Tag: trip of a lifetime

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SOJOURNERS’ STORIES

WILDLIFE, CHANGING DIAPERS & EMPOWERED YOUTH

A Lifetime of Lessons in Eight Days

Burk Family ‘selfie’ with Sisonke Boys Club

Seventeen-year-old Nqobile Mabhena said I inspired him. I assure you, young man, you – and your friends – have inspired me so, so much more.

A true story.

A staredown with a six-ton elephant. A grandmother who lives in a thatched-roof hut. Hyenas in the mist, and lion cubs in golden light. And a group of teenagers on the leading edge of a culture changing for the better. Our eight days in Africa had all of this and more.

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SOJOURNERS’ STORIES

ON AFRICA – IS IT REALLY JUST A ‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME’ DESTINATION?

Ron and Colleen and their new elephant friend

What is it about Africa? Why do millions of people, including my wife, place it squarely on the “bucket list?” Maybe it’s sewn into our DNA, a salmon-like drive to see the headwaters before we die. The urge to plant our feet in the dusty footprints of our hominid ancestors. Or, in my case, maybe it was when my wife Colleen said, “You’re coming with me. End of discussion.”

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SOJOURNERS’ STORIES

A COUPLE CELEBRATES THEIR DECADE BIRTHDAYS …

Decides to travel to Africa for the first time. What a better way to enjoy the occasion?!

Rebecca and Ben

We chose to travel to Kenya based on the ease of airline routing and ability to use miles for our flights. Flying from NYC to Nairobi was very easy. Despite our flight restrictions, we don’t think our trip could have turned out any better !

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SOJOURNERS’ STORIES

HONEYMOONERS RETURN TO AFRICA 22 YEARS LATER WITH FAMILY

Bowles Family with their Safari Guides in Hwange

A little over 22 years ago, we exchanged vows and boarded a flight for a honeymoon in southern Africa. We had chosen a 12 day participatory camping Safari in Botswana followed by a few days in Cape Town and South Africa’s Western Cape province. An all-inclusive beach resort or cruise ship was and is not our style. Our friends thought we were nuts, but as the wheels left the ground following our trip, we, without hesitation, agreed that we just HAD to come back.

Well, life carries on and we started a family. A safari with 3 young girls seemed daunting, so we hoarded and saved frequent flyer miles for that eventual return we knew we would make one day, this time with the kids once they were old enough to appreciate it. That time came in the summer of 2018. With our oldest graduating high school in 2019, we felt we should pull the trigger before they began to drift off, as kids tend to do.

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SOJOURNERS’ STORIES

AFRICA – OUR TRIP OF A LIFETIME

Since as long as I can remember, I have always had a deep desire to go to Africa, to experience the unique culture, geography and varied wildlife, such a contrast from Canada.

Last summer Todd and I went on a trip to the Arctic (his bucket list) and during the trip I met Pricilla. I immediately connected with her on a personal level and was excited to hear about her volunteer organization in Africa and her travel company Global Sojourns (GS). By the end of our Arctic trip, she had offered to pull together a trip to Africa and within a few months of being home from the Arctic, Global Sojourns had created the most amazing African itinerary for us!

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