Leopards with a gold lining

“Morning is wonderful. Its only drawback is that it comes at such an inconvenient time of day.” 
― Glen Cook

This was my first and initial thought when my alarm rudely entered my dreams, and reminded me that I had chosen to wake up at this ungodly hour, so that I could spend my sunrise sitting in an open top land cruiser with three spotted companions.

I quickly decided that I would much rather switch that “calming springtime” alarm tone off, and return to comfort behind my eyelids and under my marshmallow duvet. Then as I began to nod off to sleep again, I started to wonder what on earth I was doing being such an old sack of potatoes and sprung out of bed as if someone had just told me that Channing Tatum was outside my door with a bouquet of roses!

Running around with my hair sticking out in every direction, I did my utter best to multi task, in the hope that I would be ready a lot quicker if I attempted doing everything all at once. One shoe on, the memory card for my camera in my left hand and my hairbrush in the other, I realized I would have to calm down to a mild excited panic, and try to complete one task at a time if I ever wanted to spend my sunrise with Thandi and her two cubs.

If it weren't for having to put in my contact lenses (which I still have not mastered) I would have been ready in about four minutes. After about the fifth attempt, I managed to get both contacts to finally stick to my eyeballs. Although by the very uncomfortable feeling in my left eye, I was sure I had inserted it inside out.

It didn’t matter; I was finally on my way to meet these little cubs for the first time! As we drove through the reserve, the cold chill seeping into every opening I had, and the breeze completely drying out my contact lenses. I smiled in absolute content, while tears ran down my cheeks trying to compensate for the wind that was slowly evaporating any moisture I had left in my burning eyes.

As we got closer to the spot where we had last seen Thandi the day before, I could not help but remember that it was in fact a Monday morning, and most people would be starting their day sitting in traffic, on their way to a job that more than likely entails an office.  

Oh how I would much rather start my week like this, with the breeze in my face, the odd insect colliding with my forehead, and the smell of the freshly killed impala ram that Thandi had courageously brought down the evening before.

As we looked up to try and find our companion, I felt the cool air start to lift as the sun decided it was time to make an appearance. We initially could not see Thandi as she blends in so well with her surroundings. Suddenly out of nowhere, as if she “popped” magically into the scene, we saw her!

Lying lazily over a thick branch with all four legs hanging down, eyes still closed, I felt my heart skip with happiness. Yes, I had spotted her, and felt very proud for doing so, considering I was still wiping my misty eyes clear.

We watched in anticipation, as she lay there. I got my camera all set up and ready for that perfect head turn; yawn or stretch, and then we waited, and waited and waited. Nope, Thandi was having none of it and refused to pose for us, in fact, she even turned her head so that we could not even see her face.

Out of boredom, I eventually started playing with camera settings to see which setting would work best with the lighting. Then as the sun started to rise, so did Thandi.

The golden light coated her face and everything around her, and as I began to lose myself in Thandi and her golden aura, I heard a sound. My hearing has always been very acute and I am often able to sense and hear a presence around me before I see it with my own eyes.

Just as I started speculations about a hyena coming in to steal Thandi’s breakfast, a little fluffy face popped into view and stared at me through the green thicket, with the grayest eyes I have ever seen. Thandi watched from above, and after gathering that there was no danger, she lazily put her head back down.

The bushes that had a pair of eyes staring back at me, was now rustling and moving in the morning light, as not one, but two leopard cubs played amongst its leaves.

Yes Thandi is a mother, an extremely dedicated one at that. The night before we had watched her drag that impala ram right beneath the tree she now lay stretched out in. The problem was, the ram was way too big for Thandi to drag up the tree, and if there was ever a moment I would have labeled her as an over achiever, this would have been it. 

Being a single mother in the bush as a predator is not an easy task. Keeping her cubs safe is an ongoing task and something that requires her to have her wits about her almost 24 hours a day. Besides for the hunting and the life lessons, Thandi also has to watch for other predators like Lions, Hyena and Jackal. It is a harsh world out there in the bush, and no day is ever a promised certainty. The struggles are never ending and survival of the fittest is an extremely raw and real way of life out here.

