Mama Africa

by Tiphanie Berthomiere (Australia)

Making a local connection Kenya

Last March, I took a spontaneous trip to East Africa for my birthday and this adventure led me to meet one of the most amazing women on Earth. Little 27-year-old me at the time embarked in the craziest adventure – 2.5 weeks of camping through East Africa. My family back home thought I lost my mind. My friends couldn’t believe I was CAMPING (I haven’t camped since I’m like 6! I was never a precious type but camping … not my thing). I thought I’d toughen up and live my dream … I had dreamt of setting foot in Africa since I was old enough to know my animals and to understand how magical this country would be. Truthfully; I’ve backpacked solo through a lot of countries, I’ve lived and worked in weird places but a group tour was never an option. I’m not one of “those”. I don’t need my handheld. I don’t want to be told where and when. Do it alone and do it tough. I am a free spirit – but more to the point too proud to admit I can’t do it alone so you just go and figure it out as you go. But 50% off puts your high horse, silver spoon, opinion in the gutter and gets you out of your lonely comfort zone. You’ll make friends I said. It’ll be fun I said. It’s Africa I said, you need there is safety in numbers. It’s what people do nowadays. It will be an adventure I said … and damn it was! Landing in the heat of Nairobi, the craziness of the city … all the smells, the colours, the people. I was overwhelmed and a little scared to be honest. You have organized transfers, what are you afraid of? After a few hurdles through immigration, I found my ride and made it to my hotel to join the tour. I’m pretty shy at first but here was the crew and my family for the foreseeable future! I’m being dramatic, my family for the time of the trip. And here she was. Her name is Becky. In her country, she is described as a working mum of one. Nothing much you’d say but she is WAY more than that. Becky actually works for Intrepid Travel and is the first female overland driver and tour leader in history. She got to do our tour with us as she was about to start doing the same route with women-only groups. I am now privileged to call her my “Mama Africa” and wouldn’t be who I am today without her. We are still in contact and I cannot wait to make my way back to Nairobi someday and catch up with my mama. In the two and a half weeks we spent together, travelling through 4 countries, between our long hours in the overland: we pitched our tents in amazing places, we cooked together – oh my god what a cook she is. We did our laundry – which by the way she laughed and had to “teach me how” because I quote “you look like a white girl trying to do laundry”. She told me stories; we talked about our families; we talked about women in her country in comparison to women where I am from (France) and where I live (Australia). We laughed! Damn, we laughed! We spotted animals. We peed in bushes. We bought local fruits, vegetables and anything else in local markets. She taught me Swahili – a little bit at least Hakuna Matata! She taught me a lot and she most of all scored a place in my heart I will hold dear forever. She showed me what it is to love, without wanting anything in return. To be open. To be strong and to never give up! To follow your dream and break the stereotypes – who gives a damn about those! And to have faith. Faith that everything happens for a reason and the lord (she is religious, me not so much but I’ll run with it) has a plan. He apparently knows what he is doing. To stand for yourself and stand for what you believe in.