We crossed timezones and hurdled seasons. We left our dark, cold northwest corner of the United States, and arrived in mid summer South African heat. On our first safari game drive in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve, we saw elephants playfully wrestling in the mud, rhinos cooling in a watering hole, and lions guarding their recent kill. As the sun started to set, the sky illuminated with yellows, oranges, and pinks. It was happy hour in the South African bush. I had a glass of the local wine in a stainless steel cup. Could this get any better?

And moments later, it did. In the backdrop of the sunset, as the colors intensified, we spotted elephant silhouettes. They were moving slowly in our direction, but far enough away we could still stand safely outside our vehicle with our happy hour drinks. When it became obvious we were in their path of migration, we took our seats. The elephants would not be threatened, as long as we maintained the shape of our safari vehicle, which they were so used to seeing and regarded as just another non-threatening animal.

We sat mesmerized watching them meander towards us. They gathered dust in their trunks and sprayed their own backs, they flapped their big ears and sniffed patches of long grass. They were clearly heading somewhere, but in no hurry to get there. Then, as if we were a rock in a stream, when the herd reached our vehicle, the elephants naturally parted and steadily flowed around us. Our heads on swivels.

One female, surrounded by by various sized young ones, stopped and stood beside us not more than 6 feet away. She turned and lifted her trunk, took a whiff, then seemingly satisfied with our smell, continued on. We sat quietly, watching in amazement, hardly moving, just breathing. But we were never nervous or afraid. Just awestruck.

Although this was just another day in the South African bush, for us it was the first. It was an experience of a lifetime, like a gift from God. It was the kind of gift that said, You made it. Welcome to the other side of the world.

Check out our safari video too!