In our time at Skukuza Rest Camp in Kruger National Park we have had two game drives and a bush walk. We have seen the spectacular Big Five multiple times over – elephants, rhinos, leopards, lions, and water buffalo.
Leopard crossing a bridgeCape buffalo spotted on a bush walkOne of many elephants eating reeds along a stream bed A male lion capitalizing on the heat from the road on a cool nightWe saw the Big 5 (rhinos, elephants, lions, buffalos, and leopards) on several occasions while in Kruger National Park.
However, the real magic is not only the Big 5 – it is in the balance of all the species in a community. Today we also sat behind a bird blind at Lake Panic where we saw acacia trees, kingfishers, blue waxbills, an African fish eagle, Retz’s helmetshrikes, an Egyptian goose, water monitors, nyala, impalas, a warthog, and too many hippos to count.
Enjoying the diversity of the ecosystem at the Lake Panic bird blind.
“In nature nothing exists alone.” – Rachel Carson
With at least 40 species in just an hour, our checklists were on fire!
At Lake Panic, we watched as hippos moved in and out of the water and displayed territorial behaviors.
After the bird blind we went back to camp and were asked to write about anything for 45-minutes. One of our African-American colleagues wrote, “I know as an American I have more, but here in South Africa …. I have never felt so free.”
Starting the day with a bush walk.
Hearing her share this took us by surprise. It made us reflect not only on what she is experiencing personally, but how our students may feel at home. What if every teacher and every child felt they belong? Imagine how they would flourish and contribute to a better North Carolina.
Sharing American and South African dances with each other during midday breaks.
In Kruger National Park the African fish eagleneeds the lake and the hippo shapes the land. Nothing is superfluous, everyone is needed for the system to thrive.
Beginning with the first footstep taken upon arriving at a destination, a traveler is writing a narrative starting with “hello” and ending with “goodbye.” “Hello” serves as the traveler’s introduction to the area, a way for them to say “Here I am, let me explore and learn your ways.” The traveler uses this time to take first glances and make alterations to plans and expectations. The land and the animals respond by observing the traveler and taking note of how they may be treated during the traveler’s stay.
Likewise, each time a traveler leaves a destination they are therefore saying goodbye. Goodbye to all that has been seen, heard, smelled, and even tasted.
The entrance to Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp. Lovingly described by our group as the “Jurassic Park” entrance.
Today began with our first of many goodbyes, by saying farewell to Berg-en-Dal. We packed our bags slowly, almost like reluctant children not wanting to complete their homework. We made our beds with jealousy for the new occupants. We closed windows and shut doors while taking in deep breaths of the sweet air we had been breathing. Many of us walked paths one last time, hoping to see an animal friend that had been made. Many of us visited benches that had brought comfort and healing. Many of us simply took time to stop and steal one more minute of the beauty we had enjoyed.
The insects whizzing through the air, sounding like the engines of race cars. The birds calling to each other to follow in flight. The monkeys plotting for their next meal. Every sound, every sight, and every smell was being sucked up by each of us as we tried to get it one. last. time.
But no, this will not be a goodbye. Goodbyes are forever, final. Instead, let this be a “see you later,” which encourages a return. A see you later means we’ll do it all again. To the herd of elephants that crossed the rocky cliff behind our lodge each afternoon, the bushbuck that explored our back patio, and even the mischievous monkeys that used the tents as trampolines, we say see you later. We WILL meet again.
Sunset over the bush.
As we packed up and left Berg-en-Dal, we asked our group how they were saying “see you later” – here are those responses:
“I’m ready to leave Berg-en-Dal, my phone don’t work here! I did truly enjoy my breakfast with Noma and Flavia. I gave Berg-en-Dal three kisses goodbye.” -Khadijah
“I walked the Rhino Trail with coffee and reflected on humans being fenced in. When we collectively have restraint or boundaries, we are happier, like children.” -Shannon
“C’est la vie to Berg-en-Dal, South Africa. The time has come to say goodbye and see you next time. I told God, ‘Thank you for the majestic beauty he created and allowing me to see his wondrous work.’ Until we meet again.” -Pam
“It’s goodbye now and hello to our next new destination.” -Zinhle
“I woke up early to watch the sunrise over the watering hole and listen to the birds and vervet monkeys all around me. I listened and watched, and was joyful and thankful for our time at Berg-en-Dal.” -Christine
Sunrise at Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp.
