I enjoy being alone in the silence of nature: looking at the sights in front of me and listening to the sounds of peace. When in Swaziland a few months ago, I had the opportunity to listen to the quiet and admire the African landscape. Because it was the end of winter and the summer rains had not come, the scene was a mixture of browns and greens.
We were looking from down a mountainside and I noticed the signs of spring approaching: the grasses had begun to turn green, rendering the landscape less brown.
The landscape was not lush with a variety of plants and flowers and yet, in its own way, the rocks and sparse shrubs hold a beauty of its own.
Looking in one direction from our vantage point, I noticed that man had not yet encroached on the landscape. The land was as yet untouched and unblemished.
Yet far in the distance , when I looked in another direction, I could see a solitary home hugging the side of the mountain. Can you see it?
A home that may not remain solitary as roads and houses move slowly up to meet it.
I am thankful to have experienced a solitary moment on the side of a Swazi mountain before the development of homes. Devlopment which would tame the African landscape and create a different view altogether.
Do you enjoy solitary moments in nature?
(Join us each week for the Photo Challenge posted on The Daily Post at WordPress.com. This week’s prompt is: Solitary)
Colline's Blog 
This is a very interesting post and your perspective made me realize that, closeby, today (even though we are in a rural area) there was a huge subdivision happening – houses neck to neck – weird sudden population growth?
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Seems like there are more and more people wanting houses. Even in a poor country like Swaziland, more houses have appeared on the landscape every time I visit. And like you say, the houses are quite close to one another.
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You were fortunate indeed!
Wonder whether Africa will look like China in a few decades, with everyone touting the continent as the new economic frontier! Better hurry with my plans 🙂
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The new China? I am not too sure. But everyone in Africa now wants to own their own space. The days in which extended families shared a space is disappearing I think.
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I know China is a bit of a stretch 🙂
But every other industrialist from India is expanding into Africa!
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True! Though I am pleased to see the so-called under developed countries supporting one another.
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Yes, in Africa one can still steal that solitary moment and be one with nature and that is why I will not leave.
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And you steal many such moments on your hikes 🙂
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I also love solitary time in nature. Where I live I get lots of it and it’s not likely that roads and homes will build next to me in the next 50 years at least. People from the city who stay here are amazed at the different sounds. No sirens, no cars, nothing man-made at all except during fall when far-off neighbors are cutting firewood or clearing trees after an ice storm.
Loved your post, really enjoyed seeing landscape from another country.
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Those are the sounds I love to hear – and they are so different to what I hear everyday. It seems to recharge my soul when I do not hear the constant sound of traffic, the buzz of machinery, and the accepted noises of a city.
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Can’t live without solitary time. Love your post and thoroughly enjoyed the photos!
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Thank you. Where I am now that solitary moment seems dreamlike – and the photos bring back that moment to me.
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I do enjoy being alone with nature, but I don’t get much chance these days.
Your interplay of words and pictures sets up an intriguing interpretation of the theme. Great job!
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Thank you. I try to tell a bit of a story with the pictures so as to share what they mean to me.
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This is lovely, sometimes I wish I could be back “home” just to be near the African bush. Here are also lovely places but open spaces are so small.
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You are right Scrapy – the open vastness of the African landscape is really beautiful.
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🙂
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I like my alone time too. I have never experienced the silence of Africa but I love to be up on the moors in Yorkshire, with just the birds and the butterflies for company.
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Sounds like a wonderful place to hear the sounds of nature.
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We have areas that are similar to those here, it is the rocks that stops development, they cost too much to get rid of to made the land usable for agriculture. I am glad about that. It is lovely landscape and beautiful images Colline.
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Thanks Leanne. The rock do not seem to stop development though. When land becomes scarce, even those difficult to develop pieces attract the attention of construction. May take a while in Swaziland though.
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I hope so.
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So sad to see homes encroaching……what a beautiful moment you had..and luckily photos to preserve it….beautiful Colline…I could almost feel the warmth of the air 🙂
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I look at these photos and that is what I feel: warmth. Even though it is winter there, the sun shines and lights up the surroundings.
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Such beautiful shots, Colline. Hate to see the roads, though. Where they go, civilization will follow.
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I agree. The first time I went to this spot 10 years ago, there was not a road or a house in sight. I am sure the next time I go, it will be more developed.
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These are great photos Colline. 😉
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Thank you 🙂
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The Swazi mountain and the African landscape reminds me of a people and an environment that is resilient and strong against the harsh climate and changes. Thus it is a beautiful and inspiring sight. I also enjoy moments of solitude. A time of quietness and being in tuned with myself and everything around me. Thanks.
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These people are resilient: they have to be when so many experience poverty or live on the borderline. What is amazing too is that they are still cheerful.
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Thanks for sharing your pics of Africa Colline. I love to see what others photograph in their journeys through life. And yes, I do love solitary moments in nature. I love solitary moments in general! But, for me, the best solitary moments are in natural surroundings. Over the summer we visited Ile de Quebec and it is absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite moments was sitting on a rock by the St Lawrence river while my boys skipped stones. While they played and laughed, I daydreamed and watched them. An absolutely beautiful moment.
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I agree – nothing better than to spend time in nature watching your family enjoy their time in her surroundings.
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