The drive from Port Alfred to George took us along South Africa’s dramatic eastern Cape towards the more well known Garden Route. We hugged emerald-clad cliffs dropping into the wild ocean on a road weaving along grades originally carved for trains. We made our way in silence, mostly out of sheer awe.
When we stopped for a snack, an enterprising man in an open chambray shirt offered to watch over our car in return for renumeration. There was that dark undercurrent to the situation, as he was barked at and dismissed. We made our way on quickly.
Only when we took a detour through Addo Elephant National Park did my eyes light up to a real smile. As we crept through in our silver rental car, we scouted for the sight of a lion but mostly we were rewarded with elephants gathering at the watering holes. A mother protecting her young one–even from a hundred yards I could see the nurturing care of her trunk curved around the baby. We both dropped our guard and felt awe, again, at the sight.
The next day at a lodge for lunch, I would be introduced to the orphans living there. Feeding a young male generous wedges of melon, I laughed in pure joy–looking into his eyes, any disconnection between us fell away. I’ll advocate for their safety for the rest of my days.
Tucked into the Hyatt that night, nerves soothed, I popped open a Castle and drew a hot bath, knowing so much more of my fortune in the world–and what I must do to honor that gift.
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- The elephant family guards its young ones close, even in the safety of the Addo refuge
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- Generous chunks of melon drew me close to this orphan at a local lodge
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- A Castle joins the ubiquitous Pringles as my evening snack in George, South Africa