Tattoo #13 – South Africa: My Wild Reminder to Protect What’s Left
After a soul-resetting layover in Kenya, there was just one more country on the itinerary before returning to little ol’ Omaha, Nebraska. The next stage of the arc? South Africa — a.k.a. The Miami of Africa. Or maybe, just maybe… Miami is South Africa in the USA.
We had planned to meet up with friends from Omaha and drive cross-country from Cape Town to Johannesburg. But they ghosted us. The crew was a no-show. The grand road trip dissolved overnight. I probably would’ve pivoted to Ibiza or Greece if not for that. But hey, life makes you pivot.
We landed in Cape Town and decided to keep it simple. After all, there’s plenty to do in one of the most famous cities on the continent.
But then… I got sick.
Not seriously, but enough to knock me off my feet for most of the week. We had less than 3 days to explore after I felt better. Not ideal, but we made the most of it.
Sick Days and Penguins: Welcome to Cape Town
We arrived just before July hit — the middle of winter in South Africa. It wasn’t beach weather, but it was perfect for walking the boardwalk. We caught street performances, did some day drinking, watched penguins leap through the water on a boat tour, and dined at some of the best restaurants Cape Town had to offer.
The penguins were a surprise. Like spirits of joy cutting through cold saltwater, they reminded me that magic’s still waiting to be noticed even when things don’t go according to plan.
And even though I was sick, I had one thing I had to do: get the tattoo.
We weren’t swimming. We weren’t doing safaris. But I could still leave Cape Town with ink that mattered.
The Design – A Silent, Steady Tribute
This one came to me easily. When I think of the southern end of the African continent, I think of one thing: wildlife.
Not in the superficial, “safari highlight reel” way. I’m talking deep love. Unconditional awe. Lifelong connection.
I’ve always loved animals. But more than that, I feel responsible for them.
Species are falling left and right across the planet. Coral reefs are dying. Forests are shrinking. The damage feels irreversible, but I believe in small actions.
Since 2020, I’ve been donating monthly to elephant conservation. That’s my only recurring charitable commitment. But it’s one I’ve honored without fail.
So this tattoo? Five animals:
🦁 Lion – The king, the leader, the crown
🦓 Zebra – The contrast, the pattern, the pulse
🐘 Elephant – The memory, the wisdom
🦛 Hippo – The power, the weight
🦏 Rhino – The legacy, the endangered sentinel
Arranged in a 1-2-2 formation. Lion at the top. Leading, watching.
The meaning doesn’t run as deep as some of the others. But I hope that 1 in every 10 people who read this will be inspired to contribute to conservation, awareness, and anything.
The Coral Memory
I’ll never forget snorkeling over thriving coral reefs as a kid. It was like entering a city made by color and rhythm. Schools of fish would line up and swim through me. Corals pulsed with electric life. It was beauty made real.
But that was the late ’90s and early 2000s.
When I visited some of those same reefs years later, they were dead.
Cozumel’s reef, one of the biggest on Earth, is now a graveyard. It still haunts me.
Rich people who trade nature for wealth think they’re playing the game right because they’ll be dead before it collapses. Others say 99% of all species have already gone extinct — so why care?
I understand that logic.
But I reject it.
I believe in preserving what we can, however small. Nature is art. It’s soul. It’s worth protecting.
Final Thoughts – Tattoo #13: The Wild Reminder
This is the final tattoo of my 30th birthday trip. A simple reminder of the creatures I love and the planet I hope to help.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
If you read this far, you may look into wildlife preservation today. Maybe not.
But this tattoo? It’ll be with me forever.
Because ink fades, but purpose doesn’t
