Serving And Saying Goodbyes!
June 19, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
It’s hard to believe we’ve reached our final trip update! Over the past few days, our group wrapped up an incredible adventure full of community service, wildlife, laughter, and plenty of unforgettable memories. While we’re sad our time together is coming to an end, we’re so excited to share one last glimpse into everything this amazing group accomplished.
We began the final section of our trip by transferring to Mongena. The drive flew by as Davis and James rode up front with our driver, learning South African songs and keeping everyone entertained along the way. We even stopped at an American classic, McDonald’s, which quickly became a group favorite, especially once the McFlurries arrived. When we reached our new lodge, zebras and monkeys were wandering right outside our cabins, grazing and exploring right up to the sidewalks. After settling in, we headed out for a sunset boat cruise, where we spotted crocodiles and hippos, while watching the sun sink below the horizon. It was the perfect introduction to our final destination, before a delicious dinner and an early bedtime ahead of our service work.
The next morning, we woke up bright and early and headed to a local village to help repaint a church. We could not have asked for a harder-working group. Armed with rollers and paintbrushes, everyone jumped right in. Everett, with his construction background, quickly became our resident painting expert and shared helpful tips with the rest of the group, while Margaret tackled every wall with incredible attention to detail. Throughout the day, we had two young local girls cheering us on, and Sarah and Liza immediately became their best friends through piggyback rides, bracelet exchanges, and games that created lots of smiles. After putting on the first coat of primer throughout the building, we enjoyed lunch, before heading onto the soccer field with some local kids. The competition was friendly, but spirited, and everyone had a blast! We introduced an even more competitive game of soccer tennis back at the church, where Robert quickly established himself as one of the stars.
That evening, we traded paintbrushes for safari vehicles. One car was lucky enough to spot an entire lion family- a male, two females, and three playful cubs- while the other found a herd of nearly twenty elephants. We reunited at the boathouse for one of the most entertaining nights of the trip: a drumming competition led by local musicians. James and Parks threw themselves into every rhythm, while Greer stole the show during the celebration afterward with an impressive Rockettes-style kick line. Not to be outdone, Morgan wowed everyone by breaking out the worm during the dance party, leaving the entire group cheering. Afterward, we enjoyed another wonderful dinner by the water, before ending the night with Moonup around the fire.
Our second day of service picked up right where we left off, as we finished priming the inside of the church and began working outdoors. The transformation was incredible to watch, and everyone continued working with enthusiasm, despite the warm weather. During breaks, the group mixed hard work with plenty of fun through more soccer tennis matches and time spent playing with the local children. Back at the lodge, downtime meant hacky sack, spikeball, cards, and relaxing by the pool. Ella kept the safari cars laughing with her constant jokes and stories, while Hanes jumped into every group activity with his usual positive attitude, whether that meant joining a game or cheering everyone else on. That evening brought another unique experience, as the group split into teams for a cooking competition, preparing a traditional meal together. Davis and James quickly embraced their inner chefs and took their recipes very seriously, while everyone agreed the final product was delicious, no matter who technically won.
On our final day of service, we finished the remaining primer outside and began adding fresh coats of paint, stepping back at the end of the project to admire everything the group had accomplished together. It was amazing to see how much progress could be made in just a few days with teamwork and positive attitudes. Greer continued encouraging everyone around her throughout the morning, and Margaret and Everett were among the last to put down their rollers, making sure every section looked its best before we packed up.
That afternoon, we set off on one final adventure- a guided bush walk through the reserve. Walking quietly alongside our expert guides gave us a completely different perspective as we encountered rhinos, wildebeest, birds, and countless other animals on foot. The hike led to one final surprise- a beautiful dinner set up in the middle of the bush, followed by our very own bush sleepover. After enjoying an incredible meal together, we gathered around the fire for s’mores, hot chocolate, and stories under the stars. Morgan especially loved the experience of sleeping out in the wilderness, while she and Davis kept everyone entertained with ghost stories late into the evening, before the conversations slowly faded and the group drifted off to sleep in one giant circle of sleeping bags.
The next morning, we were up before sunrise to head back to the lodge before packing for our journey home. One final McDonald’s stop was requested and enthusiastically approved before making our way to the airport. During the drive, Davis patiently taught Corinne (and Claire!) how to solve a Rubik’s Cube, and after plenty of determination and a few failed attempts, we finally solved it ourselves just before arriving at the terminal. It felt like the perfect ending to a trip built on learning new skills and trying new things.
