Tranquillity reigned in the region. All around the beautiful resort, were happy faces. People of all nationalities graced the place with an awesome multi-cultural twist. Every chore seemed to be done at a slow pace but well and effectively done. Everyone seemed so friendly around and this made George Banbury feel so at home something he least expected to feel in a seemingly dark continent. Who could blame him? He had travelled extensively in Europe, the United Kingdom and had been to some places in North America but never in Africa. All he saw on TV since he was growing up was the poverty in Africa, the hungry in Africa, crime in Africa, maladies in Africa just to name a few black spots generated worldly at the thought of Africa. Never in a million years did George ever imagine there would be such happiness,peace,friendliness and unity here.
Today was the day the whole adventure would commence. As George boarded the white 'African tours safaris' van, he could feel that a fabulous day awaited him. Inside the van were other tourists from different places in the world who wore excited faces. The tour guide was a tall and well built man who was a native. He was a multi-linguist and he spoke every language at a perfect note. George heard him speak German, French, Spanish, Italian,Danish,Dutch,Mandarin and English. He seemed quite friendly too.
The prestigious 'Amboseli national park 'in Kenya was vast. Giraffes walked gracefully from tree to tree picking up juicy leaves from the tree tops with their tongues. There were zebras grazing quietly under the morning sun. There were deers trotting by with their fawns. At a distant slope, wild beasts were running madly. There were gazelles walking by gracefully and elephants drinking water in a nearby stream. They were simply gigantic and the tour guide was explaining how tame they were until they were provoked or disturbed. This place seemed like an animal paradise.
The tour guide hushed everyone on board as they neared a clearing in a field. Almost suddenly there was a loud roar of the lion. The roar was filled with power and authority. No one could dispute that it originated from the king of the jungle. This was the first time ever that George had heard a lion's roar. There were many lions, lionesses and their cubs. The cubs jumped up and down with their youthful exuberance. George watched how skilfully the lions hunted their prey. The tour guide who George came to know as ' Patrick' explained how the African lions are opportunist hunters who carefully stalk and take any nearest animal regardless of their age,sex or condition.
On the way, they spotted leopards crawling for birds on trees. There was a small strange looking village appearing from a distance. Patrick the tour guide explained that was the Maasai people's village. He called their houses 'Maasai Manyattas'. They were chiefly made of strong sticks and twigs which were smoothly plastered with cow dung. As they approached the village,George noticed that the Maasai people were attired in a quite peculiar way. Both men and women seemed to be wearing animal skin skirts with no tops. The women had completely shaved heads whereas the men had red hued dreadlocks on their heads. They seemed very excited to welcome the tourists in their village. In the village, they sold various native items to the tourists including beaded chains,sandals,hats,beaded jewellery and bags. They danced and sang for the tourists and even though George didn't understand a word they said, he couldn't help it but feel like a very important person.
Back at the beautiful hotel resort, the sun was setting and the distant laughter of the hyenas could be heard. George had made friends with Patrick and other tourists as well. They sat down for a barbecue of exotic meats ranging from the crocodile,gazelle, deer and wild fowls. It was mouth watering and no one seemed to get enough of it. Then it was time to go clubbing at 'Maboko club'. This was a very multi-cultural club. The music was captivating and mostly local Swahili music could be heard from the juke-box but it was simply great to dance to. One song remained engraved in George's mind. That was 'Hakuna matata' which means 'no worries'. That seemed to be the motto in this peaceful country. Even the poorest people seemed happy and peaceful.
George visited many places including Lake Nakuru where he saw flamingos, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Blue Nile falls locally known as 'Tis Isat' in Ethiopia, Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda and Kigali genocide memorial centre in Rwanda. Africa seemed a beautiful and peaceful continent but with a crippling wall separating the rich from the poor. The 'no worries' motto seemed to prevail in all those African countries that George had visited.
As the days of his trip neared an end, George realised that despite the popular black spots generated worldly about Africa,there was more to this continent that the world knew little or nothing about. He now saw Africa in a different light. He was certain of how much he would miss his days here. George was convinced he would be back to Africa in no time. He always had a mind of major investment since his childhood-a goal which he had achieved vaguely in Britain and Europe but never to the extend he had always pictured. He now knew his goal was destined to be hatched in Africa!
