As we conclude a very busy and fulfilling year, we would like to take some time to stop and reflect on what Africa means to us and how this beautiful continent has influenced, inspired and moved us. A memorable trip that immediately comes to mind is an action-packed adventure in East Africa that served as incredible food for the soul. It reminded me of just how powerful and magical Africa is and what it can do for you both inside and out.
So much of the first world and what we believe is normal life is left behind when you go to Africa.
Time becomes irrelevant, phones and communication impossible, consumerism no longer and worries a distant thing of the past.
Embraced entirely in the present, you are able to fully appreciate everything about that very moment. Sights become brighter, sounds louder, smells more intense, and feelings more honest and accessible.
Life as you know it begins to fade away. Your heart slows down to the beat of the bushveld; your shoulders feel light and your laughter unbridled.
A transformation is happening as you slowly unravel and join the peace and the pace of the exquisite creatures we share this earth with.
You rise and fall with the sun, beginning and ending each day with awe and appreciation.
In between this, you are entirely enamoured by nature, its wonders, intricacies and surprises. From the habits of a herd of elephants to the quirky determination of the wildebeest, to the focus and agility of the pied kingfisher, to the mating habits of the crowned cranes…there is so much to take in.
You breathe out, your eyes are open and focussed on the landscape around you, your ears listening intently and your mind free.
It is impossible to take it all in but you make a concerted effort to be fully present; to be fully available to enjoy every minute of what Africa has in store for you.
There is so much the bush can teach you, so much goodness, so many life lessons and behaviours that you can take home with you.
Let it fill your heart and soul. Let it complete you, one sighting, one story and one sundowner at a time.
Stop thinking I should go to Africa one day or I’d love to go back. It’s more than just an item on your bucket list it’s a life-changing experience and you won’t ever regret it.
Africa is here waiting for you and it will make you feel more alive than you ever thought possible.
I know these places, I’ve seen these sunrises and sunsets, smelled the dew on the grass in the chill of the mornings and the steam from the dung…I LOVE AFRICA!!! All of it! The crater and savannah of Tanzania, the jungle, people and GORILLA of Rwanda, the mist and rainbow of Victoria Falls in Zambia and the everything South Africa has to offer for coast to coast! Every single place, every single person, a treasure! Next time, BOTSWANA and ELEPHANT!! <3