Africa, Geocaching, Gorillas, and One Ridiculous Side Quest

Thirteen Years in the Making

Got to make it to see the mountain gorillas of Rwanda this time. Thirteen years in the making, and another highlight in an amazing life.

Warning: this is simply my geocaching log for our trip. It’s mostly dull and boring… unless you are me.

Or my wife.

Or my mother.

Hi Mom.

And if you are someone outside geocaching who somehow found your way here, welcome to the part of the internet where grown adults walk into the woods, stare at their phones, and get very excited about tiny containers hidden under rocks.

From Campervan to Duffel Bag

I’m used to traveling by packing up my campervan and letting it lead me wherever I need to be. But this time, travel involved throwing everything I own in a duffel bag and getting on a plane for 1,000 hours to Africa.

Wifey made a plan to revisit Africa this year after a trip we had 13 years ago went somewhat awry at the end. She was there for about 10 days before me, and then I flew into Johannesburg. From there, I went to Victoria Falls, where we met up for my amazing 2+ weeks in Africa.

That sentence makes it sound simpler than it felt. Campervan Jimmy understands snacks, gas stations, and pulling over whenever he wants. International Duffel Bag Jimmy has to understand passports, layovers, airplane sleep, and why every airport is designed like a psychological experiment.

Johannesburg: Wandering With Purpose

Travel could not have been smoother from one side of our planet to the other—or, as someone told me, from the left half of our Earth plate to the right half.

I spent the night at the Johannesburg airport and made some time wandering around for the virtual and the adventure lab nearby. I also found a traditional micro in the parking lot. The log there was in disrepair, so I left a fresh one behind. Hope that’s OK.

For non-geocachers, that means I was technically doing something wholesome and organized, even if from the outside it may have looked like a jet-lagged man inspecting airport landscaping with suspicious enthusiasm.

The next morning, it was off to Victoria Falls to see my wife for the first time in a couple of weeks.

Victoria Falls: Water… Falling

A couple of days at the Victoria Falls Lodge felt like living on our own island in Africa. We did sunrise and sunset boat rides each day, a trip to Victoria Falls, and a few game drives sprinkled in between—along with some of the most fantastic food and hospitality we’ve ever experienced.

The mist and falls made visibility pretty tough that day. But when there were views, they were amazing. We did the falls stroll, taking pictures and recording nonsensical info for my silly hobby.

The Victoria Falls walk was one of my favorite things so far. I can’t believe it’s only now, today, that the word “waterfall” is finally registering why that’s the word… it is water, falling. Duh.

Water. Falling. Somehow this had been hiding in plain sight my entire life.

This is why travel is important. Sometimes it expands your mind. Other times it helps you decode extremely obvious words.

The Real Trip Begins

We had some amazing guides and experiences, but the reality is that this was just a meetup spot for me and my wife on a different continent. Our real trip started now.

After an overnight in Nairobi, we were off to the Maasai Mara for a few more nights. Through our several trips to Africa over the years, we’ve never experienced kindness and hospitality like we do here. As a silly American tourist, I’m always super grateful for how welcome the rest of the world makes me feel.

That is something I never want to get used to.

Flat Tire in a Mud Puddle

One game drive, we got a flat tire in the middle of a mud puddle. That was a unique experience. It was all I could do not to get down there and help. It’s just a flat tire, after all—I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. But once again, I was reminded that that’s not how hospitality works.

There are moments to help, moments to step back, and moments to stand there pretending you’re useful.

I nailed that last one.

Explaining Geocaching in 30 Seconds

Our second day here, I got to do one of my favorite things: tell someone who’s never heard about geocaching all about it. And by “all about it,” I mean a 30-second briefing.

But I’ve seen this so many times before, and I witnessed it again. Once I use the words scavenger hunt, treasure hunt, and hide and seek, eyes get big.

Our guide pulled up to a tree that he was surprised I knew was even there, let alone what it was called. I then showed him my phone, which said “40 feet that way.” We walked over to the tree, and I removed something that had been there for over 10 years—and he had no idea.

The excitement! Followed by: “Where’s the next one?!”

So it seems like our guide is in, and we may have zigzagged around the Maasai Mara to find a few more geocaches.

That moment—when someone realizes there are hidden treasures in places they already know—is one of my favorite things about this silly hobby.

Almost Seeing a Kill

Another day, we witnessed the closest we’ve ever come to seeing a kill on safari so far. Three lions were stalking a herd. But unfortunately, the herd got tipped off—or fortunately for their families.