Although right now, in this moment, time stands still, and Thandi is at ease. The cubs are allowed to stalk, pounce, play and live as any young ones should. Free and at ease without a worry in the world, I share this moment with them and watch as golden morning light paints a picture of perfection. It was the golden hour in every sense of the word, visibly and symbolically. This was a moment that you forgot about the harsh realities and the cruelty of nature, of humans, of life. This was a moment to freeze, a moment I absorbed with all five senses as I watched on while one of the cubs climbed the tree and nuzzled his mother. This was the moment I woke up early to be a part of, but had no idea how powerful it would be. Everything around me shone with gold light and time really slowed down, the entire scene was blanketed in innocence and peace and tranquility.

Thandi eventually broke the dreamlike trance. By being the mother that she is, and sensing that it was time to get back to reality, she stood up ever so gracefully and stretched out her long legs while her spotted coat shone in the open patches under the trees canopy. She then made her way down the tree and began her instinctive duties of trying to lighten the weight of the impala so that it could be dragged into safety away from other scavengers.

Her cubs looked on curiously and even attempted to help her, but found the task to tedious and continued to pounce circles around her while she remained focused on saving their meal.

The golden light began to fade and the entire bush lightened up as the sun started rapidly rising above us. Golden hour was over and soon guests would be heading off for their morning drives, and the bush would hum with activity and life. I knew that our shared moment had come to an end, and daily duty would call, but I knew that it was a moment that would be burnt into my memory for the rest of my life.

So as I bid Thandi and her cub’s farewell, and said a quick prayer to keep them safe, I smiled in silence as I reflected on a life lesson and a gift given to me from a magical place. My core and soul had been somewhat changed and enlightened by the experience I had just had. I will be forever humbled and grateful to Thandi for allowing us to share the only truly peaceful moment in her day, and for letting me witness the two beautiful lives she brought into the world. I wish upon her the strength it takes to continue protecting them with everything she has, and hope to share the same moment with them in the future when they become adults and continue her legacy.

A sunset, a hippo, a mosquito, a G&T and....ACTION

As I lay back and relax while the sun goes down, I can’t help but notice how my environment out here in the bush with all its sound and array of colours puts my mind at ease.

With skies that threaten to open up and saturate our dry lands with hope, and patches of new green shoots that invite plenty of activity near our watering hole, I breathe and feel my fingers write with enthusiasm and flow, and my heart starts to beat at a comfortable pace.  The bush and all her elements act as my muse, the words dance out my mind into my fingers.

Ahhhh, what peace, what content and utter balance, what a perfect way to end a straining day, oh yes, I am in an equilibrium of feelings.

And then… “GWAG GWAG GWAG” Harry, our resident hippo has decided that he no longer likes me sitting on the sand bank, and like a two year old brat, he throws his giant head from side to side while vocalizing his disgust at my presence near his watering hole. 

I try to whip out my phone to document his drama queen antics, and just as a spiteful child would do, he does a complete 180 and pretends he is as mature as any overgrown hippo would be.

Not only does he pretend to be the accommodating companion, but he exaggerates the biggest yawn possible just to make sure I am aware that he will not cooperate on any level. Oh Harry, I know you too well by now.

At first I am annoyed at his childish attempt to share, or rather his lack of effort made at all, and then I ease up. Harry was here first, this is his watering hole, and as much as I love to share it with him, I know he hates sharing it with me.

So I put down my phone and watch his tantrum take place all over again, and I begin to relax and really appreciate my giant companion for all that he is and all the joy he brings me in one day.

What first hit my ears, and destroyed my silence like an unwelcome off key marching band, became quit soothing and therapeutic.

