Before you begin...

Instructions:
1. This blog begins with the most recent entry first. Therefore, to read about my trip from the beginning, you need to scroll to the very bottom of page and read up.
2. There are links within each blog to more pictures. They are underlined. When you click on them, they will take you to another page to view the picture. To return to my blog, simply click the 'back' button.
3. There is at comment button at the end of each entry. Please use it!
4. To see more pictures from my trip, click here.

Disclaimers:
1. I do not claim to be an English major, so there are most likely typos and grammatical errors throughout this blog. If you catch any typos, feel free to let me know.
2. Any informational errors are mine and mine alone. (But if you catch one, again, feel free to let me know.)

Acknowledgments:
I would like to thank my parents for allowing me to travel to Africa this interim and most of all, I would like to thank my grandmother for provided the financial means to make this trip a reality. This truly was the trip of a lifetime and I will cherish these memories forever. I hope that you will be able to experience part of Africa through this blog.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Day 16--Ongongo to Etosha


Lions at the Waterhole

This morning we began the long-anticipated drive to Etosha. We got a few hours down the road and, lo and behold, we ran out of diesel. Burger and most of the boys set out to walk the 5 km to the nearest ranger station. An hour and a half later, we were on the road again!
Most of the drive was uneventful: we saw a few mountain zebras, ostriches, and springbok, but nothing was super close to the bus.
However, as soon as we drove into Etosha, there definitely was life abundant! The first animal we saw was the impala, an antelope-looking animal endemic to Etosha, followed by giraffes, springbok, the blue wildebeast, and plain zebra. They were all pretty close too! Probably the neatest animal we saw was the blue wildebeast. It's a unique-looking animal--almost unearthly in appearance.
Near to our campsite is a waterhole, so we headed down there as quickly as possible. The sun was going down, so lots of animals were coming to enjoy the cool water. When we first got there, there was a herd of plain zebra visiting the waterhole. It truly was a breathtaking sight to see the sun setting behind the zebras and their reflection on the water.
A while after, we were informed that a rhino was at the waterhole! The rhino was standing at the edge of the water drinking and cooling off. Just when I was getting ready to leave, three male lions showed up! We had heard them roaring for an hour previously and they finally decided to show up. These magnificent animals were amazing. Both the rhino and the lions moved with a grace that did not match their size. The rhino moved almost silently even though it weighed more than a ton. The lions impressed me more than anything. To be such ferocious creatures, they were very gently and loving with each other. They didn't wander too far from each other and spent much of their time lying next to each other. It was a thrilling feeling to be approximately 100 yards from these animals. The only thing between us and them was a short stone wall. Unlike the lions one sees in a zoo, these lions seemed alive. In zoos, they seem so bored and uninterested in life. These lions were filled with a vitality that can only come from living in their natural habitat. It was truly a uniquely African experience.
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