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Our days were spent walking, keeping a careful lookout for animals and setting up camp - without tents on rocky outcrops or, when in the mountains, in shallow caves.
This was much more than a safari or a wildlife-spotting trip: it became, for most, an important rite of passage. There were close encounters with wild animals, but the expedition was, in reality, about personal development, with plenty of time for discussing questions of spirituality and ecology, and contemplating lifestyle choices for the future.
The four South Africans leading the trip were not merely guides: they initiated discussion and taught us much about living lives uncluttered by the material things we so easily take for granted. This was a chance for personal reflection and growth, for teamwork, the adrenaline rush of night-watch and the experience of being in the wild. |