ZAMBIA | NATURE HEALS
Nature Heals RESTORE YOUR SANITY AND SELF ON SAFARI WRITER: BROOKE BERLIN PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHANN VANZYL ll of Zambia is perfumed by the blossoming mahogany trees and I’ve never appreciated the sweet scent of Africa more. Every time I inhale I give thanks for the reminder of how healing it is to be on safari. As soon as Kenya opened its borders I planned a trip from my home in the USA, to spend two weeks between two very private and personalised properties: Ol Jogi and Cottar’s. I had such a remarkable time that as soon as Zambia started welcoming international travellers I planned a last minute trip—now knowing
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how easy it can be—to explore Victoria Falls from Livingstone, as well as three national parks: South Luangwa, Kafue and Lower Zambezi. And also Lusaka, because I love African cities and want others to as well, especially when travellers can feel comfortable tucking in for a few nights if they need to get a Covid test before leaving. For the better part of 2020, I heard a lot of ‘Africa needs tourism; Africa needs you’, and while yes, many of the most impactful conservation and community non-profit initiatives (many supported by the properties I visited and mention) do rely on tourism expenditure and donor contributions, it was during my time in Zambia that I came to the realisation that, actually, YOU need AFRICA; we all do! When gliding silently along the waters of the Kafue River, on the Green Safaris Ila Lodge solar-powered boat, I marvelled at a massive herd of buffalo gathered on the shore, but yet was more moved by the billowing birdsong echoing in my ears. It reminded me of the talk earlier in the year that more birds had flocked to New York City; but really, we had all just become more still and quiet, amplifying the sounds of nature that had been there all along. I listened as intently to the melodic chirping around me as I would to an opera at the Met, feeling as if a little bit of what I had lost this year was being returned to me, such as live performances.
TRAVEL & LEISURE | ISSUE 17 | NOVEMBER 2020–APRIL 2021
