TBT: No Church In The Wild

The most surprising lesson that we learned during our visit to the Serengeti was that 99% of the time the animals are at peace and in perfect harmony with each other. Hyenas sharing the shade with warthogs (who are usually their prey), lions napping in close proximity to zebra, impala, topi, giraffes and jackals. Warthogs prancing dangerously close to a female cheetah. Everyone is simply co existing and enjoying the beautiful Serengeti day...until someone gets hungry. Usually it takes a lion or a cheetah getting hungry enough to hunt, a kill that feeds an entire ecosystem. Right behind our tent a lion pride took down a zebra during the night and by the morning all the substantial meat was gone and the hyenas were licking the bones and fighting over the scraps with a jackal. Then we noticed the vultures beginning to circle over head, just waiting for the hyena and jackal to finish their meal so that they may have their turn. Seeing this in person was shocking and thought provoking, survival of the fittest in the most extreme and natural form. So what can we learn from this? How is this relevant in the modernized culture we live in? I turn to this article from Forbes, Management Advice From Charles Darwin.                 (Photos taken in Tanzania by S+P)

Photo by Joe Kibwe (Our amazing guide and friend, who was born and raised in the Serengeti)

Zebra seem to be the likely prey, as comically depicted in this animalistic short film.

 

"It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change." - Charles Darwin

Happy Earth Day!

To all of those who dedicate their time and resources to the protection, rehabilitation, and conservation of the eco-systems of Africa and the wildlife that inhabits those lands, I dedicate this post to you. Thank you for making the Earth a better place. 

All photos were taken by Samantha Angelo & Peter Ostrega in Tanzania, The Grumeti Reserve, January 2014.

To Tony Fitzjohn and Kevin Richardson (seen below), who have dedicated their lives to raising awareness about lions and the growing fear of their extinction. 

My observation of lions in the wild: 

Lions are the most loving animals I've ever seen, they show constant displays of love, friendship, admiration, and affection towards one another. Their favorite things to do are roll around in the grass, play and nap with their families, lick/nudge heads, and most of all climb trees. The love within a lion pride is inspirational and unbreakable. I saw nothing else like it during my time in Africa. Although lions have very short life spans (10-15 years) they make the most of packing as much tender love and affection into those years as possible. 

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Indagare Travel Souk: Spring 2014

Yesterday was the last day of the biannual Indagare Travel Souk at the Hotel Plaza Athenee. The pop up market features artisans and designers from around the world, most of which represent a specific cause. I wound up spending quite a bit of time talking to three of my favorite vendors about where, how, and why, their products (jewelry, clothing, accessories) are created. 

If you've read my blog, you know that I have a strong love for Africa. There's something about that place that gets into your head and heart, and I find myself unable to escape my desire to go back and somehow be involved. I thought I would visit Africa and it would be a once in a lifetime experience, but now I can't imagine living the rest of my life never going back to the pristine plains and exploring both the beautiful and tumultuous aspects of the continent and culture. Coming to Indagare Travel Souk was really the perfect opportunity to rekindle those memories and learn more about what these designers and founders are doing to help the people (especially women) and animals of Africa.  

I'll start with Raven + Lily, "a socially responsible brand dedicated to empowering woman through design partnerships and sustainable economic opportunities."Raven and Lily currently employ woman from India, Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Kenya, and give them fair trade jobs, healthcare and education in order to stop the cycle created by poverty for these women and their families. Representing Raven + Lily at Souk was Ashley Yarborough, who I had the pleasure of chatting with about the brand and it's mission. I was immediately attracted to the gorgeous necklaces from Ethiopia, as Ashley explained to me that the beads on all of necklaces are made from melted down artillery shells. After several different processes the beads are brought to Entoto Mountain, an area where many woman suffering from HIV/AIDS go to find refuge as it is known to have "holy water" that may cure them of the disease. Not only do they employ women from this region, but they also provide HIV care and education. Check out their Lookbook.