It’s like giving a child a tambourine in one hand and a shaker in the other, at first the lack of rhythm or melody is annoying, but then you look at the child and realize that you really appreciate everything they do. I don’t have children but I can only imagine it to be the same. No I have Harry, and many other bush companions in which I share my home with.

I know them all, and have given them each a name. Every one of them has characteristics I adore, and a story behind their sparkly eyes.

There is only one thing I cannot appreciate about living out here in the bush. Those blood sucking terrorists, that sound like mini gyro copters when they are anywhere near my personal space. If you have ever lived in Africa, then you are fully aware of their proper name, the Mosquito.

Oh how I LOATHE these annoying little monsters and their determination to make me miserable and leave me in itchy spots that are sometimes in places too embarrassing to scratch in public areas.

I have unusually sensitive hearing, and when I have any inkling that one of these mini vampires are around, I spring into action and arm myself with the nearest form of ammunition. It may be my pillow, a shoe, a towel or even my phone, it really doesn’t matter the object, as long as it serves my purpose of flattening that unbearable sound!

I have tried everything I can possibly think of. Mosquito nets, that end up tangled around my neck during the night and leave me sweating in a nightmare of being strangled and trapped. I have tried bug sprays that only seem to attract the bastards more while I cough up any form of lung I have left from all the overpowering oils used to deter mosquitos. I try hiding under my blanket at night, until my little gap left open to breathe is invaded by one of the carbon dioxide flying trackers. I even tried wearing as many items of clothing as possible, only to wake up and find I have very itchy fingers covered in little red spots.

You name it, I tried it, until…I discovered a wonderful old potion called Gin and Tonic!

Oh how it has saved me from becoming dangerously annoyed. The something or other in the tonic apparently deters mosquitos from choosing you as there next victim. I never had enough patience to go and research it and see the scientific reasoning behind this suggestion, but the fact that I truly enjoy tonic, splashed with generous amounts of Gin made it all to attractive to try.

So here I sit, with a few mosquito deterring potions healthily swigged back , watching the sun go down while Harry does his best to get rid of me, listening to the sound of a blood sucker approaching my space. And whether Gin and tonic truly works or not, I CAN tell you that after a hearty consumption of the stuff, that little gyro copter sound suddenly adds a calming soprano buzz to Harry and his conglomeration of sounds.

So whether I wake up with itchy spots or not, Gin and Tonic truly helps take the edge off of the experience, and I am relaxed enough to sit back, sip my drink, and watch the show nature has put on for me to enjoy.

I may even invite the little mozzie to join me for the grand finale when the orange curtain of sunset goes down and turns the stage to black.

Thank you to Harry and all his cast for allowing me to witness such a wonderful end to another day in the bush, and of course to G&T, the producer that allowed nature, the director, to fully grab an audience’s attention and close the act with an all-round standing ovation.

Far far away, where the fairies like to play...Visit Hogsback

Hogs back is a magical place in the Eastern Cape, run by people who truly lose themselves in all it has to offer. With Fairy walks and carefully manicured gardens, you can really enjoy a weekend away physically and mentally.

There are two theories that I know of as to how the little town got its name. The commander of fort Michell was called Captain Hogg and it is believed that the village was named after him. Others think it may be because of the three peaks that are near to the town, as they look like a hogs back when you see them from a specific angle.

In South Africa we don’t have snow during Christmas time, but many indulge in a second Christmas during the July winter season, where a “White” July Christmas can be enjoyed amongst friends and family. When I went there, it was late winter, and the snow had already disappeared.

Upon arrival, I had no idea what to expect, and was advised of a few places to go and see, and educated on the numerous possibilities of entertainment. The first place I chose to stay was at Away with the fairies, a place that firstly sounded like my kind of spot and secondly they are very environmentally friendly, respectful and conscious. Me being the nature person I am, I could not resist the sound of it, and was more than excited to climb the scariest tree house, or have a bath in the tub with a view.

