September Summary: Three Weeks in South Africa and Three New Poems Published
This handsome guy strutted right by our cruiser during our safari game drive at 18 on the Hill Greater Safari Lodge in South Africa.
Happy September and Happy Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. I just returned from South Africa where winter was winding down and spring beginning. September is also my birthday month and my husband's as well - we were born on the same day (Virgos!) so our trip was in celebration of our birthdays and our 40th Anniversary which occurred in June!
The first week of our trip was spent in Cape Town and on a tour of the West Coast wildflowers through a tour group called West Coast Way. The scenery and wildflowers were spectacular, as were the other folks on our tour, and our guides, Carmen and Lauren. While in Cape Town, we also visited the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, one of the top gardens in the world located on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. I jokingly considered this the first stop on my South African book tour. Here is a photo of me reading "In the Grip of Grace" against the gorgeous backdrop of the flowers and mountains:
From Cape Town, we traveled to the 18 on the Hill Greater Safari Lodge where I enjoyed my first "glamping" experience in a very nice tent! One of the delights of the tent accomodation was the outdoor shower! There was also a small plunge pool on the deck that was in reach of the elephants' trunks as they walked along the path behind the tent. While they never paid us a visit there, a herd of zebras watched us swim and I read poetry to them. On the game drives we saw lions, leopards, many elephants, zebras, wild dogs, buffalo, giraffes, kudu, impala, birds such as the lilac breasted roller (so beautiful!) hippos, and other animals. It was an amazing experience to be that close to these magnificent animals in their natural habitats! At 18 on the Hill, you are assigned a guide for the game drives and a butler who personalizes your meal selections which allows you to form personal relationships with these folks. Our guide, Lu Ann and our butler, Theo were outstanding! The entire staff at the lodge are incredible!
Another highlight of our stay at 18 on the Hill was a day trip on the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga. We saw dramatic canyons similar to the Grand Canyon, waterfalls and spectacular viewpoints along rhe Drakensburg Escarpment, The Blyde River Canyon and Three Rondavels is the third-largest canyon in the world. At a place called "God's Window" we were treated to a magnificent view of the Lowveld and Kruger National Park. On our hike up to the viewpoint, a couple of middle-school-aged kids on a field trip stopped me to ask if they could have a photo with me which was flattering and so charming! We were also wowed by the Bourke's Luck Potholes which are amazing rock sculptures formed by centuries of swirling river water erosion.
We spent the third week of our adventure at a beach resort on the Indian Ocean near Durban. They offered may activities there: yoga, tennis, padel ball, swimming, surfing, kayaking, and my favorite: Archery! I am proud to say that I got a bull's eye during archery! Since my introduction to archery way back in high school, I have always been fond of it even though I don't routinely do target practice, ha! I do remember being good at it in high school which explains my positive memories of it, and apparently I am still a decent shot!
I've shared many photos of my trip on my instagram account and welcome you to check them out and to follow me there.
In addition to the breathtaking scenery and animals, we were blown away by the people of South Africa who are genuine, warm, friendly, accepting and love to laugh. We so enjoyed their sense of humor and above all, the fact that they were able to separate us as individuals from our government! We were often embarrassed to say we were from the states, but they assured us that they love Americans even though they are shocked and disappointed (and disgusted!) by our government. Their empathy for us seems rooted in their disappointment in their own governments' failures. We delighted in our mutual love of nature and felt connected in our shared desire for a more just and humane world. We treasure the memory of all of the great people we met during our trip including a mother and daughter from Toronto. We bonded with them over our mutual dislike of a certain politician who has brought great harm to the relationship between our two countries! I have fond memories of swimming in the main pool at the lodge with the 25-year-old Canadian and singing our safari theme song, "I Bless the Rains Down in Africa" by Toto while an elephant and a herd of zebras drank from the watering hole visible from the pool! We considered them our audience!
When folks in South Africa asked us if the situation in America is really as bad as it seems, we answered them truthfully. We told them that things are really really bad, that our country is falling apart socially, economically, politically, militarily and morally. A couple from Australia said, "Please make things right - we need you!"
We were in South Africa when we learned of the deaths of Dolly Parton and one of my favorite poets, Wendell Berry. Dolly is of course the number one ambassador for Appalachia where I also grew up. I so admire her support of the LGBTQ+ community and children's literacy and her speaking out against the stereotyping of the people of Appalachia (disparaging the accent, culture, etc.). My favorite Dolly quote: "If I hadn't been a woman, I'd be a drag queen for sure. I like all that flair and I'd be dressing up in them high heels and putting on the big hair. I'd be like RuPaul." Ha ha ha...beautiful, just like her!
When my first little poetry chapbook, "Timbrel" was coming out, I had the audacity and naivety to write to the famous poet Wendell Berry to ask him if he'd write a blurb for it! I also wanted to tell him about a conservation activity I was involved in since he was such a strong environmentalist. I've had other less prominent poets simply ghost me when I've sent similar requests, but Mr. Berry sent me this personalized rejection letter signed by himself! My favorite poem of his is The Peace of Wild Things, one of the few poems I have memorized and recited! Rest in power and in peace, Wendell and Dolly.
Speaking of poetry, I am pleased to share that I have three new poems published in the fall issue of the Monterey Poetry Review that you can read here. The poem, "Self-Guided Safari" was written following my first trip to South Africa in 2014. It's scary to read that poem now, and I'm grateful that we had a professional driver and guide for our most recent safari! Elephants are certainly the Kings and Queens of the jungle!
In this election season in the US, I trust that everyone reading this who is a US citizen will make a plan to vote, vote early and if at all possible when voting by mail, use a drop box or hand deliver your ballot instead of trusting the postal service with it.
All my love and good wishes,
Marianne (aka Wild Honey)
P. S.....September just happens to be National Honey Month and the month of the Jewish New Year which involves dipping apple slices in honey in hopes for a sweet new year....Shanah Tovah Umetukah.......wishing everyone some sweetness in the months ahead.
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