OUT OF AFRICA Thrilling adventure on the savannah

I AM a single woman, known largely as

a singer, sometimes a dancer (or

whatever is convenient at the time). In

the last few years I've decided to ''evolve as an artist'' and use

my talents and knowledge to help in the protection of the

environment.

I've shared a couple of adventures as my contribution to a

special-reports segment of a major TV network. I've traveled to

remote and exotic areas of our country and a few other places in

the world.

And I used to just hope

and daydream after coming

across those impressive

ads for safaris in Africa.

These ads, in glossy,

high-end international

magazines, would always

show a woman in safari

gear, sitting by a hillside

admiring the rolling hills

and savannahs.

The ads would say: ''Out of Africa...safaris to exotic lands, by

Abercombie and Kent..since 1962.''

So when the opportunity to travel to Africa arrived

unexpectedly, I had no doubt I was heeding a call toward one of

the great adventures of my life.

The chance to go to Kenya came in the form of a wedding

invitation. Raquel Garcia's son Miguel, who is also a friend, was

getting married to his ''soulmate,'' Fabiola Hansen. They both

were living in Nairobi, East Africa, and the simple and elegant

invitation encouraged guests to go on a safari before or after

the wedding.

With the help of Raquel, who went ahead, I made my

arrangements, forever grateful for the convenience of e-mail. I

communicated with a friendly representative of Abercombie and

Kent, an African lady named Stella Mwachi who efficiently

confirmed my arrangements until I was all set to go.

It was also a treat and a comfort to travel on Singapore Airlines,

which had a route close to my destination in Africa.

Upon landing at the airport and all the way throughout the trip, I

was greeted by the locals with a warm ''Jambo!''--their version of

''Hello!'' I settled down at the Landmark Hotel in Nairobi, and the

next day we embarked on the one-and-a-half-hour drive to Lake

Naivasha, to attend a most unforgettable wedding.

Ancient land

Africa is the most ancient and stable land mass on earth. It is

divided into two almost equal parts by the equator, and the

differences in altitude, prevailing winds and distance from the

ocean have created practically every conceivable type of

climatic condition. The elevation of some areas--up to 6,000 feet

above sea level--renders the savannahs much cooler than they

would be otherwise. This made our nights extremely cold.

Africa's deserts occupy 40 percent of the continent. Its

rainforests--the jungles where lived Tarzan of popular myth-

-today account for no more than 8 percent of the land mass.

Ancient geology had endowed this continent with immense

deposits of mineral wealth. Iron, gold and diamond deposits

have been present for eons. The simple fact is that the oldest

rocks on Earth bequeath the greatest wealth, and Africa is

especially well endowed.

The ancestors of all humanity evolved in Africa. The earliest

evidence--fossil bones and stone tools--had been found

scattered in East Africa, where I currently was traveling! Most

poignant of all, a trail of footprints from the ''first hominids,'' our

human ancestors, have been preserved in the petrified surface

of a mud pan.

These footprints were made by two adults and one juvenile,

who walked across the pan more than three million years ago.

When we passed the cliffs overlooking the spectacular Rift

Valley while on our way to Lake Naivasha, we requested the

driver to stop. As I took in the view, I got goose bumps in

realizing that this valley is a veritable treasure trove of fossils

for archeologists.

Evolution made the first ''modern humans'' leave Africa 100,000

years ago for the first time, to progressively colonize the world. I

felt a high as I pondered all this information while gazing at this

world-famous valley.

Naturally, pictures had to be taken, and then we pushed on.