South Africa

“What the Bush Gave Us”

July 23, 2025   -   7 Comments

Sunrise Game Drive-Day 1 Kruger 5:00 AM 

“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.
Blue Ridge

“Hellbendering”

August 3, 2021   -   2 Comments

After a very rainy, peaceful sleep, we meandered to the group area for a breakfast of grits, oatmeal, assorted pastries, yogurt and creations with leftover fried chicken.

We loaded up the van to head for the Skinny Dip Falls trailhead. Along the hike, we were educated on identification of the Indian cucumber root, which has an edible root that tastes like cucumber with the texture of a carrot. It’s always beneficial to be aware of natural food elements in your forest surroundings. After a short but brisk hike to the falls, we took in the magnificent wonders of the waterfall.

We left Skinny Dip Falls and went back to camp to prepare for snorkeling in the Davidson River for a peek into the habitat of the hellbender salamander. We arrived at the Pisgah National Forest ranger station for an informational meeting with Lori Williams, a wildlife biologist with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. She educated us on everything hellbender. We even got to meet Rocky. Rocky is an almost fifteen-year-old hellbender that has been raised in captivity and is used for educational purposes.

Following our visit with Lori and Rocky, Ben and Reid (wildlife technicians) accompanied us to the river, where we suited up in warm clothes or wetsuits and snorkeled in the frigid water. Our group goal of spotting three elusive hellbenders in the wild was accomplished.

Thankfully, we warmed up in dry clothes and continued our adventure to Dolly’s where we revelled in luscious ice cream cones. We finished our eventful day with dinner in Brevard.

We returned to camp exhausted but satiated and ready to greet tomorrow with excitement and eagerness to continue to learn from Melissa, Megan, Chris, and one another.