Saying goodbye was far more difficult than either of us expected. This group embraced every challenge, laughed through every long drive, worked incredibly hard during service, and made memories we know will last for years to come. Thank you for trusting us with your amazing kids- it has truly been a privilege to spend the past two-and-a-half weeks together. We couldn’t have had a better group, and we know each of them has a bright future ahead.
Thank you again!
Claire & William
Safari, Silliness, and Sightseeing
June 15, 2026
We can’t believe another few days have already flown by! Since leaving Mozambique, our group has traded surfboards for safari cars, and the adventures have only gotten wilder. Between incredible wildlife sightings, conservation experiences, and countless games around the lodge, this crew continues to impress us with their curiosity, positivity, and ability to make every moment fun.
After saying goodbye to Mozambique, we made the drive back to the airport for an easy flight to Johannesburg. The long travel day was made much more entertaining thanks to Robert, who spent part of the drive sketching portraits of everyone in the group and showing off his artistic talents while everyone else shared snacks and stories. The next morning, we set off for our safari destination, where we were welcomed almost immediately by a family of mongoose before spotting a cheetah on our drive into camp. Once we arrived, everyone celebrated with sparkling grape juice while taking in the incredible views, and the girls were thrilled to discover their “glamping” tents even came with heated blankets. Before the day was over, rhinos wandered right up to the fence outside camp, giving us an unforgettable first evening before our sunset game drive.
Our first full day started bright and early as we visited two magnificent brother cheetahs and learned from the rangers about how they track and monitor these incredible animals. Afterward, we enjoyed lunch by a peaceful lakeside while watching hippos in the distance before heading out to search for even more wildlife. The afternoon brought sightings of two impressive male lions resting in the grass and plenty of giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, antelope, colorful birds, monkeys, and crocodiles along the water. Back at camp, everyone found their favorite way to unwind. Corinne taught the group how to play a new game called Empires before joining Parks for a competitive round of hacky sack. Sarah and Liza quickly proved to have some serious foot skills as well, while Greer claimed victory in a lively game of Bananagrams. Everett embraced the chilly weather with an unexpected cold plunge, and Hanes and Parks enjoyed some quiet time reading together between activities. As always, the evening wrapped up around the fire with Moonup under another beautiful African sky.
The next morning brought one of our favorite experiences yet as everyone had the opportunity to feed rhinos and buffalo from the back of a utility truck. Watching these massive animals gently take food from our hands was something none of us will soon forget, and Morgan was all smiles as she got up close to feed one of the rhinos while Liza enthusiastically volunteered as soon as it was her turn. We also visited A conservation project, where we learned about the incredible work being done to protect one of Africa’s most endangered bird species, and James asked thoughtful questions about the birds’ conservation efforts and how scientists monitor their populations. That afternoon, after tracking fresh footprints through the sand, our guides finally led us to four enormous elephants, and the excitement on every safari car was impossible to contain. Hanes could hardly contain his excitement when the elephants finally emerged from the trees, and Margaret made everyone laugh with her enthusiastic commentary as we watched them from a safe distance. Between game drives, the lodge was filled with spikeball matches, cards, hacky sack, and plenty of laughter, with Ella keeping everyone entertained with her endless jokes and stories.
Our final full day at the reserve may have been the most memorable of the trip so far. Working alongside veterinarians and conservation staff, we participated in an incredible rhino health check after the animal had been safely darted for a routine examination. Morgan and Everett rode in the special dart vehicle and helped position the rhino once she was asleep, while Sarah and Greer carefully monitored her breathing by administering oxygen and counting respirations throughout the procedure. Parks and Ella assisted with placing the tracking anklet, Robert helped administer one of the rhino’s injections, and Davis worked with the veterinary team to trim a small piece from the rhino’s ear for identification purposes. In perhaps the most unforgettable assignment of the day, Margaret assisted with the rhino’s pregnancy and digestive examination by helping with a hands-on veterinary procedure that required reaching a little farther than most people ever expect to. Her proud retelling of the experience had the entire group laughing. We enjoyed lunch atop a stunning rock formation before heading back out on another game drive, where Sarah made an incredible spot by finding a serval cat-such a rare sighting that even our guide said it was one of the first she had ever seen in the wild.
Throughout our stay, everyone found little ways to make camp feel like home. James perfected increasingly impressive hacky sack tricks, eventually learning to bounce the bag off his back and even his hat. Greer continued to dominate word games, Corinne kept everyone learning new activities, and Hanes proudly claimed victory in the South African game we called “poop spit”. We will let the kids explain this one! Margaret became known for generously sharing snacks, although she may never forgive the cheeky monkeys that managed to steal her Oreos. Davis became such good friends with several of the guides that saying goodbye was genuinely difficult. Everywhere we went, Robert always seemed to have his camera in hand, capturing memories from the safari car, while Ella’s humor kept everyone smiling through even the earliest wake-up calls.
