2014. East Africa. Once back from Karaganada and Kazakhstan I was lucky enough to get a guide job for Kensington Tour in East Africa and, again, I was lucky to get a great group of people. Grometi Game Reserve became a new favorite. Again, it was good to meet Kevin Pilgrim, the baloon pilot who early one morning just flew our camp in Masai Mara to wake us up and wish us good morning!
Visitng the Hadza. 2014. I think it was hearing their unique click language which just made me go bonkers. I fell in love with it the first time I saw the film “The Gods Must Be Crazy” and I thought I will most likely never ever be able to hear it alive. For this single reason, I ended up in shock when I visited the Hadza together with a group as part of eco tourism of today. I wasn´t prepared when they started to talk. It must be one of the most beautiful languages on earth! Not only is it one of the oldest spoken languages alive on earth today, it is unique and not related to the bushmen of the Kalahari. I couldn´t hold back and I filmed and took photos like a madman, like I was doing a professional assignment. Afterwards I begged my clients for forgiveness and they said it was ok and that was who I was. Not much they could do about that. And they weren´t as taken as me as regards to the visit to the Hadza. The group was split in two when it came to visiting people like the Hadza and the Masaai. One part didn´t like it too much, mainly due to the fact that they felt they exposed their own material wealth and richness among these people who they found utterly poor. The other part found it enthralling and wanted to help. And this is a tricky question. Visiting people on the fringes of modern society. Some say they should be left alone, but in today´s world, that isn´t possible. The reality for people like the Hadza and Masaai is that they´re loosing land dramatically quick and soon have nowhere to be. So I am convinced sustainable tourism is one of few means to prologue their unique way of living. Read more at https://www.mikaelstrandberg.com/2014/08/31/the-gods-must-be-crazy-meeting-the-hadza-of-lake-eyasi/
Priviliged to return to Africa with Kensington Tours 2015. “Why do you always say Africa when I ask you what place on earth you find most exiting?” asked a good friend with a bit of frustration the other day and finished off by saying: “You have said that for the last 25 years I have known you.” Because it is. As simple as that. Since I once upon a time started the life of travelling I have been fortunate to visit a bit more than half of the UN recognized countries on earth. And there´s no doubt, most of the thrilling and fascinating places of these are African. Why?
Read more here at https://www.mikaelstrandberg.com/2015/08/17/africa-is-still-the-number-1-destination/