Sundowner: A tradition worthy of import

During our time in Africa, we've visited four countries, each with many distinct languages, cultures and values. Yet throughout our travels, one thing has remained impressively consistent: An impressive zeal for the sundowner.

First a definition. A sundowner is a cocktail, beer or other libation taken in a scenic location as the sun sets.

So far, the sundowner may seem similar to happy hour in the US or our general interest in having a cocktail in a nice place. And in some ways, it is.

Yet the difference is one of emphasis and cultural ubiquity. The sundowner is huge.

All bars, hotels, parks, roads, trees and beaches with any semblance of a view are marketed as "a great place for a sundowner." And in fact, the best spots fill up quickly as the sun creeps towards the horizon. And they empty just as fast once the hot orb has fallen below view.

To a gringo just warming into his second cerveza, this ephemeral party can seem a bit disorienting. Crowded one moment, empty the next. And it's only 6:45pm (or 18:45 as we call it now).

To date, we have had sundowners watching hippos wallow, elephants trumpet, waves crash and whales breech. In Botswana, our safari Land Cruiser was equipped with a refrigerator and pop-up bar on the front bumper so we could have cold gin & tonics (quinine, good for malaria prevention) as the sun set in the bush.

So as our time in Africa draws to a close, I reflect upon experiences I will remember. Sure the wildlife, friendliness, poverty and heat are likely to stick in my mind, but so is the sundowner.

This is definitely a tradition worth importing to the US - with curious implications for Seattle, where the sun (sic) sets in winter at 3:30pm (15:30).