Let me be blunt. I’m not going all the way to Africa and not seeing any big, wild animals.

After my time in Malawi, I wanted to take a once-in-a-lifetime safari. I had been saving money for a couple of years and was ready. I checked out a variety of companies that offered where and what I wanted. Having taken packaged tours before with G-adventures (Peru) and Cosmos (the Balkans), I sort of knew what to expect. There are trade-offs with various companies. Here’s the blunt realities for me: GAdventures is a great company, catering to more adventurous, young and budget travelers. Downside? They travel exclusively overland, so you’re talking about a lot of days just riding in a big bus going from place to place. Cosmos travel offers a more “upscale” product, but they charge a huge single-supplement. For people traveling solo, that can almost double the price of your trip. I then read about Overseas Adventure Travel. They did the places I wanted to see, taking three internal Africa flights to save long bus rides AND had no single-supplement. OAT won.

So basically, the safari tour with OAT was:

• Begin in Johannesburg, South Africa (1 night at airport hotel)
• fly to Kruger National Park (3 nights)
• fly to Zambia’s Livingstone Airport, drive Zimbabwe’s Huange National Park (3 nights)
• drive to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe for 3 nights in a motel
• drive/boat to Impalila Island, Namibia (3 nights)
• boat/drive to Botswana’s Chobe National Park (3 nights)
• drive to Victoria Falls Airport to flight back to Johannesburg, South Africa, tour ends

While the name of the company had the word “adventure” in it, it was by no means an adventure tour. Every element was planned and the accommodations were sometimes overly luxurious and the meals were all-American as well (chocolate cheesecake for dessert, anyone?). (I plan to have a blog about each leg of the safari up soon). Every meal out of the lodges we stayed-in were full of other tour groups from around the world. We were in an American bubble most of the time…

… But the animals we saw were amazing.

And we saw them up-close and person. Here’s a short YouTube movie I put together of short videos I took of some of the animal encounters we had along the way. Footage is from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. All videos taken with my new Nikon P600 “bridge camera.” Does a great job -IMHO- for under $400.

During my time volunteering at the Rafiki Village Malawi, I was privileged to witness a high school graduation ceremony. Tables in the dining hall were stacked in the back and were draped in black. Chairs were set up for visitors. The dozen graduates (all girls), their family, and local dignitaries were seated. Some of the local dignitaries were elders from the Central African Presbyterian Church, with which Rafiki has a warm and cordial relationship, as well as some local elected officials (tribal chiefs are now elected in Malawi, and, from what I understand, more like city councilmembers).

As the videos below show, this is not your passive American high school graduation. No. There is literally dancing in the aisles and the MC for the event really gets into it (check out his moves- he’s quite good).

The ceremony started with a short performance by the school choir and I think you might be taken aback by how excellent they are. Rafiki Malawi is blessed with having an excellent music teacher and gifted students.

After the ceremony there was delicious cake and soft drinks for all the graduates, families, dignitaries, and some students. For the students to get American-style cake and a Coke is quite a treat. In my whole time there, I never saw such things served or available on campus. Kids were overwhelmed with excitement and joy at being able to attend this event.

Then the dancing started. I don’t want to reinforce stereotypes, but skin pigment color might also affect dancing ability. Use your own judgement.

It was a wonderful time to see these young ladies commence the next part of their lives. As Rafiki Foundation attempts to accomplish their mission of renewing Africa and integrating the Gospel into the lives of the people of that Continent, I wish them all God’s blessings.