After a long journey, we finally made it, my wife's bucket list, South Africa. Alone the trip, all I can think about was what I would see, do, and eat. So excited to yet again visit another place, learn about the culture, and see new things. Of course, on the list was to experience the wildlife of the big five.
As we made ourselves at home on a private safari retreat, I was delighted to see that it was not overrun with tourists and provided only accommodation for five couples, including a personal guild. The resort was ideally situated in the middle of the safari, with a fence surrounding us. We were the ones in a cage and allowed the nature of the animals to roam free. The location was a true haven for the animals as the staff did not interact, feed, or direct the movement of the animals. There was a border around the safari that we didn't see and explained to us to keep the wild safe from poachers.
We journeyed out in a jeep daily to explore the mass landscape of the safari animals, vegetation, and the night starlights. The way they tracked the animals' activity was not only by chance but communication with others on the team through walkie-talkies. Sometimes those times came at unexpected moments that allowed us to witness the nature of the wild at its best. Any animal being part of the African Big 5 is due to its difficulty and aggressiveness while being hunted. These are thus the most dangerous animals to hunt.
The African elephant was the most widely seen of the big five throughout our stay. We came upon this tribe and watched the little ones play until they fell out from exhaustion. The African elephant is the largest animal and has thick, hairless skin. There are two distinct species of African elephants: the African Forest Elephant and the African Bush elephant.
The exciting moment when I saw the African Cape Buffalo caught me by surprise. Seeing them in person gives off historian and beauty that is hard to capture in pictures. They are also known to attack and kill the king of the jungle, “the lion”. Interestingly enough, they are also like the protectors of the jungle, killing more hunters than animals and care for their disabled and blind members of the tribe. It was unbelievable to find out that their diet is mainly made up of vegetation and water. It is the only animal among the Big Five that is not on the “endangered” or “threatened” list.
The White Rhino (above) is one of two spices, the other being the Black Rhino. The difference between the two comes down to the snot; the black rhino is more narrow. The Rhinoceros's protective skin is formed from layers of collagen and is very hard to puncture. They move like they have no care in the world...slow. On the other hand, the power they harness with a charge reminds you not to cross their path.
The African Lion was one of those calls that came by surprise. As mentioned earlier, the staff and crew of the resort don't engage with the wildlife; this call came with some sadness. The food chain of command is diffidently ranked when it comes to the lion. The call came that an elephant died of natural causes, and as the wild knows, the male lion comes first when it comes to who eats first. The picture above is of a lion sleeping soundly with a full belly next to his meal. As we approached, lights went off on the jeep, and we were instructed not to use flash, no sudden movement, and do not get out of the jeep; to not attract attention. Our guild pointed out the eyes of coyotes hiding in the bush waiting for the lion to give permission to eat by leaving the scene. This was an intense yet once-in-a-lifetime sight.
Unfortionally we did not see the African Leopard in person; this is a photo I capture at the museum. From my understating, they did not populate in the location we were in but would have to travel to other parts of Africa to see them.
After I visited the Safari, the zoo will never be the same. Although the zoo allows others to see animals from around the world, I feel sorrow seeing them locked up in a small space.
TammyRenee
About the Creator
TammyRenee
As I start my next journey, words are what I have to share,
life experiences, life lessons, and emotional connections from different perspectives.
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