We left early on Saturday morning. There was a feeling of excitement surrounding the group like a think down blanket. Some may say that there was 'magic in the air.' We then gathered our belongings for the three day excursion and hopped into the crowded bus.
I soon found out though, that our safari guides, Matt & Andrew, were driving a much more comfortable vehicle with cushy reclining seats and AC. As you might expect, I quickly asserted myself into the middle back right seat where I sat in complete joy for the 4 hour journey to the safariing grounds, also known as HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI. I will teach you how to pronounce that when I get back.
Anyway, we finally arrived, after listening to The Lion King soundtrack 47 times, and I could hardly contain myself. I do not know if the rest of the group sensed my excitement as I put on my safari hat and vest, but I WAS PUMPED! After eating lunch we gathered into our safari vehicles which were open air trucks. My friends and I would soon find out that we chose very wisely in going with Reg Codrington, the most amazing man in the universe, who also happens to be the director of things here on the South African campus.
As soon as we drove into the reserve, which is a couple of thousand acres I think, we saw this:
Massive giraffe walked right across the road in front of us and we were all absolutely astonished at how massive these things are. We soon realized though that giraffes, impala and rhino are quite numerous so it stopped being super exciting after the second day, and after seeing like 59 of them. Still awesome though.
Our camp was really cool. The 3 other men and I were escorted to wondrous chalets with hot showers and a ceiling fan. However, I was awoken by the sound of flies, moths and beetles late that night. There were hundreds. I spent a good 10 minutes killing them with my pillow...then fell fast asleep next to my good man zach west.
The next day, Sunday, we were out on the prowl for 12 hours...and boy did we see everything!!
ON THE PROWL
We saw tons of buffalo, rhino, impala, giraffe, zebra and quite a few elephant. hyena and kudu. But we were always on the lookout for the big prize, LION! In africa, there are what is called the BIG 5. The animals in this group are called that because when hunters first began to hunt them, it was either kill it in one shot or your dead. Any member of the BIG 5 will annihilate faster than a jack rabbit on a hot summer's day. They include: Elephant, rhino, lion, jaguar and buffalo.
We saw all of them except for the elusive jaguar. At the end of this day we were hot on the trail of a lion pride that had been sighted in our area by a river bed. We were so pumped and had been praying for the Lord to reveal His glory manifested in these animals all day, so cool. Turns out He wanted to manifest himself in those and an incredible sunset.
But still no lions. It was not until the next day, early in the am that we saw the most incredible creatures. The pride of lion had been spotted by another group stalking a buffalo in the river bed. They had then turned up toward the road but were in the brush somewhere so all three of our vehicles were rolling along the same road trying to spot them. And then....
We were freaking out because they were so close to our vehicle right on the road. And a few minutes later, as we were driving back, we saw them crossing the road again!! It was times like these in which we kept having to remind ourselves that this is real life and not a dream!! Best weekend ever.
Side note: Last night there was a crazy thunderstorm right over campus. The lightning was outrageous and would light up the entire sky like it was day and the thunder literally shook the ground. So, as any outstanding american citizens might do, my good man Joey and I decided we should bust out our 90ft slip n' slide at 11:30pm!! It was sooo much fun!!
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