The birds were chirping as the light was starting to filter through the grasslands and I had my first sips of hot Kenyan coffee. This past week we have been exploring and learning more about one of the leading conservation areas in Laikipia, Kenya. Less than two decades ago, this area was accessible only by traditional African dirt roads; the landscape was lined with villages and vibrantly dressed tribespeople. Now we are racing down a tarmac road to our next destination. As populations increase and the need for development expands these conservancies will play a critical role in preserving wide open spaces, wildlife, and endangered species.
I realize progress is important for the quality of life, but I can’t help longing for those raw magical days; arriving in an underdeveloped, underexplored area, without WIFI, where the stress of the modern world vanishes, and life takes on a simpler meaning. Never could I have imagined the rapid transformation of these places, which now show almost no signs of the way life had been lived for hundreds if not thousands of years.
Just the thought of arriving in South Sudan in a few weeks lifts my spirits and makes my heart beat a little faster. Visually seeing how fast the world is really changing brings more gratitude and urgency in being able to visit these very last special places. It is deep in one of these last rich authentic tribal areas, offline from the rest of the world and fully present in each extraordinary moment, where one can feel truly alive.
Last year, the first construction began on tarmac roads that will connect Juba, South Sudan with Northern Kenya and the first American chain hotel opened in Juba. I understand that being able to relive the magic of these special places is extremely limited because they will be absorbed into the ideal of the modern world sooner rather than later. I will savor every moment because with each year that passes, this beautiful, ancient way of life also passes to an extent.
Perhaps I am holding on to the past too tight—“the good ole days. But if the world is not going to slow down, then I am going to passionately prioritize chasing the magic until it is gone. Soon I will only be able to relive those magical moments through the images I captured; time is running out to create them.
When making a difficult decision two questions always come to mind, “Where do you wish to see the footsteps of your life and what stories do you want to tell in the rocking chair?”
