Seasoned Traveleyes adventurer Jane Hawthorn shares her experiences on safari in Swaziland, and urges everyone to experience this once in a lifetime adventure!
In April last year, I set off from the UK bound for a Swaziland safari. I knew I loved animals and seeing them in the wild in their own habitat would be the most exciting and amazing opportunity I would ever get. I knew having been on previous Traveleyes trips that there would be a variety of sighted guides to enhance my enjoyment of the adventure and bring it alive.
We arrived at the first accommodation and met our guide for the holiday, a wonderful woman who knows so much about Swaziland as she has lived there for many years. Jenny’s knowledge of the birds, wildlife and animals was so good and I learnt so much. Jenny was able to imitate the bird noises and animal noises and never got impatient with giving any information again and again. We wandered around the forest touching the leaves and the bark of trees and taking in the smell of the woodlands. I heard bird calls which I’d never heard before and it was wonderful for me waking up in the morning hearing bird sounds which we don’t have in the UK. It was such an audible and inclusive experience.
Jane smiling and laughing with some African children
We then moved on to another amazing park where we went on safari in jeeps seeing lions, elephants, giraffe, rhinos and more. We came across all of these and it was so exciting, as we were keeping quiet in the jeeps while the animals did their own thing. Even though I couldn’t see these animals, I could hear them move around in the grassland, smell them and I knew they were enjoying the life they deserve in their own habitat under the hot sun of Africa. The weather was great, and we had a safari in the afternoon and early one morning – which was amazing.
So, there we were, in the middle of Africa, drinking coffee and tea and eating snacks whilst listening to the animals calling to each other! A surreal experience.
I sat next to a water hole as some hippos came into the water (two parents and a baby) and we observed them staying under water for hours, but then they were up and away so quickly, and completely gone in 30 seconds. How can these animals move so quickly when they are so big?! The description of them leaving was great from one of the guides. The area around the hole was so peaceful, with nature left to its own devices and animals coming for a drink or bath when they wanted, undisturbed by humans.
Jane feeling skulls and bones at an education centre in Hlane
We saw impalas, zebras and warthogs laying by the fire, just where we were sitting after our meal outside. Who can believe that?
When in bed overnight I could hear lions calling to each other. Who would ever hear that unless you came on safari? And what a noise they make! It isn’t frightening – just pure nature and animals doing what they do!
The rangers from the park had cut out images of the animals in wood and stuck hide, braille and print on these so they were accessible for all, which was amazing as it allowed us VI’s to get to grips with the animals.
Reading braille on a wooden relief of a local animal. complete with hide.
As a visually impaired person, this safari in Swaziland has, without a doubt, been my best holiday with Traveleyes. The outdoor experience staying in amazing cabins and circular homes made of mud and sticks all added to the experience. We sat outside at night watching the stars and having them described to us. The skies were so clear and the stars so bright.
No visually impaired person should be put off by thinking safaris are purely visual, as it was a very inclusive holiday for all. The sounds, the smells and the chance to touch all the grasslands, trees and wooden images of the animals, and to feel the rough fur and skin of the animals, made Africa come alive.
Please come along as I don’t want others to miss this chance to experience it for yourself!
Like the sound of a Traveleyes safari? Check out our Swazi adventure for 2019 by clicking here.