our man Griffiths

I want to tell you about our guide, Griffiths. 

He was the only driver of an incredible 4,795 kilometres in less than 3 weeks.

He drove a large truck using mirrors only to guide him along sometimes narrow and sometimes harrowing places.

He stopped the truck every time we shouted that there was a zebra or a giraffe, or even if we thought we saw one.

He was the cook and cleaner for every meal we had out of the truck and a few other ones as well.


Griffiths making breakfast in daylight for once

cooking in the dark,, Griffiths style

a rare moment when he accepted help

He answered almost every question put to him that started "Do you know what....?  And what he didn't know he looked up with his collection of books but more often by way of his cell phone.  Wherever we were.  Literally.

He was unflappable whenever we said yes to a particularly long hike, or a particular viewpoint. 

He was calm but in charge, and every night after dinner, he would clasp his hands together, lean forward and say "all right guys, about tomorrow..." and we would stop our chatter and listen to find out what ungodly hour we had to be up and dressed.  Anytime breakfast was after 7am, Martin and Austrian father (who shared the same birthday!) would high-five each other.  And anytime he said there would be wifi (which was once) Martin and Austrian daughter would high-five each other. 

Like any guide, he had pet expressions.  The most commonn one was "the toilet is over there" which is not really a pet expression per se, but it's the one he said more than any other.  Everytime he stopped the truck we waited for him to come round and let us out, and he'd always say "the toilet is over there" before anything else. 

waiting to be let out of the truck

Originally from Zimbabwe, his English was perfect, but we smiled a bit when he said 'the sheepses' or 'the cattles' because it was cute.

When warning us of dangers he would get animated about some hideous adeventure and finish with "Then trust me guys (finger snaps), it's game over!"

But what made Griffiths an excellent guide was the simple fact that really cared about our comfort, our happiness, and our satisfaction with the trip. 

Thank you, Griffiths, it couldn't have happened without you.  Primarily becauae none of us would be able to work the truck.  I will never hear a grinding shift as I go up hill on a potholed gravel road without thinking of you.