Penny Lancaster, the celebrated model and television personality, has made headlines with her candid reflections on love, family, and an unexpected connection to Tanzania—a country she now describes as holding her “heart and soul.” The revelations came during her appearance on the LNER Routes podcast, broadcast on February 15, 2026, where Lancaster offered a rare glimpse into her private life with music legend Sir Rod Stewart and their sons, Alastair and Aiden.
Since first meeting in 1999, Penny Lancaster and Sir Rod Stewart have built a life defined by adventure, romance, and a commitment to family. Their story, as chronicled by HELLO! and The Times, reads like something straight out of a movie: a whirlwind courtship, a Parisian proposal in 2005, a sun-soaked wedding in Portofino, Italy, in 2007, and globe-trotting escapades that have taken them from Europe’s grandest cities to the wild heart of Africa. Most recently, the couple celebrated Rod’s milestone 80th birthday aboard a luxurious yacht in the Caribbean, surrounded by their closest family and friends.
Yet, despite their cosmopolitan lifestyle and a stately home on the Essex-Hertfordshire border, Penny confided on the podcast that it’s Tanzania—a country far from the bright lights of London or the Italian Riviera—that truly calls to her. “Tanzania, that’s one place that really…my heart and soul is there,” she said, her voice brimming with affection. She even joked with her sons, Alastair, now 19, and Aiden, 14, that if they ever want to find her in the future, Tanzania is where she’d likely be. “If you ever want to know where mum is going to end up, this is the place,” she recalled telling them during a family trip.
The roots of this deep connection trace back to Penny and Rod’s first visit to Tanzania before their children were born. She painted a picture of romance and wonder, recalling how Rod, ever the romantic, carved a heart and their initials into a tree before declaring his love. “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,” Penny reminisced on the LNER Routes podcast.
Years later, the couple made good on a promise to return with their sons, determined to share the magic of Tanzania with the next generation. The family stayed at the exclusive Mwiba Lodge, nestled within a sprawling 51,000-acre wildlife reserve. The lodge, renowned for its breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro and proximity to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, proved to be the perfect backdrop for adventure and reflection. Each morning, the family rose early to watch animals at sunrise—a ritual that left a lasting impression on everyone, especially the children.
Penny’s passion for photography found its muse in Tanzania’s vibrant culture and natural light. “It’s the culture, and the light, as a photographer it’s stunning,” she explained. During their stay, she captured unforgettable moments, including a close encounter with an elephant while on safari—a photograph she later shared with fans. But it wasn’t just the wildlife that captivated the family; it was also the opportunity to immerse themselves in local life. They learned about the Mwiba tribe and their educational initiatives, experiences that Penny described as transformative for her sons. “We got to learn about the local tribes and the schools and my eldest would love to go back. Not just for the animals but just, it really touched him too,” she shared.
Reflecting on these journeys, Penny described her Tanzanian adventures as “the best” experiences of her life. Writing in The Times, she said, “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.”
While Penny’s affection for Tanzania is clear, her family’s story is also one of enduring love and commitment. In a December 2025 interview with Woman & Home, Rod Stewart revealed the simple yet powerful rule that has helped sustain their marriage for nearly two decades: “We don’t argue before we go to bed. And we do not argue when we’ve had a glass of wine. If we do have arguments, it’s over real quick. And I try and teach my boys that real men can say sorry.” Penny, for her part, has fostered a spirit of openness within the family, encouraging Rod and their sons to communicate honestly. “There’s a wonderful honesty between the two of us. Long may it last,” Rod said, reflecting on their relationship’s foundation.
The couple’s commitment to each other extends beyond romantic gestures and family trips. According to HELLO!, they prioritize quality time—whether it’s a glamorous night out, a quiet coffee date, or a simple dog walk with phones left at home. Penny believes that “the key is to continually be making the effort—it will be a journey.” She emphasized that maintaining a relationship is not about reaching a finish line but about daily and weekly consideration. “We’re still learning, but I think you must always pay attention and check in with one another,” she told HELLO! in 2025.
Looking ahead, Penny Lancaster is set to appear on ITV One’s “Love Your Weekend” with Alan Titchmarsh, joining Olympic champion Max Whitlock as a guest. It’s another chapter in her evolving television career, but her heart, it seems, remains firmly tethered to the wild landscapes of Tanzania.
Through all the glitz, travel, and family milestones, Penny’s story is one of finding home in unexpected places—and of a love that continues to grow, whether under English skies or the golden light of the Serengeti.