Does
travel to Africa every come up on your mind? Many people will tell you that, indeed, Africa hunting safaris or an Africa photo safari is among their life goals. A safari allows you to experience the essence of Africa.
In this day and age, when television gives you fantastic programs on the various attractions of Africa, some people would rather stay at home and experience Africa in comfort. Getting up close and personal with Africa, though is a unique experience. The sights, sounds and smell of classic Africa safaris are an experience of a lifetime. You will be overwhelmed with the sheer number and variety of wildlife that you'll be able to appreciate, plus Africa's wild terrain and its people. If you are into Africa safaris and are contemplating on making your dream safari come true, there are a few things you should take into consideration.
The Kruger national Park is home to reputedly 13 000 elephant, yet some visit the park for the day and don't see one of them. In the 100 plus visits that I've made, I have never not seen at least one. The male elephant, or the big tusk carriers are scarce and difficult to find, but the bigger herds comprising the female of the specie and their young more visible.
These mammals that can reach the weight of a small bus, can sneak around without a sound, and on a few occasions whilst stopped to view other antelope, I've been surprised by the sudden appearance of these giants. They've been near during the time spent looking at other animals, without my spotting them, their natural camouflage and quiet unbelievable.
These are probably the most enjoyable mammals to watch, the antics of the young, the adults when in water and the general discipline of the group, marvellous. These herds controlled by a single matriarch will stand and feed yet a silent noise given by her will have them moving in a certain direction. Their disciplining of the young and their protection of the same, lessons we as humans could learn from. An errant young is gently smacked and chided into obedience, yet look the slightest like a threat to these giants and you could easily find an elephant sitting on the bonnet of your car.
Their speed deceiving, from standing to top speed, achieved in a few paces, the demise of a few hunters attest to this fact. Yet most of the time they will allow you to stop nearby to witness their antics and feeding, without batting an eye. They are the gentle giants of reputation. The bulls when in musk, the very example of a giant bully, bent on destroying all things between him and a cow “in heat”.
It was on one of our visits that we met with such a bull. Heading for the gate, as time was nearing for us to exit, we came upon a scene one very big bull in the middle of the tar road. This bull agitated; the swing of the head the flapping ears and the tossed trunk told me so. There being no other road to the gate, we slowly reversed ahead of this giant. He, being followed by other vehicles, kept turning and warning them not to approach too near.
I had a video camera and decided that an action footage maybe forthcoming, zoomed in, and started to film hoping to catch the action. It was at this time that a second vehicle pulled alongside mine, windows open the occupants asked my opinion if they could pass this beast, they had a flight to catch. Now I was well back from this bull allowing me enough space to turn and run if needed. As these where foreigners to our country, and I assumed not as well versed with elephant behaviour as I, I advised patients and distance, this elephant would soon or later leave the road.
They not obviously considered my analogy of a fight between a car and elephant, that the elephant always wins idiotic, as they decided time being of the essence, proceeded towards the angry animal. I handed the video to my wife and told her not to miss a second, this was going to give us a memory of note. I turned my car half way round ready to rush for help should it required. My wife, unable to film with both eyes open, had one on the view finder the other closed. Forgetting I had the camera zoomed in the scene appeared much closer than it was.
The car managed to just get passed this angry bull, which fell on its knees trying to impale the vehicle with its ample tusks. It stood again and looked around, it saw me and decided that a burst of speed would have me on my way. Well it did but whilst fleeing my wife continued to video the action, the only problem, in the view finder the elephant seem closer than it was. The result, my wife started to make a video of her last will and testament for the children, telling them where her jewellery hidden, as well as spare cash stashed in places of hiding I never knew of.
Needless to say the gentle giant never caught us and finally left the road allowing us to go ahead home via the Park gate. The laugh happened just within the boundaries of the park, where we came upon the car of foreigners parked next to the road. The driver, crouched in the bushes with his pants down, obviously completing the job brought about by his near meeting, the laugh, the spare underpants he had in his hand.