Speaking of dreaming of travel, last night, my daughter and I watched (for the second time) the live-action film, The Lion King. It was wonderful! But what I was most struck by is how perfectly the film captured the beauty that is Africa. Having had the privilege of going on safari in South Africa not long ago, I kept remarking to my kids, “it looks just like that!”
Of course, my kids told me it was filmed there so obviously it looks like that, LOL. The landscapes were indeed shot there, while, of course, the animals had some help with CGI.
I can say with all honesty that a trip to Africa will change your life… It should be on everyone’s Bucket List.
As I went on my first game drive, I remember being struck by not only how beautiful everything was, but how it smelled. Yes, I know that seems like a funny thing to be top of mind, but it was the most incredible fragrance, not the smell of animals or flowers but of the sweetest nectar, a scent I will never forget, almost as if I knew it innately. Crazy, right? Maybe…
Last year, in August, I had the honor of meeting some of the safari outfitters I work with at the Virtuoso Travel Week show in Las Vegas. I asked them about this incredible smell, and they instantly knew what I was talking about, yes, it is a thing! They said, “Oh, you mean the Bush smell?” and we excitedly began a comparison of what it meant to each of us. It was fascinating, and I will never forget how much that smell, along with the incredible scenery and animal sightings and exhilaration, filled my soul.
As I gazed at the incomparable African sunsets…
…on the TV screen, all I could think about was how I longed to go back, and of course, enjoy the fantastic sundowners we had in the bush. It was not just a thought of how much I happen to love a city and how fun a second visit would be, but a visceral tug at my heart, for I surely must have left mine there. And the thrill of seeing the Big 5 is equally matched by the unexpected. On our first day, we found ourselves in a stand-off with a Mozambique Spitting Cobra, serious adrenaline, fabulous, better than bungy jumping I would expect! My heart was racing, and yet I had no fear, just excitement, and pure joy! My kids do think when it comes to animals of all kinds; I am a bit of a nut.
I found myself fantasizing about how I could stay.
The game drives were never long enough, and all I wanted was an additional hour-every single time. It was magical. I found myself fantasizing about how I could just stay. Funny, I usually find after a certain amount of time, I am ready to go home, perfectly sated with my experience and full to the brim with the experiences I’ve had, and love for where I have been. And I guess that may have happened at some point, but I wasn’t ready to leave, I just wanted more.
I think that is why Africa is so incredibly unique as a destination. You may go to South Africa for your first visit and see the breathtaking city of Cape Town with a day traveling down the Cape Peninsula to visit the Cape of Good Hope and the penguins at Boulder’s Beach. You must also include a visit to the incredible Winelands, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek, which will truly take your breath away. (California has nothing on the South African wine country.) But, just when you think it cannot be more beautiful, you head north to Kruger and experience your first safari. As I am sure you have gathered, that is more than a highlight; it is something everyone should experience.
One cannot possibly fully experience Africa in one visit.
Each country has its treasures and provides the backdrop for unique experiences. The stunning Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta offer sensational safari experiences in Botswana. You will want to visit stunning Victoria Falls and Hwange Reserve areas in Zimbabwe and cruise between Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Zambezi River. How about spending time with the gorillas in Rwanda or witness the great migration in the Serengeti of Tanzania. The Masai Mara in Kenya is one of the most stunning places to view wildlife. You can go back and drive the Garden Route (a 300-Kilometer stretch of coast) in South Africa, or perhaps shark cage dive with the Great Whites from the village of Gansbaai! That is something I have always wanted to do! Africa is a destination that will never grow old.
It is the people of Africa…
Perhaps the most powerful experience of my time in Africa was interacting with the people. The warmth and generosity of the African people profoundly changed me. Besides the incredible hospitality I experienced throughout my trip and the genuinely inspiring guides that I met on safari, I spent a day volunteering at the Amy Foundation, https://amyfoundation.co.za/, as part of my time in Cape Town. This organization does amazing work with its students, empowering those from challenging and vulnerable communities (townships) to learn skills, and develop their creativity, readying them for employment and entrepreneurship.
So, dream….it is good for the soul.
Watching The Lion King transported me, and as we wait out the pandemic known as COVID-19, I encourage you to keep dreaming of where you will go and what you will do. This world is so rich with experience, all waiting for you! And when you are ready, it would be my privilege to help you plan.
