Rainer Jenss and his family are currently on an around-the-world
journey, and they're blogging about their experiences for us at
Intelligent Travel. Keep up with the Jensses by bookmarking their posts, and follow the boys' Global Bros blog at National Geographic Kids.
Let me say upfront that it's an incredible privilege to be able to travel around the world with my family for a year, especially during a time when there's so much economic uncertainty. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. But as fulfilling as it is to show the boys all the wonderful places we've been, being around each other pretty much 24/7 for such a long stretch can be quite testing at times--on all of us. That's why we were enthusiastically counting down the days to when a group of our friends (including some good buddies Tyler and Stefan grew up with) would be meeting us in Cape Town for a two-week tour of South Africa. So besides being excited about arriving in one of my favorite countries, we were getting a much welcomed release that would allow us to take a break from constantly being around each other. Plus, the boys would have kids their age to be with after more than three months without such company. Yeehaw!
As delighted as I was to be seeing everyone, I was also quite anxious. When our friends decided they wanted to connect with us in Africa, I told them to trust me in arranging everything and that I would put together a game plan everyone would be happy with. Easily being one of my favorite places, I sold them on South Africa pretty hard, guaranteeing that it would be the best family vacation they'd ever have. Since I had been to the country on four separate occasions and had experience with the proposed itinerary, I felt reasonably confident it would deliver. So I handed a wish list to an operator called Footprints Africa, and they made all the pieces come together.
So why South Africa? When most people consider traveling to Africa, going on a safari is usually a prime motivator. Being fortunate to have been on a few before, all in South Africa, I can attest that it is life changing and certainly ranks as a top highlight of my all my travel experiences. I haven't been to Botswana, Tanzania, or Kenya (yet), which all undoubtedly have some of the best game viewing around, but what I've heard from those who know is that South Africa offers perhaps the widest variety of wildlife, all within a relatively small space. Unlike the massive planes of the Serengeti, Kruger National Park and it's private game reserves have much thicker bush, which brings in the diversity, but not in the large numbers found elsewhere on the continent.
Let me say upfront that it's an incredible privilege to be able to travel around the world with my family for a year, especially during a time when there's so much economic uncertainty. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. But as fulfilling as it is to show the boys all the wonderful places we've been, being around each other pretty much 24/7 for such a long stretch can be quite testing at times--on all of us. That's why we were enthusiastically counting down the days to when a group of our friends (including some good buddies Tyler and Stefan grew up with) would be meeting us in Cape Town for a two-week tour of South Africa. So besides being excited about arriving in one of my favorite countries, we were getting a much welcomed release that would allow us to take a break from constantly being around each other. Plus, the boys would have kids their age to be with after more than three months without such company. Yeehaw! As delighted as I was to be seeing everyone, I was also quite anxious. When our friends decided they wanted to connect with us in Africa, I told them to trust me in arranging everything and that I would put together a game plan everyone would be happy with. Easily being one of my favorite places, I sold them on South Africa pretty hard, guaranteeing that it would be the best family vacation they'd ever have. Since I had been to the country on four separate occasions and had experience with the proposed itinerary, I felt reasonably confident it would deliver. So I handed a wish list to an operator called Footprints Africa, and they made all the pieces come together.
So why South Africa? When most people consider traveling to Africa, going on a safari is usually a prime motivator. Being fortunate to have been on a few before, all in South Africa, I can attest that it is life changing and certainly ranks as a top highlight of my all my travel experiences. I haven't been to Botswana, Tanzania, or Kenya (yet), which all undoubtedly have some of the best game viewing around, but what I've heard from those who know is that South Africa offers perhaps the widest variety of wildlife, all within a relatively small space. Unlike the massive planes of the Serengeti, Kruger National Park and it's private game reserves have much thicker bush, which brings in the diversity, but not in the large numbers found elsewhere on the continent.
The diversity South Africa offers is not only limited to its wildlife.
Ultimately, you don't come all this way just to go on safari. Our
friends are not only adventurous, they also very much enjoy their food
and wine, which is something else this country knows a thing or two
about. There's also a fare share of incredible natural beauty found
here, from mountainous countryside to world-class surf and sand.
Finally, there probably aren't too many other places in the world that
offer the opportunity to dive with great white sharks, which in our
case, might have closed the deal. What kids wouldn't want to do that?!We arrived in Cape Town a few days before the others, which gave us a chance to recuperate from the twelve-hour flight from Perth and get a lay of the land. Once again, we had the luxury of staying with a local family who we were introduced to by a friend. Because they had a seven-year-old daughter, it gave us the perfect excuse to go see Madagascar 2: Return to Africa at a nearby cinema to get the kids in the mood. And fortunately for us, her father Richard took the time to show us around a city that is quickly becoming one of the more popular destinations for the global jet set. We visited The World of Birds with its over 100 aviaries, most of which you can walk right through, with every type of African bird you can imagine. We also spent some time on the beach best known for its surfing schools in Muizenberg and toured around the waterfront with its restaurants and African markets. Equipped with some useful insider information and a block of rooms at the Rosedene Guest House, we were all set to greet our friends.
