February 12

My Trip| Lori explores Zimbabwe and Botswana

Botswana, Traveller's tales, Zimbabwe

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By Matthew Sterne on February 12, 2014

If the English-speaking population were to choose a single quote to attest to the virtues of travel and it came down to a popularity contest, it would be a landslide. I wouldn’t have to look at the results to tell you the winner. Mark Twain was, unarguably, a clever man. A wise soul who is respected the world over. So revered in fact that when someone happens upon an eloquent quote and doesn’t know who wrote it, they tend to attribute the words to the great scribe. The creator of Huckleberry Finn wrote beautiful prose but the most celebrated travel quote of all time does not form part of his collection:

Twenty Years From Now

The real author is Jackson Brown’s mother. Not the musician who co-wrote “Take It Easy,” with the Beatles or belted out “Somebody’s Baby.” That was Clyde Jackson Browne. I’m talking about H. Jackson Brown, the American author of “Life’s Little Instruction Book.” For those who are feeling a little heartbroken about discovering that Mr Twain did not pen the words, perhaps the touching story behind the quote will ease your hurt.

H. Jackson Brown’s mother loved to write him and his sister letters. Each letter ended with a P.S. followed by an anecdote of humour or advice and then a declaration of love. As a young boy Jackson was impatient to get to the good bit so he skipped the meat of the letter, greedily reading the P.S. first.”Twenty years from now,” was one of the gems sitting between his mother’s P.S. and her “I love you.”

In the spirit of giving credit where it is due, I’d like to acknowledge Lori Ann Graham for the beautiful photographs and words that follow. If you haven’t cast your eyes across Lori’s other adventures, have a peak at ‘Namibia through Lori’s lens‘ and ‘Lori captures the Victoria Falls‘. For those who have been waiting with bated breath for more from Lori, it’s safe to exhale now:

Botswana and Zimbabwe…

"There is really no way to show how exciting and moving it is to be on safari, I think it was Karen Blixen that said something about champagne and bubbles and that feeling. And I have to agree. The land and sky that go on forever, the animals wild and timeless in their natural surroundings, the smell when walking or driving through the bush, falling asleep in a tent to the sounds of hippos grunting or lions calling. Anticipating what or who you will meet and see next... If safari means to journey and life is one too, then I'm glad to do just that..."
“There is really no way to show how exciting and moving it is to be on safari, I think it was Karen Blixen that said something about champagne and bubbles and that feeling. And I have to agree. The land and sky that go on forever, the animals wild and timeless in their natural surroundings, the smell when walking or driving through the bush, falling asleep in a tent to the sounds of hippos grunting or lions calling. Anticipating what or who you will meet and see next… If safari means to journey and life is one too, then I’m glad to do just that…”
“So, since pictures do really tell more than words, let me introduce some of the many friends we met on our safari to Zimbabwe and Botswana…”
“So, since pictures do really tell more than words, let me introduce some of the many friends we met on our safari to Zimbabwe and Botswana…”
"This little lilac-breasted Roller was spotted on our first game drive. Our guide had stopped to see a herd of lovely Impala, but my view was blocked by a bush. My husband said, "Look honey." I whispered, "Okay, but the bush is kind of in the way." He nudged me softly and said "Not there,” pointing out on the veld, “there," he said, pointing to the bush. Right in front of my face, in the bush was this little beauty here. And I remembered right then that if you can't see the forest for the trees, then look in the trees...thank you little Roller for helping me to see...”
“This little lilac-breasted roller was spotted on our first game drive. Our guide had stopped to see a herd of lovely Impala, but my view was blocked by a bush. My husband said, “Look honey.” I whispered, “Okay, but the bush is kind of in the way.” He nudged me softly and said “Not there,” pointing out on the veld, “there,” he said, pointing to the bush. Right in front of my face, in the bush was this little beauty here. And I remembered right then that if you can’t see the forest for the trees, then look in the trees…thank you little Roller for helping me to see…”
"Male antelope fighting for dominance, only one can be the head of a herd."
“Male antelope fighting for dominance, only one can be the head of a herd.”
"We saw this gorgeous Martial Eagle fly by."
“We saw this gorgeous Martial Eagle fly by.”
"A beautiful Goliath Heron fishing, then flying away."
“A beautiful Goliath Heron fishing, then flying away.”
"Hwange Giraffe nodding hello."
“Hwange Giraffe nodding hello.”
"Lovely big Ellie on the shores of Lake Kariba."
“Lovely big ellie on the shores of Lake Kariba.”
"Hippo welcoming committee on the Zambezi River."
“Hippo welcoming committee on the Zambezi River.”
"Fabulous Zebras came to meet us on a runway."
“Fabulous zebras came to meet us on a runway.”
“He is so smart, he tears a bunch with his nimble trunk, then swishes it through the water in order to clean it. We learned that the elephant is born with a set of teeth, when each set wears out, a new one comes in, kind of like a conveyor belt of teeth. So, when he cleans his food, there is less wear and tear on his teeth, and he can live longer. Because when the last set is worn out, he dies.”
“He is so smart, he tears a bunch with his nimble trunk, then swishes it through the water in order to clean it. We learned that the elephant is born with a set of teeth, when each set wears out, a new one comes in, kind of like a conveyor belt of teeth. So, when he cleans his food, there is less wear and tear on his teeth, and he can live longer. Because when the last set is worn out, he dies.”
"We still see you, baby dear!"
“We still see you, baby dear!”

A word of thanks from Lori…

“It’s been my great pleasure to share our epic journey to Africa with all of you, thank you for coming along.”

If you love Lori’s photographs and stories as much as we do, why not plan your very own adventure to Botswana or Zimbabwe, or both. Contact one of our expert consultants to get started.

For more of Lori’s photographs and stories, take a look at Lori times five.

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About the author 

Matthew Sterne

Matt discovered a passion for writing in the six years he spent travelling abroad. He worked for a turtle sanctuary in Nicaragua, in an ice cream factory in Norway and on a camel safari in India. He was a door-to-door lightbulb-exchanger in Australia, a pub crawl guide in Amsterdam and a journalist in Colombia. Now, he writes and travels with us.

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