In 1986 and 1988 I went to Kenya for a Safari tour of Kenya and 5 of its most popular national parks, to include Nairobi and enjoy a night out in Nairobi in one of their local hot spots taking in their music. That music sounds very Caribbean. Now to the song.

I felt so at home with how naturally beautiful and wild Africa is. The animals, predators and prey go about their business as if checking into work every day. It was surreal how calm everything seemed to be with the wildebeests and zebra and of course no one would ever imagine how quiet Africa is. I almost could hurt my eardrums trying to hear the slightest of sounds. The people were so gentle and sweet. I saw one kid standing alone at a gas station where our minibus stopped for fuel. I gave him a stick of gum. His face lit up like he just won a million dollars. Sticks in my mind for such a simple gesture towards him and his smile.

On my second time around in 1988, at the end of the day of our game runs, once in the morning, once in the late afternoon, someone asked if anyone wanted to take a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti plains at Masai Mara the next morning. I immediately jumped in and got ready for the time of my life. The next morning we lifted off and the winds took us westward. The balloon operator took us up to a thousand feet and let us down a few times to just above tree top and grass top level to give us thrills. The air was still and VERY quiet at 1000' with the herds of animals below in sight but not a sound but whispers from the balloon occupants. As we headed downward for a final stop about 10 miles away, we saw a pride of lions about a 1/4 away from our landing spot. The chase crew met us, set up a grill and we all had a champagne breakfast in the wild.

The feelings and visions I have of all my trips, to include the people, sights and animals brought me otherworldly feelings. The title African Queen hints at love and romance but it is there as an artistic license to make the song more interesting. It was however, a black woman who loved the lyrics so much that she said I needed to get this in writing. It is now. Thank you Ursula.