Just Back: Multi-gen South Africa

My home country of South Africa is the perfect level playing field for curiosity and expansion across all generations. This strong belief was reinforced on my recent trip with Caitlin, my boys Charlie (7) and Soren (5), as well as my mother-in-law Cathy. 

We are a family of learners and adventurers … Charlie, Soren, and Grammy all journaled each night about their highlights, checked off our animal sightings in their tracking logs (including endangered wild dogs, the Big 5, and ultimately their “Fave 5”), voraciously asked questions, and consumed our guide’s knowledge. I was chuffed to watch them bond over shared wonder and awe.
 
I watched my boys form new neural pathways in real time as they collected insects, took art classes, hiked to waterfalls, and participated in tribal dances. We visited schools where the boys engaged with local children through the international language of sport by playing rugby and soccer.
 
Despite how many safaris one takes, there are always new facts to absorb. We learned the hippo’s closest relative is a whale, a group of zebras is called a dazzle, and how mixing certain plants with water creates a truly organic cleanser. Soren took the role of “photographer” and Charlie of “tracker” as we eagerly anticipated what each day held, fully enthralled in the “soap opera” that is the bush.
 
From my family to yours—be curious, stay curious, and experience the beauty of safari together.