The Circle of Life

Greg has been to Africa approximately 3,872,438 times (give or take a few). How do you teach a man some valuable new lessons about the continent where he already seems to know everything? Send him there with kids.

If you don’t already know Greg Sacks, he is our resident African expert, planning all trips big and small to the land of the lions since way back when he had a tail of his own (the pony variety—the mid-90s were a dangerous time). He can (and will) talk for hours on the phone about all the incredible possibilities on his favourite continent, and while he has put together dozens of big family trips for others, this spring was the first time he set out on an expedition with his own extended family, including nieces, nephews, and his own little six-month-old piglet.

Does he have a whole new perspective on family travel planning? “100 percent. It was trial by fire.” A few lessons he learned about kids on safari:

• “A swimming pool is the playground for them. It can be surrounded by giraffes and elephants, but everything else that Africa brings is just the garnish around the pool.”

• “You’ve gotta go on a safari where you can walk because kids don’t sit still in vehicles. Get them a tracking stick and teach them as they walk.”

• “If you go on safari between November and March, the extreme heat of the day pushes the game drives earlier in the morning and later in the evening, which often coincides with nap/meal times. Whether it’s a baby who needs to nap or a baby who needs to eat, 6 pm is kind of shut down time. It’s a shame because it’s really the best time to go out. The heat becomes less hostile… but your baby becomes more hostile.”

• “Poo, they love poo. Get them recognizing poo quickly. There’s no more fun game for kids than recognizing the poo of different animals that have passed by.”

Having returned home with all relatives safely intact, Greg next heads out solo (no offense, Sacks family) to attend INDABA in Durban, South Africa, and then do some more research on his own. We’re most envious of the mobile safari he’s going on with Ralph Bousfield—a guide widely considered to be one of the best in the world. He’ll also be checking out the new San Camp, and meeting with Kunene Conservancy Safaris and Congo Wildlife Adventures for the first time. And, of course, he will be correctly identifying a turd or two—his nephews have passed on all the tricks of the trade.

Amy Smithers is our Sounder editor and in house Barbara Walters this week, with all the info on research comings and goings at Trufflepig.