Africa: A life-changing experience

I carry Africa in my heart as a life-changing adventure. Africa far exceeded my expectations and has touched my deep love for wildlife. It’s impossible to leave unchanged. Let me back up and tell you how this went down. After speaking with some family members Africa continued to come up in conversation, not only as a possibility but an actual real plan. Lots of planning and research, then a friend of mine reached out and asked what about taking a tour with Go Ahead Tour Company. We scheduled a meeting and an Africa plan was formed. I have all the details in front of me, all I needed was to say yes. I asked for the weekend to think and pray. It was early Sunday morning when I was praying and another travel photo caught my eye and as I was praying I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me and say,

 

“Don’t waste this opportunity.”

It made complete sense to seize this opportunity all along. I just wanted to be sure HE wanted me to. Right there at that moment I said yes, and haven’t looked back since.

         A flurry of preparations happens as soon as you say yes to something. Emails poured in from Go Ahead Tours, my visa application process began, I found a medical facility that would give me a Stamaril shot equivalent to a yellow fever shot. Then an email arrived in my inbox that left me rattled.

“Dear Miss Kauffman, your Africa trip has been canceled.”

 

What!? My heart fell and my hands shook as I quickly dialed the customer service number attached to the email. On the other end of the phone was a very sweet man who answered all my questions and was able to book an earlier trip to Africa for me, the only disappointment was no Kenya excursion. After another call to my dear friend and travel agent, she suggested an Amsterdam stay to replaced the canceled excursion. A new plan was formed with Tanzania, Amsterdam, and Belgium on the itinerary. I was about to pee my pants with excitement. Here we go!

         Bags are packed including foreign currency and charging adapters for both countries. Itinerary, passport and visa all in place and the morning of my flight was pregnant with anticipation, but first three flights to get me there.

I arrived at Kilimanjaro late one dark evening to meet a man I had no idea would be one of the greatest people I would ever meet.

         His name is Godliving. He was our Tour Director and driver. I was the first to arrive and waited nervously for the rest of the group. It’s interesting how our group formed. We all pilled into two jeeps unknowingly sealing our fate for the remainder of the trip. We quickly got to know each other, spending seven hours a day with someone nine days in a row really brings out your personality. I truly believe I was supposed to meet each and everyone on this tour. What amazing religious, political and spiritual conversations we had. We didn’t agree, but we got along. When Godliving gave the farewell speech he said,

 

“This wasn’t just a tour group. You are my family. My relatives now.”

 

         Doesn’t that speak volumes of his character? He truly was the BEST and I hid my tears as we said our goodbyes. Before I get ahead of myself I’ll tell you why he was a great protector, friend, storyteller, mechanic, interpreter, driver, and guide.

         Godliving saved me from a few awkward conversations with locals about my marital status. He would come over and put his arm around my shoulders and say,

 

“She’s with me.”

 

We would make a hasty exit. He knows four languages, almost 500 species of fowl in Africa, and could imitate their birdcall sounds perfectly. He could spot cheetah from a long distance, (and these are cats known for their stealth.) He’s done this for 16 years and his passion for wildlife cannot be hidden. He is a husband and dad of three. His first opportunity he is going home to hug his children.

         One day driving on the Serengeti our jeep started to make an awful noise. He hopped out to access the damage. (In the Serengeti with wild animals about) He popped his head back in the jeep to tell us,

We need to hike the Serengeti to our next stop.

 

We had been told multiple times never to get out of the jeep, much less hike in the bush of the Serengeti! Laughing at our shocked faces, he said, ”No, no, no. I have jeep coming for you.” Breathing a sigh of relief we were picked up and driven two kilometers to the facilities. In this short amount of time, he had the jeep fixed and we were back on the trail. Relieved to be back with him we never gave him a hard time about his jokes.

Our group was so focused on wildlife. (I mean that’s why we were there)

 

When given the choice between lunch or hunting for lions. We chose lions, unanimously.

 

It was a good thing we did too because we were able to get photos that others missed due to the time the lions were active. Godliving filled us with facts about lions telling us they could go ten days without eating and lions only hunt when hungry. He told us that’s why some people come to the Serengeti for ten days and never see a lion. We felt so extremely blessed to have seen these powerful creatures and to watch them stalk their prey, to see them flanking a herd of zebra and getting ready to pounce!

Unfortunately, the two lions failed in their attempts to catch lunch and we were about as hungry as them when we named them Ben & Jerry.

         Giraffes ambled gracefully across the Savannah and when I commented on it Godliving said it’s because they walk with a lateral gait. I immediately saw what he meant, the right front and back legs moved forward followed by the left front and back legs. It was beautiful. Africans believe the giraffe was the 18^th animal of creations due to its 18in long tongue. It stands 18ft tall and has an 18Ibs heart. We were so blessed to see the Big 5 in Africa when we asked Godliving if we might see them all he would say,

 

“There is a chance.”

 

That became his answer for everything and we began using it too.

