The Circle of Life

How safari digs deep trenches in the soul

Nature can turn anyone introspective. Laurelle and I spent four days in the “bush” in Sabi Sands game reserve in South Africa on safari. We saw lion prides playing and eating, solitary leopards climbing trees, journeys of giraffe attempting to mate, packs of grazing impala and kudu, hoards of elephant eating marula trees and so much more. It was the little things however that stuck out to me like how termites have a caste system inside their hills or how tree frogs carefully spindle their nests. It was the fine details amidst an expanse of endless acreage and the quiet moments of introspection that showed me the true strength of a safari experience and its cleansing effect on the soul.

“Listen to the bush” the clues tell you the story

Up at 4:45am and you’re out in the bush for the morning sunrise. You can go on game drives for hours at a time and see absolutely nothing and hear nothing but the whistle of the wind through the trees; yet in that stillness is pure beauty. Even for our game ranger and tracking guide, who have been on thousands of unique outings, no two drives are ever alike. Every drive has something to teach you.

The trackers and the guides work together in collaboration to use all five senses to track animals’ movements. They listen for bird calls, recognize tracks, smell for fragrance, feel shredded tree bark and seek clues as they stalk the animals in their unbounded habitat. Like eager pupils, we sit and listen as they teach us.

Safari teaches you that the journey IS the destination.

The thrill that you might spot something ahead of the game ranger is what keeps your eyes alert. Your eyes dart from tree cover to tangled brush, only in hopes of spotting a sleeping mammal or an attempted kill. You hope to catch an animal in the midst of its routine - feeding, mating, sleeping, drinking, or playing. Regardless of what you spot, a drive through the bush is rewarding unto itself. As you sit in the safari jeep looking for signs of life, you inevitably think about your own life - a rare chance to ponder uninterrupted.

Safari for the soul

Safari had a similar spiritual cleansing and revitalizing effect to visiting Israel. Israel might have been the birthplace of our religion and a homeland for our souls but Africa is the birthplace of mankind and nature. I couldn’t help but pick up a handful of dirt and be reminded that we are all tiny specs of dirt on a finite time spectrum. This depth of thought was reassuring and calming and only further validated my appreciation for this very natural experience.

The rangers themselves are also very religious - deep believers in a holy protector. How can you not be when you spend your days in the bush. Our guide even told us that the key characteristic to becoming a great guide is having deep love and a kind heart. He reiterated appreciation over fearlessness. I was moved by that.

Our guides embodied and reenforced these deep beliefs. The term Londolozi rung in my ears as I heard the gales of wind speak of “Protector of all living things” in the African language of Zulu.

A touch of luxury

The More family owns the Sabi Sands game reserve and all the More family children are so proud of this family legacy. That said, I couldn’t help but think that no one really owns the land. No one owns even one spec of dirt in nature - we’re all just borrowing it or passing through.

The game reserve camp was perfectly luxurious, “top of the top, beyond” as the South Africans might say. It was built with a healthy blend of rustic meets ONE hotel in mind. Everything used wood supposed on black steel beam which gave off a contemporary but natural essence. The lounge, pool, gym, spa and the rooms all felt perfectly nestled into the bush while the separation with the animals was minimal but protective. We would observe elephants playing in the river while relaxing at the pool, kudu chomping on shrubbery as we ate our meals and watch silver back monkeys swinging from tree to tree eating acorns and flashing their big pearly white teeth at us as we moseyed around the property. The food was delectable, the grounds impeccable, the service delightful and the experience unforgettable.

An experience we’ll never forget

Laurelle’s heart is in Africa and I can see why. As we left the bush, we both started tearing up. We cried not because we would miss the five star luxury or the entertaining animal spotting, but because we both know deep down that nature is the closest thing to truth and stepping away from it feels difficult. The safari reminds us that we are a part of nature, not just visitors of it.