Week 11 – Personal

As week eleven arrived, emotions began to run high as the concept of leaving Zambia loomed just around the corner and we began saying our goodbyes to local friends, long term visitors at Jollyboys and member of staff who were heading off on their travels.

After losing a number of familiar faces and with Amy and I having to move to multiple rooms after a mix up with our booking, Jollyboys started to feel less like home and the idea of being away from my family for so long became a reality. However, with the arrival of another friendly face in the form of Peter – Amy’s boyfriend - my sadness was soon forgotten as we began another series of once in a life time experiences.

Monday brought with it an experience I will never forget, as in the middle of Mosi oa Tunya National park I was lifted onto a huge elephant – a bull named Bop – and walked through the bush for an hour before feeding Bop and almost losing my hand in the process. While riding the elephant, I couldn’t help notice how gentle and soft their movements were which really made me forget how dangerous the animal I was sitting on could be. But thankfully our convoy of elephants brought us all back safely to the ground where we were able to interact with a 2 year old baby elephant before having to say our goodbyes. This was a difficult process for me, as elephants are my favourite animal and being so close to them was such an incredible experience.

Our next encounter was with the Lions and cheetahs, which was the most surreal experience of my life, as I found myself petting and walking with these big cats. The day began with the lion interaction, which involved a casual stroll through the bush with two fully grown lions, holding their tails. It was a magical experience; however I was very aware that the animals were in control as when they wanted to move everyone followed and the only methods of controlling them were the guides voices and the small sticks which we were all given to distract the lions. Next we move onto the cheetahs, which purred like house cats as we stroked them, before we took off on a quick walk around the bush with the cheetahs leading the way. Upon returning to the cheetahs’ area, we were given the opportunity to watch the fastest land animal run as it chased prey (on a motorised loop) before catching and tearing it to shreds. As we were about to hop on the bus back to Jollyboys, we decided to ‘chance our arm’ and ask if there were any lion cubs, our luck was in and we had the most incredible time playing with two month old lion cubs as if they were puppies.

I can now say I have been bitten by a lion!!

To top off the week, Jenna and I spent a morning flying through the spray of the Falls and over the surrounding area in a small micro light plane. The views were like nothing I have ever seen and the natural beauty of the African plains were truly breath taking. The short time I spent in the plane looking at the views which surrounded me, really pushed me to consider my time in Zambia and what an amazing life changing experience it has been and how grateful I am for being given this opportunity as “I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke that I was not happy!” (Hemingway, N.D, cited by Tyler, 2001, p. 107).

Reference

Tyler, L. (2001) Student companion to Ernest Hemingway, Westport, Greenwood Press.