As we packed up to leave the reserve, there was definitely a sense of sadness about saying goodbye to our incredible guides and this amazing place. At the same time, everyone is excited for the next chapter of our adventure as we head into our community service projects and continue exploring South Africa together. We are so grateful for this group’s enthusiasm, kindness, and willingness to embrace every new experience. Thank you again for sharing your wonderful kids with us– we can’t wait to tell you about the next set of adventures!
Until next time,
Claire & William
Here are some words from the kids!
Davis- Hey what’s up Mom and Dad, trip is really fun, I’m having a great time, seeing a lot of cool and new animals, and becoming part Africa through the brotherhood where I’ve been taken in as one of their own, thank you again and see you soon.
Robert- Hey mom and dad, the trip is really really fun! I am having a really good time and have continued to bond with so many amazing people. I have seen so many cool animals and it’s so cool. Love you guys so much and love you Hattie as well!
Ella- Hey mom dad and Hank. I miss y’all and my friends. I’m having a lot of fun and the glamorous camping was fun and nice. All the places are nice and I love all the people in my group. I miss my friends.
Everett- Hey guys I love y’all so much, thank you for sending me on this trip
Parks- Hey mom and dad, I miss y’all so much! We just finished “glamping” and now we are doing community service. I love y’all so much and I can’t to tell y’all all about my trip!
Hanes- Hey mom and dad this trip is amazing. I’m having so much fun. Also mom happy birthday I love you so much. I will tell y’all about camp when I get back.
Liza- Hi mom! I miss you and love you! I’m having so much fun! There’s literally zebras pooping outside me Ella and Sarah’s window right now. Love you! Also how is Mary?? I think she had good counselors.
James- Hi mom and dad. I am having a lot of fun and I really miss y’all. I can’t wait for Scotland and playing golf. Bye love y’all
Greer: hey mom and dad happy birthday mom I miss you so much wish I was with you today I lowk told y’all too much in my last note so I’ll tell you more next time I see I love y’all and miss y’all so much can’t wait to see y’all!
Sarah: hi mom and dad I miss y’all so much and I’m having more fun obviously. We have seen so many animals like lions and stuff but I’ve gotten some cute pics too. The food has been so good so don’t worry and we had McDonald’s and we stop to get snacks and it’s the best. Everyone is so funny here but I love u so much and tell neve and Ty I miss them!!!
Margaret: hi everyone!!! We got to go on so many safaris and I got to feed and dart a rhino and it was so so fun. We got to get McDonald’s and it was really good the food has also been so good in general, major step up from Maui. There are zebras right outside of our room and the place we’re staying is so nice! Love and miss you byeee!!!!
Morgan: hey mom and dad, safari’s were fun, I saw a lot of cool stuff and took videos, can’t wait to go home and see everybody. Mom I hope you’re having fun in Italy with Sydney!! Love you and miss you all.
Corinne: hi mom and dad!! I can’t believe the trip is almost over!! I’m so excited to see y’all and all my friends when I get home. We are about to go on a safari and we did community service today and we have it for the next two days too. Love and miss yall!!
Update from SAF!
June 9, 2026
We can’t believe how much has already happened in just a few days! It feels like we’ve known this group for weeks, and every day brings another round of adventures, laughter, and inside jokes. From surfing and sailing to cooking and late-night games, this crew has embraced every opportunity with excitement and curiosity.
After landing in Johannesburg on Thursday evening, everyone was definitely feeling the effects of a long travel day. We grabbed some pizza, settled in for the night, and got some much-needed rest before the next leg of our adventure. The next morning, the energy was completely different as we boarded our flight to Mozambique. The view from the plane was unforgettable-pristine turquoise water, towering sand dunes, and lush green vegetation stretched for miles and looked like something straight out of a movie. Without phones for entertainment, the group spent the flight getting to know one another, and Everett kept everyone laughing with story after story that made the time fly by.
After a long drive through vibrant villages and beautiful countryside, everyone enjoyed taking in a glimpse of daily life and soaking up the scenery before arriving at our beachside hostel. We were greeted with a delicious spaghetti bolognese dinner followed by brownies and ice cream, which was an instant crowd favorite. We wrapped up the evening with our very first Moonup on the beach under one of the clearest night skies imaginable. With almost no light pollution, the stars seemed endless, and Hanes even spotted a shooting star before everyone happily headed off to bed.
