The image of a tourist “on safari” in Africa usually involves someone wearing a khaki outfit (with a cool hat), sitting in an open-air truck and looking out at the savannah through high-powered binoculars. I have been that tourist (sadly minus the cool hat) in the past. But recent game-drives through the parks of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa painted a very different picture!
It all started with a boat trip in the St. Lucia estuary – full of hippopotamuses!
The boat was able to get closer to a hippo than I’ve ever gotten! During the day, these animals stay in the water – it helps to keep their skin moist which keeps them cool in the hot midday African sun.
That night, while driving through the small town of St. Lucia, we saw these big guys eating their nightly supply of 150 pounds of grass – from the local lawns!
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| Less than 4 feet from my window! |
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| Sorry, not too good at night shots! |
Over the next two days we took our rental car through two parks: iSimangaliso and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi. Having your own car is quite a different experience from a game drive with a group. The freedom that comes with being your own guide is incredible! Personally, I think the animals liked me better in a small car – because many of them decided to get up close and personal!
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| Directly out the passenger window! |
Certain animals, however, when they get too close, can make your heart pump a bit faster! The sheer size can be very humbling.
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| Highly endangered black rhinoceros with juvenile on the roadside |
Some animals just look mean!
Others have both: the grumpy look and massive size!
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| This guy looked up from his meal at our passing car. |
These guys (gals, actually) are called “king” for a reason! The largest cats in the world look even bigger when just outside the window!
Then there’s the “strength in numbers” theory. We were fortunate enough to see a pack of over two dozen African Wild Dogs – the most endangered carnivore in southern Africa. They hunt during the day -- so happy I was in a car while they were looking for food!
Although we saw all of these animals from less than 10 feet. . .nothing quite prepares you for encountering a 4400 pound animal and her juvenile in the middle of the road!
We were on a side road with no other cars around. While a car can feel safe and protected, this rhino was twice the size of my tiny 2200 pound Hyundai!
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| The white rhino can weigh up to 3000 pounds more than the black rhino, when you see them back to back, the size difference is incredible! |
We spent over 20 minutes with these guys getting closer and closer while eating grass. . .seems the grass on the roadside tastes better than that in the bush!
Our incredible two days of animal sightings ended at night with the car being surrounded by a pack of hyenas – much bigger than I had anticipated! While driving through the bush in Africa, you can never forget that you’re being watched. . .
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