“I
live in a small world - but it just got larger!"
By estimates there are only about 500 million
of "us" in the world - maybe as few
as 50 million if you want to be technical.
Who's "us?" People with disabilities.
People who use wheelchairs. So being part of such a small group it is only
natural that a few of us would know each other.
We work together to make the world bigger for
each other.
My safari with Alfie and Epic Enabled made
my world larger. Of course seeing the Big Five
all before lunch in the Kruger then starting
on "Big Five, Season Two" in the afternoon
expanded my idea of what makes for a good day.
Yet there was something else going on.
It
was a wheelchair-using English fellow living
in Belgium who put me in touch with Epic. Although
I was previously influenced by an American friend
in Chicago who did a study of the accessibility
of South African tourism products, nudged ahead
by an Indian with family in Brazil who told
me more stories about accessible safaris, and
intrigued by the interest in my potential trip
shown by travel professional colleagues - all
of whom specialize in serving travelers with
disabilities: a Canadian, an Australian, several
Thais, a German, a Pakistani, and one temporarily
Nicaraguan.
I think it was two other professional colleagues
- each with heartstrings attached to someone
special in South Africa - whose uniquely English
and Chinese insights into South Africa convinced
me to go. It didn't hurt that I had a personal
invitation from a tour operator in Kwazulu Natal
(Jennae Bezuidenhout of Access 2 Africa Safaris)
and knew that her husband is a quadriplegic
like I am.
My story of apparent "over-researching"
for the trip is not at all uncommon among travelers
with disabilities. Studies show that we depend
more on word-of-mouth recommendations when making
the decision to travel than any other sector
of the market.
And the research paid off.
I can heartily endorse Alfie, Sabine - the
entire crew at Epic Enabled - because I traveled
through the Kruger with Epic (and on the way
encountered a most uncomfortable traveler's
health condition that Alfie unhesitatingly helped
me resolve.)
Others have told the story of the amazing wildlife
and hearty food served out in the pristine veldt.
My memories center on someone who has built
a unique business - driving the whole safari
industry and South African national tourism
industry to greater standards of excellence.
Thank you Epic. Thank you Alfie.
Come to think of it, maybe my world just got
smaller.
Once I got home a journalist friend in Chennai
wrote after seeing my photos, "Oh, I see
you met Savannah too!" Now I'm also part
of the small confraternity of travelers with
disabilities who have taken a long walk down
a country road with a wild lion!”
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