Black Lion
Sicelo Mbatha
Black
Lion tells the story of Sicelo Mbatha's life growing up in rural
South Africa and his long career as a Wilderness guide. From an early
age, he felt a deep connection to nature and the wildlife surrounding
his community, setting him on a path to help conserve and celebrate
all the beauty he saw. His ultimate goal would be to create a company
that could help others, especially those from his own community,
experience nature's healing powers.
It's not just the story of
Sicelo's life and the many hardships he had to overcome to reach his
dream that makes this book fascinating. It's also his refreshing view
of nature and the wonders she has to offer all of us, whether in
faraway places or just in our backyards. As Sicelo suggests, we need
to open our senses and appreciate the other living things around us
to understand that we can find deep connections and spiritual peace
by immersing ourselves in this world.
I loved getting to know
more about his Zulu culture, the vital role his kinsmen played in his
journey, and how they could share so much knowledge acquired over
generations but not always appreciated by others. Thankfully, there
are people, like Sicelo, who do not want to see their traditions
disappear over time. In Black Lion, he conveys his love for his
heritage and community with honesty, humility, and vast knowledge of
nature.
Frankly, this book is like a balm for the soul. And
maybe the next best thing to stepping out into nature itself. No
doubt, like everyone else who reads this, I suspect I'll be dreaming
of a day when I can join a guide like Sicelo in discovering the
African wilderness. But, until then, I'll be trying to appreciate all
the nature in my area.
Thanks to LibraryThing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