When we arrived there, the Hippie vibe surrounding the whole town was very evident, but I really enjoyed it. The break, the escape in the natural rolling hills and forests, with people who truly live freely was exactly what I needed. After setting up tent in what felt like someone’s backyard, we went to have a drink the Wizards sleeve bar. Too excited to explore we kept conversation short and headed straight for the tree house!

It was a short experience at the tree house, because Hogs back boasts scores of hiking trails (and wild forest cows) in which you are exposed to a beautiful indigenous forest, wonderful crystal waterfalls and over 150 bird species. With a map in hand (which never proved to help us, due to our lack of care to sticking to a path) we hiked every single day. Some days we hiked twice a day. Being that it is so beautiful it was easy to hike without thinking of the exercise involved in exploring the beautiful forests.

There are many places to stay in Hogs back, so whether you prefer the rustic environment with camping or a B&B or an inn, there is an option for every type of person, although I do suggest stocking up with your favorite supplies as the grocery store is more of a small convenient store, which is more than sufficient if you are not a fussy type. There are also wonderful restaurants, and I enjoyed two of them during my stay there. One that served chilli chocolate samoosas with a wonderful fireplace was Happy hogs, I sat there and drank great wine while enjoying the awesome food and the cozy flames.

During the days spent there, we visited the St Patricks Church which is situated on the left around a windy road. The garden is full of bright rhododendrons and azaleas. There is also a brass bell (which I couldn’t help but ring) that stands as a memorial for the Reverend Dr Bride Dixon, who was the first woman priest in South Africa as well as the Doctor there. We also went on the fairy walk which is owned by an elderly couple. The gentleman allowed us to watch him in his art studio as he created concrete sculptures of fairies that once painted, and carefully placed, come alive and sparkle with magic.

We also spent a night at Swallowtail, which was wonderful due to the rain, as they had a traveler’s lounge where we could make a fire, enjoy a glass of red wine, and cook our meal. Swallowtail is perfect for campers and caravaner’s alike, with wonderful bathroom facilities and amazing hospitality.

All in all, I would definitely go back there. It is one of those places that captured me, enchanted my spirit and left me dazed in peace when I left. If I had not gone there, I would have put it at the top of my bucket list!

To see more information about Away with the fairies i have added a link below:

http://awaywiththefairies.co.za/

When the laugh of a hyena gives you chills

The spotted hyena is a skillful hunter but also a scavenger. Truly an opportunistic feeder, it selects the easiest and most appealing food, so a herd of buffalo with a few calves are bound to be the perfect targets.

Last night while the camp slept and the birds silenced, the night sky became the perfect assistant to a local spotted hyena clan. The silence of my bush sleep was broken by an ear wrenching gargling scream. I woke up in such a panic and the hairs on both my arms stood to attention  while my heart pounded so loud it was audible.

Being that I live in an area where we are on constant edge and alert because of poachers, this was not the pleasant awakening that I had become  accustomed  to.

Suddenly the nights silence was filled with hyena calls, followed by more blood curdling screams. I could only lie back and pray that whatever they were ripping to pieces was going to be granted a quick death. This was not to be, as the cries  of the chosen midnight snack continued  for another 15 minutes while the hyena calls became louder and more desperate.

Hyenas make a variety of sounds, including wailing calls, howling screams and the famous "laughing" call used to alert other clan members in the surrounding area that dinner is served.

After a sickening  thirty minutes I presumed the fight was over and the hyenas had won, as there were no more screams, just a night full of hyena laughter. I said a prayer and closed my eyes in order to catch a bit of a sleep before I faced what had happened just minutes  before.

This morning when I woke up I went straight to the lodge to find the night guard, who I was certain would be able to give me a few more details regarding the clans evening activities.

He confirmed that the clan that had been hovering around our plains, found the herd of buffalo that were bathing in the watering hole just the afternoon before, and viciously grabbed one  of their young, causing distress  to the mother of the unfortunate calf who was no match for the clan of four.

