By Courtney Rivera January 2025 (part 1 of 2)
As the sun begins its descent, painting beautiful blue skies with hues of orange and yellow, I find myself in a breathtaking expanse of the South African wilderness. This moment, where my guide and fellow travelers have paused our safari and exited the land rover, is known as a “Sundowner”. This stop is so much more than enjoying a drink; it is an experience that encapsulates the essence of being alive in this majestic landscape. I am here on a familiarization (educational) trip (“Fam”) as a new Brand Ambassador for Latitude Expeditions.
With a refreshing iced Amarula in hand, I sit on a boulder in a dry riverbed lined with lush greenery as I watch a herd of elephants passing by. The air is warm but begins to fade into a cool fall evening as a gentle breeze whispers through the tall grasses with every elephant step, carrying with it the sounds of the other wildlife around us who are beginning to settle down for the night. I feel an overwhelming sense of freedom and wonder, as if I am a part of something much larger than myself.
With my fellow travelers, we recount the highlights of our day’s adventures; encounters with elephants, a set of stealthy lion siblings as they found a place to sleep, and the tension filled silence as we followed a cheetah who sent his predators on high alert as it strolled to the water. We listened in awe as our guide recalled his own stories, similar to our own, and some tales so heart stopping, I could never imagine being true.
As I take a sip of my drink, I pause to reflect on not only the day’s events but of my whole expedition in South Africa so far, as this sundowner marked the halfway point of my journey. The rich culture, the vastly changing landscapes, the excitement of wildlife sightings and the sheer beauty of nature flood my mind. In this tranquil moment, as the sun dips below the horizon, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I had only ever dreamed what an African safari would be like, yet nothing that I ever imagined came anywhere close to what I was experiencing. As the bright hues begin to fade and the stars begin to appear as little flecks in the sky, I am reminded of my own place in this universe, a tiny grain of sand like the ones in the dry riverbed in this vast beautiful landscape. This sundowner experience is not just about watching a sunset; it’s about embracing life in its rawest form, celebrating nature's beauty while forging bonds with others who share this journey. Here in Africa, under this expansive sky, I find not only peace but also a wildness within myself that I never knew existed.
They say your first trip to Africa changes you in some way. For everyone it’s a little different, but you won’t fully comprehend what that means until you’ve lived through it. After spending 14 days in South Africa and Zimbabwe, I can confidently say I understand it now.
From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the realization of how little I truly knew about the world outside of my bubble. I didn’t know it yet, but this trip would be an awakening that shattered my preconceptions and opened my eyes to a world I barely understood. The diversity of languages, cultures, and experiences I encountered challenged my simplistic notions of what Africa was like.
Cape Town, with its stunning beauty and vibrant energy, became the catalyst for my transformation. As I explored the city, I was continually surprised by its multifaceted nature. From the modernity of the V&A Waterfront to the historical city hall, and to the colorful buildings of Bo-Kaap, the home to local handmade craftsmen and traditional artists. The city felt familiar and brand new all at the same time, and the places beyond held so much more.
The natural wonders of South Africa left me in awe. Standing at the base of Table Mountain, gazing out at the panoramic views, I felt a sense of insignificance and wonder that I had never experienced before. That is, until we ventured outside of the city and made our way to the Cape Peninsula.
Exploring the most south-western point of the African continent, Cape of Good Hope, brought on a whole new perspective. Reaching a point that feels like the edge of the world, every moment gazing out at the south Atlantic Ocean left me mesmerized with the soft sounds of distant ocean waves. It was a side of Africa I never comprehended and seeing the penguins at Boulders Beach, had me questioning even more what I ever imagined this country, let alone continent, was really like.
For me, the two things I was most excited for on my itinerary were seeing Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and going on game drives in the different reserves. Both far exceeded my expectations.
My journey to Victoria Falls was a dream come true, a long-anticipated adventure that promised excitement. As I approached the Falls, the first thing that struck me was the unmistakable roar of water crashing down, a sound that seemed to resonate deep within my chest. Masked by towering rainforest in front of us, it was as if the earth itself was speaking, beckoning me closer to witness one of nature's grandest spectacles. Armed with ponchos, we made our way down the windy path of the rainforest to our first viewpoint. Standing at the edge of the Falls, I was mesmerized by the sheer volume of water cascading down, an incredible sight that photos could never fully capture. As I stood there, enveloped in mist and surrounded by rainbows formed by sunlight hitting the spray, I felt small yet profoundly connected to something larger than myself. The locals refer to Victoria Falls as "Mosi-oa-Tunya," meaning "the smoke that thunders," and it was easy to see why. The sound was thunderous, and the mist rose high into the air, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Each viewpoint offered a different perspective, revealing more of the Falls' grandeur. From ground level, it feels like you get the full gravity of the falls’ power and beauty, that is until you see it from above in a helicopter! Seeing Victoria Falls from the trails felt like it was more than enough, but to be surprised with a helicopter flight, to see it from above, truly made this one of the top experiences of the trip.
As our helicopter approaches the falls, I’m filled with excitement for the breathtaking vista that unfolded before my eyes. A magnificent curtain of water stretches nearly a kilometer wide, plummeting into the chasm below. Our helicopter banks gently, allowing us to peer into the depths of the Batoka Gorge. The zigzag pattern of the gorges below tells a story of the Falls' ancient history, each bend representing a different era in its formation.
Seeing the Falls in person is one thing, but nothing could have prepared me to see it all from this vantage point, fully grasping the sheer scale and power of this natural wonder.
As we head back to the landing area, it feels so much better than just another bucket list item checked off my list.
I want to go back! I want to see other areas in Africa as I am told of the endless diversity in landscape, animals and the animals’ adaptations to their surroundings. And to experience the different cultures – South Africa alone has 12 official national languages originating from dozens of ethnic and tribal groups. That is just a fraction of what this vast continent of Africa holds.
The tag line of Latitude Expeditions is “Travel Beyond Boundaries”, which was certainly the case for this adventure. Latitude Expeditions is a custom tour operator and travel advisor that designs independent, highly curated travel adventures to most of the bucket-list destinations of the world: Africa, South and Central America, Australia and New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, as well as top destinations in Europe. This was my first trip as a Brand Ambassador for Latitude that was the first step in enabling me to introduce exciting travel opportunities to my friends and colleagues
Part 2 of my blog will be available shortly, stay tuned. Reach out to me at Courtney@Latitudexp.com to learn about how Latitude Expeditions can help create your unique adventure.
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