Once in the park, we stopped for the quick addition of our very own guide and a bathroom break. Then it was back into the black jeep with tinted windows as we bounced our way down the very winding red road - path, rather - in search of something amazing. The very first thing I saw of any interest was a rather skinny tail swishing itself across a rather large bottom connected to some unknown African animal on top of a hill. We never did figure out what that thing was, but when we went in for a closer look, we found zebras. Wouldn’t you know - they look just like they do in the zoo. Only these were real wild zebras, and that made all the difference in the world. Wild zebras are much more fascinating. Even though they didn’t do much more than look at us, eat, and swish their tails and stomp at the flies. We took some pictures, properly oohed and aahed, and loaded ourselves back into our little jeep.
Bouncing along some more we next saw some graceful little deer-like creatures that they call impalas. The babies frolicked along with their mothers, and all skittered away whenever we got too close. Again, we properly oohed and aahed - but, truth be told, soon tired of the little things as they were everywhere. After a couple more hours of bumping in our seats and straining our eyes out the window, we ran into a family of baboons. I have to say, baboons are rather ugly. They walked right up to us - our guide was trying to convince us they were just like dogs, but I don’t think any of us believed him - then climbed the tree we were standing next to. A few more pictures and some oohs and aahs, and then it was down to the lake on a hunt for hippos. We found them too - slumbering lackadaisically on the shore, and, really, not doing too much of anything very impressive. We snuck up as close to them as we could get - which wasn’t very close, as the trees and swamp blocked our path. Disappointed, we headed back to our vehicle. But as we all piled, once again, into the jeep, our guide suddenly began jumping up and down, whistling, and yelling. We turned around, startled. What was he doing? And then we saw. He was trying to rouse the hippos. Nearly a minute of frantic hollering later, his efforts paid off as the four fat hippos raised their massive heads and swivelled their twitching ears to peer at us. They must have been disgusted at what they saw, for they immediately turned their rather enormous bodies, waddled into the water, and disappeared.
And that was our African safari. A bit of a change from my visions of stampeding elephants and lolloping lions, but it was good. So, thanks, Lord. Your creation is fascinating - sometimes breathtaking and sometimes just plain weird - but always interesting. I am blessed. African safari indeed! Who would have thought?
My amazing team on our African safari.
Wild zebra.
Cute impalas.
Ugly baboons.
Fat hippo.