The next morning started bright and early, with James and Robert getting in a sunrise beach run before the rest of the group was even awake. After enjoying banana crepes for breakfast, we headed out for our first surfing lesson. The waves were challenging, but this group absolutely crushed it. Morgan looked like a natural, confidently paddling into bigger waves, while Hanes picked up surfing as if he had been doing it his whole life. Everyone left the water exhausted but smiling after battling through the surf. We spent the afternoon playing beach volleyball, where Greer impressed everyone with her serves while Davis kept the energy high with a perfectly curated playlist. Before lunch, the group also took time to help clean up litter along the beach, leaving the area a little better than they found it.
After hamburgers and fries, we climbed aboard inflatable rigid-hull boats for an ocean safari in search of marine life. Although the whales stayed hidden this time, the ride itself was unforgettable. Greer and Corinne could not stop laughing every time a wave splashed over the boat, and the boys enthusiastically jumped into the water among a swarm of harmless jellyfish at the end of the trip. Back at the hostel, downtime quickly turned into game time as Ella introduced everyone to Dutch Blitz while James and Davis settled into an intense chess match. That evening, our first Leaders of the Day, Davis and Liza, led an awesome Moonup that finished with an energetic game of Mafia and plenty of laughs.
The following morning greeted us with some unexpected rain, giving everyone a chance to slow down over breakfast with games of Uno, hacky sack, and conversation before the skies cleared. Once the weather passed, we walked to a nearby village for a traditional cooking lesson. We learned how cassava leaves are transformed into matapa, a rich local dish made with coconut and peanuts that accompanied our lunch of rice, barracuda, and fresh tropical fruit. Robert and Ella took charge of stirring inside the cookhouse while Morgan asked thoughtful questions about the ingredients and cooking techniques. Margaret and Parks got creative shaping bread dough into pretzels, hearts, and letters before baking it alongside the meal. The entire group agreed it might have been our favorite lunch so far. Before leaving, everyone enjoyed jumping rope and playing with local children, making for a really special afternoon.
Later that evening, we headed to the coast for a sunset sail aboard a traditional wooden dhow, the historic sailing vessels that have transported people and goods along Mozambique’s coastline for generations. Ella’s music once again got everyone excited on the drive over, and once aboard, the girls had a blast taking photos and sipping glass sodas while the boys eagerly shifted from side to side under the captain’s instructions to help balance the boat. We snacked on guacamole and crackers as we drifted across the water, and Everett and Davis even got the chance to help steer the boat alongside the captain. Back at the hostel, Ella and Robert led another memorable Moonup complete with secret handshakes and a scavenger hunt before everyone settled in for the night-except for James and Corinne, who continued their increasingly competitive board game rivalry.
Our final full day in Mozambique brought even more surfing and volleyball, and somehow the excitement hadn’t worn off one bit. Corinne, Liza, and Sarah captured some incredible GoPro footage that we can’t wait to share later this summer. During our afternoon boat ride, everyone soaked up the sunshine while admiring one of the most spectacular coastlines any of us had ever seen, with towering forested dunes meeting brilliant turquoise water. Davis continued building friendships with our surf instructors, who were genuinely sad to see him leave, and the conversations on board made the ride feel just as special as the scenery.
From there, we piled into the famously bumpy local trucks and headed to the market, where everyone had fun browsing hand-carved wooden artwork, paintings, jewelry, and souvenirs. Sarah showed off some impressive bargaining skills while shopping for gifts, and Morgan negotiated a great deal on a penny purse that left everyone cheering. Liza, as always, kept spirits high by generously sharing both her chocolate and her trusty spray mouthwash with anyone who needed it. Margaret continued her unofficial role as snack distributor, happily sharing treats with the group during long drives, while Parks gave one hundred percent effort in everything from surfing and volleyball to hacky sack and games, making him a constant source of positivity.
That evening, Morgan and Parks led a thoughtful Moonup that wrapped up with an enthusiastic rock-paper-scissors tournament before the group settled into one final night together in Mozambique. Meanwhile, the legendary competition between James and Corinne carried on, this time with a dramatic checkers finale that ended in a controversial quadruple jump and plenty of debate over whether the move was actually legal. We’re still not sure there’s a definitive champion.
As we packed up and made our way toward the airport, the laughter certainly didn’t stop. Robert spent part of the drive creating hilarious portraits of nearly everyone in the group, while Morgan passed around her journal and pink pen so friends could leave drawings and notes for one another. Between the endless card games, stories, shared snacks, and conversations, it’s hard to believe we’re only getting started.