Usually hyenas chase their pray to exhaustion, but this buffalo calf was bitten and eaten alive within minutes of the attack. The  clan then dragged it's barely alive, but still breathing body into the bush where our guard lost all sighting  of the feast but spent the rest of the evening listening, like me, to a few more screams which slowly subsided and transformed to hyena laughs.

The kill was within meters of my garden, and the sounds are something I will never forget. No bush experience I have had before could have prepared me for that dread I was left with after hearing those screams. All I could do was listen and respect nature and my surroundings for all that it is. And it is, sometimes, more real and raw than anything I have seen of felt before.

So as the sun goes down, I await to see if tonight will bring the same terror as it did just 18 hours ago. Although for now, I'm blessed with a chorus of birds and a honking of Harry the Hippo, but I am in no means ignorant  to the reality behind these beautiful  lands. 

My blog

South African Gypsy http://cherylsmart.blogspot.com/

Don't blink, you will miss it!

When I made the decision to come back to South Africa after a good six years of travels, I came back with two goals. One, grow within my chosen career, and two, travel Africa.

After a good five months in a small local game reserve, with good people and great experiences and memories, the option to head to the more vast, untouched part of Africa has finally come up and who could say no to that?

Sometimes on the long roads around South Africa I drive through so many small towns, and if I had to squint anymore trying to take photos with bad eye sight of all the old buildings, farm cattle and churches, you would swear I was Asian. Everyone knows Asians see and take pictures of everything around them. They also don't just click once and take a single digital image, they click three to four times per shot. They need to be certain that they have a few good photos of that old, decrepit house and dirty goat.

I find that these long road trips excite me alot more than they used to when I grew up here. I am so aware of my surroundings and take pictures of things I never used to notice before.

Sometimes you don't need to jump on the first plane, or in my case a ship, to another continent to travel. Sometimes you can just take a weekend camping trip to a local dam or a road trip to another province. Or if you are as travel obsessed as myself, you can go as far as to make a goal to reach as far north as the African continent allows you. Travelling around Africa never appealed to me when I was younger. I never appreciated living in Kenya as a child and I certainly had no plan to galavant back there as an adult. After those six years away from Africa, I grew very desperate to head back and really go and see it with new eyes.

Now I also take three to four snaps of a dirty house and a dead tree to make sure I got the best shot, and I really get excited to sit and watch an African sunset and drink a dark beer. Making the decision to get a job in the bush was one of the best decisions I have made for my current years. The pace is not according to a clock or the day of the week. Nature and people and moments separate days. Trips to local towns and weekends away to more desolate areas are as exciting as a trip to Paris.

"Always keep your eyes open, keep watching, because whatever you see can inspire you. "

"One way to open your eyes is to ask your self, what if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?"

Love is

I have just come back from a wonderful two week holiday in the city. I must say, I had a few separation issues from the bush whilst I was amidst the hustle and bustle of traffic and people.

My two week trip was taken for a wedding. Being that the bride was one of my best friends and all, and I had been asked to be part of the bridal party, I could not exactly RSVP a no, and I wouldn't have even dreamt of doing that.
So I packed up my car and made the great trek of 12 hours through to Kwazulu Natal, my place of birth.

I thoroughly enjoyed the drive, and found the change of scenery to be rather refreshing. From rolling hills speckled with aloe to more rolling hills sprinkled with acacia trees. It was breathtaking.  I made a short sunset stop in Kokstad to visit a very old and dear friend. So while we sat in my car, and watched the sun go down over the beautiful city, we laughed, caught up and shared new stories.

This trip, as I mentioned, was for a wedding, and it was nothing short of spectacular.  When I was thinking about the words I was going to string together for my speech, I had a good long think about marriage in general. Why do people get married? And are they sure its to the right person? How do they know if it's true love? I was thinking about all these little things and decided to rather just think about the couple at hand and write about them, and THEIR love. I started by browsing through a few quotes until I concluded that they were all utter rubbish, and mostly pretty boring. So I invented an array of quotes based and inspired by my two friends that were tying the knot. The speech was a hit and I had a few members of the crowd in tears. The truth was, I had written that speech in about 15 to 20 minutes, as my darling two love birds had left me with so much material to use, I could not have written anything short of four pages.

