After thorough research, I chose a nine-day tour ofVictoria Falls & Botswanathat would take me through both countries.
It had been a long time.
I had no idea how exhausted I was until that moment.
Sophie Mendel sitting on top of a the safari vehicle in Botswana.Credit:Sophie Mendel/Travel + Leisure
I finally paused and took a minute to take a breath and relax.
The following morning, I headed toward the Zimbabwe border to meet with my group of 15 other travelers.
Their journey began in Cape Town and headed to Johannesburg before finally meeting me in Zambia.
Victoria Falls is part of the Zambezi River as the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia.Sophie Mendel/Travel + Leisure
As if on cue, a perfect rainbow appeared overhead, arching magnificently over the spectacular cascades.
I looked around me and saw my own wonderment mirrored on the faces of my new travel companions.
Right off the bat, we saw rhinos and an African buffalo, two of the Big Five.
A group of people white water rafting on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe.Sophie Mendel/Travel + Leisure
We even saw a lion basking in the sun, who roared to his brother lying nearby.
While he meant it as a routine warning, it gave me an uneasy feeling.
The heat was intense, and I started to get a bit anxious.
A safari van parked next to a Lion in Botswana.Sophie Mendel/Travel + Leisure
We werereallyout there, and there was nothing around for miles.
I was starting to have second thoughts about continuing to the Delta, but there was no turning back.
The heat was extreme, but the company was good.
Safari guests in a Mokoro Boat. A type of canoe commonly used in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.Sophie Mendel/Travel + Leisure
We spent the afternoon driving through the vast, barren landscape, searching for meerkats.
No sound could be heard but the breeze and the song of the birds on the wind.
I closed my eyes and listened to the silence; it was pure tranquility; it was magic.
Chairs around a fire at a safari campsite in Botswana.Sophie Mendel/Travel + Leisure
When it was time to go, we climbed back into the van and went on our way.
Driving through the bush at golden hour, the early evening light turned the African grasses gold.
At that moment, I thought it just might be true.
Exterior of the Maun Safari Lodge in Botswana.Sophie Mendel/Travel + Leisure
The following day, we headed into the Okavango Delta.
Suddenly, it began to pour.
We pulled over off-road to wait it out.
TIA, Neil exclaimed, This is Africa!
Eventually, the rain passed, and we arrived at the campsite in the middle of the bush.
As remote as we were, I was impressed by the luxury they could deliver.
For dinner, we were served seswaa, a traditional (and tasty) Botswana meat stew.
Soon, as the golden hour arrived, it was time to head out on the final game drive.
You hold on because you are afraid or dont know whats next for you.
Heed my advice, dear one: As soon as you let go, the path reveals itself.
It is time to embrace the next stage that life has planned for you.
Believe me, it is much better than whats behind you.
During this trip, I finally arrived.
Travel was the remedy to healing something I didnt realize was broken.
I had no idea it would just be the start of the next period.