Bad for tourists. Great for the animals.

Hidden Treasures in the Mara Triangle

Another morning, we were out for five hours with the intention of showing us every animal imaginable, as well as looking for hidden treasures in the Mara Triangle. We were successful at one and unsuccessful at another.

But the joy of knowing that there were hidden treasures right inside his homeland made Stephen so happy that it made me even happier.

We were able to find one at the campsite and unable to find another, even though he offered to lend me his shovel to dig deeper below the mudhole at GZ. I told him that was not necessary, but I have a feeling he goes back without me.

Nairobi to Nakuru

After the safari in the Mara, it was back to Nairobi and then immediately on to Nakuru for an overnight. The drive from Nairobi to Nakuru was a ridgeline drive that I will never forget. A scenic beauty that is not replicated in many places.

The next day in Nakuru, we got an early start to visit the equator and the Rift Valley. The closer we got, and the more he understood what we were doing, the more Richard got excited—for me and for him. By the time we parted ways, he had the app downloaded on his phone and said he wanted to play hide and seek too. Another convert to our silly hobby, I hope.

Rift Valley: The Highlight

The Rift Valley was the geocaching highlight of this trip, and the day I asked my wife to let me carve out for my selfishness. I did not hitchhike here, like one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met, but I did make it on my own two feet.

Our guide, Richard, was unbelievably kind, patient, and accommodating. Having the assistance of a local had to have made the difference in whether I got here or not.

The funniest part about all of this was trying to explain to people why exactly I wanted to stand on this particular spot on Earth. I told my stupid story so many times that I don’t even understand it anymore.

The Equator Moment

We got to witness the water swirl test at the equator. While I’ve known about this my entire life, seeing the water spin in different directions—and stand still—all within 20 feet blew my mind.

It is one thing to know something.

It is another thing entirely to stand there and watch it happen.

The Side Quest

Once on the plantation property, a few people helped us get in touch with Raza. After a few minutes, they put me on the phone with him, and he told me we might not be able to get too close by car—but we were welcome, and he thanked us for visiting.

When wifey told me we were going back to Africa again—specifically Kenya—I begged for a day to throw in my own ridiculous side quest request: to stand at an arbitrary spot in the middle of private property on our planet.

Because she is the best, it has now happened.

The $10 Story

Side story about Richard: he was almost the subject of extortion by roadside police. They pulled him over, and he stood his ground. We had to sit there for about 20 minutes, but nobody got a bribe from him.

He was pissed and said when you’re not guilty, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Having only heard stories like this about police extortion in other countries, it was an exciting experience to live through firsthand.

The sentence, “You are traveling with 2 white people and don’t have $10 to make this go away?” will forever bounce around in my head with great laughter.

Rwanda: The Moment

After Kenya, it was on to Rwanda for the highlight of this trip. We tried this 13 years ago, but sadly it did not happen. This time, we got to visit and trek with the mountain gorillas. I also got to swing on vines with—and like—the silverbacks. Highlight.

The drive from Kigali up to the mountains was one of the most awe-inspiring scenic views I’ve ever seen. I never imagined that this is what the country would look like. I’m very glad I was not driving and got to take it all in. Farms and homes were scattered across every hillside around every corner we turned.

The utter beauty, greenness, and lushness was mind-boggling.

Gorillas and Golden Monkeys

Seeing the gorillas and the golden monkeys is an unquestionable highlight of our lives together. I already wrote a song about it.

Of course I did.

Germany and the Way Home

From Rwanda, we started our journey back home. Three-plus weeks for her and two for me. It felt like an entire lifetime lived.

We had a few layovers. Germany was the most exciting. I had five hours to kill, so I just wandered… and then wandered some more. Security never said anything until I was at the checkpoint to get back inside.

He asked me why I wandered around aimlessly so much. I always have a built-in excuse. I told him I was lost, looking for the way out to McDonald’s.

I finally found a nice officer who told me how to get there. I also had an old friend with a long layover—we were meeting up. His name is Gio.

One guy chuckled, because I tell such good stories. The other guy was extremely German about it.

Then it was home.

Final Thoughts

Thanks to everybody who helped me have the most amazing life imaginable. Hopefully something above explains how and why I visited this geocache. If not, then I am probably just lying, like I love to do.

If you look at the hint before you look for a container, are you even geocaching?

Cause half of what I say is lies, and it takes so much to keep up this disguise.