It’s the Little Things…

 Many people will ask us, “what is the best thing about your trip to Africa?”  And I will sit back, think for a minute, and recall a memory that comes to mind.  We’ll talk about it for a minute, and then I’ll recall another memory that might actually be better than the first.  And then after talking about that memory, we’ll go on to talk about other things, which will prompt another memory of “when we were in Namibia…” and then that one will seem most important.

The truth is, there are so many things that have made this vacation such a memorable one.  A lot of the memories are things that are of big significance: white water rafting down the Zambezi River, or watching Matt and Ron bungee jumping, or seeing the elephants for the first time, or witnessing hyenas and jackals eating an early morning meal.  But there are so many other memories that are actually little “nothings” that make this vacation “something.”

Sitting in the dark at a campsite, taking in the sounds of literally nothing as we watch the campfire flames burn brightly.  Driving the various roads of Africa and witnessing non-paved roads with villages on either side of the street, or driving further south of Namibia and seeing more mountainous areas with no villages but farmhouses scattered around as if it were the Wild West of the 19^th century.  Stopping on the side of the road to give little African children lollipops and watching their faces light up when they receive one.  Listening to some of our favorite songs while driving through the canyons and seeing some of nature’s finest.  Learning a little more about ourselves and our friends as we sit in front of the campfire and let nature speak to us through the flames.  Watching the waves cascade over the rocks.  Watching the lion’s tail twitch as he watches us watch him.  Listening to the locals speak their various languages to each other.  Watching the women walking down the street with baskets on their heads.  Walking up sand dunes in my socks.  Running down sand dunes in my socks.  Seeing trees growing in saltpans.  Listening to different birds singing their songs throughout the day.  Watching the sun set over the Zambezi River. Watching the sun set in the bush.  Watching the sun rise in the bush.  Watching the sun set over the watering hole.  Watching a giraffe run.  Watching a springbok hop.  Listening to the elephants trumpet as they play in the water.  Floating down the Oksanga River with hippos and crocs.  Having dinner with a goat.  Sipping on South African wine while actually in South Africa.  Eating fresh fish handpicked by me.  Cooking dinner in the bathroom because the wind is too strong to keep the flame going.  Meeting new dogs at every campsite we stayed in.  Listening to Toktoki beetles communicate to each other by clicking their bellies on the ground.  Spending hours scouring the horizon looking for the next big animal.  Starting our mornings with coffee and rusks.  Eating pork rashers and boerwoers.  Ending our evenings sipping Amarula.  Being absolutely in awe looking at the various sceneries in front of us: from dry red earth to bushes and yellowed grass that is so dry that it’s hard and prickly to humid waterfalls to sand dunes and the Atlantic ocean to canyons and rocky mountains.  Learning about the behaviors of the creatures of Africa: from the big guys like elephants and giraffes to the lion ants and leopard turtles.  Seeing termite “mountains” leaning 5 feet tall against trees and rocks.  Spending our 5^th wedding anniversary at the southern-most point in Africa, where we saw the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean merge. Watching whales breach over and over and over again.  Meeting the family and friends of our friends.  Meeting up with our friends that we know in the BVI while in their home country.  Walking across a saltpan…in my stocking feet.  Learning about rugby.  Eating things I never knew existed, like Mopani worms and biltong.  Inheriting red-stained flip flops and running shoes as a result of the red sand everywhere.  Sitting in silence in the car as we all take in a little spiritual cleanse.  Taking a technological cleanse from the world.  Listening the wind blow as we stay toasty dry and warm in the tent.  Getting a sand body scrub from African sand.  Learning about how the people and the societies of African countries work, for better or for worse.  Discovering that no matter how much we’ve seen, I’m excited to see more.