Let’s Have an Indaba!
Have you ever heard of an ‘Indaba’? Don’t worry, most people haven’t.
But if you’re one of the lucky ones who has, either you’ve been to Southern Africa or, luckier still, you’re a former Tasimba guest who experienced an Indaba every day on your safari with us!
Indaba is a Zulu word meaning a discussion or a meeting. In traditional culture, Indabas would take place at all levels of society, from the village up to the paramount chief. Sometimes Indabas would be held in the chief’s meeting hut, but just as often they would be held out in the open under a tree for shade with everyone gathered into a circle. The Indaba would be attended by the senior members and elders of the community where everyone has an equal voice and everyone is expected to contribute their point of view.
The talking circle has been used in all indigenous cultures in different forms. It is simply a time to give anyone an opportunity to speak what is in their hearts and/or on their minds in the presence of supportive witnesses.”
-Larry Merculieff, Traditional Messenger and Teacher
Indaba in the Bush
On our Tasimba safaris, we honor this tradition by holding our daily Indaba out on the savannah, miles from camp. Our guides select a tree with good all-round viewing and some shade and then set out folding camp stools in a circle.
With a mug of hot coffee or a cold drink in their hands, the conversation starts to flow easily. Our guests usually begin by talking about whatever has impacted them most in the past 24 hours of our safari. After a while, as hosts we’ll introduce a topic that has relevance to where we are, both here in this wilderness and in our own lives.
Thoughts to Reflect On
For example, we may talk about what it feels like to be way out of our comfort zone here in the wild, and to observe how that opens our minds to learning and to seeing things through a different lens.
Or we may talk about how we’re experiencing being here where we are completely cut off from the outside world, and how that may be making us realize just how important it is to disconnect regularly in our day-to-day lives.
On another day, after a morning of learning some of the extraordinary skills and art of tracking in the wild, we’ll discuss the tracks that each of us is leaving in our lives for others to follow.
And we’ll definitely talk about the importance of keystone species in nature and bring that conversation into our human context (Spoiler alert: We humans are NOT a keystone species!)
Thought-provoking and meaningful dialogue in our daily Indaba is integral to our Tasimba purpose which is:
To deeply immerse our guests in the inspiration of wildlife, nature and culture in order to help them redefine what’s really important to them in their lives.
Join a Tasimba safari in 2025 and experience Indabas. You will, as our tagline says, “Be Inspired. Naturally”.
“When you spend your life rushing from one crisis to the next,the idea of an Indaba to slow down, open up and reconnect was so impactful…one of my favourite parts of our time with you and the group!”
-Doug Campbell, Tasimba Guest
Tasimba. Indabas in the Bush. Naturally.
Our Next Trip Dates:
Tasimba Signature Safari: December 31st, 2024 to January 7th, 2025 (Sold Out)
Tasimba Signature Safari: April 28th to May 4th, 2025 (Book Now)
Tasimba Signature Safari: May 12th to May 19th, 2025 (Book Now)
Tasimba Signature Safari: November 5th to November 12th, 2025 (Book Now)
We also offer customized Tasimba Safaris for families, friends and affinity groups
