Our safari guide Wallace told us Zebra is in a group of animals known as the Ugly Five. I didn’t think Zebra was ugly at all. But I soon realized he was teasing me. The Ugly Five are considered to be the following: warthog, vulture, wildebeest, marabou stork, and hyena. I did come to believe Zebra looks more like a mule than a horse, especially in the head and the ears. And the black and white striped pattern fur which covers its body looks rather on the dramatic side to me. But I like it. I have read that each Zebra has its own unique stripes, and that no two are exactly the same.

We were in Africa during the Great Migration of the wild animals across parts of Kenya. We saw thousands of Wildebeest, and in the midst of them was Zebra. This is a protective ploy on Zebra’s part to hide from Lion. And Wallace explained to us the stripes of Zebra cause a blur in the vision of Lion, making it even more difficult for them to see Zebra. Another fine example of the marvelous, intricate details in all of creation! A few of the females had a young foal by their side. I read the gestation period for a zebra averages about twelve months. So how special was that? We came over to Kenya and these baby zebras were right there waiting for us!

We also visited a children’s orphanage in Kenya. One of the resorts we stayed in while on safari sponsored this orphanage, and we wanted to visit the campus. I not only wanted to give a small monetary donation but also to bring into my own awareness what life was like for the children in this community.

The campus appeared to be a few acres, with one story, low-roofed buildings and several greenhouses. Lots of vegetables were grown here and supplied the restaurant of the resort. The children were all involved in helping with the vegetable gardens. The small children were at school while we strolled around the yard, so I did not get to meet them. But Jenny, a young woman about to enter her first year of college in a few weeks, gave us a tour. Jenny had grown up in the orphanage and had been there all her life. She told me she had been happy growing up there, and gave me a huge smile as she said this to me. I believed her. She was a tiny young woman, with small black braids covering her head. Small but mighty. She had big plans to obtain a nurse degree and perhaps return to the orphanage to help the children who lived there.

She lead us to a moderate size out-building that held a simple kitchen, with a long counter, a large sink, and a huge pot of soup cooking over a hot stove. A doorway to a closet was open, revealing several heads of cabbage and red tomatoes sitting on shelves. These vegetables had been grown in the greenhouses. And there was a larger building, and inside tables with chairs sat empty, waiting till it was time for the children to gather for a meal. We met a woman named Susan here, who gratefully took our donations. Susan appeared to be a secretary/manager for the orphanage. She explained volunteers could come and stay for a few weeks or months if they liked, and help in all kinds of ways. Then two other young women appeared, Lynn and Eunice. Eunice was quiet and said very little, but Lynn told me she loved to write poetry and planned to go to college to become a poet and publish her poems. I told her she was a smart, beautiful Girl to go after her dreams like that, and I was sure she could do whatever she set her mind to do.

Traveling to Africa was definitely a trip I will never forget! So many memories: the gorgeous wedding, the Karen Blixen Museum, that ROAR of Lion in that canvas cabin. (I still get the shivers a little bit when I really hear that ROAR in my mind again.) The Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre, the infinite Maasai Mara reserve filled with wild animals, and especially seeing Lion up close and personal, sleeping soundly under an Acacia tree. I have a marvelous picture of him and can almost count every eyelash on his eyelid! But the most unforgettable thing about the trip for me is all the beautiful people we met. They were all so very friendly and kind, smiling so easily, holding out their hands for me to shake, or reaching out to hug me up. What a lucky girl I am! Oh, Africa! Thank you!

c   Love, Joan