First Safari Experience
By Katie Perry
Before my first trip to Africa, I assumed I would be on a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ adventure – something to check off the bucket list. But from the moment I arrived, I realized that the experience has a way of changing you. As we left our final camp I wondered what the rest of the guests would see that same evening. Even on the flight home, I found myself longing to go back, as though I might miss something extraordinary happening.
It didn’t take long for Africa to work its magic. I became a morning person overnight – no small feat for someone who usually treasures a slow start on vacation. By 5:30am, I was awake and eager to explore. As I bundled up for the game drive on my first morning, I heard a deep, resonant roar outside. Jason smiled and said it was a male lion calling out to mark his territory. The sound was thrilling – wild and ancient – and set the tone for everything that followed.
After a quick breakfast and with coffee to-go we were out on the vehicle with our guide Neo and our tracker Themba. Within an hour I found myself sitting in an open-air vehicle at sunrise, a warm water bottle on my lap, watching a pride of lions glide past. We were surprisingly close! I made eye contact with the lioness in front of the pride and I will never forget the feeling. A mix of excitement, fear and wonder. The lioness couldn’t have cared less – she and the pride walked within feet of our vehicle and found a shady spot to lie down with her cubs.
By the end of that first day I had seen all of the ‘Big Five’ mammals (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo), but more than the sightings themselves it was the connection to nature that stayed with me. I used to wonder how Jason could see the same animals time and again. How he could watch a wildlife documentary as if he hadn’t seen all of those animals before. Now I’m the one searching out the documentaries, the videos, the photos. I’m the one rooting for the lone, hungry leopard to make a kill – although I’m not entirely ready to see that part of the circle of life. Luckily the only kill witnessed on our safari was during the final morning game drive when we saw a predatory bird capture a mouse. There was enough obstruction in the trees to not see the worst of it, but we all knew what had happened.
All in all, this supposed ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ adventure became something far more meaningful. I know I’ll be drawn back to Africa again and again, as are many of Fish Eagle Safaris’ guests. The ‘Africa Bug’ bites and doesn’t let go.
If you’re ready to join the ranks of first-time Africa visitors – or to make a return trip to the continent – by all means contact Bert at bert@fisheaglesafaris.com for his recommendations. South Africa? Kenya? Botswana? It all depends on what you have in mind, and we love to talk about it. So leave us a message at 1-800-513-5222 and one of the team will be sure to call you back.
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