July 19, 2024
A lot has happened since we last checked in, and this trip has been incredible! We continued with community service at the daycare, and the girls did an incredible job without complaining once. We painted the daycare a lovely blue color, which was very cheerful. We listened to tunes while we worked, and Hadley and Cheri Claire made friends with a little boy named Peńo, helping him paint the building. We also hung out with an older boy named Brendan, who loves hanging out with the girls and teaching them his dance moves. Madalyn, Ashlyn, and Brendan made a dancing video and had a great time. Rowan paid great attention to all the little details while painting. We finished the majority of the building, and it looked amazing and bright. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Ahna and everyone in the community. It was a very sad and heartfelt moment, but they were so grateful for the work we had done, and we know the girls took a lot from this experience. Next, we headed out on our evening safari drive, which was pretty amazing. We got up close and personal with an entire herd of elephants. One even stopped by and said hello to one of our cars, brushing its trunk against the side. It was a very rare and special moment. We saw all thirty elephants crossing with their babies, which was so special. We ended the drive with drinks and snacks as the sun dipped over the bush. We returned to Little Mongena, where we had a surprise for the evening: a cooking competition to make Poike stew, a traditional African stew made with chicken, veggies, potatoes, and butternut squash. We split into two teams: Team 2 (Cheri Claire, Ben, Ashlynn, Ann, Towne, and Georgie) and Team 1 (Julianna, Olivia, Abby, Rowan, Ella, Hadley, and Madalyn). Team 2 won the competition as the staff voted theirs the best. We had a beautiful dinner afterward, where both teams tried each other’s stews. We ended the night with a Moonup and laughs, then went to bed, as we had a big travel day ahead! We woke up very early the next day, said goodbye to the amazing staff at Little Mongena, and headed out for our adventures in Mozambique! We set out for the Johannesburg airport, checked in, and made it to our gate. After a safe flight to Mozambique, we were greeted with warm weather and a nice breeze. We set out for our six-hour car drive, which all the girls were super high-spirited about. This drive is one of our favorite parts of the trip, as it allows the girls to see a large part of Mozambique and experience the country’s unique and rich culture. The girls had a blast singing along the entire time. We cruised down to the coast and stopped at the Tropic of Capricorn to take a photo. The drive ended with a beautiful sunset as we drove through a forest of palm trees, with the girls singing to the music. Finally, we arrived at the beautiful Tilak Lodge, owned by the wonderful Brodie! Although Brodie couldn’t meet us due to an injury, we were greeted by her incredible husband, Dan. The girls settled into their bunk rooms, and we had our first dinner with the sounds of waves crashing in the background. The next morning, we woke up for our first ocean safari! After a delicious crepe breakfast, we headed down to Tofo Scuba for the next few days. Our ocean safari began on a beautiful morning with blue skies. We saw some humpback whales up close as they have just arrived in Mozambique! We returned to Tofo Scuba for some relaxation. Towne, Ben, Hadley, Ashlynn, Georgie, Madalyn, and Abby played beach volleyball while the other girls tanned and read on the beach. We all played in the waves and had lunch before getting ready for our first day of surfing. We walked down to the surf shack and met our surfing guides. Although the surf wasn’t great, we still had a wonderful time and caught some waves. Olivia, Rowan, and Hadley were naturals! Next, Abby, Ann, Ashlynn, Georgie, and Ben did a sunset swim, enjoying an hour of body surfing under the beautiful sky. We returned to the lodge for dinner and dessert, then headed to bed. We woke up for sunrise the next morning and saw whales jumping on the horizon. Towne, Hadley, Cheri Claire, and Ella did a sunrise walk, while Georgie, Abby, Ann, and Ashlynn did a sunrise swim. After breakfast, we had a morning surf with crystal clear water. Following surfing, we relaxed at Tilak, swimming, reading, and tanning. We then headed out for