As he celebrates his 46th birthday with his kids, Tom Brady thinks back on a trip that he will never forget.

The Super Bowl winner shared photos from his trip to Tanzania with his 10-year-old daughter Vivian and 15-year-old son Jack on his Instagram on Tuesday.

In the pictures, Brady smiles as he holds Vivian on his shoulders, takes a picture while she pets a goat, poses with his two kids, and takes beautiful pictures of the wildlife and scenery.

In one picture, Vivian is sitting in a chair while a group of elephants walks by. “What a great trip to the world’s most interesting continent, Africa! “It was a special reminder that relationships and memories are really what life is all about,” he wrote at the start of a long caption.

 On a father-daughter safari, Tom Brady and his daughter Vivian were amazed by elephants and zebras. “This past week, since it was my birthday, I had a lot of time to think about all the wonderful things in my life and be thankful for them. When I was a boy in San Mateo, I never thought my life would turn out the way it has…I’ve done a lot in the 45 years I’ve been alive, and the people with whom I’ve done the most important things have been the ones I’ve loved the most.

“My children, my family, my friends and loved ones, and all of you have made this life so much better and more exciting. “It continues to teach me a lot to wake up to sunrises and untouched parts of our beautiful planet, to see these animals in all their glory, and to see how different people can live with true joy and happiness.

“If you know me, you know I love quotes….I’m thinking about two that I want to use to start this next chapter. They are very important to me, and maybe you will like them too!”

In the caption, he wrote, “The lesson you teach is the life you live.”

“If I don’t stand up for myelf, who will? “What am I if I’m not for other people?”

“I’ve been thinking about them for a while, and I’ll keep doing so as I go through life. “Thank you all for loving and supporting me for the past 45 years,” the football player said. “I am taking these next days one at a time, focusing on being my best self for myself and others, and living a life of integrity and purpose.”

Brady has a 13-year-old son named Benjamin and a daughter named Vivian with his ex-wife Gisele Bündchen. He also has a son named Jack with his ex-wife Bridget Moynahan.

In June, Brady told PEOPLE about his travel plans for the summer with all three of his children. He said that they had “lots of good plans,” like going to Disneyland and spending a couple of weeks in Brazil with their mother.

“These kids are going to have a great summer,” he said with a laugh. “It’s interesting because their friends are so tied to their gadgets and other things. But I think there needs to be a balance between letting them do those things and staying in touch with people in Boston, Tampa, Costa Rica, and Brazil.”