Trust me when I tell you, the famous rings true: "Africa changes you forever like nowhere else on earth." One can never visit Africa without being entranced by its magic.
There is something magical about Africa. It's different than the rest of the world. Africa is one of the last places on earth that is still raw & less disturbed by modernization. It is rich, vibrant, colorful & incomprehensibly huge. It's hard to travel to Africa & not come home with a different perspective of the world.
There is something that stays with you when you visit the birthplace of humankind. It sparks a fire in your soul & ignites a craving within you to discover more of this beautiful, dynamic land. There is a heartbeat that runs through this great continent which moves you, where nature triumphs & time slows to a steady halt.
Africa will make you feel alive. There's an energy to Africa that is unlike any other place in the world. The air is different. There's something old, pure & good about this continent. Scientists believe that somewhere around modern-day Ethiopia, the human race started & then populated the planet.
Many things happened when we experienced Africa; here are a few of them:
We gained an appreciation for untouched nature, Perhaps the most famous aspect of Africa travel is it being the heart of the animal kingdom. In one word, breathtaking!
You witness a peaceful coexistence between man & nature, & it betters you. Comprehending the peculiarities of the natural world can be exhilarating. Why do some birds not fly, how do cheetahs run so fast, & where do the giraffes fit in? When we are constantly surrounded by man-made structures, as well as the world created in our phones, reconnecting with the most natural environments slows your pace & makes you appreciate the intricate elements that make up the beauty of Africa. These experiences ground you & invigorate your soul, reminding you of the realities of the world, which we may have detached from.
It's difficult to really imagine the awe you feel in the presence of the animals. There's only so much that photographs, even spectacular ones captured with a new lens can reveal about an experience. It is only once you are there for yourself, when you smell the African soil & see the great animals moving together that you can truly understand & know the wonder of Africa.
I'll never forget the first time spotting a pride of lions, a tower of giraffes, or a dazzle of zebras. The best part? Falling asleep listening to hyenas & baboons nearby. Seriously, unbelievable!
Africa reorients your concept of what is real luxury, Nature is the true luxury. It's Nature 2.0 over there, with the sunsets painted in bright orange, black & yellow. Of course they're known for their 5-star lodges, but if you're able to see the real gem of Africa, you know that's not what I mean. Where on earth would you see animals running in the wild, walking past you at times by the hundreds, hunting for food, taking care of their young- the very cycle of life, with the least possible human intervention, but yet have protection available?
You meet people with different cultural perspectives. Connecting & engaging with people who experience life differently is an amazing way to expand your level of understanding of the world. It can be stimulating to stretch your cognizance away from your own customs & traditions. Finding both similarities & differences in the nuances of diverse cultures helps us widen our perspective as well as connect on a deeper level. The locals I encountered in South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe are kind, caring, honest & hospitable, & so willing to share their culture with you. These types of enlightening experiences create a more empathic human connection, ultimately reducing conflict.
You experience a digital detox with "unplugging." In this technologically-driven age, the average adult attention span is 8 seconds! Who can blame us with the level of stimulation we are exposed to. The level of social pressure to become more productive is higher than ever, we celebrate it when we can tick some items of the "to-do" list during red lights in traffic.
Africa has a pace of its own & a time of its own-literally 'African time' which is a somewhat slower & leisurely tempo where one appreciates the time taken to do simple tasks. This is because in rural Africa small tasks such as fetching water can take hours to accomplish. Disconnecting from that always-on, always busy world can refresh & revive you in the most profound ways.
Africa has a pace of its own & a time of its own-literally 'African time' which is a somewhat slower & leisurely tempo where one appreciates the time taken to do simple tasks. This is because in rural Africa small tasks such as fetching water can take hours to accomplish. Disconnecting from that always-on, always busy world can refresh & revive you in the most profound ways.
You learn to be present. The taste of a cocktail on the river bank at sunset with your jeep mates, the distant call of an African fish eagle, compels you to think of nothing but what you're experiencing at the very moment they happen. No emails from the boss. No pressure to impress. Just here & now. This type of stillness is something that most people have never had the opportunity to experience. And then there are the sunsets. There's nothing like a South African sunset. No matter where you are, the colors that merge together paint the sky like you've never seen before. It's a different type of sunset & brings you all kinds of feelings when you're reminiscing on how amazing your day was.
Africa will humble you & show you that you're NOT the center of the universe- frankly the animals are! It's shocking to find out there are over 1,110 species of mammals living on that continent & over 2,600 species of birds. It's the creation story right in front of your very eyes, oftentimes answering existential questions on the creation of the universe.
I can imagine the truth in Ernest Hemingway's famous quote, "I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up & was not happy." And you know why? Africa takes you back to a simplicity that, in today's life of excess, is really genuine luxury. And for me, it brings you back to a purity, of something that brings an endless high.
Africa will show you that you have all you need. You leave feeling grateful. Africa, in its unique magic, will touch your spirit and tell you, "Nope you don't need expensive anything to make you feel special." "Those extra pairs of shoes won't make you feel happier."
"All you need is sunscreen, your camera, & your eyes & hearts wide open." Africa redefines beauty &, to a degree, what's truly worth your attention.
One of my favorite parts of the end of a trip is when it all starts to slow down, you arrive home & everything looks the same, but somehow different. That, in my opinion, demonstrates that the journey has changed you. As you reflect on the experiences, you revel in the incremental transformation you have undergone & cannot help but want more...
"Travel, it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller."
Ibn Battuta
