I am immensely grateful for the opportunity that I had to participate in the Big 5 program at the Makalali Game Reserve and the Marine program in Sodwana Bay in South Africa.

I arrived at the Makalali Game Reserve near dusk. Remnants of sunlight glimmered on the quartz covered pathways, the gravel softly crunched beneath our feet and the tires of our vehicles. As spires of mountains reached into the heavens, lilac met the dusty blue evening sky in a periwinkle promise of the adventure yearning to unfold. Although I didn’t know it yet, my experience at the Big 5 program would prove to be the catalyst for significant introspection, which subsequently led to immense personal growth.

As day ebbed into night on the frigid evening of our sleepout, the sky gradually unveiled its splendorous smattering of stars, and the marvelous milky way graced us with her humbling presence. I laid bundled in my sleeping bag while gazing with supreme reverence at the thousands of stars which formed a flickering blanked above, each star, a planet as complex and unique as the one on which I reside, provoking a feeling of cosmic insignificance. This moment allowed me to bask in the realization that simple existence is a gift of immense rarity and that it must not be disregarded.

Mere moments later, two lions wandered into our camp; their guttural roars indicative of the new generation of lions that would soon roam this sacred space. In this moment of significant vulnerability, I came to understand that despite the fact that humans delude themselves into a sense of superiority over nature, all organisms exist with immeasurable value under Mother Nature’s watchful eye; we shall not exist as conquerors of the natural world, but rather as her guardians and stewards. This notion was only reaffirmed by my encounter with the Weeping Face of Nature at Blyde River Canyon. As I gazed into her sorrowful expression, I felt her desperate plea for all of humanity to deeply cherish the planet and all of its inhabitants. This plea resonated with every fiber of my being and strengthened my resolve to fight for environmental justice regardless of how bleak the world may feel.

My journey of personal growth continued while I was on the Marine program in Sodwana Bay. Despite the presence of various cultural differences and language barriers, the Zulu children allowed me to understand the importance of music. Through many songs and dances, the uncanny capacity of music to promote cross cultural unity quickly became apparent.

Soccer, commonly referred to as the “beautiful game,” far exceeded its reputation. Although many attribute the sport’s beauty to its dynamic complexity, the cacophony of laughter and the genuine grins plastered on the faces of all who played evidenced the fact that this beauty is derived from the game’s ability to transcend cultural barriers and to foster unbridled joy within all.

These interactions instilled the lesson that despite the presence of a language barrier, meaningful moments can be experienced between those of drastically different cultural backgrounds and that creating these moments is essential to promoting community and environmental sustainability.

I am eternally grateful for the time that I spent in South Africa as it provided immeasurable personal development and facilitated the ability to communicate despite cultural barriers.

Name: Jenna Greene
Status: Junior
Major: Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Hometown: Elk Rapids, Michigan
Program: Big 5 African Conservation Internship in South Africa