
There I was: getting stuck in a mud pit with a nine
foot long long crocodile, being slapped in the face by an elephant's trunk,
tracking and hand feeding an adult cheetah, being charged by a hormonal
rhinoceros, pursued by a lioness with a windowless truck as my only protection
and, of course, the biggest challenge of all -- sleeping alone in a tent camp
-- and I loved every second of it.
I went to Africa for the first time because I was
hungry. I was hungry for adventure, a journey, an awakening, to give back, to
step outside of myself and to get back to myself. I went to Africa to learn, to
grow, to overcome my fears and to give purpose to a holiday.
I wanted to get outside of myself, to give to
others, to make a contribution -- however infinitesimal it would be. What I
didn't realize at the time I signed up for this job (the first time I ever paid
to do a job) was that it would turn out to be the greatest adventure of my
life.
No amount of university courses or travel could
give me what I got in a few short weeks of complete selfless giving -- and it
wasn't all beans and rice as I had anticipated. In fact, I was treated better
than I could have imagined, I was appreciated.
The food was hardly beans and rice; it was simple but even the simplest food tasted divine at the end of a laborious day because I had earned every morsel of it.
The food was hardly beans and rice; it was simple but even the simplest food tasted divine at the end of a laborious day because I had earned every morsel of it.
I spent six weeks in Africa. Part of my time was
spent in the Kynsna townships teaching conservation to children and some on an
elephant reserve in Plettenberg Bay rehabilitating elephants waiting to be
released into the wild. The majority of my time was spent on a conservation
project at a Big Five Game Reserve.
While I loved every minute of every project, my
passion was working with the Big Five at the Game Reserve. Not only did I learn
about the wildlife and the workings of the lodge, I also learned the value of a
hard day's work. The enthusiasm and kindness of the amazing people who dedicate
their days in this Game Reserve was contagious.
I was also relieved to find that, from the
perspective of pure creature comforts, the Game Reserve went beyond my
expectations, meals were excellent and my tent was warm and durable (a welcome
relief as the lion camp bordered on my tent camp). Tenting, in my opinion, is
the best way to experience Africa (this coming from someone who does not camp
at home in British Columbia). One feels closer to the land and animals. In the
camp there was a common area that had Internet and a kitchen, hot shower and
bathroom, although I did share a shower once with a very large toad.
The backdrop to this reserve was the magnificent
Langberg mountain range -- standing tall like dark blue uniformed soldiers
guarding this pristine valley. On the other side was the world-famous
magnificent Garden Route where, on a weekend off I found myself a few
centimeters away from great white sharks in the, err, safe confines of an
aluminum cage.
Time disappeared, modern conveniences no longer
existed and communication with the outside world was limited. All major players
in my former life as a 2010 Olympic Project manager were no longer even in the
game. Instead key players became survival, team work, willingness and openness
to do any job required of me from shoveling dung to rebuilding roads and tree
planting under the watchful eyes of a pride of lions only 200 metres away with
nothing separating me from them except my fear.
The experience was only a few weeks, but the
memories will last a lifetime, memories of overcoming fears and making new
friends. Friends with claws, paws, horns, scales and trunks.
One highlight was planting a garden not just for
the selfish pleasure that comes from gardening, but for a village; a village
that will bear the fruits of our labour for many seasons to come.
Each and every day I gave sweat, tears and
persevered trying desperately to even out the balance sheet, but, at the end of
it all, I received far more than I could ever give. My efforts only magnifying
what I got out of this experience.
To my delight, the highlights of each day and
each night were numerous and oftentimes quite different. There were never any
dull moments. There was always plenty to do and adventures were plentiful.
On a typical day Ranger Gerret picked me up just
after sunrise.
Off we'd go to find Kittibon and Silati, two
anxiously waiting elephants, to feed them; they are creatures of routine. When
we enter the boma I cautiously approach Kittibon and she greets me by throwing
sawdust in my face!
This playful routine became a daily occurrence
during my stay, so I eventually got smart and wore a bandana to cover my face.
Kittibon, however, is even smarter; she spit water or tossed branches at me
instead!
After feeding Gerrit lets them out of the boma.
We distribute hay and branches for them around the elephant camp so they must
go look for it; it is important to keep them stimulated otherwise they get into
mischief.
We spent some time doing road repairs, one of the
many tasks done by hand. The road repairs consisted of gathering rocks then
filling potholes with them, laying each rock by hand, and fitting them as close
together as possible.
It's true that to give is to receive. This is
proven day after day in a small, out-of-the-way place in South Africa where the
skies are always blue and there's always so much to do.
A place where the miracle of giving is always
evident. Volunteering in Africa paved an entirely new path of adventures,
opportunities and accomplishments beyond even my wildest dreams, the miracle of
giving continues to this day.
If
you have ever felt like you needed purpose or if life has given you setback
after setback then just give of yourself in whatever capacity you can to
whatever cause is close to your heart and I promise you that you will find a
freedom and fulfillment like you've never known before.
Volunteering is an investment that offers a
lifetime of returns in soul-enriching memories.
It's an amazing way to not just see a country,
but to experience its culture and civilization and to leave an impression.
Because even if that impression is one tree planted, a small garden built or
leaving a smile on someone's face, it was worth it.
www.edgeofafrica.com
www.edgeofafrica.com
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