I’ve been home for almost a week; time enough to post a conclusion…

Perhaps this last journey to Africa began over 40 years ago when I went to Togo as part of the UCEAP? Escape from UCI on my mind, I was called off the waitlist for the University of Nairobi to go to the Université du Lomé because I was taking French at the time (serendipity!). It would up wind being an amazing experience (the first four months in France, the second six in Togo). Sadly, I somehow lost that vast collection of photos, but thanks to my buddy and fellow UC student, John Thomason, I made this post back in 2015. (More sadly, John, with whom I shared that whole crazy opportunity, and for whom I was the best man at his wedding [’cause I’d been there when he met Marie-Françoise], died of cancer at age 50.)

At UC Irvine, in addition to taking Black Psychology from Dr. Joseph White, I took classes about Africa, some from the great Dr. George Roberts of Sierra Leone. It was there, in the late 1970s, that I participated in anti-apartheid protests and learned about Nelson Mandela. When I was working at the LA Olympics in 1984, I got April, a DJ at KROQ, to play “Free Nelson Mandela,” still one of my favs. Then, in 1990, thanks to Homer T., I was able to see Nelson Mandela at the LA Coliseum after he’d been freed, but before becoming president of South Africa. And his passing was a big deal at the Big Ideas Fest in 2013…

So, finally making this pilgrimage to South Africa was a long time coming. And in fact, South Africa is a very complicated place with a complicated history. While Mandela is iconic, there were many involved in dismantling apartheid (which is still happening), and many more in the long and convoluted story of that part of the world. Of course, I learned more than I knew, and especially about the various indigenous peoples, nations, clans (tribes?) of southern Africa. But what we don’t hear enough about in the west, especially the US, is for example, BRICS, and/or various aspects of geopolitics in Africa. While the past is an intricate fabric of stories, the future is even more fraught (and will be more African!). Lots more to learn…

In this conclusion of that expedition, I want to make mention of my fellow travelers. For my last several trips I’ve gone solo, but for this one, I had the honor of traveling with Dr. Alan Burr, a good friend from La Honda with whom I’ve many things in common. He was a great companion, easy going, and game for some thorough tourism. He indulged my museum nerd-dom and added value to every experience. As a large animal veterinarian, he was particularly great to have along on safaris and our numerous animal encounters. (Check out this video!)

And, we had the opportunity to meet a lot of other fellow travelers on our two Intrepid tours. I’ve found such folks, who picked the same itinerary, tend to have a lot in common, and our groups were particularly great – interesting & interested, fun people to explore the world with. And our tour guides were awesome (Joseph & Colly). On these trips we not only had a tour leader, but a driver (Leroy & Shorty) and a cook (Amo & Di). What wonderful people! If you’re reading this, thanks for making our great adventure even better…!

And speaking of getting good closure, our last hotel in Cape Town was particularly good. If you’re going, check into the “Never@Home” on Kloof Street. The party is right there. Here ya go…

In Southern African Video Clips part 5, I alluded to more of the great performers at the Greenmarket Square in Cape Town. So here ya go…

Later that day, at the Fort of Good Hope, there was a fun event that included fun drumming lessons in which I participated (a little beat). Voila…

Eventually, three days after the tour ended, it was time to go. Here’s a time lapse of flying out of Cape Town…

I was awake for both flights in our long journey home because they were during the daytime (London layover). Because of that, I got to check out the Sahara Desert on our way to London. First up, the west coast of southern African, and the West African coast, just east of Togo…

The Sahara, from seven+ miles up…

Is the Sahara as unfathomable as the ocean, or more so?

Tomorrow, I will have been home for a week, and it’s great to be here! My life is rich. Yet undocumented. Nonetheless, the election, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Winter Break in general, and the promise of a new year – may result in a post. But the next adventure officially starts next February…?!