The Journey Inward

Well, today was one of those days where you can’t even believe you’re living the life you are! I am so filled with gratitude, wonder, awe and excitement!

I drove down to Johannesburg to visit Walter. It’s about an hour drive and he guided me around the city instead of through it. Walter’s place looks like a little village in Europe and his yard is so charming!

After he showed me around, we climbed into his monster truck and headed to the estates where he hunts dassies to control their overpopulation. The estates are some 500 homes that are HUGE and mostly owned by foreigners. In addition to the cost of the house and the taxes they pay, they also pay a levy of R12,000 to the body corporate to maintain the preserved land they live on. It is 10 miles of fence enclosing 1,800 acres of preserved land and home to 20 different species of animals.

Walter is allowed free reign, so we drove down some paths and did some off roading so he could show me the land. We parked and hiked quite a bit. The views of the city beneath this land were such a contrast.

Spring is just starting here, so the greening is beginning. Nestled on a high point is a little campsite the residents can reserve. It was shocking to me that we saw no one all day on any of the hiking and 4 wheeling trails.

Sprinkled throughout, we saw the animal residents: springbok, blesbok, wildebeest, zebra, and varieties of small gazelle like animals.

A storm rolled in while we were up there and it went from 1 drop to 100. The rain did wonders for the animals, though and really brought them out. Walter had seen giraffe last week and sent me a picture. I was managing my expectations that we would see them today. Walter knows the places to look and as it was getting later and the rain was starting to let up, he parked and we walked down toward the dam. Through the trees, blended in so well except for that distinctive head, was a giraffe. As we approached on foot we saw another and then the full five. They watched us, but weren’t skittish like the zebra had been. At one point, I was up the hill watching them eat when one left the trees and walked toward me. She looked so curious. I was awestruck. She kept coming and we kept looking at one another. She then turned and walked up the way, joining zebras on the path. It took my breath away!!!

Feeling like we’d seen it all, we headed back to Walter’s place. He wanted me to experience a South African Braii (barbeque). He had bought sausage and lamb and pork and I’d brought side salads and a chocolate pudding dessert (not like pudding at home). It was delicious and we stuffed ourselves!

I drove home in amazement that this is my home! I texted pictures to one friend who responded, “Where are you?” “Africa, man. Africa!” I replied.