“I said see you later along the Rhino Trail on the outskirts of camp. I accidentally startled a vervet monkey, and stood quietly to apologize. A few steps later, I locked eyes with a giraffe just beyond the fence. As one of my favorite animals, I silently thanked him for greeting me and sharing his space with us. Our Berg-en-Dal bush gave us so many memories.” -Stephanie
“Goodbye to the lilac-breasted roller, my “spark” bird, brilliant and bright. Goodbye to the friendly spider next to my bed who abided by the agreement to keep your pinchers to yourself. Goodbye to the leopard that alluded us all day, only showing his face to make things right.” -Emily
“I didn’t know how to say goodbye to a place that gave me the most incredible day of my life. But I remembered my students don’t let us say goodbye, just see you later, because it isn’t final.” -Ashley
Ashley presenting on her expert topic.
“I don’t believe in goodbyes!” -Shelley
“Thank you for providing me with one of the most incredible days of my life. The location, people, and experiences were incredible.” -Michael
“Thank you Berg-en-Dal for starting this journey with joy, amazement, and awe!” -Flavia
“ I would not like to move there, but I would come again with a bigger family. I think it was nice.” -Noma
Noma and Flavia as they packed up and said goodbye to their Berg-en-Dal home.
“Berg-en-Dal, you did not disappoint. Thank you for rejuvenating my soul and bringing me some amazing memories. The heartbeat of the bush is within me now and will keep calling me back to you.” -Amy
“Goodbye to the red-eyed dove that wished me a good morning and the fiery-necked nightjar that bade me good night. Goodbye to the sounds of Berg-en-Dal, until we meet again.” -Andrew
“Waking with the sun and walking with curiosity – watching for birds, investigating seeds and tracks, and navigating past docile bushbuck – deepened my connection and appreciation to this space, even as we said our goodbyes.” -Emma
The whole group on our journey from Berg-en-Dal to Skukuza Rest Camp, our next stop in Kruger National Park.
“Do you have time to….just be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world?” Mary Oliver
For the lioness and her cub
For the giraffe and her baby
For the elephant chasing his mama’s tail
To watch the sunrise over Southern Africa?
This morning, our driver Peter warned us that we may not see what we wanted. We would only see what the bush would give us. And this morning, the bush was incredibly generous.
There were so many moments on our first game drive that stole our breaths from our lungs. We held on to each other, eyes big, looking at each other. Asking “is this real?” It was real. This morning we entered their territory. We breathed their air. You could feel the rumble of the mama lion in your chest as she chided her too playful cub.
Many of us were shocked to find that we weren’t incredibly disgusted to watch a pack of wild dogs consume an impala in under 5 minutes.
African Wild Dogs (or Painted Wolves as they’re becoming known) eating an impala carcass.
We squealed as an elephant family walked toward us, the tiniest baby chasing mama’s tail, and catching it. Some of us even got chastised for leaning too far outside the vehicle (even teachers forget the rules, sometimes).
A group of female elephants and their young paraded by our vehicle.
Several giraffes surprised us, seemingly out of nowhere, their majesty overtaking us. We celebrated small rhino families, that are slowly taking what has been stolen from them.
We were so alive this morning. Together, in one place, in a broken world. Taking time to just be…16 strangers holding hands and sharing a once in a lifetime experience. Falling in love with South Africa and Kruger.
Ready for our game drives!
Jane Goodall said “there is a timeless quality to the African wilderness, a sense of peace and belonging that I haven’t found anywhere else in the world.”
It was peaceful to let the world steal our breath in a good way, for a moment. When was the last time you stopped and watched and waited and let life tell you what you needed? When you took only what was given and didn’t ask for more or what was next?
Take a chance and be open. You may find exactly you need, even if you thought it wasn’t what you wanted.
Sunset over the southern part of Kruger National Park.
“You don’t just visit South Africa. You fall into it heart first—so deep and forever I changed.” -unknown
And the adventure begins. After a 15 hour flight and a few hours of sleep we headed off for Kruger National Park. The drive started with a very flat, dry landscape and turned into mountains and a fascinating drive through the park. We left the city for the country.
An important thing to practice before heading into Kruger National Park? Using binoculars!
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It happened before I even made it through the gates.
We stopped on the bridge just outside Kruger National Park, expecting a quick glance, maybe a photo. What I didn’t expect was to feel something crack wide open in me.
The view on one side of the bridge outside Kruger National Park.
Below the bridge, the river wound its way through the dry landscape—wide, slow, and shimmering under the African sun. It was peaceful, but alive. And there, along the shoreline, they appeared—hippos, lounging together in the shallow water and stretched out across the muddy riverbank.
