There’s something about Africa. I know that many people who have been to Africa explain that there is a subconscious, almost soulful, pull towards the continent. I’m not sure if this is some deep, subconscious acknowledgement that humanity started here, or if it’s just the stark differences to the person’s everyday culture. South Africa is a place that I’ve been where I’ve felt that pull. The culture is not incredibly different from the one I grew up in, yet it feels very different. It’s as if I’ve ventured to the edge of the world I know and I’m about to take a jump into the unknown.
This feeling manifests itself in a physical way at the Cape of Good Hope. This is the most Southwestern tip of the continent, and it’s incredibly beautiful and powerful. The first time I was here, a cheeky tour guide pointed to the sea and proclaimed that you could see where the Indian and Atlantic oceans met. I thought she was referencing some intense collision of currents that would be visible to the eye, but she was just trying to see how gullible we were. Still, the power of the ocean commands the view here, and the precarious rocky cliffs demand respect. It can feel as if you’re teetering and one big gust of wind can knock you off your perch.
The whole country of South Africa felt that way too. We drove from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth along the Garden Route, and the scenery was amazing. It started off with an arid, California-like vibe and wound its way through extremely lush vegetation that looked as if the forest was going to swallow us. The communities varied as well. Along the way we saw cute towns full of old Afrikaners and we drove near a very large, bustling black township. The contrast was extreme.
The entire experience in South Africa made me want more. It’s hard to explain further, because that was the bulk of it. Just more. I wanted to see more of Africa; I wanted to be more at one with nature; I wanted to experience new cultures; I wanted to help people; I wanted to leave my comfort zone; I wanted to understand; I wanted to feel; I wanted to belong. I wasn’t sure if this was the African pull I had heard about.
Feeling like you’re on the edge of the world isn’t just physical. Being in a new place and having it tug on your soul also feels like teetering on the edge of the world. This feeling can be like a drug, and it’s why many of us travel and crave new experiences. This is why we’re alive, or at least it’s a huge part of what we need in order to nourish our lives.