It took some strategizing for Barb Hatton to convince her husband Gar to agree to go on the Victoria Falls to Cape Town safari. Experiencing Africa was at the top of her bucket list and after retiring from forty years of teaching, it was time to make it happen. Their son Steven who’d travelled there on a mission trip, regaled them with stories and stoked her dream. Gar was reluctant about riding two-up on gravel.

Barb Hatton

Then she heard that there was a guy in town who owned a tour company offering amazing motorcycle trips in southern Africa. She invited Rene to the house to learn more and they were on their way.

“We thought three weeks would be too long but it ended up being epic,” says Barb.

What Welcomed Barb Hatton in Africa

Sossusvlei was awesome. “It was special to follow in the footsteps of our son who visited the dunes a few years earlier after his mission.”

The Okavango Delta excursion ranked at the top of her experiences. “Even though we were staying in a tent, I would have liked to stay longer. An amazing guide educated us so much about the wildlife. And it was really cool that we saw something our son didn’t—the rarely seen leopard.

“We ended up on another safari after our Renedian experience but you couldn’t beat the Okavango. Throughout our trip, the skyline, the vastness, the desert lands, and sunsets exceeded my imagination.

“I can’t say enough about how awesome it was to have Rene as lead guide and Jan right there with him. Rene packed every day, even the off days, full of adventure and excitement. Having grown up in South Africa, Jan shared so many insights about local history, culture, and wildlife. Their on-the-road lunches were a highlight too and fit us to a tee. When you’re on these journeys, the guides are everything.

“We’ve travelled a lot and had amazingly skilled riders lead us but Rene shone above all others. Even though he’s a great rider, it was his day-to-day interactions with all of us that shone. The man never loses his cool and tells the best stories.

“Travelling here left an awareness that there is so much to Africa. This is only the beginning. I would love to have met the people more.”

Barb and Gar are looking at different ways they can give back to Africa. “Our journey in Africa isn’t over but the next one probably won’t be on a motorcycle. We’re still looking at our options. We don’t intend to “fix” anything but we want to do something. During our son’s mission trip, he helped build a house for grandmothers so they could bring their grandchildren back to them from the orphanage. There are tons of possibilities.”

Photo credits: Gar and Barb Hatton