If you want to go alone

by Eldari Visser

Reading trail signs might be confusing at the best of times. In order to play it safe, have a buddy. Whether you are in sunny South Africa during winter or summer, in Johannesburg and surrounding areas, in Cape Town with beautiful mountains, taking a stroll in Europe, maybe in wonderful Croatia or in beautiful Scotland – it just doesn’t matter where you go, you need to know the road that you travel on and the ultimate destiny. 

In big metros there are detailed explanations of the routes, and strict warnings come with some of them. The same goes for areas where predators hang out. You know this, right? Ok, we have all experienced this one way or the other. I am also sure you’ve heard this before. Let me explain.

A lot of hiking trail internet groups have popped up over the last year since everything was opened after Covid. Everybody wants to be outside and everybody wants to explore on a hiking trip. I am sure the cities were just too cramped, so nature was calling. No matter walking or taking an open bus or a lodge vehicle, nature is always beautiful early in the morning. It’s invigorating and you just feel fantastic. Sunset hikes bring nostalgia and dreams of your future. Sitting on a high place whilst watching the sunset is bliss.

It’s great to be outside!

This euphoria can cause a problem mostly when you walk or hike. At times you might miss the sign boards. It can be a small little arrow or a little insignificant mark on a stone or a tree stump. You don’t see it and take the wrong road. Soon you are disorientated and anxiety sets in.

Most hiking trails are very clearly marked. The reason for this is:

◦ it attracts tourists and local hikers by explaining that their routes are marked . 
◦ This keeps them safe on legal liabilities should you purposely go into restricted areas. 
◦ The hiker always checks if the facilities state that they have marked hiking routes.

Being a hiker myself , for many years I always hiked with a group. Even as a group we could easily battle to see or read the little signs on a tree or try to spot little footprints painted on a rock. Remember, it is still nature and they don’t want to put boards up everywhere so that the whole feeling of being in nature is gone. Thus in subtle little indications on the way they will be indicating to you the road to take. We can be stubborn at times but to have someone with you is best. Not the mobile maps …. Network? Need I explain more?

If you miss signs when you are not alone, your hiking partner/s or your guide will see it. They are still the best value for money. They have done it a trillion times and will tell you where you can walk ahead, “ I’m right behind you but I will guide you when you don’t see the sign.” Safe, correct? Freedom is still part of the experience. Prize number two is to rent-a-group that knows the area. You can walk with seasoned travellers, relax, take pictures and enjoy the animals or nature with a calm mind. You will have a great time knowing somebody’s got your back. 

The other reason and possibly most important reason for not going alone is:

◦ Anything can happen whilst you are busy on the trail. In South Africa we hear a lot of tourists attempting Table Mountain by themselves and unfortunately perish due to not understanding the weather patterns that can change very quickly on that Mountain. The same as in KwaZulu-Natal when you are hiking on the Drakensberg. You really need to know what you are doing and in the thick Bushveld of South Africa you need to understand animal behaviour. I am sure there is an unwritten agreement all over the world’s trails that you always have a partner to hike or walk with you, even better in a group. If you do even the smallest of routes constant communication is vital. A broken leg or a twisted ankle happens by just one wrong step.

I am setting a scene here. It is a rather long intro but a powerful short message. Nature can teach us a lot about the business world.

Your business life might be known to you. The issue is more that you might have walked the path before and you think, “okay, let’s do this. I know the road.” Same thing. What if a new design, fad, business sentiment have changed the road? There can be many variants that you haven’t considered and you miss the small little signs that you need to grow or become absolute. 

The business world is like a predator. Stay aloof, stay ahead of time, think out-of-the-box, and focus on the path.

We all know the value of a mentor, a guide, or a partner, or a group. It is safer to rather be part of a group setting and have the ability to ask questions about the road that you need to take, the signs that you need to look out for, and the new trends in order for you to achieve your goals and your ultimate success.

Yes, mentors can cost a lot of money for the small upcoming business owner, and I especially found it really difficult to get somebody to mentor me that was not going to cost me half of my business capital in the early days. Yet, there might be somebody that’s been down this road and they can act as a mentor. Look around, ask!

So Lioness…it is up to you to decide. Go it alone or ask for help, and create a group that can always assist one another. Take that successful route towards your ultimate dream..

That is why Lionesses of Africa is so important.

Greetings Junglewealth