My first safari: ‘An experience like no other’
Jul 24th, 2011 by wwftravel
- Lions break into smaller groups when hunting. Here they can be seen watching our safari vehicle. © Sonya Bessalel
Guest blogger and WWF member Sonya Bessalel is a rising sophomore at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.
Piling on layers of clothing, I stepped out into the chilly morning air in Africa. Clambering into the safari vehicle nine feet off the ground, I set off on safari at Krugersdorp Game Reserve outside Johannesburg, South Africa, with 33 others in a small parade of vehicles.
I was touring South Africa with a choral group, and we had just one morning to take in all the sights, sounds and experiences of the safari. I was not going to waste a single second.
Pulling away from the thatched-roof and stone lodgings where we stayed, the early morning bustle faded into the background, and we were suddenly surrounded by golden grasslands and a wide open pathway to travel. My excitement rose at the prospect of seeing animals in the wild.
As our vehicle bumped along, I grinned and snapped photos. We caught a quick glimpse of giraffes that were hidden among the foliage, grazing and eating leaves off the sparsely covered trees. Although we could still see the highways and buildings in the distance and hear the ever-present roar of cars, we had entered a new world filled with exotic animals.
Pulling up to the lions’ enclosure, a sign warned travelers to stay in their vehicles and not provoke the lions – they were still wild, after all, and could attack without the slightest warning. Our guide told us that the lions were fed every two weeks, and so we had to be extra careful not to provoke them or we might very well be their next meal!
- Wildebeests travel in herds to protect themselves from predators. When they stampede, they can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour. © Sonya Bessalel
We drove into the enclosure, and I was surprised how peaceful these large beasts were. They basked in the sun, rolling over and yawning like house cats, but we knew they were actually menacing and volatile. Some lions rose stealthily to their feet and circled our vehicle, and my heart began to pound as my adrenaline levels soared. My group high tailed it out of the lion enclosure, and quickly drove to the next part of our safari.
During the rest of the adventure springboks jumped like kangaroos, zebras moved en masse when they saw our vehicle, and swarms of birds flew toward the brilliant African sun.
We saw a herd of wildebeests and two males were facing off. I watched the power struggle in awe as they circled each other, fighting to become the alpha male of the herd, but finally one was defeated, and the rest of the wildebeests chased him away. Then the wildebeests stampeded, and I could feel the ground rumble as their powerful hooves pounded the dirt.
The safari was an experience like no other – summoning exhilarating primordial instincts, taking in the beauty of the African landscape, and reminding me that all these majestic and beautiful creatures are worth saving. And who knows, maybe they even enjoyed watching us too.
Travel to Africa with WWF:
- Epic Botswana & Namibia Safari, August 16 – 31, 2011
- Secluded Botswana, September 9 – 21, 2011
- The Great Tanzania Migration Safari, March 6 – 13, 2012
- The Great African Primate Expedition, June 22 – July 1, 2012
Man, this was so intense. I can bet you were having goosebumps while the lions were approaching your car. Safari is on every traveller’s wishlist so I congratulate you for having your dream come true
I really enjoyed reading Sonya Bessalel’s safari adventure. Thank you for publishing it.