Back to Africa: A Travelogue ©Dawn Minott

On By Dawn MinottIn Poetry

Three years ago I was in the throes of making plans to celebrate my birth over the full month of April, like I’ve traditionally done for birthdays past. However, on 11 March 2020 after the corona-19 virus infected people in 114 countries, WHO declared a global pandemic and soon thereafter countries were locked down. And so were my birthday/birthMONTH plans.

Gratefully, I survived being infected with the first strain of the virus (before we had vaccines). This year, 3 years later when the world is closely getting back to the old-normal, I wanted to commemorate life and to celebrate my birthday in a way that connected me to the root/route of my beginning—Africa.

And so was birthed a 3-girls, 3-weeks, 3-country trip for 3 years’ birthday/MONTH commemoration. I returned to two of my favorite African countries—South Africa and Botswana—and visited Tanzania for the first time. Thanks to a plane that literally stopped working, I also spent a night in Malawi.

The little plane that couldn’t!! We stopped on one of the many legs and everything in the plane also stopped—no lights, no air, NOTHING. This happened on two of its stops only then did the airline ground the plane. I prayed so hard. A 3-hour trip turned into just over 24 hours!!!!! Adventure!!!!!

The trip included: reunion with friends not seen for over 10 years (in all 4 countries); viewing Africa’s wildlife up close; vineyard tours including the first 100%/fully black-owned winery; sandbanks and pristine white-sand beaches; food and spice markets; rich cultural heritage (history, religion, fashion and more); sailing in dhows; magnificent sunsets; and all along the way, gastronomic delights.

The absolutely “bestEST” part of my trip was reuniting with and being with my friends. Good friends are truly more and better than pocket money. #grateful

Some highlight photos—ENJOY:

With winemaker of 1st black-owned winery, Klein Goederust —Frsanschhoek, South Africa
SOWETO (SOuth WEstern TOwnship), central to the struggle against apartheid —Johannesburg, South Africa
Jetty to Robben Island —Cape Town, South Africa
Most beautiful sunsets—Knysna, South Africa
Africa’s wild life —Johannesburg, South Africa
When a church actively takes part in social justice. The walls of this church still have holes from gunshots fired at students during a march against apartheid who took refuge under its pews —SOWETO, Johannesburg, South Africa
Gotta experience the night life! —Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa
Serbian Orthodox Church, an architectural delight —Gaborone, Botswana
Mokolodi Game Reserve —Gaborone, Botswana
What’s a Safari tour if your truck tire doesn’t pick up a puncture?! More adventures in the wild!! Botswana
Remember Pumbaa (Lion King) … warthogs —Gaborone, Botswana
Tea and a mystery anyone? Have you read the books or watched the series shot in Gaborone, Botswana
Dinner at Emerson on Hurumzi is a royal dining experience complete with hands watched in rose water and the view of the sunset is to die for —Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Viewing Tanzanite, the stone found ONLY in Tanzania is a must—Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Great tasting food (boonoonoonoos, as we say in Jamaica) was everywhere
Meet and wear the creation of Fashion Designer of note, Farouque Abdela —Zanzibar, Tanzania
Street food … now that’s a must! —Zanzibar, Tanzania
Historic Dhow Palace Hotel, it’s like sleeping in history —Zanzibar, Tanzania
What is a beach trip without a refreshing drink of coconut water?! —Zanzibar, Tanzania
Dhow, SafariBlu tour, white sand beaches, warm crystal clear water —Nakupenda, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Gotta do the theatre. This play was astounding! If you watched “Black Panther” then you know famed producer, playwright John Kani (he played T’Chaka, father of T’Challa) —Johannesburg, South Africa
When was the last time you flew on a propeller plane. No trip across Africa is complete without it!! Fear aside when adventure calls. On the tarmac in Blantyre, Malawi. The plane then went on to Lilongwe, Malawi and “died” a second time!!! #PRAY. I think it’s still grounded 🫣
In the boundless sky, thousands of feet above a continent rich in history, culture, allure, mystery; where travel mishaps are built into the adventure; and, the sun sets are to “die for”!!! My Africa respite was an absolute delight and just what the doctor ordered!!!! Another birthMONTH celebrated. #grateful 
2023 All Rights Reserved

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In creative solidarity, Dee

18 thoughts on “Back to Africa: A Travelogue ©Dawn Minott”

  2. Pingback: Back to Africa: Back to the Future through Windows & Doors ©Dawn Minott – Poems & More

  6. Oh wow Dawn, how FANtabulously spectacular sistah girlfriend! 🥳 I love the way you celebrate your birthday year-round. I personally go for the yearlong celebration slathered in gratitude. 🙏🏼 Great memories you captured through your amazing photos! Obviously you had a wonderful time, even with the snafu of the airplane. Thank goodness you landed safely and without a more serious incident. Thanks for sharing! 🛫🚙🛬

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. You’re FANtabulous. So much so I felt it through your words hun. Yes it was a wonderful time of reconnection. And trust me if there wasn’t a plane/travel snafu the trip would have been incomplete 😊 so all in all things worked as they should. I’m super grateful for traveling mercies because taking off in a plane that you KNOW literally just “broke” is nothing but faith over fear.

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