One traveler’s impressions of a magical adventure in Africa
By Michelle Sohn of Lake Worth, Florida, First-time OAT traveler
Being a Media Specialist, I know the difference between fact and fiction, reality vs. fairy tale, but during this amazing trip my fairy tale came true and life as I knew it changed. When the music and images of a trip remain in your head on a daily basis, when you smile without realizing others see you because of something you remembered from the trip, you know you have had the best experience of your life. This trip will forever be a part of me, and while I came back to the United States with a part of Africa in me, I feel that I left a part of myself in Africa.
My group and guides were fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for more amazing companions. We saw the “Big 5” and the migration of the animals, but what astonished me most was that every day, every single day, almost every moment, something magical would happen and each day topped the previous. Meeting the Maasai women who sang and danced with us, and I in turn danced with them, hugged them, sat with them and talked ... I mean, who gets to do that? Teaching and reading to the children in Karatu and then dancing with a shy student while the others danced and clapped was priceless.
Yes, I took over 500 pictures … of animals, cubs, lions, zebra, giraffe, etc. … of the people, young and old, the scenery, the lodges, the tents, etc. But while people say a picture is worth 1,000 words, I have to say, “No, it isn’t.” No words will capture what happened to me and, I think, to our group this past June. I can use every adjective I can think of but again the magic would be lost.
Since you are not prepared to read a novel, let me try to control myself and share so many of the highlights: Seeing two giraffe swaying their heads back and forth, as if in a dance, my body stopped breathing … dancing with my guides, the Maasai warrior, and friends at Tloma Lodge and having people from other groups join in. There is no irony in the name of the manager of this lodge, “Happiness,” for that feeling enveloped us and ran through our veins. Playing music on the rock while shouting out Aretha Franklin in the middle of the Serengeti and just being content, fulfilled, connected with the world … priceless.
Being a vegetarian I was shocked, yet amazed when we saw a lion eating the remains of a wildebeest. Hearing the tearing of the skin both disgusted and intrigued me, and I realized again that all of earth’s creatures serve a purpose.
Laughter … oh my, did we laugh. Laughter brings us all together and connects us and I felt like family wherever we went. When I read “What a Wonderful World” to the students and then started singing, I felt as if my heart was within the students as well. We may not speak the same language, but everyone understands laughter and music. So, we danced and sang and I will forever miss my students, my brothers and sisters. The food was absolutely delicious, so forget about losing weight. One delicious meal after the next. Another highlight for me was when we went to the River House and saw the coffee plantation and worked with the deaf community. I felt so alive and happy being with them and would love to return. William helped me create a necklace and bracelet which I will forever cherish as I will the visit to the Shanga River House.
One afternoon when a giraffe came to greet us, I decided to stay back while the others went on safari. I just watched the giraffe as it gracefully bounced its head in unison with its legs and I wrote for hours. As I was writing that day, I heard the men cooking our meal and doing their work (no, I did not understand them, but again I understand their laughter) and I also heard the animals—all different ones talking in unison and I thought, a little sadly, that too bad we weren’t talking to each other. I wished there was a universal language for all creatures—like a smile or a wave is for people of certain cultures. Maybe it could be a hug or a pat on a part of the body, if only the animals would let me—we were so close I could have! But then my sadness left me, it just vanished and I thought maybe we are communicating and I just don’t realize it.
What amazed my mother and me was that the animals did not seem bothered by our presence or the noise of the jeep, even when there were cubs or little “Dumbos.” I just love them: they sit and look at us, but do nothing. They are so disinterested in us and we are so fascinated by them. What does that say about us?
Before I end, I have to say all the accommodations were wonderful, the people helpful and kind, and our guides even more than excellent. On our last night at the lodge, a woman I became friends with and her daughter said, “Look, Michelle, the moon is smiling at you because you are dancing.” And they were right. The moon looked like a happy face, smiling down upon us all, understanding that “Happiness” does not only work at the lodge, but is within all of us, our travel tour group, the people of Africa, the animals, the vegetation. We are truly brothers and sisters.
If you should ever take a trip, take this one and may you experience what I did. Many things happen in a person’s lifetime, and I wish that this should happen to you. I am now in the process of painting a message that I loved at the River House...on the wall it said, “Kindness is a language that blind people can see and deaf people can hear.” That and so much more took my breath away.
Experience the “fairy tale” for yourself on OAT’s Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari.