Six days in Africa, and I got to go on my first ever safari. We drove about two and a half hours from Johannesburg into the North West Province and arrived at Pilanesberg National Park. This Game Reserve is nestled in the crater of a long extinct volcano and is one of the largest parks in South Africa, spanning 55 hectares. (For all my fellow metric-illiterates, that is about 136 acres.) Even in the Winter when the grass is brown and gives the land a dull, earthy tint, the landscape is stunning. Magnificent mountains oversee open grasslands, valleys are speckled with trees and vegetation, and the still blue waters of the lakes reflect back the rocky, red-soiled mountain ranges. It is an absolutely breathtaking panoramic view that only a National Geographic photographer could possibly attempt to capture.
This beautiful stage is the playground of countless birds and mammals, including the Big Five. The Big Five is a term first coined by big-game hunters, referring to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. South Africa is one of the few countries that has all Five and in which you can easily see all Five. I had some up-close-and personal encounters with three of the five- elephants, black rhinos, and Cape buffalos- and also some giraffes. (Check out the photos in the gallery.) I barely spotted a female lion lazing around midday in the grasslands, but the bush was a bit too thick and tall to clearly see her. So really the lion and the leopard are the two remaining Big Five that have eluded me. Countless zebras, warthogs, kudus, hippos, elands, wildebeests, impalas, sprinboks, and crocodiles made themselves visible during our outing. One of the most impressive sights though was a little black bird. This particular bird seemed no more unique than any other, that is until he spread his wings to fly away. As the sun reflects off his body...poof! His shiny black feathers are transformed into a brilliant aqua blue. It was like magic.
I've been told that no safari is ever like another. It just depends on the luck of the day as to what I'll see. Considering this was my first safari and I was able to see so many animals, missing only two of the Big Five, I would say that was a pretty good day.
