To travel is to see
Experiencing the allure of the ocean, the writer reminisces on the Durban trip
I was excited to be finally traveling to Durban, and like most of my trips, I kept tossing throughout the night, eagerly waiting for the next day. The day finally came and I was just excited that I would be boarding three flights in a day. My journey started off from Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, where I boarded Air Botswana. I must say that I’m always enthused by anything that belongs to my country and so each time I use Air Botswana, I just feel proud about my country and anticipate grabbing that small pack of dry meat or ‘ segwapa’, although I don’t eat red meat. I always have someone from my family waiting for this and they would specifically tell me whether to get chilli flavor or not. Surprisingly, this time around none reminded me to pack it, but I had to just grab it for whoever would ask anyway. I was looking forward to reach OR Tambo airport. It has been a very long time since I traveled via OR Tambo and so I just couldn’t wait to find myself strolling around this big airport. Compared to Sir Seretse Khama airport, it is ten folds beautiful, busy and just too modern. All that was on my mind was those duty free shops. I usually enjoy passing time in these shops while waiting for my next flight but sadly I had only 40 minutes before my check- in time to my final destination, Durban.
It was the first time I flew without my little travel buddy, my son. I found it strange but the moment I reached OR Tambo, I found myself smiling and realizing that, with the way the airport was packed it was only better to travel alone. I felt a sigh of relief and wore a whole new mood of traveling alone for the first time ever since I became a mother in 2022. I quickly got into two shops before I found my check- in gate, on my way to King Shaka International Airport. My mission was to grab just something for my son in the shops and I was the happiest mother after I got him that lovely teddy bear from one of the shops. I then headed to my last flight of the day where I was reminded that I was a ‘ priority’ class client. This brought a smile to my face. I was actually traveling to the NEWF 2024 Congress summit held at Elangeni Hotel in Durban. My research had indicated to me that the hotel was just less than five minutes walk from North Beach ocean and so I anxiously waited to arrive and have my first encounter with the ocean. I badly wanted to prove that whatever I have always seen in pictures was real. Coming from Botswana, where there are no oceans, I just couldn’t wait for my first experience as I was only familiar with rivers. I arrived safely at King Shaka Airport and it was a lovely view. I had my quick snack at KFC while waiting for my shuttle to the Elangeni Hotel.
It was quite a long trip than I expected, it was 33.6 Km from the Airport to the hotel, long and literally about an hour’s drive. Nonetheless, we finally arrived and I was excited to have window view of the ocean. I was lodged at floor 18, which allowed for a perfect view from above and thank God, this already gave me a full picture of what to expect before I went to the ocean the following day. I wouldn’t really want to show strangers that I’m experiencing something for the first time so I had to be smart and familiarize myself with the whole scene in my heart. While I was excited to join the NEWF 2024 summit, I was equally excited to view my location and refresh from my daily routine. It felt like a solo holiday where I was faced with work and relaxation in a new environment.
I also had a chance to visit one of the fancy malls, ’ Starbucks Mall’. It is a great shopping mall with a variety of shops from restaurants, clothing stores and supermarkets. It is one of the biggest malls and going there was just worth it because I had never been to such before. I had to use an Uber for the first time in Durban. I went on a young adventurous trip to Starbucks Mall with my countryman artiste, Koolkat Motyiko and we explored the mall briefly while the Uber was waiting to take us back to our home, ‘ Elangeni Hotel’.
When I travelled back to Botswana, I must admit that I was rejuvenated and felt quite anew. My mission was accomplished, I have seen the ocean, played in the water and just the sound of the ocean offered that therapeutic feeling. My list of travel destinations has earned a tick as I have finally managed to see an ocean and been to my favourite airport, OR Tambo in Joburg. In Botswana, we say to travel is to see, and I’m definitely on that tip, to acknowledge the beautiful world that the Lord has created.