, thoughtfulness, and a refusal to let routine dictate their expressions of love. As she said on ITV, “We like the spontaneity and we’re both very, very romantic.”
For now, Penny is back in the UK, making appearances on television and sharing her stories with audiences. But the pull of Tanzania remains strong. With her heart set on the vast savannahs and vibrant culture, it wouldn’t be a shock if she eventually made good on her playful promise to her sons. Wherever she lands, one thing’s clear: Penny Lancaster’s life, with Rod Stewart by her side, is anything but ordinary.