I turned fifty in Africa, and it might have been my age which caused me to think about where I was in life and where I was on the planet. As a numerologist, I understood that five is the number of change, expansion, and freedom. Africa was by far the most astounding continent. Some believe their lives are nearing the end at fifty and for me, I refused to carry a limitation of any kind. My experiences on this magnificent continent encouraged me to honor my walk through time.
In 1993, I read an article in my local newspaper about the Sheldrick Trust Organization, which operated an orphaned elephant rescue in Kenya. After reading the article and long before my psychic abilities expanded, I knew someday Kenya would be on my itinerary. I had two young children, a husband, and a business to run at the time, so Africa was not in my landscape of desire then. Thirteen years later, I petted my first baby elephant.
Before traveling through Africa, my plan was to do only a few safaris. I foolishly believed once you’ve seen one elephant, you’ve seen them all. This was absolutely not true; each one was a different experience. On my first day driving myself through Etosha Game Park, I witnessed a herd of 60 elephants congregate at a watering hole. It is one thing to see these majestic creatures from a game drive vehicle with a guide and quite another to see them from behind the wheel of my Toyota!
All in a day, I saw thousands of flamingos on Lake Nakuru, seven great white rhinoceroses, and two babies. I witnessed a private moment as a male ostrich was doing his best to entice a female. He fluffed his feathers and danced a bit but she was having none of it…until he stopped, then her interest was piqued. Each day, each moment of my tour in Africa held the potential to be amazed.
Seeing photographs and watching videos of Africa are not the same as being there. I thought seeing a rhinoceros in his natural habitat was enough and that it would be superfluous to search for another one. Not so. The nature that surrounds the animals is different. Their habitats are as varied as the different regions. As a world traveler, I have experienced a different energy and vibration everywhere I went. Being in a boat on the Chobe River in Botswana, observing elephants swim across is different than standing twenty feet away from one along the Zambezi River. The energy is different, the experience is different, and each one is worthy of mention.
I was awestruck by the beauty of this continent. It didn’t let me zip through; it stopped me and insisted I take a good look at the nature there. Raw Mother Nature surrounded me and permeated my soul. I allowed it to absorb into me and become a part of me, and I was honored to be in her glorious presence. Thank you, is all I can say, and all I can give in return to her is appreciation and gratitude. Her beauty is not skin deep either. It flows to the heart of each one of us who chooses to look. I felt this many times on my travels throughout this amazing planet, but it was Africa where I felt the extreme diversity. I know I am a better person for doing so. I felt wholly blessed and for a moment I saw the piece that had been missing from my entire life.
Someday I will bring my grandchildren to Africa to share the magic and majesty with them. I can’t wait to see how their lives and perspectives change from the adventure!
