From my journal: May 28, 2008, Timbavati, South Africa
“30-minute flight on Chilli Peppers Charter to Djuma Game Reserve, short drive to Vuyatela Lodge…beautiful place…at our welcome lunch met Timothy & Linda from Kansas, Julie & James honeymooners from the UK, Sebastian & Estelle, both young doctors from France, & Raphael & his mom, Esther from Spain…an interesting and diverse group!”
Located in part of the renowned Sabi Sands Reserve, Vuyatela Lodge was more modern and larger than N’Kaya where we stayed previously. It even had a gym and internet room. Each of the eight chalets had a muted-colored bedroom that looked out onto a teak deck, a private plunge pool, and an outdoor shower!
The daybreak and nightfall game drives at Vuyatela were much like those we experienced at N’Kaya. Solly, our tracker and Charles, our ranger, pointed out and educated us on biota in this area. Animals like hyenas, jackals, and bushbabies, and birds such as ibises, starlings, and vultures as well as baobab, fig, and acacia trees were all a part of this ecosystem. So familiar with the reserve and its inhabitants, Solly and Charles called the animals by name! Knowing their histories and patterns, it wasn’t by chance that we had close encounters with lions, leopard, rhinos, elephants, and African buffalos, or the Big Five as they are known. Seeing these grand creatures, just a few yards away, in their natural setting, struck a primal chord in me.
From my journal: May 28, 2008, Manyeleti, South Africa
“Strange…something about driving through the bushveld seems so familiar to me…hard to believe we are actually here…”
Awake before the sun welcomed the day, we’d gather with the other guests for a cup of tea or coffee and a bite of twice-baked biscuits called rusks.Then we’d head out in open-air jeeps for a few hours following tracks and discovering what they led to.
From my journal: May 29, 2008, Manyeleti, South Africa
“Saw a female leopard lying on a rock…cheetahs playing, so cute…though they looked tame, of course they’re wild…3 male rhinos surrounding a female, looked like they we’re going to charge us!…a bit scary…”
Just like at N’Kaya, we followed a similar schedule. After our sunrise drive, we were treated to a substantial breakfast of eggs, meats, cheeses, local fruits, and some traditional foods like ugali which is porridge, and fufu, a mashed root veggie dish. At 3 p.m., high tea was served with the usual fare of teas and cakes, followed by an evening game drive with a stop for sundowner drink and a view of yet another splendid African sunset.
Back at the lodge, we’d enjoy a lavish dinner which usually included bobotie, meatloaf flavored with curry and fruit chutney, chakalaka, a veggie stew with tomatoes, peppers and beans, and game meats like kudu and gazelle, while sitting around a crackling fire under star lit skies. And due to this property’s location, when ready for sleep, we were accompanied by a staff member to our chalet, just to be sure we got there, safe and sound!
From my journal: May 29, 2008, Manyeleti, South Africa
“One of the best moments last night was when we just parked under the stars and Charles turned off the jeep and we just sat in silence…amazing…so nice to just sit and be…so quiet, peaceful…would like to feel this way more often.”
On our final day at Vuyatela, we opted to take a tour of the nearby Utah and Dixie villages. I was curious if they’d be like I envisioned them. Perhaps, a group of thatched-roofed homes built of mud and clay, like in the book The Village of Round and Square Houses by Ann Grifalconi that we read to our 1st grade students. I wondered about the people. Would they be friendly? What would they be doing?
As we bumped along in the comfort of a van, I saw skinny dogs, goats, and cows wearing bells. Primitive looking homes made from tin were crowded together in some areas. While concrete block shelters spaced farther apart were in others. Small, most looked like they couldn’t have more than one or two rooms inside. I wondered if they had running water or bathrooms. I saw women and men wearing simple tee shirts and long skirts or pants farming in fields and sitting roadside selling their homemade wares. Everyone greeted us warmly. We bought placemats made from woven candy wrappers.
What I recall most was visiting an elementary school. Its name, Wisani was hand painted on the stucco wall above the main entrance. It was a narrow one-story building containing several basic rooms. A few had shelves lined with art supplies, books, puzzles, and games. One room had piles of mats that were used at nap time. A classroom schedule was written in marker on a white board. Beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m., the day included breakfast, lunch, snack times, nap time, and free play scheduled around literacy, life skills, math, and music & movement.
We were there on a Friday, the day students go home at 12:30 p.m. however, a group of about 30 students were gathered in front of the building. Their ages seemed to range from four to 13 years old. Accompanying them were two teachers that led them in singing, “If You’re Happy and You Know It”! When finished, many of the kids rushed up to us, touching and hugging us.
As we packed for the next leg of our journey, I thought about the children we met. What was the goal of their education? Would these kids complete high school? Go on to college? Would they follow in their parents’ footsteps? What was expected of them? By their teachers, parents, and villages? What opportunities in life would be available to them?
Meeting different people, getting a taste of another way of life, and being immersed in a place I had only read about, all remind me of why I love to travel. It always enriches my life, makes me think, and leaves me with an appreciation for every experience I am fortunate enough to have.
A Journal Journey 