World traveler junior Caleb Koresh expanded his already broad horizons by visiting South Africa this past December with his family.

For almost a month, Koresh and his family stayed in Africa to celebrate his mom’s cousin’s marriage and meet his mother’s side of the family for the first time.

“I thought it was strange meeting strangers that are family and love you, but it was an overall good experience and I’m glad I was able to meet them,” Koresh said.

In addition to the family visits and celebrations, Koresh was able to relax at Thornybush Resort, rest on the beach, adventure in the safari, discover a different lifestyle, and visit a countless number of well-known cities.

“I definitely enjoyed the safari most; we went on two safari rides each day and saw all sorts of creatures,” Koresh said. “I’ll never forget witnessing a lion eating a wildebeest, which has now caused my sister to become a vegetarian.”

While visiting Africa over winter break, the Koresh family was able to take a new approach and experience an unforgettable Christmas of their own.

“For Christmas, we all spent time on the beach and saw penguins there, which was pretty interesting,” Koresh said.

With its mountainous terrain and scenic views, the country provided the family with various places to explore. At Cape Town – a very popular tourist attraction and naturally the most beautiful city in the world – Koresh and his family were able to view one of the seven wonders of nature as they made it to the top of Table Mountain.

“Table Mountain was my favorite,” Koresh said. “The view was beautiful; you could see all of Cape Town, the ocean, and other surrounding mountains.”

While venturing through the country, the family visited Port Elizabeth – one of the largest cities in South Africa – and some local flea markets as well.

“Our plane landed in Port Elizabeth. We stayed right outside on a little island, which is the only island on high tide and we definitely enjoyed the beach there most,” Koresh said.

After staying in Africa for quite some time, Koresh was introduced to various eye-openers and a new culture that he was able to bring home and share to his friends and the rest of his family.