Before their arrival, I felt compelled to warn them that Cape Town wouldn't feel much like "Africa." Instead, they could expect quite a cosmopolitan city and a landscape that more closely resembles California or the Caribbean, where one of the families was from. During our three days in the area, we took the compulsory cable car to the top of Table Mountain, which was finally operating after two days of heavy southeasterly winds and a small patch of cloud cover that blanketed the mountain known as 'the table cloth'. Then we did the drive to the Cape of Good Hope, which we learned is neither the southern most point of Africa nor the spot where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. Not to despair. The stunning scenery and rugged coastline more than made up for this minor detail.
Our biggest challenge perhaps was what to do with twelve people for dinner--six of them kids. Best known for its marvelous seafood, we ventured into trendy Camp's Bay, where at the recommendation of our driver, we found a table to accommodate all of us at Blues Restaurant. With an excellent view of the wind-swept beach, grilled prawns, and a couple of bottles of Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc, the six adults couldn't have been happier. They caught us up on life back home while Carol and I reflected on our first six months on the road. Then as I had done for months leading up, I started building up the hype for our next stop, the African bush.
Photos: Rainer Jenss
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Now you are getting me excited about our next continent on our family world tour!
There is so much to get excited about Africa, but frankly I have heard so many scary warnings from South Africans who love their country dearly, but felt they had to move elsewhere due to the strain of living in a country with such a high violent crime rate.
So that always gives me some pause on taking a child there, especially because we are independent, budget travelers and would prefer to take our RV.
But, I had lots of fear when we first went to Africa into Morocco on our own via land and our time in the Sahara was perhaps the greatest highlight of our world tour so far.
It is exciting to read your enthusiasm about South Africa for families!
I was so surprised to read that you are tiring of the 24/7 togetherness because that has been the very best part for us and we are going on our 3rd year of 24/7 togetherness! ;)
We actually find we have much less stress, more meaningful connection & much more fun than our previous "normal" life and so appreciate this time together.
I was also shocked to hear that the boys have gone 3 months without finding anyone to play with! :(
Our child almost always finds someone to play with ( who may or may not speak one of her languages) and also enjoys the adults that she meets or any baby that she can find.
Have a grand time with your friends! It is special to share a world tour with people you know from home!
Can't wait to read about your Safari adventures! We did a Safari with real African tents and equipment in Sweden this year at one of Europe's largest zoo's , which helped give us a trial run. ;) So exciting and the boys are at a perfect age to enjoy it!
I continued to enjoy reading about your adventures - thanks again!!
Your plates are full right now I know but I made a wonderful discovery when I was in Southern Africa in April/May, 2007 & I just wanted to share. NAMIBIA!! I've done Kenya (twice) & Tanzania (once) & I loved both. But I have to agree that the wide open spaces in Southern Africa are much better. I've been to Chobe NP in Botswana & loved that so much that I went back a second time. I've also been to & loved the Okavango Delta in Botswana (wonderful!) & Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe (although that is not the safest place in the world for Americans). I've done Kruger NP in SA but was disappointed. But I'm told I'm crazy so I intend to give that another try (probably next year). But Namibia is the best!! It has cosmopolital cities (like Swapkomund & Windhoek), natural wonders (like the world's highest dunes, butted right up to the Atlantic Ocean, no less & a petrified forest almost as good as ours in Arizona), human wonders like a park with historic importance since it shows the rock art of primitive peoples &, of course, game (especially in Etosha NP). The people are warm & friendly & we didn't see a huge amount of poverty (although our tour may have been steered away from all that). And, as of May of 2007, the dollar was doing very well. Ballooning in Africa is also the greatest! I had done my first balloon ride in Masai Mara in Kenya & I did it again in the Namib Desert in 2007. I hope you'll keep it in mind if/when you return to Southern Africa.
February 9 - 7:00 PM EST
Say hi to everyone, and raise a glass to Jerry...KT
Hey Rainer/Carol... as interesting (and envy inducing!) as this has been too date... now you are getting to the good bits! Though my shade of green darkens, I hope SA and the animals are as good to you as the first time?
Wow, I have just found your amazing journey. What a spectacular adventure you are on.
We have a dream that here in 6 years when the baby is a little more stable on his feet and our plans are in order we plan to embark on a world circumnavigation. I am bookmarking your posts to continue reading and dreaming until we are ready to go.
Have a great time!
Dear Jenss Family,
My husband, 11 yr old daughter and I will be leaving on our rtw trip next summer. We would like to spend two months in Africa, mostly viewing wildlife. Could you possibly e-mail me with your itinerary and costs? It seems very expensive to travel and view wildlife based on my research on the internet. Any suggestions for saving money? I would also be interested in hearing more about the home schooling curriculum that you are using.
Thanks, Catherine Oenbrink
We too traveled the world for one solid year and yes we too would not trade this experience for a million bucks! Above all, we traveled to places you just can't go to anymore as American citizens, as far as safety goes. So we always tell people-- go while you still can, go when you're young enough to enjoy it.
great shoot