Journal October 23: 'Lying under the covers this morning listening to the wilderness waking to the new day I was filled with mixed emotions. Have I been taking it all for granted recently? Maybe! Coming to the end of my seventh season of mobile safaris I know I am burning out. There is something missing.
'I still enjoy been where I am and communicating with people but the combination has got to me. Why have I done it for so long?' Most nomadic safari guides have these moments during their careers'.Journal October 31: 'I lay on my back looking up at the stars. It was quiet, not even a rustle of leaves. It would have been easy to contemplate the universe and the meaning of existence right then, but my thoughts were elsewhere.'It was still early but I got up to stoke the fire and put the kettle on for the morning tea and coffee. When the water had boiled I poured myself a cup of tea and walked to the edge of the campsite. It was dark but I could make out silhouettes. An eagle owl was sitting on one of the dead trees in the channel'.

Amazing Moments

First light over the waterhole

Journal November 1: ' ..... I stood at the waterhole looking out over the channel. What an amazing moment! The night sounds were giving way to the day sounds as it got lighter. An eagle-owl was sitting on one of the dead trees, in silhouette. I thought about people in cities and towns waking to go to work, some only daring to dream about doing what I was doing ..... I said a silent prayer of thanks.'I wanted to be somewhere else. Where, I was not exactly sure. I had wanted out for three years now and had made half-hearted attempts to get out but always I drifted back.
I was asking myself many questions and they all started with "why".Then from very far away, almost from another world, the eerie, haunting whoop of a hyena carried across the plains. I pulled myself out of my state and walked back to the camp to wake up the guests.
'Hey Leigh! Another great day ahead of us huh?'
'Yes, I will make it the best yet.'by Leigh Kemp