During the ceremony and after spending so much time with the couple, it hit me...almost as hard as the few glasses of champagne I had been generously receiving. It hit me like an epiphany! Love is...

Yup, thats it! And so I began thinking and wrote a little reminder on my facebook page so that I wouldn't forget the moment and the way I thought about it all. Being a girl who has grown into a woman terrified of marriage, I did not want to let my progress of warming to the idea to completely disintegrate with my wonderful bubbly feel good liquid.

Love is unique to each person. It has no boundaries or rules, because if you truly love, then there wouldn't need to be boundaries and rules. Love is caring more about another person than about yourself, wanting to give them the best that you can because. ..well...you love them. Love is free, it isn't scary when it's real,it's glorious. Love is not always with another person, love is sunrises and sunsets, love is the sound of rain on any surface. Love is not meant to be exploited or used, be careful with it because it is rare.  It can only be seen and felt with open eyes and pure hearts. Love is helping another person when you can, love is kind words and positive actions. Love is uplifiting and gentle. Love just is....

I have been blessed in such a way that I have fallen in love everday for the past six years. I fall in love with my environment and all the things in it. I fall in love with the people, be it friends or mentors, but the one thing I have not done very well is love a man, a partner, a person who should mean more to me than me myself, more than my passion for travels and adventures...until now.

He was a chapter in my past, that life very strangely brought back into my future after a very personal conversation I had with the higher powers and after a statement I made to the world. I asked God in a very pleading manner, why he had given me a soul with so much passion and fire for the world and its people and no one to share it with? Why had he instilled in me a heart so big with so much love and no one to go home to everyday? Why is it that he had given me a love to travel and experience the world, when a lifestyle like that makes it almost impossible to bump into someone along the way who may want to embrace that way of living too.

Ha...im sure he laughed, because the very next day someone did enter, or should I say re-enter my life, and started to change my whole way of looking at love in the means of another person. This is what I wrote...

" Are you allowed to be in love without fear, without worry or insecurities. Are you allowed to be in love without boundaries, without change without doubt. Yes you are, you can be whoever you want to be and whoever you are. And when you find that person that allows you to dance without following rules then you can love without all of that other stuff."

And even if I dont know what the outcome will be, i will continue to dance....

Come sit at the fire and hear a tale

It has started to get very cold out here in the bush, and nights consist of fire places and sherry. The good thing about being able to build fires again is the conversation a fire draws. People forget about their phones and laptops and all huddle around together and swap various stories about back in the day. Each one has some form of soothing liquid in a glass combined with a witty tongue to add to the humorous session around the crackling flames. Hunters swap stories about their different trophies and whose is in fact the largest. In between these very serious discussions, the stories about bush toilets, and involuntary bowel movements sneak a bit of the conversation lime light.

After much laughter and plenty of liquids I get to know each and every individual on a few different levels, and in winter, the layers of each character slowly peel away until it feels as if I have known some of these guests for a good life time.

In fact, right now I have an elderly gentleman, (if a gentleman and hunter can be used in the same sentence) who has concluded to calling me his girlfriend.

It all started one early crisp dark morning when I was going about my morning wake up calls to get the men up and ready for their day. The mornings commence at around 4:00am, and as I got to Craig’s room I noticed his light was already on and he had in fact beaten me at the wake up. To be sure, I took a peek inside to make sure he was up and about and a knock on his door was indeed no longer necessary.  Well I did find Craig up, but he was still in bed and it seemed as if he was reading, so I just shouted a friendly good morning to remind him that it was time to take on a new day of hunting.

