I decided to go on a safari in Africa – not so unusual.
\nHowever, all of the travel information I was able to dig up
\nin preparation for this life experience talked about the
\ngame drives during the day and the typical you’ll see this
\nmany giraffes, this many zebra, this many lion, etc. I was
\nnot able to find information on what it was like being out
\nthere in your tent in the middle of the night. But I went
\nanyway – not knowing. As it turns out that was my favourite
\npart of the trip.<\/p>\n
It’s October, we arrive in Tanzania and eventually make
\nit to our camp deep in the Serengeti – Kusini Camp run by
\nFred and Carol, who are two of the coolest people my
\nhusband and I have ever met. We go out for some game
\nviewing which is great fun, as expected. Evening starts to
\nroll around, we have a great dinner, and then relax by the
\nfire. As we are sitting around the fire listening to Fred’s
\ncrazy hunting stories we hear a slight noise to our right.
\nAs we look over, the Masai tribesman, who is monitoring the
\nperimeter of the camp for wild animals shines a light on
\nthe stone bird bath not but 10 feet away. There is an
\nenormous Cape Buffalo drinking from the birdbath. A
\nmagnificent sight up so close. This is when I knew that
\nnight time was going to be the best.<\/p>\n
Shortly after, the Masai tribesman with rifle in hand,
\nescorts my husband and I back to our tent – fully equipped
\nwith a small walkie talkie in case of an emergency. As we
\nsettle down for sleep we notice the unbelievably unique
\nquiet surrounding us. It’s deafening quiet, however amongst
\nthe quiet you can hear the sounds of Africa. I can’t stand
\nit anymore. I jump up, grab the spotlight provided, and
\nstart to survey the land around us through the thin mesh
\nwindows of the tent that separate us from them. Under the
\nmagnificent light of the stars in the black sky I am able
\nto see an elephant slowly moving toward our tent. He
\narrives in only a minute or two to graze on the grass
\nsurrounding our temporary canvas residence. He is loud when
\nhe eats and a bit clumsy fooling around in the bush. But
\ngraceful and so close I could smell his dank leathery
\nbreath. I know he could charge at any minute if I went out
\nand got in his way, but I feel safe inside and am able to
\nwatch him from only a few small feet away.<\/p>\n
Later, I wake up to what I consider a roar, and it
\nwasn’t my husband! This immediately provokes me to get out
\nthe spotlight again. This time I cannot see anything, not
\neven a set of yellow eyes, but I can hear the roar from
\ntime to time. You just know he’s there. I set up shop by
\nthe opening to my tent waiting for him to emerge. I slept
\nright there on the wooden floor but never saw him. In any
\ncase, this was surreal enough.<\/p>\n
The next night I could barely wait to head back to the
\ntents. This time I was ready and wanted the entire wild
\nkingdom at my doorstep. While I lay there I could hear a
\nlion again. I think he came back – maybe he liked it there
\nas much as I did. I kept listening until I finally fell
\nasleep. Fred was able to confirm my suspicions in the
\nmorning – there were lions in our camp.<\/p>\n
We headed on the 4th<\/sup> day to a different camp In the morning our Kira Wira friend came to wake us up Our last night we began our tent ritual by sitting on While the game drives were awe-inspiring across Kusini Camp info:<\/p>\n P.O. Box 427, Arusha, Tanzania<\/p>\n tel: +255 27 2502143<\/p>\n fax: +255 27 2508273<\/p>\n
\nin the Western part of the Serengeti – Kira Wira camp on
\nthe Grumeti River. During the night at Kira Wira I was also
\nable to feel the excitement of being out in the wilderness.
\nAgain I awaken halfway into the night. This time to watch a
\nhippo casually stroll by our tent and then head over to my
\nAunt’s tent nearby. The big fellow sauntered through the
\nbush. I couldn’t believe it – up until this point I had
\nonly seen their heads in the water.<\/p>\n
\nwith our usual coffee and tea just at sunrise. As he began
\nto leave our porch he was confronted by a small herd of
\nabout 10 Cape Buffalo that came to graze by our tent or try
\nto stay safe from the lion and lioness that may start to
\nget hungry again. We were able to watch these buffalo in
\nthe faint morning light. They were only a few feet away
\nlooking falsely harmless and eating their breakfast.<\/p>\n
\nthe bed with all of the tent windows zipped open looking
\nout at the darkness. A large bat landed on the meshy
\n“front door”. As it hung out there we watched
\nits quick tiny movements. All of a sudden a long very furry
\nblob leapt up on the door and grabbed the bat, whisking it
\naway into the night. It all happened so fast we are still
\nnot sure what kind of 3 foot Civet or Janet it was that had
\nbeen lurking nearby but it was an amazing close to our last
\neerie evening.<\/p>\n
\nTanzania, as I am sure they are all over Africa, I have to
\nsay that by far the most exciting part of the trip was not
\nknowing what kind of visitor I would have each night and
\nhow close they would venture to mingle with this crazy New
\nYorker.<\/p>\n