b'Bonds I am lucky to call Africa home and even luckier to have been able to explore its wilderness from a young age. Whether out in the bush searching for animals or travelling cross country, ones time on safari is never shorton magical connections with the land, wildlife,or people. Everyones safari is unique to them, and eachone experiences Africa in their own special way. But what I find true for everyone lucky enoughto embark on a safari is that they all go homewith a sense of having had a positively life-Early Life Lessons on achanging journey.My father, having been a tour operator in Kenya Safari Camp in Kenya all his life, was able to take me out on safari with By Peter de Sousa, East Africahim from the time I was a toddler. To say that Destination Expert those experiences influenced me would be an understatement.One of my earliest and perhaps most meaningful memories is the first time he took me on safari, and we stayed in a tented safari camp deep in the heart of Northern Kenya, in the Lewa Conservancy. Tented camps are the truest form of accommodation while on safari andare usually unfenced. Amenities are simple,and the camp allows for a deep immersion with your surroundings. Though I was just three or four at the time, I recall being in awe of the wilderness. Staring out onto the endless, rolling Lewa hills was fascinating, as was listening to birds sing, monkeys chatter, and hippos in a nearby pool grunt and splash. Small antelope and zebras wandered through camp, and in the distance, I remember seeing a caravan trail of elephants on the horizon. I vividly remember the excitement I felt every time I encountered PHOTOS: MAASAI LODGE (SHOE MAKING), CARLOS TORRES (LEOPARD) & HENRIK HANSEN (HIPPOS) ON UNSPLASH, LEWA WILDERNESS CAMP (SAFARI)something new. But what I look back fondly onthe most is the elderly Maasai tribesman whowas tasked with keeping a watchful eye on the camps guests. I recall being a bit anxious and worried on our Hippo mother and calffirst night. The darkness, changes, and nocturnal sounds were new to me, and nothing my parents could do would settle me before we went to the dining tent. On the way over, the same Maasai tribesman who had been keeping an eye on me during the day borrowed me from my mothers arms and took me to the camps fireplace where his colleague was stationed. They made a makeshift spear from a fallen branch and placed a few of their beaded necklaces on me. Although I didnt understand the words they spoke and sang, we play-acted as warriors and danced around the fireplace for what felt like a long time. They were my best friends for the rest of our safari, and I spent every moment that I could exploring and learning with them.Ever since that trip, and well into adulthood,I have always been drawn to individuals likethose two Maasai gentlemen. They have shown me things in and around camps that I never would have found on my own; I have met their families in villages or towns nearby, and made friendsfor life. TRUE VOYAGES \x1a17'