passionate observers

Hopefully your still with me on my African adventure, I know I've done at least five posts already, and the truth is I could do about fifty more. But I won't, It's been so much fun taking you along I don't want to overdo it. I think one more after this and I'll be satisfied that I've shared a good bit of what it's like to be on safari in Africa. So, the theme of this post is observing. On Safari the best, most important thing you can bring is patience. I bet you thought I was going to say camera, that's number two for me. To completely enjoy every bit of the experience it's necessary to be patient...waiting, watching, listening...Observing wildlife in it's own environment can be the most rewarding experience in the world if you come with no expectations ( a good guide can be priceless). For me I can honestly say some of the best times I've had were when we stopped moving, sat quietly and the natural world started doing it's thing all around us.

This next series of photos shows what happened when we drifted up quietly, shh, to a pair of soundly sleeping hippos....

...and just like that, they were gone. The enormous speed and agility with which they picked themselves up and ran made it easy to see how they are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, they are fast! and oh so powerful. You never want to stand between them and their exit to safety. Sorry to wake you guys...

Next series is how silly tourists (me) manage to lose their breakfast muffin to cheeky monkeys, in the first shot you can see the hotel manager running to shoo off the daring monkey, my sister off to the side giving him plenty of room.

The next shots you can see the managers efforts were mainly futile. The monkey got my muffin.

...here he is doing the dine`n dash, I think he deserved the delicious muffin for showing such unwavering bravery (and cheekiness). Then as the manager stood glaring up at the tree, c.m. sat perched on a limb munching the stolen goods, we sat laughing...did you see how he jumped?!


... we saw this gorgeous Martial Eagle fly by...
... and male antelope fighting for dominance, only one can be the head of a herd...
...a beautiful Goliath Heron fishing, then flying away...
Photo by my sister Lindy

...and a Leopard eating his kill, an antelope that he'd drug up this tree...we sat and watched in complete silence with only the light that the moon and the stars could provide, occasionally our guide would point the spotting light. My sister and her great flash managed to capture this amazing shot. We stayed at least an hour until the leopard stood, stretched and then in the elegant way only a Leopard can, he climbed down and slowly walked away...epic...

We saw so much, so many different types of behavior, weavers building nests, dung beetles rolling their balls of elephant poo, Saddle billed storks fishing, monitor lizards sticking out their tongues to catch an insect flying by, we saw seventeen Giraffe walk in single file across a plain and come to a waterhole to drink (i got tears at that)...oh wait! I've got pictures! No, this is long enough... hmm...maybe I should have made an Africa Blog...

t.t.f.n. :)

Love, Lori