our second ocean safari. Initially, we didn’t see anything, but Hadley pointed out some bottlenose dolphins, and we jumped in to swim with them briefly before they swam away! It was a cool experience. We continued the boat ride, listening to tunes and riding the waves. Returning to Tofo Scuba, a driver took us to the Mozambique market. We hopped in the back of the truck and headed to the beach market, which offers beautiful homemade jewelry, art, wood pieces, and fresh fruit. The girls had a field day bargaining for their favorite items. Rowan, Olivia, Hadley, Ashlynn, and Abby got some beautiful bracelets, while Cheri Claire and Towne bought wooden spoons. The next morning, we woke up before sunrise for a beach walk/hike to Tofino Point, about an hour away. We had a stunning sunrise the entire way, with whales jumping and waves crashing against the rocks. It was an incredible way to start the morning. We returned to the market for last-minute purchases before meeting Tony, a Tofo Beach local, who welcomed us into his home for a cultural immersion activity. His brother climbed a coconut tree to chop down coconuts, which the girls loved. Tony and his mother showed the girls how to make a coconut sauce, with Georgie excelling at shaving coconut and squeezing it to make coconut milk. We also made homemade coconut bread. Tony and his family cooked a delicious meal of fresh fish, pineapple, coconut rice, and bread with homemade sauces. After the meal, we returned to the lodge for some rest before our next activity. Tony met us at the lodge, and we geared up for a traditional dhow boat ride in the bay. We stopped at various places for surprises, including coconut bread, sodas, and snacks. At the bay, we met our dhow boat captain and waded through the water to get on the boat. We cruised around the bay, spotting wild flamingos lounging on the sand. Ben, Georgie, and Abby got out to see them up close. We continued sailing through the mangrove trees, watching the sunset over the bay. It was a beautiful end to our adventures in Mozambique. Unfortunately, our time here has come to an end, and we are currently on our way back to South Africa, excited to return to safari life. This trip has been amazing, and we can’t wait to see what else is in store! Here are some messages from the girls!
Cheri Claire- hey mom, dad, Caden, Cg, Camden, and leia!! I’m having so much fun in Africa and miss yall so much. Thank you for sending me on this incredible trip. Can’t wait to see yall! Love yall💗💗
Olivia – hi mom and dad! I am having so much fun in Africa! I miss you guys so much, but very happy you guys let me go on this trip! Love you guys so much!
Ella- Hi everyone!! I’m having so much fun here it’s amazing I never want to leave!! Thought I actually saw Parker yesterday 😅Can’t wait to see everyone, miss and love yall so much!!
Towne- Hiii!! I miss yall SO SO much!! I am so happy and surprised I actually am here! I can’t type that much so I love yall so much and thank you for letting me come on this trip! The people here are so nice, I am so excited to tell you about them when I get home! This is the coolest trip I have ever been on! Love yall!!
Hadley- Heyyyyyy miss all of yall. I’m having the best time ever! This trip has brought me new friendships and memories I will never forget. In case you’re wondering I have journaled every night. Hunter good luck at junior am say hi to Blades for me 😀😀. Thank you thank you thank you for letting me experience moondance!! LOVE YALL
Ann – Heyyy Mom!! I’m having the best time!! I love it here so so sooo much. I can’t wait to tell yall all about it. I miss and love you so much ❤️❤️
Madalyn – Hi fam I am having the best time in South Africa and Mozambique!! I have had the most wonderful experiences and the most fun with these amazing people!! Special thank you to Indie for this trip thank you so so so so much!! Love yall!! ❤️❤️
Abby – Hi mom and dad! Thank you so much for letting me come on this trip because I am having such an amazing experience in South Africa and Mozambique! Everyone is so nice and everything I have gotten to do has been so fun! I love you guys so much!
Georgie – hey mom, dad, and Addie!! I’m having the best time here with everyone and I’ve seen so many cool things that I can’t wait to share with y’all. Thank y’all so much for letting me come on the amazing trip! I love and miss yall and the dogs so much!