Ashley is wearing leather earrings, beaded necklace and bangle by Raven + Lily. Her colorful patterned pants are by Clover Canyon :-)

 Then I spoke with Elizabeth Gilbert who designs the most beautiful and meaningful jewelry. She has spent 20 years documenting the culture and tribes of Africa through photojournalism, and I immediately felt her deep passion on the topic after speaking to her for just a few moments. She told me all about the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. An orphanage for baby elephants and rhinos whose parents have been poached. I've never even though about what these infant animals do without parents and how they survive. The DSWT organization provides rehabilitation and protection to orphaned elephants all over Africa. Once rescued these infant elephants are brought to their headquarters in Nairobi, matched with a foster parent, usually a African male, who will stay with the infant until he/she is ready to go back into the wild. These men sleep with the baby elephants in the hay, under the same blanket. The foster parent feeds the infant a formula that is as close to the milk of a mother elephant as possible, through a large bottle. Naturally there's a parent/child bond that is created between the foster parent and these majestic and fascinating baby elephants and slowly they acclimate them back into the wild. At first they return wild but they come back to the foster parent in a back and forth cycle, until one day the orphan elephant is invited into a family, most likely comprised of other orphan elephants. 

While I was in Africa I had the privilege of being  in close proximity to large herds of elephants, and that experience was by far my favorite part of the trip, they are amazing creatures and they are in need of help. If you're interested in donating and becoming a foster parent to one of these infants visit: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp

Here are a few photos from our trip to Tanzania by S+P

The bracelets below tell the story of the orphan elephant meeting his/her new family in the wild. 

 More information about this gorgeous jewelry that is made in Africa by Africans can be found at http://shompolecollections.com/flash/

 Next I met Lenora, founder and creative director of Filip + Inna, a brand known for it's intricate and beautiful stitch work. Her inspiration stems from her childhood, being raised in the Philippines. Lenora is trying to preserve the ancient traditions of weaving, embroidery, and bead work while employing and empowering women of the Philippines.  My favorite stitched item was this white skirt. All of these items are stitched completely by hand, and the artists are paid per stitch, as the stitches are carefully counted on each garment.

 And last but certainly not least, Maasai Collections, founded by Elizabeth Warner in 2001 on the boarder of Kenya and Tanzania. The company employs Maasai women to create accessories, jewelry, apparel, and hand beaded accents. The leather bags with beaded accents are absolutely stunning and perfectly on trend with the fringe detail!

I'm already looking forward to the next Souk, which will be taking place sometime in November 2014. Until then you can find many of these vendors at L-ATITUDE.

Singita: Sasakwa Lodge

Welcome to Singita - 'place of miracles'

The story goes that the Grumeti Reserve was one of the most poached and hunted areas of the Serengeti, leaving it squandered and lifeless. An American Hedge Fund owner and conservationist, Paul Tudor Jones II, decided to lease the land for 99 years and pay the enormous hunting fees associated with it. He set about restoring the land first by hiring poachers to form an anti-poaching guard to protect the land. Today, 12 years later, the Grumeti Reserve is the most prolific location for wildlife in the Serengeti National Park. In fact, guides from outside the Grumeti have been know to ask Singita how they keep the animals in the reserve. 

Singita's mission above all else is to preserve and protect the land and the animals that inhabit it, they also strive to uplift, educate and employ the communities around them that share that land. 

Everything about Singita makes you feel good, it's a win/win for everyone involved. They protect the land and the animals with the money from the guests, the lodges employ the locals, the poachers are paid to stop poaching and guard the land, and they raise awareness with the guests and the local communities about the importance of guardianship and conservancy. 

Interesting fact: The Grumeti is home to a single female rhino that lives in a large area (near Sasakwa) that is fenced-in to protect her from poachers and elephants. This female rhino and another male rhino were originally born in the Serengeti and transported to a zoo in the UK, many years later Singita brought them back to the Serengeti and protected them behind an electric fence, until one day an elephant broke through the fence and killed the male rhino, leaving the female all alone. They have a plan, years in the making, to find her a mate.
 
Sasakwa Lodge

December 30th, 2013 - January 1st, 2014

First stop, Sasakwa Lodge for two nights, I would say this is by far the most gentle safari experience of the three Singita lodges that we stayed at in the Grumeti. Perched on a hill, Sasakwa Lodge has a birds eye view of the grand Serengeti plains. The view is nothing less than stunning, it takes your breath away, and it.. is... memorizing. It's a vision much like Hawksview (Estate in St. John Between Trunk and Hawksnest Bay) that seduces the eye, leaving you no choice but to surrender to its magnificent glory. This dreamlike scene just yearns for your long gaze. It's easy to lose yourself, and hard to imagine that you could ever tire of that majestic vision of the vast plains and abundant nature. 