         Not only did I get to see the animals from the ground, but also from the view of a Hot Air Balloon ride, set to leave at sunset over the Serengeti with a bush breakfast waiting at the other end. Not knowing how I would react to the height I thought,

 

Only one way to find out!

The Hot Air Balloon ride morning began with a 3 am wake up knock on the door.

Knowing I would be floating over the Serengeti was the only way I could peel my tired body from the mattress, and Wow was it worth it!

 

Nearly mowing over three hippos on the way to the Balloon site was a huge surprise coming out of the darkness, or maybe they would mow us. Yeah, that’s it. We met our Turkish pilot who gave us instructions for the proper lading position. I thought I would be living in fear the entire flight, but I never experienced a moment of fear. Well, only fear of dropping my camera over the side of the basket. I gripped it tightly as we floated gently away form the sunrise. To be above flying birds was very odd, seeing herds of gazelle run across the plains as one unit, spotting hyena as he turned and watched us float past, giraffe stopped munching leaves as we pass them, wondering what sort of creature we are that is taller than them for a change. A pride of lions hid among the rocks as we pass, it looks like the hippos might wave hello if they had arms to do so. We floated safely to our destination, thankful for a pilot with 18 years of experience. We climb out to the open Savannah, nothing between us and the wild animals we just saw. A woman in our group asked,

“What’s keeping us safe from the animals, right now?” Our Pilot responds, “Nothing. The jeeps will be here soon.”

 

A huge smile broke across my face, feeling like a little kid who’s been granted a tiny bit of freedom to explore. I couldn’t stop my heart from pounding, so I breathed deep the feeling of freedom, untamed territory and awe-inspiring feeling of having floated above it all.

         We pilled in jeeps and drove to our bush breakfast where champagne flowed, food was plentiful, and new friendships were already being formed with the strangers on the same flight. As I sat down I glanced up to see a waterbuck run through the trees. I smiled at its timing and scarfed my omelet, pineapple, bacon, and banana because I knew we needed to stay on schedule to meet up with the rest of our original group.

         They didn’t wait for us long. The tree of us shared our adventures with our group as we reunited with them. I was glad to be back under the care of Godliving because he had quickly become my favorite. Excited to be back together we headed out to visit a traditional Masai tribe.

         Reading about the nomadic Masai tribe customs and hearing it directly from the chief’s son is a whole different experience. Ole met me and welcomed me into his mud, stick and cow dung home filled with two beds, made of cowhide, where I sat for our conversation. A small fire pit separated us as he answered my questions about his culture and family. I learned he has two wives and two children. He eats meat for dinner, milk for lunch and cow’s blood for breakfast. He makes fire with bark from two different trees and his machete knife. His wife makes crafts and we shopped through the village. Since they move every six months their items were small. An elderly wrinkled woman with large holes in her ears gently wrapped a metal bracelet around my wrist I found while shopping. I haven’t taken it off since.

         We visited their school where the children learn English after they have taken the livestock for water, which can take all day. School is voluntary attendance. We left with smiles and waves from all the men. Women were told not to speak unless given permission. We had jumped and danced with them laughing at our inexperience.

I hope someday the women know their worth.

 

         The beautiful faces of the school kids are still in my mind. We also made a surprise visit to Tolomo Primary School in the village. The children came and took us by the hand to lead us to their classroom where we lined up against the blackboard as they sang us “Skidamarink a dink a dink, skidamarink a doo, I love you. I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon, I live you in the evening and underneath the moon.” I swallowed the ball of tears I could feel rising in my throat, I told myself it would confuse them too much if I started bawling at their beautiful song. They raised their hands to be introduced and asked us questions about our introductions.

 

So many of them want to be doctors, and I pray their dreams come true.

We listened to the superintendent presentation of the kids’ progress. I was shocked that they are striving for 100% accuracy on the student’s overall test score, they are currently at 98%. He showed us a steady rise over the past four years. He told us some kindergarteners walk many kilometers to school. When they proudly uncovered a new copier they have yet to use because the electricity is still being installed, I marveled again at their lifestyle and it’s a staggering difference from mine. So utterly humbling.

Between crying over these beautiful children and laughing over unwanted monkeys for roommates coming in to steal from the mini bar, you could say I will never forget this trip. Maybe if I write enough of my story down on paper I will remember until I am old and gray. What will you tell the next generation?

 

I will tell them how the lions roaring at night put me to sleep, and how I chased a monkey from my room. I will tell them about my staring contest with a zebra, and how seeing the elephants for the first time made me cry.

 

I will tell them about my new friends and how they convinced me to dress up in a traditional African Wedding dress. I will tell them about the beautiful children and how happy they are, and I will tell them how they need to go and meet them too.

I hope you find this inspiring whether you go to Africa or not, maybe you will go in a totally different direction. I just pray friend, that you would ask God, “Where do you want me?” Keep asking, keep praying, keep seeking. He will answer in His time, and what a time that will be.

Love and blessings to you on your next adventure!

Klassic Photography