Ashlynn- Hey!! I miss you guys! I am having so much fun in South Africa and Mozambique!!! All of the activities are so so cool and the girls are so nice!! Thank you for letting me come on this trip and experience all of the amazing things it comes with! I can’t wait to tell you all about it!! love you!! 💗💗
Rowan-Hey Mom and Dad! I miss you both so much and I can’t wait to see you and tell you all about my trip, I bought a few gifts for you that I think you will like. I’m having a pretty good time and I’m excited to see you. Love you!!❤️❤️
July 13, 2024
Greetings South African Families and Friends!
Our adventure in South Africa has just begun, but it already feels like we’ve been together for a lifetime! From the moment we arrived in Johannesburg, the energy and enthusiasm of this group of girls have been absolutely infectious. We’ve made incredible memories since the group’s arrival, and it’s amazing to see the bonds forming so quickly.
After gathering at the airport, we checked into the City Lodge Hotel for our first night. The girls settled into their rooms, and we enjoyed a delightful dinner filled with great conversations. Following dinner, we had our first Moonup, a time when we come together to reflect on the day and ask insightful questions. The first Moonup went wonderfully, and Rowan and Ann were elected as our first leaders of the day.
The next morning, we set off for Mongena Safari Lodge, where the adventure truly began. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by four giraffes, much to Cheri Claire’s delight, as this was the animal she was most excited to see. As we drove to the lodge, we saw dozens of monkeys, which thrilled the girls. We arrived at our beautiful lodge site, right on the water overlooking the bush, and settled into our tents. While waiting for lunch, we played games and enjoyed the stunning surroundings.
We had our first lunch overlooking the entire bush, followed by a relaxing afternoon around the pool. Later, we embarked on a sunset boat safari with our great ranger, Declan, who guided us through a dam full of Nile crocodiles and hippos. The girls loved watching the sunset, eating snacks, and chatting on the cruise. We returned to camp to find a huge fire and a beautifully set dinner table awaiting us. We sat around the fire, chatted, and were surprised with a traditional African drum lesson. Ann, Towne, Abby, and Georgie were particularly good drummers! We danced and sang until it was time for a delicious dinner of steak and pasta. We ended the night with a Moonup around the fire before retreating to our tents, surrounded by the sounds of wild animals in the bush.
The next morning, we woke up early for an incredible breakfast to fuel us for our first day of community service. Our guides picked us up in a truck, and we headed to the Mongena Community, where we met Anna, the community leader. She told us we would be painting the daycare center that houses many orphan children in the community. The girls got to work immediately with great attitudes and paintbrushes in hand. Rowan, Madalyn, and Olivia were especially diligent, hardly putting their brushes down. Later, we had the opportunity to play with the kids in the daycare, which was a truly special moment. The children, so full of joy, enjoyed playing with the girls, and it was heartwarming to see the bonds forming.
After wrapping up our work for the day, we returned to Little Mongena and surprised the girls with a special night ahead. We told them to pack warmly for a bush walk, a safari on foot. After a two-mile walk through the bush, we arrived at a secluded spot where dinner and a fire were set up. The girls were thrilled to learn they would be sleeping in the bush for the night. We gathered around the fire for dinner and played a fun game called “Three People on a Couch.” Even the rangers, who were staying with us for protection, joined in. Afterward, we had our Moonup and prepared for bed, layering up for the cold night ahead. We ended the night watching the Milky Way and listening to calming music as we fell asleep. However, by 2 AM, the cold set in, and we all gathered around the fire to stay warm, telling stories and chatting until sunrise. Despite the freezing temperatures, the night brought us closer together, and we couldn’t stop talking about it all day.
After breakfast, we headed back to the community for another day of painting the daycare. The girls did an incredible job, even with little sleep. We returned to Little Mongena for our first official game drive and were incredibly lucky to see a male alpha lion, a female lion, and an entire herd of elephants. It was an awe-inspiring experience. We ended the day with a beautiful sunset over the bush and a delicious dinner back at the lodge.
This trip has been nothing short of extraordinary, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group. We are so excited to be ending our summer with such a sweet and fun group of girls. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the trip brings!
July 10, 2024
Hello South Africa +Mozambique Families!
All students have landed safely in Johannesburg and the group is headed to their first activity! The trip is off to a great start and we can’t wait to share more updates from their adventure.
-Moondance HQ