If I know a song for Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on its back . . .does Africa have a song for me?
Karen Blixen in Out of Africa
Two new field guides have recently been added to my bookshelf: The Animals of East Africa and The Birds of East Africa. Both have been carefully studied, notations made of the various animals I saw on my trip and where they were sited.
Travelers go to Africa for safari tours and wildly exclaim when lions come into view, or cheetahs, zebras, leopards, and the many other animals who live on the African savannah. I am no exception.
But Africa is so much more than its wildlife. I have never seen so many smiling, happy faces and been greeted with such warmth wherever I went. I danced and joined in the singing in the villages, marveled at the markets with their colorful displays of tropical fruits and vegetables, savored the rich stews and the exotic spices, held clove blossoms in my hand and cinnamon bark, ylang ylang, nutmeg. I listened to the melodious lilt of Swahili. I ground corn on a flat stone while the women sang around me in a circle. It is a difficult job. Singing makes it easier.
A trip to Africa is a life changing experience. That is true of any trip we take… every trail, mountain pass, campfire, river crossed, wildlife sited. I am grateful to have had a lifetime of adventure. It saddens me more than I can possibly express that I am no longer able to backpack, but an aching back does not keep me from hiking the trails near my home, watching the loons on the lake, hearing their beautiful calls when I awaken in the morning. There is adventure to be found in any place on any day. Open the window. Let it in.
The Solitude Trail 
What an experience of a lifetime. Colin Fletcher loved Africa. Unless unaware, which would surprise me, Walking Man by Robert Wehrman wrote a tome of a biography on Fletcher. He covers Fletcher’s experiences as a game keeper and farmer in Africa. Fletcher wrote ‘The Winds of Mara.’ More pointed to the topic. Thanks for sharing… wow, what a trip.
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Thank you so much, & I always appreciate your reading recommendations. Yes, Colin Fletcher has gone along with me in paperback form on many trips. I did not realize he lived in Africa. It was an amazing experience that truly changed my life. I hope to go back next summer. Thanks you for reading my blog.
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