Whilst my eyes were working overtime, my ears were on a journey of their own. The dexterity of an elephant’s trunk as it seeks out just the right shrub, the almost comical tenacity of a dung beetle as it undertakes its seemingly Sisyphean task, and the inquisitive character of a rhino calf that appears to be desperate to explore but does not want to stray too far from the safety of its mother’s side. It was a wonderfully pure joy to be entirely transfixed by the extraordinary natural wonders on display. My field of vision would become immediately and singularly fixated on our latest subject. The endless breadth of the landscape was perfectly juxtaposed by the instant narrowing that occurred as soon as there was a sighting. Nevertheless, I kept my eyes wide as I took in the everchanging surroundings. As embarrassing as this is, it made it all the more inspiring to have those senses awakened, challenged and excited by some of Africa’s most magnificent ecosystems. You could almost be forgiven for thinking that it has been designed specifically to allow my sight, hearing, and touch to become almost obsolete at a rate that is imperceptible but steady. It is a sorry fact that my 21st-century urban life does not really challenge my senses. Instead, it was an all-consuming sensory and emotional journey that played out over the course of eight extraordinary days. My recent safari in Zimbabwe and South Africa is so firmly in the category of being impossible to describe that it almost makes a mockery of this article, yet it was not fleeting. What often connects them, aside from their refusal to be adequately explained, is their fleeting nature. I am immensely fortunate to have collected a cherished handful of these indescribable moments over the years. No matter how I search my vocabulary, there is an invisible barrier that prevents the true depth of the feeling from being fully conveyed. There are certain travel experiences that defy description.
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