Out of South Africa

I am developing a love affair with Africa. I first met her years ago, on a quick trip to Johannesburg for a gala premiere of a show, then just on instinct, I hopped on a plane to Capetown. I instantly fell in love.

Recently, I got to know it better with a two-week safari trip to Kenya and Tanzania, even exploring the island of Zanzibar, with its maze of wonderful doors, each one more intricate than the next. This was right smack center of the Ebola scare, with images flashing on BBC and CNN on how horrid the outbreak was. To the uninformed traveler, Africa became one of the “out” list of places to go to. I did my research and found out that the dreaded disease is confined within Liberia and Sierra Leone on the west side of Africa. All other parts from the eastern to the southern parts are 100% safe. I came back home not having to be quarantined and in fact felt more rejuvenated and inspired. It was what my soul was looking for. Peace and quiet. Nature. Animals. Me time.

So, when the opportunity presented itself to reunite with my “much-maligned” lover through Thompsons Africa to go and explore South Africa and Zambia via South African Airways, I grabbed it. Flying direct from Hong Kong, it was a good 12 and a half hours’ sleep to the heart of Johannesburg. Right after landing, I was playing with cubs, caressing a cheetah, running around with ostriches and feeding the giraffe at Joburg’s Lion Park. I have a newfound affection for cats, as you know I have been converted by my very own #JuanitaTheCat into a feline lover. Being with bigger (not to mention wilder) cats made me fall in love deeper. 

The sunset brought us to Sun City, South Africa. Filipinos might be familiar with this place because this was where Ruffa Gutierrez was crowned Miss World Second Princess years ago. Walking around the Palace hotel where we were billeted, the majestic halls and man-made lagoon and wonderfully designed rooms looked all too familiar, like I’ve been there before. Later, I realized that this was where they shot the Adam Sandler-Drew Barrymore starrer Blended. It was a giant complex of a castle in the middle of Pilanesberg National Park, which we explored right after sunrise the next day.

THE BIG 5

On our first 30 minutes, lo and behold, a white rhino — nope, a bunch of them plus a baby one — decided to just randomly show up right in front of us. This was such a rare sight since they’re one of the most elusive in the Big 5 of the animal kingdom. Elephants, impalas, buffaloes, wildebeests, exotic birds and more greeted us, as if on call for a show — we went on our merry way, capturing every moment on film and onwards to our Instagram accounts.

Before heading back to Joburg we also visited Nelson Mandela’s house, saw the city center, where the current president works, and roamed around this vibrant city. On my own, I explored it’s nightlife, too. But that’s another story.

Back in Joburg, we were welcomed by Miss South Africa and Professor Bloomberg, an expert on communicable diseases who talked extensively about Ebola, how South Africa has zero cases, how prepared they are and how they’re helping other countries to combat the disease. “You have to be working in a hospital without protection, touch the blood or the bodily fluids of those infected for it be transferred. It’s not airborne, you won’t get it by being in a plane or in the same place as a person infected.” Professor Bloomberg assured us that South Africa is 100% safe. Whew! But I already knew that. 

Hopped on a plane from Joburg to Zambia next, and this was where the adventure took on a different high. Before landing, I saw a rainbow on top of the beyond majestic Victoria Falls. I knew that was a sign of good things to come. “Oh, we have a lot of that here,” said my newfound friend Joyce of Sun Hotels International. A water taxi led us to their ultra luxe property, The Royal Livingstone — a wonderfully designed hotel island five minutes away from Victoria Falls. “The falls is just within our backyard,” said Joyce. True enough, you can see “the smoke that thunders” (what they call the falls) from our sunset viewing deck. And oh, did I mention that zebras and giraffes roam freely around the property? I was just walking by and the zebras were there by the pool. Outside my villa, a giraffe was having a mid afternoon snack all by herself. This was how close I was to the wild. Each moment interacting with them (from a safe distance, I must say) was breathtaking, to say the least.

ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CLOUDS

At a nearby park, I got to interact with cheetahs (actually did a pose off with them but obviously with their feline features I lost), pet and befriend lions and walk them, too. I felt a different sense of power when I held its tail as I strutted around with the King of the Jungle. Was I afraid? Nope. I’m perfectly at home with my fellow wild animals. 

I cannot even describe the magnitude of the beauty of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Victoria Falls stretches 1,700 meters in length and 1.7km in width and can be viewed from either Zambia or Zimbabwe. Yes, it’s that big that it spans two African countries. To get a better view, we choppered around it, hiked to the top, rode a boat to see it from a distance, took a vintage train that runs on coal to the bridge viewing deck, flew a micro lite plane above it and wait, even bungee jumped into its waters! Yes, 111m of African free fall straight into a rainbow and close enough to almost touch the rapid waters of this natural marvel.

I am still on a high as I write this. The thrill of a bungee jump, with your life flashing right before your very eyes. The daily greetings of countless rainbows felt like Someone Up There is giving you a thumbs up, saying “Keep it up!” The close encounters with animals reminding me that the world is indeed filled with beautiful creatures and not only humans. And the vast, soothing, invigorating beauty of nature — Victoria Falls is nothing short of magical, like you’re in a dream while watching it and admiring it from the park’s many different angles.

After the entire experience, more than just being in love, I think I’ve developed a deeper appreciation of Africa and its people. It’s nothing short of life-changing.

Check it off your bucket list as early as you can.

* * *

Re-live this journey with me on The Tim Yap Show travel special on April 29 and 30, on GMA-7.

* * *

South African Airways flies to Johannesburg via Hong Kong. You can book the tours through Thompsons’ local agent at Pan Pacific Travel (www.panpacifictravel.com.ph), Travel Enterprise (+632-6370150), and Swire Travel (+632-8171082) or to www.thompsonsafrica.com. 

* * *

For more pics, check out my Instagram @officialtimyap.

What I saw in Africa

A parade of elephants, dazzle or zeal of zebra, a gang of buffaloes, a pride of lions, a tower or journey of giraffes, a raft or pool of hippos, a leap of Impala, tribe of gazelle, pride of ostriches, a sounder of warthogs, a coalition of cheetahs, business of mongoose, a troupe of baboons, a tribe of wildebeest or ilans, a pack of hyenas, a parliament of owls, a dance of Fil-diks, a growl of leopards, and an implausibility of wildebeests!