Staring up at the sky, sun flickering through the leaves of
the tree, grass between her toes a little girl lies and dreams of meeting her
prince charming and having him sweep her off her feet. They will go on
adventures and conquer the world together, one booking at a time.
Romantic relationships in the workplace are for the most
part a taboo in many industries, some companies go so far as including clauses
against relationships in their employment contracts. In the safari, hospitality
and tourism industry, however, is seems to be somewhat of a benefit and in
cases a requirement.
The tourism industry, working in lodges and hospitality or
being a guide or tracker is not an easy lifestyle. Working odd hours and in
cycles of 6 weeks on 2 weeks off or whatever may suite the lodge needs best,
working in rural areas constantly surrounded by the same people or in some
cases no people and far from the reach of “civilization”, it takes a very
specific type of person to be able to survive in these circumstances, and even
more so to begin a relationship with someone you work with, potentially
marrying and even starting a family!
Julie Brand was one of these girls. After deciding to make a
change and follow a dream she packed up to leave the UK and moved to Africa
where she would eventually meet her future husband, at the local pub and not
long after marry him! Living in a handmade cabin for a while they would
eventually decide to start trying for kids. They now have two boys and are
taking it day by day as they push on at their Quatermains 1920 Safari Camp, a
tented camp in Amakhala Game reserve.
Making a decision like this is not easy when you live and
work in the bush, yet for those of us who do, it’s actually really simple. Bush
life is an easy life if you are programmed that way, so adapting to life with
kids comes naturally.
Some couples choose not to have kids. This may be because it
allows them more freedom of movement in order to travel or move from one lodge
to the next, others because they are simply content with the way things are or
maybe because it’s just a personal preference. However, for the moms who do
choose to go on that great adventure with their little and loved ones it’s a
long road ahead.
Living and loving in the bush is a great adventure and for a
child the adventure is never ending. You
are taught life skills by watching
animals interact with each other and have experiences many other children never
would.  |
| Tippi and Abu - Copyright Tippi Degre |
Tippi Degré was one of these children whose adventure became
world famous and her story has been published in a novel, Tippi My book of
Africa. As a small girl she travelled Africa with her photographer/filmmaker parents
who worked in the bush and allowed her the freedom to interact with the animals
and local people of all cultures. This broadened her mind and gave her a great
understanding of and empathy towards the minds of animals. In her story she
tells of how she could talk to the animals with her mind and about her brother
Abu, the elephant.
Growing up in the bush allows children a freedom to grow and
expand their minds far beyond what a “normal” school system would allow. It
allows them to connect with their inner selves and learn from nature what the
human impact is.
Falling in love and starting a family in the bush is by no
means easy and you are faced with many challenges, both physically and
emotionally. Being able to ensure the health of your child while you are
hundreds of kilometers from a hospital, or deciding if you are to send your
kids to school, which will ultimately be a boarding school limiting your
contact with them or to keep them with you in the bush and possibly follow some
sort of home-schooling. At the end of the day each mother has to decide for
herself what will be the best for her family and how she will climb the
mountain ahead of her.
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Read my scholarship articles for The WOMA at the links below:
The WOMA Scholarship: Conservationista by Bianca Botha
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US, UK and South Africa:
Back-a-Buddy Conservation study fund
