How A Safari To Tanzania Changed My Life Forever

By Denise Brown of Sababu Safaris

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As long as I can think I have had a love for Africa. When I was a child and The Lion King was released in 1994 I was instantly obsessed with the movie and knew every line by heart.... 

When I grew up, whenever I would see documentaries about Africa, my heart would beat faster and I felt this incredibly strong yearning in every cell of my body. It felt as if Africa was reaching out to my soul and it only became stronger over time. 

When I had finally saved up enough money and found the time to go, I tried to convince my husband and friends to accompany me but nobody was able to come along – so I decided to go by myself. The only way for me to find out where my longing for Africa was coming from was to do it on my own. And it was one of the best decisions I have ever made my entire life. Definitely the most life changing one. 

From the moment I stepped off the plane in Tanzania, I felt like I had arrived at home. I felt a sense of belonging and connection, like part of my soul had reunited with a long lost other part of my soul. Hard to put into words. Every inch of my body was just filled with happiness. 

With every day on safari, going deeper into the wilderness, I fell more in love with the country and its people. I remember feeling this constant high...like I was on drugs, endorphins constantly streaming through my body. Nowhere else on earth have I ever felt more energized, connected, content, at peace with myself and my surroundings, and this sense of freedom as I have in Tanzania. I did not miss anything or worried about anything, I solely lived in the present. I felt COMPLETE. And I still feel that way every time I visit. 

There is nothing more magical and relaxing than falling asleep in a tent in the middle of the African savannah, the only thing separating you from nature being the canvas walls of your tent (perfectly safe for those who have doubts!). When you listen to the sounds of nature...some strange, some familiar... while peacefully drifting off, you become one with nature. The first night alone in my tent took some getting used to but every night after that I could not wait to hear the lions roar in the distance and to hold my breath each time so I could fully take it in. 

The energy in Tanzania is indescribable and something that you have to experience for yourself. Everyone feels it in a different way, some more than others, but nobody can deny that it is something that transcends everything else and that you cannot find on any other continent. Some think that we connect with our roots, since humankind has its origins in East Africa; after all, the oldest human remains have been found in Tanzania. I also believe that, when being surrounded by untouched, pristine earth and watching these majestic animals in their natural environment, we are reminded of what life could and should be like. Pure, raw, authentic, magical...stripped down to its essentials. All of us who live in the Western world are constantly being distracted by things we consider important but mean nothing when you find yourself in the vast plains of the Serengeti and watch a pride of lions hunt wildebeest in order to survive, when you realize how tiny we are in the grand scheme of things and when you see with your own eyes the breathtaking beauty of nature we so urgently need to protect. 

Like most visitors to Tanzania I came for the animals and the scenery. It is, without a doubt, mind blowing and it will stay with you forever. But what absolutely stole my heart are the people of Tanzania. To me, they represent dignity, grace, humor, strength, pride, resilience, boundless beauty, joy and love. It is one of the warmest and friendliest people you will ever meet in your life. After only a few short days 

I already felt like I had a Tanzanian family. I remember wishing that I had had the opportunity to spend more time in the communities and to get to know them on a deeper level. 

On my last day, I sat on the terrace in front of my room overlooking the hills of Maasailand with the roof of Africa ‐ Mount Kilimanjaro – in the background, and I cried. I cried because I was about to leave a place I knew I had been looking for my entire life, I cried because I had to leave part of myself behind...and that part has remained in Tanzania ever since. Each time I return I feel reunited with that other part of my soul. 

Once I returned to the US, every cell in my body wanted to go back to TZ the first chance I could get. It felt like someone had cut off my blood supply and I needed to keep the connection alive in order to keep going. I started to question everything in the Western world. The fact that our daily lives consist of squeezing ourselves into crowded public transportation to go to work, put in all these hours, do the same on your way back home and then repeat the exact same thing the next day while constantly worrying about the most mundane things....what is the purpose of all of this? Why do we accept this as “normal”? New York, at that, is of course the most extreme opposite of Tanzania one can imagine. So it took me a long time to adjust back to “normal” life and I have never looked at things the same way ever since. 

My desire to go back was so strong that after only 2 weeks I had planned and booked my return for a few months later. But not only did I want to return, I also wanted to make Tanzania part of my life. What I had felt and experienced had had a profound impact on me, too strong to deny or brush off. Robert, who had been my guide on this very first safari, and I both realized that we shared the same passion and goals – we wanted to make it easier for visitors to dive deep into the Tanzanian culture and get to know the life that exists outside the national parks – in an authentic way – and to give back to the communities that had so warmly welcomed me. And so Sababu Safaris came to life. 

I do not know if something like a previous life exists but if it does I am 100% convinced that I have lived in Africa before (specifically East Africa). I had to wait 32 years to find my old home. I wonder if it will ever become easier to live a life between these two worlds but I can say one thing for sure: my heart and soul have been touched and changed forever. Tanzania has profoundly enriched my life, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences with all our guests that come to visit this magnificent country. 

Sababu Safaris is an owner-run boutique safari company committed to creating unique journeys in Tanzania that change hearts and minds, and leave a long-lasting impact on both guests and local communities alike. We unite conservation, communities and sustainable travel by creating unique and impactful experiences that give you the opportunity to completely immerse yourself in the rich Tanzanian culture few truly get to know - and to make a difference at the same time. Our goal is to give visitors the opportunity to travel with purpose, hence the name Sababu - the Swahili word for “purpose”.

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