Dream Safari Trip: South Africa

November 2008

I had always been obsessed with safari animals (elephants, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, etc.) so I was ecstatic when my family decided to take a trip to South Africa for two weeks when my brother and I were in high and middle school, respectfully. We flew into and out of Johannesburg, which took 15 hours one way and 18 hours the other, so safe to say we got cozy on those long-haul planes, watching a handful of movies and indulging in a variety of snacks.

Once there, we rented a car, which was small, manual hatchback, barely big enough to fit the four of us, our luggage, and two sets of golf clubs, not to mention that South Africans drive on the opposite side of the road (as a former British Colony); thus, the driver's seat was on the opposite side of the car, too, so let's just say that our navigation of the country in a cramped rental were hilarious, yet horrifying at times and we even turned down a road going the wrong way once.

While near Johannesburg, we stayed at a resort of sorts where we were woken up every morning at 6:00 by screeching emus roaming the grassy slopes just out the back doors of our cabin. Our resort was amazing though overall, and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. There were even in-ground trampolines (euphoria for yours truly as a teenage gymnast), and a restaurant on-site that had huge portions of yummy South African cuisine.

We drove all around Johannesburg, and one day in particular entered a safari reserve, which is a huge area of land where animals roam about freely. We saw all sorts of incredible creatures: families of elephants (and one loner bull swimming), hippos, herds of zebras, buffalos, wildebeests, warthogs, giraffes, rhinos, impalas, kudus, and other antelope-looking creatures, as well as, many species of birds, insects, and various rodents like meerkats and snakes. It was single-handedly one of the coolest days of my life. It was as though every scene was straight out of the Lion King, and all the animals were living so harmoniously across the grasslands.

That night, we took a nighttime safari, where our guide loaded and prepared his shotgun were we to encounter any unwelcoming friends. From this open-air safari truck, we witnessed a nursing baby rhino being shielded by its mother in some brush, and we spotted some cheetahs (pun intended) and a set of panthers (which I think could've qualified as those unwelcoming friends should their appetites have turned toward us).

One day, we visited a "big cat" sanctuary near Pietermaritzburg, where we went inside the enclosures with injured and/or rehabilitated cheetahs. We learned all about the facility's rehabilitation methods and procedures for the animals in its care, including lions, cheetahs, and panthers. This was really cool, and we were able to appreciate the workers' love and appreciation for the creatures under their supervision.

Another day, we visited a zoo at a random lady's house--how we met this woman, I'm still unclear, but this was an interesting experience to say the least. This woman had the wildest assortment of animals that she kept on her personal property. I was able to pet a lion through a chain link fence (much to my mom's dismay) and "dance" with an orangutan. The animals all perked up as they saw this woman, their handler, as she showed us all around the property by truck, which made me believe (perhaps naively) that they were well-taken care of and loved.

Yet another day, we visited Sun City, where the guys played golf while mom and I enjoyed the strong African sunshine poolside. Near Sun City, we went to an elephant sanctuary, where elephants were rescued from high-risk poaching areas, while others had been injured in the wild and brought in. Here, we were able to interact with, feed, walk, and ride some of these gentle giants, at which point all my childhood dreams came true. On the drive back to Sun City, we encountered a variety of pedestrians who were just meandering along or across the road: some cattle, a donkey, and plenty of humans.

It was on this drive where I was really able to reflect on our time there. As we passed by several "shanty towns", which oftentimes sat just beyond the bustling metropolis area, or just outside the 10 foot walls of a gated community, resort, or other commercial district, it was fascinating and heartbreaking to see such an obvious display of wealth disparity between the haves and have-nots.

To see the sprawling neighborhoods, jam-packed with shelters (homes, schoolhouses, gathering places) that consisted of tin, wood, and thatch held together with mud and clay, as a privileged tourist just passing through, it felt jarring and hypocritical. That said, children could be seen playing soccer, barefoot and covered in dirt, but noticeably cloaked in joy, with bright wide smiles. There were elders, fanning themselves in whatever shade they could find; there were mothers tending to infants, fathers pulling buckets from communal wells, and I just observed, in awe.

I can genuinely say this trip was one of the most culturally-shocking of my life up to that point, in all the best ways. There were times when I felt thankful to be witnessing what I was seeing, and other times when I felt humbled and inexplicably confused (almost guilty) about the world that I know and come from. It was eye-opening to see so many people live so differently than me, and meanwhile inspiring to see how much people typically want similar things: security for their families, freedom for themselves, support for their communities, and fulfillment in their lives.

So that day I just sat, eyes and heart wide open to really put myself in others' shoes. To leave behind, at least for the moment, my suburbia life in Virginia, to leave behind my public schooling education in Hanover County, and to just watch these thousands of other humans going about their daily lives, some surviving, others thriving. Most of them chugging along, business as usual, laughing with the children when the soccer ball boinked someone on the head, and squeezing each other tight regardless of the sweltering heat of a South African summer. And it confirmed for me that life is meant to be lived beyond the confines of our own bubbles.

So not to belabor the preachy rhetoric too much, but this trip was a catalyst for my travels, because I realized I don't want to just exist: I want to explore, run new roads, meet different people, eat spicy food, dance, cry, fall, learn, fly, jump, and live in every moment afforded me in this life. Because that's what people who have fewer material things in their life were doing, and I was determined not to let my privilege bless me in vain.

All that said, it was a trip of childhood dreams and self-discovery, of experiencing culture shock and learning about global politics, and much of it comes from my memory and our stories as a family because my mom accidentally deleted almost all of our photos/videos from this trip, which we'd stored on a camcorder (how 2008 of us); although the photos I could salvage are limited and low-quality, this is a family trip that has remained near and dear in my heart since the day we got back.

To Do or Not To Do?

Definitely do. I personally want to get back to Africa ASAP but it's a massive continent, and there's so much more of it that I want to experience. South Africa was such an incredible first taste, but I want to visit Cape Town, and Victoria Falls, and so may other incredibly beautiful places this continent has to offer.

Maybe because we were still fairly young, or maybe because we were ditching grade school to go on this family trip, we did not experience a whole lot of South Africa's rich but troubled history through museums, tours, or monuments while there, but I'm hopeful that, if I ever have the opportunity to visit again, I'd prioritize better understanding the racial, political, and socioeconomic history of Apartheid.

Regarding prepping for this trip, vaccines are required and various medications strongly recommended, so just be aware of that! Plus, the sunlight will really drink up your skin here, so be sure to drink plenty of water and wear sun protection to combat sun poisoning! I would recommend traveling modestly (packing-wise and metaphorically) and allow yourself to blend into the background, as an observant and gracious tourist. Let the locals' stories and attires, the gorgeous landscapes, and the many majestic creatures native to this place take center stage.

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