After the trip was complete I found that Sasakwa was truly the best first stop on our tour of the Grumeti, it's captivating to see the grandeur of the place that you're in, before you dig deep into its nooks and crannies. And it gives you great perspective on the adventure that you are about to embark upon. By this point no one is probably reading a word of this, I don't blame you...a picture is worth a thousand words. However, I will tell you that these pictures will never do it justice, because you can't breath the air, hear the sounds of nature all around you, and feel the gentle pink warmth of the sun slowing creeping above the horizon.

Off in the distance there's a large watering hole that is home to a mother, father, and baby hippo that we visited twice.

  Just imagine watching the great wildebeest migration from this vantage point! It's no wonder they call it the 'greatest wildlife spectacle on earth.' Although, I do have my own vision of what could make this natural marvel even more thrilling. I envision a full symphony orchestra set up right there on the lawn of Sasakwa, let's just say NY Philharmonic, playing the work that they commissioned, Dvorak's New World Symphony. Epic.

That famous African sunrise.

Sasakwa is definitely the most elegant and regal lodge, with its old-world charm and antiques. Let's just say it's not difficult to turn away from the view and gaze into the opulent manor house. In my case it was a constant back and forth, a true feast for the eyes. The lodge has a unmistakeable old wealth/British royalty vibe, and it would be impressive to see this manor house in any first world country, let alone in the middle of the Serengeti!! It boggled my mind to think of how they even built it...of course I asked, I had to. It took between 2,000-3,000 people, 12 months to build Sasakwa Lodge. I truly appreciate every detail that went into making Sasakwa what it is, a masterpiece. You can see that it's a labor of love, and a homage to the decadent and luxurious things in life. Yet I must say that with this type of luxury and opulence a certain kind of guest is attracted, luckily there's more than enough space to be secluded at most times. I felt so happy and blessed to be able to appreciate Singita through the eyes of a young woman born and raised in the inner city of Buffalo, NY,  because Sasakwa deserves that kind of gratitude, which from the looks of it, may just be another day in the lives of some of the other guests. But then again, I'll be the first to say, never judge a book by its cover.

Inside the lodge 

 Billiard Room

Peter tapping into his inner Terry Richardson on this one.

Tennis Pavilion

 Overlook

 Private Cottage & Pool

Side note: 

A few days after we got back from Africa I was at Eastern Market Nails visiting my favorite ladies, and a woman in her early 60's sat down next to me to get a pedi, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on her conversation, she had just gotten back from 5 weeks in South America and Antarctica! My ears perked up and my eyes widened. One of my friends at the nail salon asked me about the honeymoon and I mentioned Africa, the well traveled lady beside me  immediately turned toward me and struck up a conversation. She asked me where I had traveled to in Africa, and I said Tanzania, and then she gave me a look and I knew what she was thinking just from the look in her eyes. The next question was... Oh, where in Tanzania? 

I gave her the same look back and the nod, she exhaled with joy as I blurted out Singita Sasakwa Lodge! We both looked at each other with the same stunned look, as if we were part of some secret society. Oh my gosh!! right?? It 's the most beautiful place on earth. She had gone back twice after her first visit, not surprised. She returned specifically to watch the wildebeest migration.  Naturally I asked her, "You seem like quite a world traveler, where do I go from here? What is after Singita?" Unfortunately for me she gave me the 'you peaked to soon' look, and admitted, "yeah, you won't find anything else in the world like Singita Sasakwa." So....I guess that's it. There are other places I would love to visit, but now it's officially confirmed that nothing will be better than Singita, or even on the level of genuine and authentic hospitality, unprecedented cuisine, home-like and luxurious accommodations, and immersion in wildlife/nature. She did however recommend some other safaris and advised me to visit Botswana and South Africa next, our guide Joe at Singita said the same exact thing. Apparently the safari experience in Botswana is different, and just as amazing, you can get even closer to the animals. 

Sasakwa was the perfect way to start our first trip to the Serengeti, yet we were so excited to move on to the next lodge, Faru Faru, where we would get deeper into nature...


 



"Beyond the realms of common sense, beyond the inevitability that populations grow, but the land does not, and beyond the knowledge that Africa's pristine wild areas are in danger of disappearing more rapidly than most can imagine - it is an immutable law that the continent's future lies in the hands of those few who care deeply about her. It is in the hands of the people who have the passion, the knowledge and the dedication that is required to protect her from extinction - the ones who are destined to ensure that nature's cycles and equilibrium are upheld and handed down as a vital legacy to future generations."

- Singita Book