Their huge, rounded forms looked like ancient sculptures, but it was their pink bellies that stopped me. Soft, exposed, glowing faintly in the light—they added this surprising sweetness. They looked oddly content, piled close together in the warm sun completely unbothered by the world. There was something strangely intimate about it.
And then I said it, almost laughing: “Hippopotamus.”
Not like I’d said it before. This time it came out in awe. Like the word itself was part of the magic.
Just beyond them, impala moved gently through the grass—delicate and alert, catching the sun on their sleek coats. Nearby, crocodiles lay motionless, also sunning themselves, their armored backs blending into the riverbank. At first I didn’t even notice them—until I did, and then I couldn’t not see them. They were eerie and fascinating, ancient-looking and incredibly still. The kind of stillness that makes you feel the power just beneath the surface.
Then, as if to balance all that grounded stillness, a fish eagle soared overhead—its wings wide and commanding. In the shallows below, a grey heron waded slowly and purposefully through the water, all grace and patience, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And all of this—all of it—was just from the bridge.
We hadn’t even entered Kruger, and yet I already felt undone. Not in a dramatic, life-flashing-before-my-eyes kind of way. It was gentler than that. More like something inside me recognized this place. Like my heart had been waiting for it.
I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to speak. I just stood there, overwhelmed with gratitude—not just for what I was seeing, but for the fact that I got to be there at all. That, for one fleeting moment, I was a witness to this wild, untouched beauty.
That bridge wasn’t just a crossing point. It was a beginning.
Because you don’t just visit South Africa.
You fall into it—heart first. So deep and so suddenly, you don’t even realize it’s happening until you’ve already changed. Forever, and beautifully, unknown.
An unexpectedly close encounter with an African Elephant in Kruger National Park.
How do 12 North Carolina educators travel to South Africa? Through a LONG day of travel.
From Raleigh to Atlanta to Johannesburg, our teachers walked, took a tram, flew, then walked some more for over 20 hours in order to reach South African soil.
The team ready to board our flight to Atlanta.
Anticipation was growing in Raleigh and really took off in Atlanta as we received itinerary and map stickers to add to our journals. As we read the details of our trip again and counted down the minutes to take off, excitement filled the air. A rainbow over the airport caught our eye and added to the growing energy as we all took it as a positive sign. Further pre-boarding bonding took the form of showcasing compression socks – from penguins to holidays, we were quite the fashionable crew.
Rainbow over the Atlanta airport.
The flight to Johannesburg was a long haul – a hefty 14.5 direct flight from Atlanta. While some of us were able to get some sleep, many of us spent the majority of the flight watching movies on the inflight entertainment system. Wicked was a popular choice for many folks.
Excited faces – we’re finally on the plane to South Africa!
After clearing customs and picking up our checked bags we met up with Andrew and David, our local guides, and Noma and Zinhle, two South African teachers who are joining us for this journey. We ended the day with a group meeting as we learned more about what was to come and then headed to bed – we’re ready for some real sleep!
We made it! The whole crew together in Johannesburg.
Want to see more photos of our traveling team? Follow @ncmnsteachered on Instagram!
Anticipation is mounting for our 12 educators heading to South Africa next week. Here are just a few of the ways our teachers are preparing for the journey!
Stephanie: I get more excited, nervous, and anxious each day! The 16-hr plane ride is very daunting, but I know the reward will be worth it. I’ve been scouting ideas for how to stay occupied on the plane (time blocking being the most intriguing so far), and my pile of things to pack has gradually grown since our orientation in April. Once we’re there, I plan to bask in the escape from the NC summer heat! More videos from Kruger have been popping up on my social media, and I feel giddy every time and think Only 32 more days! Only 27 more days!
Stephanie’s growing pile of items to pack.
Pam: Been mentally prepping for South Africa since the “Congrats” email. I’ve been praying daily, walking (not every day), and planning like Dora the Explorer with a checklist. Overpacking…. I hope not, but Mom and Sis are working their magic to stop me! Bless their hearts! Grateful for all the love, support, and hype from everyone!
