“This summer, I went to South Africa and Zimbabwe with my mom’s side of the family. We’ve always gone to places like Jamaica and Mexico, but they wanted to do something different. It’s funny: My sister found a picture of a lion and then cropped my grandma’s face onto it. It started as a joke, but then the plan became reality.
Being with my family was the most fun part of the trip. We live in different places and don’t always see each other, but we always get close again on these trips. The elephants were one of my favorite parts. They’re so big and cool. I saw them going into a lake and playing and swimming.
If I went back to Africa, I’d definitely visit more countries. Cape Town was my favorite place to visit. It’s a very cool city, and the diversity between the nicer areas and the not-so-nice ones surprised me.
The difference is noticeable; they’re literally right next to each other.
Seeing them in their habitats changed my perspective. It’s very different to see them in a zoo. Out in the wild, you’re fully immersed in their lives. In zoos, they’re living in our world. When I went to Africa, we were on a truck and just drove around. It felt like they welcomed us into their world for a change.”
