We all loaded into four Safari trucks with Michael taking his car for those of us who were fighting colds and maladies and weren't sure if we could get through the long day.
These safari trucks had higher-placed seats with tarp doors for a little more protection from the big game animals (still think a hungry lioness could do a lot of damage if she wanted to, tho')! Although the temperature was pleasant in the early morning, the actual drive at about 80 km. an hour was cold and we bundled up as best we could to stay warm (thx for the loan of the vest, Brian!).
Once through the gates of Etosha National Park at Andersson's Gate, there were paved roads but, after a while, they were dirt and sand and the dust coming at us was nasty. We soon pulled into a beautiful desert resort (Okaukuejo) that had a castle turret at its entrance. We drove through the camp past little huts and guest houses to a parking lot from where we walked to a huge stone fence. As we neared the fence, we realized it was a wall between us humans and a huge watering hole for the animals!
It was breathtaking to see them heading in huge long lines down to the watering hole for their morning drink - like animals heading for Noah's Ark. There were hundreds of zebra and springbok along with wildebeest and oryx. One lonely giraffe made its way slowly down to the edge of the water, keeping a close eye behind itself and around until, finally feeling safe, it spread its front legs and stretched its long neck down to take a refreshing drink.
We sat for about half an hour in the "box" seats that were conveniently constructed for our viewing pleasure. It was like a giant Imax theatre but all real! Unbelievable!
Back on the road, it wasn't long before we saw a lone bull elephant lumbering to the left of us about 50 feet away. The guide explained he was alone because he was about 45 years old and had been sent away from his herd. The old elephant stopped, turned and looked at us allowing us to get some excellent photos. It is almost uncanny the animals behaviour. Who is really watching whom?
Our drive took us over long roads through various terrain that hid the animals perfectly. Giraffes in tall, leafy trees (they eat the tops and make them flat on top); zebras in gray six-foot thick shrub; and even elephants in that same shrub, disappear! And, of course, lions in low, golden fields of wheatgrass.
We entered a sandy driveway to a large watering hole and there before us were dozens of zebras, too many to count. Alongside them were springbok, wildebeest and oryx all drinking in the water or wading in it or in long, straight lines to get there. It was so amazing to just sit and watch the scene before us of these beautiful animals in their natural environment and oblivious of us just a hundred yards away.
On the road again, getting dirtier and dustier with each leg of the journey, our mission was to find the 3 big cats that can be so elusive - lions, leopards and cheetahs. Our driver stopped at one point asking another guide coming from the other direction what he had seen and we got the word that lions were in the area!
We drove on excitedly straining our eyes as best we could to try to make out the lions when, suddenly, we realized there were vehicles stopped up ahead over a culvert in the road and again "lions" was whispered through the grapevine. A guide was leaning out of his car pouring water from a bottle at one end of the culvert . Suddenly, two lions ran out the other end of the culvert and stopped and turned to look at the now 8 vehicles that were stopped.
We were elated to see the lions! They were a young male and female and they paced back and forth staring at the vehicles, not happy with the situation at all. The male looked like he was going to run up the ditch and across the road but there were too many cars. He finally just resigned himself and sat down in the grass.
We had to tear ourselves away to allow other vehicles to move in for the photo opportunity. We drove back to Okaukuejo to have our pre-arranged lunch at some shaded picnic tables, feeling like school kids helping ourselves to trays of food put out before us.
After lunch, Lynn, Eileen and I weren't feeling well so we loaded up in Michael's truck to get out of the hot, dusty vehicles and get home sooner. My head was pounding from my cold and I slowly, gratefully nodded off with the gentle motion of the truck. Suddenly, I was jerked forward in my seat as the truck came to a hard stop at Lynn's cry of "Elephants!". Now awake, I looked off to where she was pointing and saw three elephants - mom, dad and baby - in the six-foot grey brush off to the left about 100 yards (we're putting Lynn's name in for the "eagle eye" award!).
After lots of pics, we drove on and soon came to a lone tree on the lefthand side of the road that was offering shade to about 18 springbok all huddled underneath it. They were literally only four feet from the car and just stood there cautiously while we snapped away!
Then, the highlight of the day! We drew into sight range of the original watering hole of the game drive and there were eight elephants at the site in full view! We pulled in and parked about 40 yards from these massive animals that had their front legs in the water and were drinking it in with their trunks.
Off to one side were two young bulls wrestling head to head locking their tusks and trying to force each other to back down. What an a amazing show to watch! We sat there for a good 20 minutes - completely enthralled and drinking it all in!
Don't think it can get much better than this!.......JT
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