The Moments You Can’t Plan: What 45 Years of African Travel Have Taught Me
Having grown up in Bahrain and Cape Town, Africa has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve been fortunate to spend more than 45 years living, working, and travelling abroad, and I’ve seen some extraordinary places along the way.
However, Africa has taught me that you can plan a great trip, but you can’t always plan the moments which make it special.
I’ve come to appreciate that more as I get older. Of course, organising a trip through Africa takes a lot of planning, especially when you’re travelling to some of the more remote parts. Quite often, though, the things people remember most aren’t necessarily the ones they expected.
I was reminded of this during a recent trip to Botswana. I enjoyed wonderful wildlife encounters, travelled through beautiful landscapes, and stayed in lovely places, but when I looked back, it wasn’t just the wildlife that stood out.
It was the people I’d met, the conversations with local guides and the calmer moments when I could simply enjoy being somewhere beautiful. This is why Africa is so special. No matter how many times you visit, there’s always something new to experience.
Getting There Faster Isn’t Getting There Better
For many, a safari is on their bucket list for years, so I understand wanting to fit as much as possible into their African trip. With so many incredible places to visit, it’s tempting to squeeze everything into one itinerary.
Yet many treat Africa like one country! It’s many countries and many communities, and I have found that spending a bit longer in one place and slowing down can be much more rewarding than rushing to the next destination.
I did just that during my recent visit to Botswana; I explored the Okavango Delta, including the Moremi Game Reserve, and stayed at Camp Xakanaxa. It is a remarkable area of the country, as the waterways, floodplains, and woodland together form a wonderful habitat for wildlife.
One of the many highlights was seeing a lion move as the sun rose and a red lechwe walk through the shallow floodwater.
Both were excellent to see, but what made them so special was the chance to stop, take everything in, and enjoy being there. There was no necessity to rush off in search of the next animal; we could simply watch and savour the moment.
Towards the end of the journey, I went by mokoro, which is a traditional canoe, along the narrow waterways near Xugana Island Lodge.
It is a peaceful way to explore the Delta, as the canoe moves silently among the reeds. Because of this, I noticed things I would’ve otherwise missed, like insects moving on the water and changing bird calls. Not very dramatic, but that’s exactly what I liked about it!
This sort of experience goes against our Western idea that we need to be ‘busy’, but in Africa, I have often found that slowing down lets you experience more, not less.
Why the people you meet are just as much as the places you visit
Another lesson Africa has taught me is how important it is to have people who know these landscapes better than anyone else.
No matter how many guidebooks you read or how long you spend researching the wildlife you hope to see, there’s still nothing quite like being in the bush with someone who knows it inside out. This was brought home to me on my trip to Botswana.
My guide was able to notice things I would’ve missed, for instance, a particular bird call or a slight change in an animal’s behaviour.
I don’t think most people appreciate this until their first safari. Most just want to spot the Big Five, but there’s so much more going on around you if you take the time to understand it.
Some of my favourite moments in Botswana came from talking to the guides, hearing their stories, and learning more about the places we were travelling through.
People were genuinely friendly, and those personal connections made the experience even more memorable. This is the type of experience that sets Journey Africa apart, and it’s what I want every one of my clients to enjoy.
Luxury isn’t always about an expensive lodge
Luxury travel has changed quite a bit in recent years, especially in Africa. There are some absolutely beautiful safari lodges across the continent, with wonderful accommodation, excellent food and every comfort you could possibly want; and there’s certainly nothing wrong with enjoying those things!
From my experience, though, luxury doesn’t necessarily equate to staying somewhere expensive. I tend to recommend location and experience over traditional ‘luxury’.
If your room overlooks a waterhole and elephants wander as you’re having your morning coffee, that’s something you’ll remember! You don’t need to be staying in the most extravagant lodge in Africa to appreciate a moment like that.
Botswana reminded me of this very clearly. Whether I was watching wildlife from a game vehicle or moving quietly along the Delta’s waterways, I was struck by how much of the experience came from the environment itself.
For instance, at Xugana there were occasions when I was out on the water and couldn’t see another person. There was a most special quality about that sense of space and tranquillity. I consider this a kind of luxury we don’t talk about enough.
It is much more memorable to take the time to appreciate your surroundings, avoid the crowds, and have a completely different experience from ordinary life than it is to make use of the facilities in your room.
That’s not to say comfort isn’t important, of course, but I’ve found that what stays with you is the experience rather than the accommodation itself.
Why a little flexibility can make all the difference
Getting to remote areas of Africa takes a lot of planning, but an effective itinerary should include a certain degree of flexibility.
Wildlife doesn’t follow a set schedule and the weather doesn’t always match your plans; circumstances can change, or a local guide may recommend altering your activities when they spot an opportunity you might have overlooked.
To me, being willing to accept these changes is one reason travelling across Africa is so worthwhile.
I was in Botswana in March, at the end of the green season, which isn’t necessarily when everyone thinks of going on safari. Many people prefer the dry season because then the vegetation is less dense and the wildlife is easier to see near water.
However, I got to experience the beautifully green landscape following heavy rain, excellent birdlife and stunning changes in light caused by storms.
The wildlife was more spread out, but I enjoyed the tranquillity and sense of openness. It reminded me that there is no best time to experience Africa, only different experiences based on when and where you go.
The times that stay with you
Even after 45 years of travelling and working abroad, I still look forward to each trip to Africa. There is always somewhere else to explore, something new to learn, or an interesting person to meet.
There is something wonderful about finding yourself in a remarkably beautiful place, with time to take it in, while remaining open to whatever may happen.
In fact, after all these years, I have come to realise that the moments you remember most are usually the ones you never intended to plan.
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