LumkaO

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

https://t.co/6eDzggxShN

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@Afrok_travel Truly. They respect us too. Our history, our culture, our politics. It was a great week!

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

3 sleeps to my birthday!

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@kula2_kulati @Afrok_travel 😂😂😂😂

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

And they love our music. Why I am dancing to Y-tjukutja odityaniswe nezabo kude nekhaya? Ndisamamela ndive ngena ngevosho! I don’t even have someone to ask: “ndiva kakuhle?” @Afrok_travel you owe me nothing bantase. This is what I needed leading up to my birthday. I might try other countries, imali ikhona.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@kanyazim Oh maani!

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

I am learning that as a South African, we are socialised differently when it comes to animals. We may not be fully aware when we are at home but we are. During the time I was in Dakar, I noticed that there were too many stray dogs in that city. Unhealthy dogs that moved in packs in the morning. Such that there was a traffic jam because they were just all over the place. I am yet to research what could be the issue here. My eyes itch every time I relate this story. Fast forward to the hotel I was in when a tourist was holding a dog and started approaching one of the hotel staff. I could see she was visibly shaken at the sight of the dog. More like how we feel when we see la nja yamabhulu ayesityisa ngayo. I then went to the Ranch where they keep the lions and do some show for you where lions jump over the Jeep for the delight of tourists. When I saw that there was an electric fence around the Ranch, my heart sank a little bit. When I heard that the lions were actually from South Africa, ingqondo yam started thinking all sorts of things. My mind went straight to how our lions are allowed to roam free in their wild. To Hluhluwe where we stop for the lions and elephants when they are on the road. Sana, iphi iSPCA yalapha? Are there no animal rights organisations. I then remembered I am from another country and akukho sekhaya apha. Imizi ayifani. Namasiko awafani. What was meant to be a 30 minute show of the lions jumping on and off the Jeep, I asked for it to be cut short. 5 minutes was enough. I accepted that we are different and are socialised differently. I kept thinking zifike njani iingonyama zethu apha kude kangaka? It was interesting to hear that prostitution is legal in Senegal but under very strict conditions. While they don’t consider themselves a Muslim country, majority citizens are Muslim. They are clear in making that differentiation. Their HIV infection rate is low. Could it be a matter of priorities? Maybe andazi.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@MsKnowItAllSA @SerapaSaGodimo 🤷🏻‍♀️

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@Ayandaloti @ThetoThakane Ewe. Imoto zifike zizozigonya. There are academic vet clinics as well. Hayi azinoba sabuya. UMadiba unabantwana nesizukulwana. I40 yonke. Kusebathenjini.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

Eyi mntase. They are sophisticated. They have infrastructure. They move around real money, people and very illicit goods. I think we have only touched the surface of this thing. They have private jets and use private airlines. Own properties and have big cars that move them smoothly in the country. Even Thai and Chinese. We really need a costructive conversation here. It is multi-layered.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@kaysexwale Nhe?

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

Today, I left Dakar for another city, Saly. On the way, we decided to do a bit of sightseeing and went to a place called the Lion Ranch. This is some mini Kruger national park wethu, a very tiny putsananadzedze of Kruger National Park. Uzuqonde ke nyhani iyazanywa kukho iingonyama ne ndlulamthi. Yima ndikubalisele! Okokuqala kukho ielectric fence. Ndothukela ngaphakathi. Kwathiwa ke siya ezingonyameni. Heee wethu ndifika kusithiwa ezingonyama zithathwe apha ekhaya. Zasiwa pha! Andifiki kusithiwa nguMadiba utata weza ngonyama? Uzalisile ke pha uDlomo kuse Bathenjini. Abantwana afike wabenza benza abanye bayi 40 in total. Umama wapha nguWinnie. Ndaqonda ndonqena nobuza ba are they illegal immigrants na? Kodwa ke bade baqeqeshwa for la msebenzi bawuzeleyo. Bakhwele phezu kwala Jeep. Ndaqonda mandiphume kwi animal rights nton nton’ iDiba lilapha ke ngoku and akhonto ingenziwa!

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

Ndizolala ndiphelile. Ayithinerary yosuku iphela ebusuku. Ndizolala on the plane. That time my kids have plans for me when I land right into Sunday, my birthday.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@akanyangm They even named the male lion Madiba and the female Winnie.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@ThetoThakane I was telling my friend about cats too.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@ms_tourist @grok My eyes itch when I relate it.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@grok why are there so many stray dogs in Dakar, Senegal. Chomi andikho right.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@Anele @ThembiMrototo @firstforwomen Uyasebenza MaMfene. You speak from the heart and to our hearts. Oko. Thank you.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@LeratoPillayZA They even speak better Afrikaans than us.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@TaTshiks Ewe, that’s what came to mind when I saw it.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

Senegalese are such warm people. We don’t understand each other but siyapitiliza siya phambili. After the Lion Ranch, we moved to the lagoon. Here, they have boat rides, women in the majority are given the opportunity to fish. I guess they are called fisherwomen? It was refreshing to see a deliberate effort to give women the opportunity to fish in a space designated for them. I saw the largest pod of pelicans. You see them gliding across the lagoon like a symphony. I was then taken to a baobab tree at the end of the lagoon. I was told it was 200 years old. The Senegalese encourage you to pick a shell near the tree, hang it on the tree and make a wish. I did as I was told. After that boat ride, we moved to have lunch at Chez Rasta. Best seafood, beautiful welcome and a great vibe. Andahlutha! After that fun-filled afternoon, we eventually arrived in at the Riu Hotel. Tomorrow is my last night. I miss my kids already!

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

@TaTshiks Good health and wealth.

[LumkaO @Ma_Lunga]

And I hanged my shell on the Baobab tree and made my wish.