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A safari, by cliché and assumption, is overwhelmingly driven by photography. Tourists survey a living museum of wild animals and, as their primary experience, merely look at Africa through cameras and screens. But I don’t have that luxury.
I rely on my other senses to experience life and its beauty. The bouncy texture beneath me, the soft touch of string-like tendrils tickling at my ankles and the habitation of tiny buzzing creatures, furiously flitting from left to right, surrounding my landscape.
What you will see is a patch of green blades, and grades of Browns dotted with bright colours.
To both of us this is grass, but to me, it is so much more.
Animals in the wild use their senses to eat, hide, watch and survive, such a state of life. Knowing that these animals don’t rely purely on site to survive strengthens my desire to watch them in their natural habitat.
Elephants are almost the only animal to eat The leaf of a mopani tree; Given the tonnage of greenery they consume, it makes sense that elephants would possess the digestive capability to tolerate a nasty plant that attracts few competitors.
However where you find acacia, you find giraffes. A leaf attached to a twig protected by thorns. Giraffes long, narrow faces and long, narrow tongues that nimbly work between thorns give them a competitive edge to devour this greenery.
Rhinos are almost blind, they snort to discover what is around them, they charge when they feel threatened but can be skittish
A zebra’s stripes act like an equine fingerprint – each individual’s pattern is unique. Foals recognise their mothers by the pattern of their stripes, as well as by scent and call.
Zebras have always been my favourite animal, everything about them is unique, and no two zebras are the same.
Maybe I have an affinity with them because like zebras, humans are unique, and those with disabilities have needs and requirements that are specific to the individual.
Travel is about immersing yourself in new communities, environments, and places. Part of the attraction is making new friends and discovering different cultures with others. Fully relying on my other senses heightens my adventure, I’m forever expanding my horizons in all sense of the word, taking myself out of my comfort zone forces me to take notice of all the different smells, sounds and tastes, I am adventurous with food, activities and experiences.
I am more likely to say yes to doing things knowing this is the only chance I’ll get to do them. Losing my site has given me a greater perspective and appreciation for life and what is around me.
I want to travel the world and dispel the myth that having a disability can, or, will hold you back.
This post is an entry in to the Trips100/Audley Travel blogger challenge.
You can find more details here: https://www.trips100.co.uk/2018/06/win-a-safari-for-two-with-audley-travel/
Win an African safari with Audley Travel by sharing your best wildlife photograph or video on your social media channels. To enter write #AudleySafari and @AudleyTravel on your Instagram or Twitter post or share directly on the Audley Travel Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/audleytravel/. To find out more or enter via the website, visit www.audleytravel.com/social. Entries must be posted between 20th August – 23rd September.