We are so excited for everything still ahead in South Africa. Thank you all for trusting us with such an incredible group of kids-they have been adventurous, kind, hilarious, and eager to try every new experience that comes their way. We can’t wait to share more stories soon!Until next time,Claire & William
Ella-hey mom and dad having so much fun rn we are otw to South Africa abut we just had fun in Mozambique. Surfing was fun and we did cooking class miss y’all hope I’m not missing out on too much. Byeee love y’all. ….. I miss you
Sarah-hi mom and dad I’m having so much funnn we have gone to Mozambique and we are now otw to South Africa! We surfed and cooked and road on this boat that was freezing then it got better. But it’s so much fun seeing different ways people live. i love y’all and tell neve that i hope she is making good decisions and tell Ty and his family that I’m having so much fun and miss them too!!!
Liza-Hiii mom!! Tell dad I say hi and I love him! Right now we are on a 6 hour drive. I love my group we’re having so much fun. I miss you so much and Emma and brooks. I’m so excited to tell y’all all about my trip. Thank you so much for letting me go. I also am wondering how Mary is doing and how her trip is going.
Margaret-hi mom and dad!!! Tell Andy and whit that I say hi and that I miss them! I love and miss y’all so much and I am having so so much fun. My group is so awesome and I’m having the best time ever. We have been in Mozambique for the trip so far and we’re leaving on a 6 hour car ride to the airport right now. We’re going back to South Africa for the safari’s and I’m so exited. We got to surf and cook food in Mozambique and the place we stayed was so fun. We also got to go on a boat thing which was really awesome. I’m some how having an even better time than I was in Maui!! I can’t wait to tell you all about the trip. Love and miss you guys so much!!!
Corinne-hi mom and dad!! I am having so much fun and I love my group so much!! Right now we are on the six hour drive to the airport to fly back to South Africa. We spent the past couple days in Mozambique which was really fun and when you read this tomorrow I will be in South Africa!! If you see my friends around please tell them I love them and I miss them so much!! tell cate and Henry I miss them and love them!! Also Claire is so awesome and I love her!! Love y’all and miss y’all!!
Greer-Hi Mom and dad I miss y’all so much I’ve had the best time we stayed at the hotel next to the airport when we landed them the next morning we flew this little plane to Mozambique and drove 6 hours to our hotel there we the first day there we surfed which was so much fun I loved it then later we played volleyball and picked up trash for a little and then we ate lunch and went on a very cold and windy boat ride looking for a whale shark we didn’t find one but it was still fun then we went back to the hotel and played cards and spoons then we ate dinner we’ve gone into the market and I love my group so much I’ll have so many fun stories to tell y’all when I’m home!!! I love and miss y’all so much tell Hudson I said hi! Thank y’all so much for this amazing trip!!!!! And happy early birthday Mom I love you more than words can express!
Morgan-hey mom, I love Africa it’s so pretty we just left Mozambique which was the warm part of the trip and now we are heading to South Africa. I’ve been taking lots of videos for you guys on my camera, thank you for getting it for me. We went to the market yesterday and I bargained with some guys and got you all little gifts, because I always think of you when I’m shopping!!! (Don’t forget about me in Italy) I miss you and I miss Sydney too you can tell her that oh and tell Sydney to tell Jose I miss her too see ha soonHey dad, I hope you have been practicing your boating skills, I will expect improvement upon my return! I miss you too and hope your life isn’t too boring without me see you soon.
Robert-Hey mom, dad, Mimi, Grandaddy, Lucy, granny aunt Em, and Hattie! I miss y’all so much. I want to tell you that I am having so much fun! We are traveling to the airport right now from Mozambique where we did many fun sunset boat rides, snorkeling, and making cultural dishes with a local village! I want to thank you so much for getting the opportunity to go on this trip it has been such a cool experience so far. I have met so many amazing people and am having so much fun. Also Hattie, Corinne says hello and that she misses you so much!
Everett-Hey mom and dad I love y’all so much thank you guys for sending me here.
James-Hey mom and dad it is pretty fun. I met some natives here and they took me as their own.
Parks-Hey mom and dad, I am so grateful for this wonderful experience. We just finished the Mozambique portion of the trip. I learned how to surf…. it was so fun! I love and miss y’all and I can’t wait to share my experience. Thank you mom and dad!
Hanes-Hey mom and dad this trip is amazing I learnt how to surf and I figured out I’m really good at it. We are almost done with the Mozambique portion of the trip. And I hope Hudson’s hair grows back before I’m back. But I can’t wait to see y’all and tell y’all about everything. I love y’all soo much .
Davis-Hey mom and dad, I’m having fun here, hope your trips were fun, see you soon.
SAF 1B: Arrived!
June 4, 2026
Hello South Africa + Mozambique Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Johannesburg! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure as they prepare to begin their surfing + ocean safari section!
Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
