If you know me, then you know my obsession with sounds, whether playing the violin, singing with my friends, or making voice memos to preserve memories. I am not exactly sure where it started, but sounds have been a defining feature in my life. I have so many auditory memories ingrained in my mind from my childhood – the pouring rain hitting the ground outside my childhood bedroom, the crickets chirping outside at the Skoot, my second home (iykyk), or the sound of the gravel road leading back to my home. This trip to Zambia has been full of new sounds with no of shortage of auditory memories; I even experienced some crickets outside my safari tent that reminded me of those at the Skoot. Because of that, I wanted to include a few bits of audio in this post, so click on the links when you see them (and maybe turn up your volume on the first two.
A few days ago, we got the opportunity to go on a two-day safari. Our guide, Tizuh, shared his knowledge and passion for wildlife for those two full days in Chobe national park. Going on safari has been a dream of mine since early childhood. I have always loved animals and wanted so dearly to see them in their natural habitat. What came as a surprise, was my fascination with the sounds and all these animals made to one another – and the vital importance of them.
The safari was a reminder that reliance on those around you is an important part of the vibrant world we get to be a part of. Tizuh, our guide, told us about the Guinea Fowl, and how these animals have a warning call that tells the surrounding animals a predator is nearby. At about 2am the following morning, I awoke to lions right outside our tent, calling each other and communicating their locations to each other.
There was one experience that stood out for me. The morning of our second day, we immediately encountered the same pride of lions we spent time with the previous day. Here is my memory of that morning: These are the sounds of the lions’ bonding with each other and our time spent alongside them. Imagine the water lapping against the shore, with the birds chirping from various surroundings. The wind is mellow, yet present and whistling in the trees. You can hear the lions quietly communicate through little roars and morning sighs. This is the memory I hold of those few minutes. Throughout this journey, I have been reminded of the three words: humanize, accompany, complicate. The safari was an incredible metaphor for our continued experience here is Zambezi.
Humanize– while “humanize” may not be the perfect word to use with the animals of Chobe, throughout the safari I was reminded that we were in these animals’ space. While many may visit and see the lions, giraffes, and crocodiles as a spectacle, it is important to change our approach. While we were on the water safari, a boat near us got too close to a grown crocodile. The crocodile responded by jumping at them and slithering into the deep water. This could be viewed as a cool video caught or a laugh to be had after (as it was by those on the boat), it is important to remember that these animals share feelings of fear and being threatened too. The crocodile was scared and felt disrespected, so it responded in that way. I think this story can be a necessary lesson for those of us entering Zambezi (and everyone reading :). Our experience of Zambezi will contain difficult events, uncomfortable interactions, and moments of frustration. It is important to remember why we are here – to learn from the people of Zambezi and share what we have to offer, while respecting the life they live.
Accompany– the evening and morning with the lions was a prime demonstration of what it means to accompany. As we entered the pride’s space, the lions slowly surrounded us. Tizuh explained that the lions will spread out as a protection tactic – if one is attacked, then others are safe and can defend if needed. Words – or in this case roars – may not have always been shared between each other, but the steady presence of each one of the lions and their willingness to defend was a form of accompaniment. At one point, the young lions were playing back and forth with each other, which Tizuh explained as a crucial way of strengthening their bonds with each other. I think that we can emulate this mindset while in Zambezi, and wherever we go in life. Bonds and relationships are vital for our continued prosperity. Although a single lion is a strong creature, it is much stronger in a pack. Or as the Zambian proverb says: you can go fast alone, but you can go far together. As we enter the next stage in our journey here in Zambia, teaching classes and learning from the community, accompaniment is becoming more and more important. Creating relationships, trust, and shared memories together with the community is very necessary for our classes and learning to succeed. Additionally, co-teaching in the classes and learning in the hospital, are impossible to do alone. Leaning on my fellow health students and the incredible medical staff in the hospital are going to become an even more important group of people to accompany and rely on. As we continue our journey, I am proud to continue to accompany those I interact with and to ask for support from those around me.
Complicate– my expectation for the safari experience turned out to be very different than I had imagined. After the water safari, Cade and I had a deep conversation about the complexities that were present in our water experience. Like the story of the crocodile snapping at the boat, our invasion of the animal’s space was a common theme throughout our time on the water. I had a tough time digesting this, as I had wanted to have the safari experience for so long and had formulated an expectation in my mind, but aspects of it felt wrong – complicated. The game drive felt quite a bit better, as Tizuh and the guides put a lot of effort into respecting the animal’s space. Despite that, I still had a hard time balancing between being conscious of the space we were invading and also being in the present so I can remember this opportunity that we get to take part in. Additionally, there was a constant power dynamic between the Guides and our group of Zags. We did our best to interact and share the experience with Tizuh though shared laughs, learning about his life, and sharing our snacks. Still, our guides are employed in an entertainment and tourism industry upon which they depend for their livelihood. As we transition to our time in Zambezi, we continue to experience complexities as we address our privilege in reflection, interactions with the locals, and a new living space. We must learn to live in that, sit with it, and reflect upon it.
My hope is to share my humanity with the Zambezi people and experience theirs, grow and learn in the complexities on this journey, and accompany my fellow Zags and the locals during our time here.
Graley Sanders
ZamFam ‘26
GU Class of 2028
To Squid: MP and I miss you all, and frequently think of you during our time here.
- Claire: I love your comments and am impressed with your foreshadowing the voice memos 😊. Sarah, MP, and I want you to keep these comments coming.
- Sarah: Every time I hear a pun, I think of you and miss you.
- Lauren: I got a Zambia soccer Jersey, and I thought of you. I almost got you a gunner’s jersey, but MP and I realized you probably had them all 😉
- Eleanor: Isa, Lauryn, and I got a lesson in a traditional dance from a group of teenage girls yesterday. I would not say it went very successfully for me but thought about how good you would be at it.
- Siena: I have thought of you many times during our time here, and how much you would love to sit and have a spontaneous conversation with some of the locals here.
To my Family: I love and miss you all so so much. Pops, I “flew” the bush plane for like 15 minutes yesterday morning and thought of you and your fascination with planes. Missing you. Mom, I have gotten several random hugs from strangers during my time here and am missing your hugs so much. Finn, we stayed a night in Chobe national park in a tent. I thought of you and how much I wish I could share this experience with you some day. Love you all so much, and give Billie a kiss for me.