On January 2nd I headed to Ethiopia to enjoy their Christmas celebration in Lalibela and then on to visit the tribes in the Omo Valley; completing 10 years of successful tours to Ethiopia. I then headed to South Sudan, with a leading African cultural anthropologist, to finally visit the tribes after several years of research and postponed trips. Returning to the US for a few days to switch out gear and take care of some business I then headed to India for the next six weeks; Odisha for the tribes, the Himalayas for an incredible Snow Leopard expedition, and then to central India to lead a wildlife and tiger safari.
This year and decade started off better than ever when the COVID-19 became a reality for the entire world, impacting our day-to-day lives, and where we are all concerned about what the coming weeks and months will hold for all of us. Much of the world is shutting down for a min of 30 – 60 days; hugely important. We all need to come together as we make sacrifices and lifestyle changes; no one is alone in this. I will be addressing changes in up coming trips and workshops below.
We live in a beautiful world and after an amazing first quarter traveling to different counties contrasted with culture and extreme wildlife locations, I refuse to believe we will not return from this stronger than ever. I believe this is a shout out from nature needing a break from us. We can’t be healthy in an unhealthy ecosystem. Now is the time to tuck in and edit through all your images filled with amazing experiences. Relive all those wonderful memories and let them inspire you to do what needs to be done, so we can move forward in a healthier world.
I realize there is a lot of fear right now, but try to let go for the next month, as it serves no positive purpose in your life. Once we flatten the curve we can make fresh plans to move forward. Create a positive morning routine and use your day to prepare and work towards the future. #StayAtHome because it is extremely important in helping to protect everyone around you and to contain this quickly. As said by our wonderful flight attendant on our way back to the US, “money comes and goes, but our health, friends, and family is what is what matters most.”
My inspiration will continue to be my passion for the natural world and the people who live in it.
Christmas celebration in Lalibela, Ethiopia
Suri Tribe, Ethiopia
Sunrise in the Manduri Cattle camp, South Sudan
Tribes of Odisha, India
Snow Leopard Expedition in the Himalayas
Standing in awe of the Himalayas – the red arrow points to the photographer
Hiking the Himalayas
portrait of Tashi Dolma of the Tibetan culture in the village where we stayed
The last tiger images created on the day they closed the national parks in India
I was in India when COVID -19 took hold around the world. I was high in the Himalayas at the beginning of March when the first case was discovered in India.
My last group arrived in India on March 11. We began our wildlife and tiger safari on March 12. The next day India announced they were closing their boarders to incoming foreign nationals. We were in central India with no reported cases. We felt very safe in a remote location and almost had the reserves to ourselves. We were at our last location in Bandhavgarh National Park on March 19. Upon returning from our safari that evening we were informed that the national parks were closed and that India would be closing their boarders on March 22 (72 hours): no international flights would arrive or depart for at least a week.
My incredible ground team went into action. In a few hours we had tickets booked on a flight to return to Delhi the next day. We scrambled to rebook our international departures and they assisted the clients who had problems. We all safely departed the country on March 21. Although I had limited network, I did my best to send out information and updates to all clients booked on future safaris, tours, and workshops.
We know most of our clients are avid and passionate travelers and it is hard to remain at home. Our aim is to remain calm, gather reliable facts, maintain perspective, and plan for a return to normality as soon as possible. We are monitoring the situation closely, and we are making adjustments to our workshop scheduling and itineraries as necessary. Any trips that have been paid for in full that will be affected by the closures will be postponed by a year (2021).
I have been back in the US for only a few days, but over the next few weeks I will be working with all my ground teams to reorganize any safaris, tours and workshops that will be affected.
At this time we have postponed the Spirit-N-Light April 2020 workshop until 2021.
Please know that I will do my absolute best to accommodate everyone. Thank you in advance for your support and understanding.