A chain of events continued as a result of my very innocent duty of wake ups. Craig entered the lodge for breakfast and we started to chat. A few of the other hunters and their Professional hunting guides were already up and about indulging in their first cup of coffee for the day. After a few good mornings I said to Craig “I noticed you were up before your wake up this morning, but I peeked to make sure you were definitely awake” well, I could not have given the guys a bigger door to run into and snag me. The comments that followed were PG rated and some serious blush enhancing material. A long story short, I have been labelled the wanted peeping tom of the lodge.

Days like these make me really appreciate every single individual that steps foot into my home away from home. These gentlemen like Craig are businessmen, entrepreneurs, doctors, pilots, family men, grandfathers, fathers and sons, but when they enter our lodge they are just people, people that like to unwind, make a few dirty jokes, share stories and bond over a fire and the bush.

Nature has this funny way of bringing everyone down to the same humble level, it doesn’t matter where you come from, what your title is, or what great things you have achieved. In the bush you are secondary to nature and the guy sitting next to you is just another human being.

I was asked last night if I had a dark side, I was initially a little confused, and when I asked for a further explanation to the rather strange question, my guest elaborated by saying that I am always so happy, in the mornings, in the evenings and generally every time he sees me. I had to admit to him that yes I do in fact have my down days but they don’t last for longer than an hour or so.

When I look around what do I actually have to be grumpy about? I am blessed with surroundings that are not only breath taking but have this magical way of stripping all your layers and burdens and bringing everyone back down to earth, literally and figuratively. I meet wonderful people every single day, and I get to know them from the core. In fact a grown man left us a few weeks back and there were a few tears at his parting.

Nature shows us cruelty and some heart wrenching things, but it is combined with extreme appreciation and understanding of a balance between cruelty and compassion. This lesson alone will help you grow in leaps and bounds.

How can I have a dark side in a place where fires burn and people bond, in a place that comforts you and accepts you, that blesses you every single day with sunrises and sunsets, with new births and regretted deaths?

“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining. They just shine.”  

An elephant is a mouse with an operating system

It is 3:30 in the afternoon. The sun is beginning to dip and there is a chill in the air. The birds are warming up for their afternoon chorus to end yet another day. A shadow is covering the trees as the blanket of the night prepares to move in and coat their leaves.

It has been yet another glorious day of sunshine and sounds.

I arrived to "work" this morning and was greeted by a very disgruntled boss, who explained that gaiitjie our male elephant had chased her last night.  Much to her disgust he ran at her with absolutely no intention of stopping. She made a great escape in reverse and called a fellow ranger who intercepted the two and chased gaiitjie away. Apparently gaiitjie is in musth, meaning he is looking for a lady lover and can be a little feisty.  

My day that had started fairly quietly soon became an endless string of events. From receiving stock, to menu planning, to gallivanting around in the bush looking for flowers for our arrangements.

So as I sit here pondering over my last few hours and soaking up the last warm rays of the African sunlight, I cant help but wonder. Are we on the land of the elephants? or are they on our land? And I have decided like many times before, that Africa and its land, demands great respect, and so I truly believe we are mere passerbys in the land of the grand elephant.  We are privileged and blessed enough to leave a footprint, that will remain for such a short while, before the wind scatters a layer of the red earth over it.

You are a spectator, a visitor, and if you have respect and understanding you may consider yourself a guest. For Africa will treat you well, and bring fire to your eyes, but tread carefully, because her creatures will leave their footprints on the same dirt as you, and their legacies will be carried through in stories that will be told to teach your children about values and respect. 

As they say in Kenya " Hukupata nguvu za kushinda njovu" .You do not have the strength to defeat an elephant. 

African footsteps

Africa is a place that paints your footsteps with its earth, and colours your soul with its sunset.

I have been here for officially three months, and have no desire to leave. Everyday rolls smoothly into the next and every morning greets me with love and passion.

The local people approach you with caution and then embrace you with their hearts. I have yet to be disappointed by mother nature and yet to be heartbroken by her ways.

