Sutterlin “Spinal Health International – Klimb 4 Kidz” Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari Dispatch

September 6, 2013 – “The Griswolds Love Wally World”

“Dispatch from “Mganaga”, Witch Doctor Chet from Serengeti, Tanzania Africa on Friday September 6, 2013. I remember a quote “all good things must come to an end”, and I believe great things will live forever in our memories. And so it has come to pass. The Berg Adventure of the Sutterlin family climb of Kilimanjaro and Safari to Tranagire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti comes to an end.

We will not forget the place, the people or the perspective of struggle and survival. “Kuongoza” guide David has revealed the most intimate details of his country, its flora and fauna. To see the footprints of ancient hominids near Olduvai Gorge, to imagine their existence 3.6 million years ago, to gaze at the milky way in the African night, to contemplate the soldiering of man from Mother Africa to populate and explore all continents. These insights humble and inspire the intellect.

Yves Kopleman said “man is the child of the stars, there is an unbroken continuum from solar matter to that of the earth between the ladder and the step of life, between all manifestations of life past and present. And man, we are only a branch on the great family tree that has its roots in the sky.”

Listen to Mganga Chet's call

As our own twig on a branch of the great family tree we the Sutterlins witnessed the fragile youth of each species as they never stray from their protective mothers. We have witnessed a society of elephants (tembo), lions (simba), and buffalo (Nyati). We have witnessed the solitude of leopard (chui) and the cheetah (duma) . We have witnessed the mad dash of the wildebeest (nyumbu), to swim the Meru river and evade the jaws of the fierce crocodile (mamba). We have witnessed Ubejan the great endangered black rhinos , but still aspire to do so in future times or future lives.

So tomorrow we leave Africa and return to our more recent ancestral homes but we will never forget Mother Africa, our most ancient abode.

And one final cosmic comment: “The Griswolds LOVE Wally World!!”

Listen to Mganga Chet's call

Olduvai Gorge, where archeologists found the footprints of ancient hominids

The elephant family tree

Lions on a hunt for buffalo

Fragile youth; they never stray from their protective mothers

As we depart from Africa after a wonderful African Family Vacation we are left with one last cosmic comment “The Griswolds LOVE Wally world!!”