Seeing in Color
By: Brittany Jerlinga

I have been to Montana, where the skies are rich with blue during the day, and drip with stars at night….

I have been to Maine  where the crispness of the air soothes the soul, and appearances by majestic sea mammals are common, graceful and breathtaking…..

I have been to Tennessee where smiles are permanent fixtures on every face, where both good humor and hospitality run more rampant than racing horses…..

I have seen mountains shrouded in fog, heard the haunting early morning cries of the loon, and have been enveloped by the fresh green scent of redwood forests….

I have even seen the heather-covered highlands of Scotland, and felt the raw power of Canada's Niagara Falls….

Still, all of these places pale in comparison to one place: Namibia, Africa.

In Namibia, the sky is so saturated with stars and color that, along with your feet, time stands still. All other thought crumble to stardust….

The sky here is alive. Meteors dart and fly like fireworks every night, constellations wink and sparkle in greeting and the Milky Way arches across the sky, from horizon to horizon, blazing in glory.

Worries, stress, anxiety and frustration melt into the rising sun, as honey hued rays warm the earth, leaving hearts full and minds clear…

True, in the middle of Namibia you will not witness the ballet of dolphins, but what you will experience is even more incredible.

Kudus showcase their elegance and regally curling horns by leaping effortlessly through the rocky terrain. Contemplative Giraffes rise from the thorny bushes, wraithlike, and pierce the skyline.

Zebras, with their sublime camouflage, appear and disappear suddenly, as the bicker and play.
Springbok demonstrate their scorn for gravity, Baboons beckon from a distance, and small families of Warthog run in synch, tails straight up in the air like radio antennas.

This is a mere snapshot of the animal life here. The bizarre, rocking horse canter of the Hartebeest, the power of the Gemsbok and the nightly gibberish of the rock Hyrax are things that can only be experienced, not explained.

The people of Namibia, particularly the staff of African Days  (Namibia), are no less incredible themselves. I was treated like an important person, even though I was an observer on this hunt. I was catered to, educated and provided with every service I needed. My laundry was freshly washed and pressed, meals were made three times a day by a man jollier than St. Nick, and before the words " can I get a reading lamp?" exited my mouth, I had one.

Even the secretary went an extra mile (or kilometer!) … She not only showed me Windhoek, the capitol, and helped me barter for souvenirs, but made sure my stay was luxurious. She opened her home to me and, instead of just letting me use her shower, she fixed me a bath that swirled with rose petals and was illuminated by candle light. In my room, I found chocolate on my pillow and a bed already warmed.

I was constantly asked if everything was to my liking - if I needed a beverage, if there was anything I wanted to see or do. Without delay any suggestion I made was turned into reality.

Furthermore, with the quiet guidance of our professional hunter, Etienne, my father was able to get every animal on his list. Our trackers amazed us both with their extraordinary eyes, kindness and good humor. At all times, my father and I felt that we were in good hands. Even when the Baboons were screaming their defiance, we felt safe. With the help of African Days  (Namibia), my father was able to make a lifelong dream of his come true, and I got to experience things few 21 year old lasses from the Midwest even dream of…..

Being in Namibia was like seeing in color for the first time. I had no radio, no television and no childhood friends to keep me company. Instead, I enjoyed watching the " Bushman's TV (the campfire, of course), listened to the Go-Away bird's cry, bonded with my father and made friends I hope to keep for a very long time. I saw what life could be like and realized what the important things in life really were. I woke up…….

I would highly recommend African Days  (Namibia) and the country itself to anyone who desires to experience Africa. No matter how big the dream, or how small the pocketbook, African Days  (Namibia) can turn your visions of Africa into fond memories.

Today, I have only one desire left - the desire to go back……

With regards

Brittany Jerlinga

Contact: picantibinti@hotmail.com

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