Return From Africa

Thirty-four days in Africa and every second was a blast to the senses and a challenge in survival. Kruger National Park requires that tourists remain inside cars and buses in all but a very few places where short walks to fenced hides, or open areas with high visibility (a few picnic areas and viewpoints). The reason for this is that there are big dangerous animals lurking where you least expect them. The Big Five, the lion, buffalo, leopard, rhino, and elephant, were so labeled by the Big Game Hunters because they were the most dangerous wildlife to hunt. Although many of these animals are endangered now – they are still dangerous to us humans.

Break the rules by stepping out of your car and you could find these "Lion Eyes" nestled in the grass just waiting for someone to make a mistake.

In the words of the Eagles, "you can’t hide your lion eyes, and your smile is a thin disguise..."

A great thing about southern Africa is that the open vistas combined with the dust and haze scattered in the air make great sunsets and sunrises. Every African sunset is a magical phenomenon to behold. This following one for example:

Sunset #27.

If you are a bird fancier, there are over 700 kinds of birds in southern Africa. You never know what will turn up next. For example, there are some really big birds. Everyone is familiar with ostriches, but how about a semi-bald 5-foot high stork with a goiter problem. That is the marabou stork.

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly – all in one stork body. That big sac hanging off the throat is a resonating chamber to enhance the mating call. If you were this ugly you would have to have an awesome mating call.

A wonderful way to begin a new day in Kruger National Park is to sit inside one of the well placed "game hides" scattered around the park. My favorite hide is at Lake Panic. Here the hippos are just outside the blind on a cold morning in which mist is rising off the water that is warmer than the air temperature. Notice the erect hair on the backs of the hippos if you have a good zoom on your computer. Hippos make the silliest sounds that include snorts and grunts, bubbles are released out the nose while under water, and I won’t even get into the sound of submarine hippo farts. But they are interesting.

Hippos in the Mist at Lake Panic.

I have about 500 more photos from this year in Africa. But I better save a few for another time. I just wanted to share a couple great pictorial moments with you.

Back in the U.S.A.,

Frank