****Please forgive type errors, misspelling, and grammar mistakes – editing is backed up at the moment.
Dear Piper,
So pleased you have arrived home safely. The world has certainly changed! Nobody is untouched by these dramatic events. It is a relief to me that you are monitoring the situation and planning for a positive outcome in the next year. I hope that the countries & the beautiful people you support do not suffer too much from this horrific virus in the meantime.
Stay safe! My thoughts are with you in these difficult times.
Jenny?
Thank you. I work with some the best ground teams, many whom I have worked with for a decade. Even in remote area’s we tracked this everyday. When I was told the country was shutting down in less than 72 hours, we reacted immediately. I continue to read post about people who are stuck….. there was enough warning of what was coming, but I think some were in denial. I just hope they hunker down and stay safe. Please #StayAtHome and stay safe.
Great message of hope Piper. The photos from Christmas touched me. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Jim. We must keep our perspective and have hope. More than 95% will survive this and will live in the new normal. We must try to look to the future and not focus on what the next months will bring. Please stay at home and stay safe. Order everything online for delivery.
Hi Piper,
This was well-written as always.
Beautiful photos!
Stay safe.
Take care.
Leslye
Thank you and thank you. Please Stay at home and stay safe. Have everything delivered!!! You are in a real hot spot!
Inspirational and as a physician quite appropriate. Hope to join one of your trips in the future when normalcy and, I love the thought, perhaps a new, improved normal occurs
Thank you so much Eliot! Everyones support means the world to me. I am blessed to have spent so many years in Africa. I have learned from my friends how to be resilient and they are all my biggest support right now! I will look forward to the day when we travel together!!!
Hi Piper, Patience is important at this time as it is in Photography. I am hoping that your tours will continue and am on board with anything your ground crews help organize. I was in Africa when the shit hit the fan….got home safe and am now on self isolation until Saturday…then I am back to work at this essential service. Keep up the great work Piper, trusting that we will travel when safe.
Marg Wood.
Gorgeous photos, Hang in there
Thank you so much for your support!! We are in a holding pattern at the moment so back up plans are in the work for any trips that maybe affected, but we want to wait the next 15-30 days and see where we stand. I am glad to know you were able to make it home – many got stuck because they did not act quickly enough.
Thanks for the encouragement!! This too shall pass and then most of us will be more than ready for an incredible experience abroad!
Piper – your beautiful heart and soul shine in your story of departing India, the positive openings evolving from the world shutdown, and the opportunities for growth and refocus. My exploration of Kenya in a year will be from a place of deeper knowing and appreciation. I look forward to talking with you when the time is right. Thank you. Wendy
Thank you so much for your kind words and support! I will be in touch shortly.
Hi Piper!
Great words of hope and faith in these troubling times; well written! And beautiful images, as always!
I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it must have been to tackle that logistical nightmare!
This pandemic is having global effects; I hope your teams in Africa and around the world can hunker down and weather this devastating interruption, both to their personal incomes and the income that visiting those remote villages and tribes generates.
You have an incredible network of personnel and a reputation for running over-the-top safaris!
Hang in there, stay safe; weather this storm! Hope to join another safari/tour once we and the world recover and get back on track!
Thanks, Piper!
Thank you so much for your kind words and support. It means more than you know. In a time like this I feel so blessed to have such long and loyal relationships with all my ground teams. We are all supporting each other and are determined to make sure the safari business survives! Another great thing working with Africans as they are souse to adversity the stay positive and know this too shall pass.
Thank you Piper for your wonderful words, the support you give people and for being such a stupendous individual that has and continues to leave a mark for all. I am extremely proud of you being my sister and for all the joy that you bring to so many people. Keep up the outstanding work that you do for everyone in the world.
Dear Piper,
I so enjoy the emails you send out and hearing about your adventures and seeing your exquisite photographs. Thank you. While I am not the photographer in our family, I do appreciate all that goes into getting the perfect shot, the tips you give. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you again for one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I feel grateful that I was able to participate even though I am not a photographer. Stay well.
Sincerely,
Heather