SAFARI

“When I was a young warthog…”

This past Friday through Sunday we ditched our white coats for sun block and ventured into the Serengeti for our first safari. In brief: awesome.

We left late Friday afternoon with three other visiting residents (Raja, Esther and Brit). After picking up all-important provisions (extra water, Pringles), we spent the first night camping just outside the park. The most terrifying wildlife we encountered at that point was a millipede bigger than my family’s toy poodle.

The next morning we woke up at dawn to head into the park. Our ride consisted of a huge jacked-up truck: seats ten, painted dark green so as to camouflage (ha), and with a roof that rises up about two feet when you enter the park so you can be driven around with the wind in your face but without getting horribly sunburned. This clearly made all the difference between safari and a zoo, because you really felt like you were THISCLOSE to the animals, but at the same time, you could easily duck for cover if one decided to eat you. (Note to Mom: none did.)

Animals seen on Day 1: wildebeests, zebras, elephants, giraffes, hippos, monkeys, a lot of creatures that all looked like deer to me, a leopard that had dragged its kill up into a tree, and our new favorite animal, warthogs.

After a full day of driving around and getting dusty, we “camped” in a luxury tent hotel, which means that every room was like a normal hotel room (tiled floors, nice bathrooms and fluffy robes, mini toiletries) but with a huge overhanging tent as the walls and ceiling. Definitely one of the coolest places I’ve ever stayed. And definitely some of the best sleep I’ve ever had. (Because the hotel is smack dab in the middle of the Serengeti, guests often hear animal noises like lion roars in the middle of the night; I, however, slept like the dead and thus heart no such thing.)

Animals seen on Day 2: billions more zebras, wildebeests, elephants and giraffes; but then came the good stuff – several lions and cheetahs, crocodiles, and best of all, two dead things: a dead zebra that had had its ribcage recently chewed off, and a dead cheetah being eaten by vultures. CRAZY.

Oh, and did I mention that we say baby versions of almost all these animals? Baby warthogs = most adorable animals ever.

Overall, an absolutely amazing, unforgettable experience. If any of you is ever in the neighborhood, we definitely recommend it.