Pam walking, studying, packing and praying in preparation for South Africa
Shelley: I have been busy getting together last minute items and organizing my packing cubes. I also had my students research our flight to Johannesburg. We started classes on June 30th. I am working the first 2 weeks. This will be my group for the blog. According to my 6th graders and I am sure AI, I am happy to report the route is usually on time and often has empty seats in economy to balance the weight. Great circle distance or crow flies is 8,430 miles but flights are usually 8,500-8,600 miles. We will fly around 36,000 feet and cross the equator about 7 hours into our flight somewhere over the Atlantic. They thought that was pretty cool. We will still be over Africa, probably the Congo when we cross the equator on our return from Cape Town.
Emily: I am prepping for this amazing journey by taking daily walks with my 2 dogs, River & Birdie. My daughter gave me the trail name “Beans,” because I’ve been filling my pack with various cans of beans and vegetables to help build endurance as I am walking. I have also been listening to podcasts about the history of South Africa. After finishing our assigned reading, I am now able to better understand the facts given through these podcasts about people, places, and events. I can’t wait to see it in person and discover ways for my students to learn through my experiences. Counting down the days and steadily adding cans to my pack.
Emily building hiking endurance with River and Birdie
Shannon: Started Typhoid Fever oral vaccination this week (4 doses). I love fresh fruit and veggies and don’t want to miss a day. Malaria pills start 2 days before we leave.
Infographic on Typhoid
Christine: To prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I’ve been making many visits to REI, stocking up on gear, especially all things down, since we’ll be in South Africa during their winter. I’m slowly but surely checking off my packing list for the incredible safaris and unforgettable experiences that lie ahead.
On the educational side, I’ve been completely captivated by Nelson Mandela’s A Long Walk to Freedom; a powerful 27-hour audiobook that I highly recommend. I’m also becoming an expert about the fynbos biome and its rich biodiversity that is unique to South Africa.
To stay physically ready for this adventure, I continue to hike with my husband and our two teenage sons, play USTA tennis a few times a week, and train at Burn Boot Camp several days a week.
Christine hiking with her husband Jaap
Flavia: In preparation for my South African adventure I created an interactive display outside my classroom. The students and community gave me input on what they wanted me to learn about, if they wanted to go to South Africa and why, and what would be the coolest animal for me to see.
Flavia’s interactive board about South Africa that she created outside her classroom
Amy: Anticipation is more than I can take. I have spent the last few months making sure I have tech to see in the dark, video and photograph as much of this experience as I can. I don’t want to forget a single second. I listened to the Audible version of my homework… LONG WALK TO FREEDOM – what an incredible journey that was! Brushing up on my fauna for the areas we will be visiting has been fun. But most importantly I have been working on my endurance for this 9+ mile hike we will be taking in the Drakensberg Mountains. Climbing 2 flights of stairs a dozen of times a day and taking Freyja on long hikes in our nearby Foothills of the Appalachian mountains. It’s kicking my butt, but I am loving it. I CAN’T WAIT!!!
June 26, 2025
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Comments Off on Lessons From The Geyser Gazers
Our last day in Yellowstone began with a stroll through the Upper Geyser Basin. While walking the boardwalk, we had an opportunity to reflect on all the things we had seen and done. We recalled the calm and intentional bison, moving at a pace that made sense to them, the quirky pika that made their home in the talus slope, and the white pelicans moving and working in harmony to catch their prey.
Kisha looking out at the steam on Geyser Hill
We eventually came across a few Geyser Gazers who were observing Beehive, a geyser that boasts an impressive 200-foot eruption. It was clear that the gazers had an immense love and reverence for the park. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and eventually everyone in our group was just as excited as they were!!! The highlight of the eruption was a double-rainbow that appeared during the display. Our group instantly realized why the Geyser Gazers do what they do!
Beehive and its rainbow!
Our interaction with the Geyser Gazers today yielded a few lessons for the group. Firstly, good things come to those who wait. The Geyser Gazers had to wait patiently for hours, but the final result was definitely worth it! Secondly, seek out like-minded individuals when pursuing your passion! It was clear that the Geyser Gazers had found their tribe, and that made their pursuit all the more enjoyable.
After interacting with the Geyser Gazers, we feel that it is only right to issue a challenge to our readers: take time in the upcoming weeks to connect with your passion and seek out a support system to help you reach your goal! Sending love and light from Yellowstone!!
June 26, 2025
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Comments Off on Visiting Grand Teton
What a beautiful day. The sun is up and the trees stand strong, ready for the unpredictable wildness of Yellowstone. We couldn’t feel more alive and glad to be here.
Hello Grand Teton National Park! What a beautiful landscape you are! This incredible mountain range is formed by fault uplift and glacial erosion. These majestic mountains are still growing. Grand Tetons are known for their dramatic mountain scenery and diverse wildlife like pikas, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, pronghorns, beavers, moose and many more creatures.