Yesterday I spent the day looking for Rhinos, and the day before I encountered our male lion Mohawk. He crossed the road and then stopped when I switched off my engine.  His eyes stared straight into mine and he made me feel completely naked and humble. He walked straight up to my window, not taking his eyes off mine for even a second. When he reached me, he shook his head, roared and walked off. I knew at that exact moment, that he was the king of that land, and I was merely a passerby who needed to be reminded to have respect for my beautiful surroundings.

Each day holds something different, and each day is as fulfilling as the last. Surrounded by people who have a wealth of knowledge about a place that demands respect, maturity and realism, I have grown so much in heart and in fact. I await every new morning eagerly, and start each day steadfastly.  This is a place that separates men from boys, and grants you the chance to become a raw version of yourself.  This is a place that teaches you respect and manners. This is a place I do not want to wander away from again, for a very long time. This is my heartbeat. This is Africa.

Lets try this again.

It has been almost three months that I have been back on land.

I never found time to write once I had returned to the ship because I was often pre-occupied.

While sitting on the floor at St Maarten island, I received an email requesting to come in for an interview at a game reserve.  At that stage I had plenty of time at my disposal to consider this. As I had arrived at the airport and been informed that my employers did not confirm my flight from the island, and I knew I had paid for this flight, and would miss my connection if someone did not fix this in half an hour or less. Oh well, at that point so many bad chain reactions had happened prior to me getting to the airport, I had no choice but to sit on the floor, try and contact someone, and hope for a miracle. All in all, I was quite relaxed and had befriended a few airport employees.  I would have been ok if it became fact that I would sleep at the little island, with next to nothing. No, not worried in the least, I began to read emails, and found this interview request.

So here I am, three months later, not many itchy feet travel attacks, much happier and enjoying life in the bush with clean eyes. My view on Africa has changed so much, and sometimes it feels like I'm living here for the first time. Who knew it smelt so nice, and the sunsets and sunrises were so golden and pink. Who thought elephants would roam in front of your morning view.  I never knew, and I never thought that my morning drive would consist of  no traffic, sunrises, sunsets and an odd elly.

I haven't thought much about exploring anywhere else right now. I am rather enjoying the transition between crazy travelling to a more mature way of indulging into my passion of travel. Ah the simplest of joys, how much calmer I feel not rushing around with complete uncertainty of the next point, bus stop, or plane.

Oh yes, it is really lovely here in Africa, so many wonderful places to see.

Who do I thank for this wonderful passion? It could not have been my mom, who has always been rather introverted nor my dad who has limited his passion for so long. It may have been my grandfather who told me stories about adventures and travel for two hours while he was getting ready to leave us. Or maybe my grans naughty streak and her determination to embrace and go against a few rules, as long as it was done in a ladylike manner, who gives a damn!

Maybe it was my granny and gramps from moms side, who took me camping from nine months old. I remember endless warm days lying on a mattress at the back of a bakkie, staring at the passing trees and scenery whilst we made our next journey to new adventures of camping, fishing, friends and playing games in the dark.

In fact it could have been a combination of many in my life. My mom's encouragement to think for myself, and not to rely on anyone, my dads sense for adventure and drive, my grandparents old souls and positive thinking, my aunts stories of travel and freedom. Who knows really. Maybe it's just me and what I like doing. Following a passion can often lead to irrational behaviour and decisions, but you go for it regardless.  Sometimes it leads you to exactly where you need to be. Self discovery is often found in the journey of life, so why not just be true to yourself by following those inner desires and enjoying a satisfying path discovering who you really are, what your inner wants are, what your passions are and how much peace and joy you receive really going for what you value. I doubt anyone could be negative or resentful after really living in a way that embraces all the things around them. It can only cause a chain reaction of positive go getters. Lets face it, it seems that everyone around seems to be heading towards the same goal. Everyone just wants to be happy or loved.