“The Best journeys answer questions that, in the beginning, you didn’t think to ask.” – Jeff Johnson (Journalist – 180 degrees south)
My name is Sarah Kennan, born in Zimbabwe, live in Cape Town, founder of Leonista spirit – local Tequila/Mezcal brand, surfer, artist and adventure addict.
I entered the Rim Of Africa feeling digitally burnt out, stuck, unsure about the future of my life path and searching for answers. I was craving wilderness, adventure, quiet, writing and a digital detox. I got all that… and more.
At its worst Rim is a tough slog of repetitive marching through scratchy fynbos with strangers and minimal food or luxuries. At its best, it’s a spiritual pilgrimage, a writing retreat that cuts away the fat of life and clears the noise and clutter.
Rim for me is a walking meditation. The daily exercise and trance-like monotony facilitates a path to a clear and quiet mind. The guides are very aware of this and help create a safe container of routine and gentle structure that helps you relax into the experience, let go and let you do you.
A Day on Rim:
Each day’s routine generally starts at sunrise with poetry and thirty minutes or so of walking quiet time. This may sound boring but it’s actually wonderful. It’s time for just you and your thoughts. To feel into the morning at your own pace or just listen to your breath and let your mind wonder. In the beginning the mind is sometimes buzzing and revolting the silence, but after a while it becomes an easy flow of quiet hiking and space for new words or thoughts to rise to the surface.
The quiet time ends with a poem and the silence quickly turns into deep conversation with whoever you find yourself walking close to. Questions arise you may never have thought to ask. Answers appear that before were out of reach. The conversations I have had on Rim are some of the best I have ever had in my life.
Through the day there is gentle instruction like “the fast go a little slower, the slow go a little faster” which helps us from getting lost and move in sync like a caterpillar. The day’s walking is broken up by regular swims in crystal clear mountain streams (always my highlights) flower identification and team photos. Then mid-morning tea, lunch, pre-camp dips and finally camp. You always know the camp is close when the terrain starts feeling “Lord of the Rings”. After wonderful swims at camp we always gather for dinner around the team walking stick named “Gandalf” and have a recap of highlights and lowlights from the day as we watch the sunset. Early nights and the next day repeat.
When you are out in the mountains life becomes very simple. You forget the rest of the world and almost become a new version of yourself. My nickname became “Sarah Poolfinder” or “Moist” for short 😉 as I was in charge of finding the best swim spots for our regular dips. A task I could not have been happier to practice. Each day you become a little wilder and more comfortable in nature.
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By the end tents are optional and discovering the best overhangs or rocky ledges to sleep is a fun challenge. Snakes and insects become your friends, bathing suits a thing of the past (Swimming naked at first feels scary but after you try it once the feeling is liberating).
By Day 10 you have found your groove, routine and daily mantra.
My Mantra:
Eat often,
Follow your feet,
Swim in mountain streams.
Food:
My daily meals included 2 croissants a day for mid-morning tea and lunch. That really helped me keep the hanger away. Salt, salt, salt and a little olive oil with everythinngggg. At the resupply spots don’t be shy to order yourself a woolies roast chicken. Nothing has ever tasted so good after 5 days in the mountains.
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The full Rim of Africa hike is 800 km from Cederberg to Outeniqua split into 9 traverses. I chose to do the first 4 because that was the most time I could take away from my work and I also wanted to see what would happen to my brain if I had a full digital detox for 28 days. I used my phone for photos but other than that – no communication or connection.
Traverses 1 and 2 were bliss. A blur of excitement, chats, adventure, swims, beautiful views and laughs. Clearing the mind layer by layer, day by day.
Traverse 3, in unison with a heat wave, was hell. My mind having gone cold turkey from its usual digital endorphin kicks revolted against me and I had a full blown anxiety attack. It felt like an angry buzzing bee was stuck in my head. It took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with all the worst case scenarios that could have happened at home and all the reasons why I should quit. My pack also felt twice as heavy and my body was tired. Extra weight and luxuries you got away at first deplete your energy by day 10. Not fun.
Guides to the rescue! Talking to them, asking for help, they got me through the mental struggles and we made a plan to lighten my pack. I felt supported and part of a team. Wonderful.
What I didn’t realise would happen was that in getting through the struggle, a portal opened in my brain that wanted to write it all down. To process all these emotions into words and organise my thoughts. The writing started and didn’t stop. A part of me which had laid dormant for too long was now awake and famished.
My mind feels flooded with light from the world around me and suddenly exposed to new details and ideas. I feel more inspired and creative than ever. It’s like being a kid again.
These words, this story would not have happened without that struggle. As Leonard Cohen says “It’s through the cracks that the light shines in.”
Walking in leopard tracks and waking up for midnight pees inspired these first attempts at poetry:
Traverse 3
Simple days
“Leopard lands full of roses,
Eyes watch we do not see,
Nights glittering all around us,
Mornings dew and drip.
Our endless thirst quenched and soothed,
Our eyes wide with views,
Sweat and struggle are our currency
Simple are the days so new.”
Traverse 4
Ode to Rim guides and the Mountain.
“I went for a walk in Africa,
Mountain men showed the way,
They taught me to play in the mountains,
and to listen to what she say.
They know her secret places,
To dance in sky waterfalls,
And tip toe her red faces.
We slumbered in her bosom,
And bathed in her jewels.
Bright skies and cool winds, a day of splendor!
Was that a glimpse of her smile?
Or maybe a laugh we heard?…It may have been a bird.
I feel I have walked a lifetime and can walk a lifetime more,
My mind and pack feels lighter,
My body feels so pure.
The mountain men keep walking,
Forget me like a song,
For my playtime has ended
And they must journey on…”
Rim gave me the opportunity and time to fall in love with writing and my creative side and start to focus time on it. It was a privilege and a luxury to be able to experience and I want to continue what I have learnt in my real life.
One of my biggest outtakes from the digital detox was “Digital Hygiene”. I have now changed my morning routine to allow for no screen time before 9.30 am. The phone is outside the bedroom and the first 3 hours of the day are for me. Writing, exercise, and meditation. Output before input. Get the mind clear and let the brain poop out before you allow anything in.
I have implemented stronger settings to my phone so I’m less inclined to get distracted and so my screen time is more intentional and focused. I basically treat myself with my phone like an 11 year old child. I love it! Less mental energy wasted on apps designed to keep you hooked and less digital junk clogging up my brain.
At work I’m clearer minded, more focused and my relationships with colleagues feels healthier. My communication with them feels gentler and conversations or challenging discussions seem to flow better. My emotions are getting less in the way and thoughts or ideas are coming from a better place.
In my personal time I’m leaning more into creativity. I have allocated time once a week to take myself to a gallery, poetry reading or spend time at an art class. So far I feel so much better, writing letters to friends, experimenting with poetry and feeling more present with the important people in my life.
In conclusion I would recommend Rim to anyone who has the chance. Do it.
In preparation know this:
There will be struggle – expect it
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, you will get through it. Look forward to what emerges on the other side
Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with the mountain. Actually – expect it.
Mantra
Eat often
Wear sunscreen
Forget your swimsuit
Forget your phone
Follow your feet
Swim in all the mountain streams
I’ll be sitting down with Sarah in an upcoming podcast to dive into her incredible journey around the Rim of Africa. We’ll explore stories of adventure, the power of disconnecting to reconnect, and how embracing spaciousness can ignite the creativity our bodies, minds, and souls deeply yearn for. To connect with her personally, you can reach out over email or follow her on her social channel.
Sarah Kennan
Email: skennan13@gmail.com
Insta: @Barbarella_twinkletoes