View of the Teton Range from Leigh LakeA young bull moose
There is moment in life that everybody needs to stop, breath, and contemplate life, reflecting about past, present and future, knowing that who we are right now is in permanent construction, and we can be remolded, deconstructed, and rebuilt in any moment. It is our prerogative and decision to do it.
A quiet moment on our 2 mile hike
Here at Grand Teton time seems to stop. A place where there is no a beginning or end, where the sky, land and water interplays, and the magic of our surroundings overflows our expectations.
Fred stopping to look at insects
At Laurence Rockefeller Nature Preserve, there is an incredible hidden gem – their visitor center. This center tries to draw on all your senses and immerse yourself fully in nature. A quote recorded on the wall there is: “The scales of nature will always seek equilibrium. A feather can tip the balance” -Terry Tempest Williams.
“One thing I have come to conclude is that the more one travels and actually interacts with the locals, the more open minded and empathetic one becomes. Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” – Mark Twain
The day began with breakfast and a view — a towering peak framed by the morning light. Several of us gathered near the windows, drawn to the quiet majesty beyond the glass. There was something sacred in that moment, something unspoken in the way the mountain stood still. We laughed, we talked, and slowly, layers peeled away. Where once we were strangers, we now sat as friends — woven together by shared stories, experiences and the wonder of where we are. Who would have known this experience would shape us in such a way.
Morning frost at Yellowstone Lake
After breakfast we took some moments of solitude and reflection by Yellowstone Lake. As white pelicans paraded across the water and waves splashed onshore, we sketched, journaled, mapped sounds, and took in the majestic setting. We also had the chance to observe Yellowstone sand verbena, a rare endemic flower clinging to existence on the black sands of the lakeshore. We must give thanks to the parks botanist working to restore its presence while protecting it because it has a will to thrive.
Reflection time on Yellowstone Lake
As we grew a fondness and appreciation for the beauty of Yellowstone Lake we met Mike, an aquatic biologist who alone overseas the aquatic ecosystem in Yellowstone. He explained the importance of the ecosystem as headwaters to several large river systems, the Missouri and the Snake River. Aquatic Invasive Species have interrupted this fragile ecosystem. Lake trout have decimated the Yellowstone cutthroat trout population, a species that is important for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems at the park. Mike also spends his summers preventing AIS such as zebra mussels from entering Yellowstone’s waters, a Herculean task as Wyoming is only one of five states without them. Afterwards we continued to enjoy this great ecosystem as we travelled to West Thumb, a geyser basin located on the Lake.
The hot springs stretched before us, quiet and majestic — a living canvas painted by the earth. As we descended the boardwalk, the waters near us swirled with muddy tones, but closer to their heart, they bloomed in brilliant shades of blue, as if holding the sky within. The air shimmered with heat, the springs pulsing with life between 120 and 173 degrees. Along their steaming runoff channels, we glimpsed tiny, resilient forms — microorganisms dancing in the flow, thriving where life seems impossible.
Black Pool at West Thumb Geyser Basin
We went to the Black Sand Pool, also known as Thumper — a place where we all trusted the process. We lay down on the ground, thinking we might fall asleep, lulled by the stillness. But then, we felt a sudden burst of pressure, followed by a deep rumble beneath us. As soon as we heard Greg yell, “Get up!”, we saw it — the release of natural gas burst from the spring. Such a cool experience that everyone is grateful to participate in to be able to use all your senses.
Laying on the ground to feel “thumper”
To see the Grand Prismatic in the sunlight is astonishing. We can officially say that is better in person. But to see the bison carcass floating in the middle that had an unfortunate death let us know that even in nature accidents do occur. Each incline that we have encountered has been worth it.
Grand Prismatic Spring
We ended the day with special reflection which tells a story of trials in tribulation. Melissa asked, “What has been the hardest part of the trip?” When each person spoke, we acknowledged that we could see some of ourselves within them. This trip isn’t just about wildlife, animals and science. It’s about how we can grow as inviduals. We are reminded it is important to step outside of your comfort zone. Always remember this may be hard; but remember it’s worth it.
Peregrine falconBighorn sheep huddle under a basalt outcropHiking through a thermal basinAshley in the snow at the Upper FallsLower Falls of the Yellowstone as the snow clearedThe wolf that ran in front of Melissa’s vanThe pelicans Melissa’s van was looking at when the wolf ran by
