Oh Africa – you stole my heart the moment I saw my first elephant in the wild! I long to come back again and again and continue to marvel at the close-up encounters. Being on safari is an exhilarating experience for anyone, let alone an animal lover like me.
The aim is to search for the “Big 5” — the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. They were originally grouped together for being the most difficult to hunt but are now simply thrilling to watch in their natural habitat. You will most likely see them all on every safari, with the leopard normally the most elusive. However, there are hundreds of other animal and bird species to encounter, each playing an important role in its local ecosystem.
Don’t forget to look for the “Ugly 5” – the warthog, hyena, vulture, wildebeest and Marabou Stork; or the “Little 5”– the ant lion, leopard tortoise, elephant shrew, rhino beetle, and buffalo weaver….and if you are very lucky you may see an elusive member of the “Shy 5” – the porcupine, bat-eared fox, aardvark, meerkat, and aardwolf. Witnessing exotic wildlife up close and personal in their natural habitat on a true African Safari really is the experience of a lifetime!
For me, the safari is the ultimate part of my African trips, however experiencing African culture also plays an important part of any trip there. I have danced with Masai tribes, clapped along with local performances and played soccer with school kids; but my most treasured moment was blowing bubbles with small children in a remote village in north Kenya – Samburu. The delight on their faces brought tears to our eyes and this memory will live with everyone I was with on that day for the rest of our lives.
Donna Phillips Travel is an Independent Affiliate of Frontier Travel - A Virtuoso Member https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/donnaphillips
