I was not told much before this trip, except that there would be game on my lawn throughout the day and that it was a family holiday to a reserve somewhere in Camdeboo, Eastern Cape. Not much to go on, especially as I am someone that enjoy excessive planning and I like knowing a step by step program of what to expect. Though regardless of my need for mental security I got into the car and we drove, and drove and drove. Every time I checked how much further it was, the GPS said three hours, three hours passed and it still said three hours...
For some this may feel like a life time away but South Africa is a huge country and it would honestly take you a day or two to cross from one furthest point to another, and that is with constant driving (no toilet breaks, no snack stops and no sight seeing), a long drive is not an abnormal experience in Africa.
So several hours later, after driving through an ever changing landscape, going from deep green mountains of forests and fynbos to a dusty Karoo of forgotten towns and skeletons that were rolling around the dried up water beds, we finally arrived at the first game reserve gate. This one stated that predators were roaming free and to exit your vehicle at your own risk. Half an hour later we reached another gate stating that there were no predators after this point but do not leave your vehicle due to elephants... And they say Australia is dangerous... We kept driving. Two more gates later, and a bunch of other animal warnings, we finally arrived at another gate that lead into a beautiful and perfectly manicured lawn will old style dutch houses, a dried up dam and the entire place was littered with buck of every size and colour imaginable. There were even little ones that springing around as they enjoyed the new wonders of the sunlight!
The evening followed quickly and we had a traditional South African evening of braai, beer and story telling, it ended with slightly intoxicated Uncles and Aunts raving about past adventures and a few giggly cousins, intrigued by it all.
Morning arrived in all it's glory and as promised we were greeted by a safari of wildlife, which followed quickly with an actual safari drive. I got to see everything I wanted and by the end of the two hour drive I felt properly for filled with my wild animal needs. Except for a giraffe, I still haven't seen one since I arrived in South Africa... Very disappointing...
In total we stayed for 2 nights, each one filled with kudu, gemsbok and wildebeest. The three days we spent there were enjoyed laying on the grass watching the almost tame buck coming and going around us, we had feasts every evening and got to know each other a little better. It was a beautiful week end of chit chat and admiring the spectacular scenery surround us.
On the Saturday around midday when the heat was nearly unbearably half the family decided it was time to find a spot to swim, so off we went in a little car, over the hills and far away but with no luck at all. It ended up being a chance to see more of the game and get a little bit of air-con action before we retreated back into the shade to read a book.
Places like this fill your soul with long afternoon walks, deep breathes and a feeling of everything disappearing except for the moment you are in, Africa has that effect though. It's almost as if time slows down and you find yourself having more moments to push your little cousins on the swing, or watch the clouds float by. You can drink a glass of wine for breakfast if you want and then go watch the meerkats have a conversation on a sand heap, Africa has a magical ability to allow the nonsense of the 'real world' to melt away and you can find yourself in any reality you wish.
The last day arrived to soon and each of the family branches split off and we all went our separate ways, you know when it's been forever and you can hardly remember the last family trip you had, and it's almost as if you may have been to small to experience it properly? That is what this was, the little cousins will remember it from the stories we tell and the rest will hope for another, it was an occasion that was rare and lovely, and a part of me knew it wouldn't be happening again soon. No matter how much I wished for it. Though next time would come along eventually, even if we may be a few familiar faces shorted and a couple new faces more.
Though after this each of us will remember waking up to the sound of eagles over head, remember the tea breaks and hold all the memories deep in our hearts, it's always sad to say good bye, not just to each other but the experience as a whole.
Africa is a special place to grow up in, it's wild, it's rich and if you are luck enough you will find yourself in remote parts where the thought of societies off in the distance seems almost like a myth. It's here where you get dusty, you step on a few thorns, help a tortoise out the mud and reconnect with yourself. Sometimes it's important to find yourself in places like these, out of reception and where you can almost feel the voortrekkers trudging over the mountains trying to find their new home. Sometimes you need to find yourself in Camdeboo so that you can forget about your stresses from the real world and remind yourself of how wild life can really be.
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