Safari Time

Hamjambo!

(if you haven’t noticed, there’s about 3,001 ways to say hi in Kiswahili)

So this is a little late, but two days ago I had the kind of experience that made me realize I was actually in Africa, doing something I never thought I would have done a year ago. I found myself standing up through the roof of a Land Cruiser with two subadult female elephants play-fighting with violent tusk collisions and trunk slaps (not scientific terms, but still accurate).  So this is what my first safari is like? What’s going to happen on the other ones??

Two days ago, we drove about 45 minutes from camp to Amboseli National Park to go on our first safari (which means adventure in kiswahili). This is a relatively small park, especially compared to Serengeti National Park. It is situated in southern Kenya, very close to the Tanzanian border, with magnificent Kilimanjaro creating a stunning backdrop to the herds of wildlife, which migrate here for the dry season. Amboseli has several year-round wetlands that are able to sustain large amounts of classic African animals, like wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, giraffes, lions and of course elephants!

There’s no words to describe how you feel standing up on a seat with your body halfway out the roof of a Land Cruiser, braced against the roll bars and scanning for wildlife as the sun beats down on you and large dust twisters form and reach upwards all across the horizon. It’s probably the most adventurous I’ve ever felt.

We drove through the park and walked to the top of a small hill overlooking one of the swamps and sweeping views of the dry and barren plains of Africa. The amount of vegetation, especially the ever-present Acacia trees, has never ceased to surprise me. Even in the driest conditions, life seems to find a way in. From the hill we could see different herds going about their elephant activities: Eating. Sitting in the cool mud and eating. Standing and contemplating things.

Just from observing, you would get the impression that these creatures hold more knowledge than any one of us could ever hope for. You can tell just by watching them move. Careful, slow and deliberate movements that suggest a wise old man who knows a lot about the ways of the world. They understand the Flow.

This was proven shortly after making this observation, when I became fortunate enough to witness an elephant greeting ceremony. I watching through my binoculars, ignoring the fact that I’d been holding them up for over an hour and not wanting to miss a second of what was about to happen. They walked towards each other steadily, trunks extended in greeting. As they connected, they began to feel each other, recognition and affection flowing between them. They began to circle around on another, keeping in constant contact. You could feel the love. Sense the beauty. And see the majesty.