As delegates awake and start gathering by the fire, the usual joking and laughing is subdued. Everybody realise that this is their last morning in the tented camp that has become like a second home for many. Living together for the past 9 days, sharing tents, bathrooms and living space, delegates have become very close in a relatively short time. There is an intimacy around the fire that can only be achieved when people are completely at ease in each other’s presence, knowing that they are accepted for what they are. Breakfast is eaten whilst final gifts and addresses and quotes are exchanged, and then it is time for final packing and loading of the buses. When the buses pull out of the tented camp for the last time, the faces peering back at the camp are a wonderful mixture of sadness and fulfillment, because we all know that this has been an incredible experience with memories to draw upon for many years to come.   

After a three hour bus drive, delegates had the opportunity to buy gifts at a curio shop for all the loved ones back home, and judging by the bulging hand luggage, friends and family back home are going to be showered with interesting and beautiful memorabilia of Africa.

Upon arrival at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg, where this adventure started 9 days ago, everybody was in a mad rush preparing for the closing banquet and cultural event that evening. When we entered the banquet hall, all were a bit in awe with the luxury around us, after the rustic setting we lived in the previous week. A proxy projector showed a continuous slide show with photographs from the experience, and comments and reactions ranged from laughter, to ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’, and even the occasional tear. The evening soon became a magical event, and delegates from every country honoured the audience with well prepared displays of cultural dances, games and songs. The function ended in high spirit, with delegates singing songs, dancing and laughing about the ‘bush blossom’ nominees and winners. (see day 10 for a full Bush Blossom Gallery).

When all was over, the young people talked and shared emotions until the early hours of the morning, not willing to let these last few hours go by unused. Everybody agrees that the friendships formed over the last few days would last a lifetime, and if not in person, we will live on in each other’s hearts forever.