Go On A Walking Safari (Part 2)

Read:  Go On A Walking Safari (Part 1)

The following day after my first walking safari, we set out on a mokoro to another island in the Okavango Delta. 

I was feeling more comfortable with my new found powers of deciphering animals with their associated poop.  We did find a herd of impalas in the distance, and a shy mongoose living inside a termite mound.   But yet again, the poop craze struck once more, but this time we found a pile of hyena poop.  After you finish Ooohing and aahing, I must confess that I was beginning to get a tad worried.

I began picturing myself as the Olympic Gold Medalist of an imaginary game called "Guess Who?:  African Poop Edition."

"Are you the size of my head?"

"Do you look like blueberries?"

"Are you white?"

Okay, okay, I promise I will stop the poop jokes....for now.  I was delusional, and losing my mind.  I needed to see something other than doo-doo!

Well I think the African Gods (Yo Mufasa!) were listening because things started to get exciting! 

As we were walking through the bush we spotted one of the Big 5, an Elephant in the distance.  Our safari guide, Fillmon, told us to stop and slowly move the opposite direction.  We were so excited to finally see something other than poop, that our primary focus became taking photos of the elephant rather than listening to our guide.  Pretty much we were flunking "Walking Safari 101."

We noticed the elephant walking towards us.   Fillmon immediately changed his tone and told us that the elephant could smell us and that we were in danger.  He loudly whispered, "WALK FASTER!"  What, huh?  I saw the Spanish people in my group ignoring Fillmon and continuing to snap away.  I nudged one of them to start moving.  Then I heard, "Run, Run, Run!"

FUUUUUUUUUUUdgesicle! At this point the Elephant was only a few meters from us.  Finally the rest of the group got the hint and hurried towards us.  We climbed up a giant termite mound, and then proceeded to get a massive lecture from our guide....

"Don't you guys remember the rules from yesterday?  When I tell you to run, you guys need to run!  Do you think I was kidding?  People have died not following the rules!"

Busted.

As we were being scolded on the termite mound, we realized we were surrounded by a herd of elephants.  I counted almost 15 of them.  As soon as we started our walk again, we spotted another elephant, but this time when Fillmon told us to move, we moved.  This happened another few times. 

My favorite moment of the day was when we climbed up another termite mound, and silently watched three elephants just meters away eating.

After our several elephant scares we saw a few bones, and a giant spider that we made (fake) spider pendants with. 

As soon as we got back to our mokoros we exchanged stories with the other groups.  "Oh, so you guys were the group in danger!  We overheard your guides on the walkie-talkies." 

We surely won all bragging rights that day, and I didn't have to go home crippled after being trampled by an Elephant, nor did I have to tell people that the most exciting thing I saw was poop.

Date Accomplished: September 21st & 22nd, 2010

Go On A Walking Safari (Part 1)

I have no idea why it has taken me over 1 1/2 years to finally start posting about all the amazing safaris I went on in Africa.  Let's face it, I am so behind on posts it is RIDICULOUS!

Me with my walking safari guides

I had the luxury of going on two walking safaris while in Africa.  Most parks do not allow walking safaris due to them being dangerous, but in the Okavango Delta we were allowed to take part in them using caution.  Our mokoro ride headed to an island along the Delta, and we were off on our walking safari.

First we needed to learn the safety rules.  We had guides (or bodyguards) leading us, and two more behind us.  We would have to walk in a single file line, being extremely cautious of our surroundings.  One of the guides behind us also carried a gun and knife in case we were in any danger.  The last rule was to listen to your guide.  If he told you to run, you need to RUN. 

One of the most dangerous parts of a walking safari are the Ardvark holes scattered everywhere.  They are giant holes that can have hidden animals and snakes *eek* living in them.  Anytime you saw a hole you would have to point it out so the person behind you was aware of the hole as well.

During the first walking safari we didn't see many animals except for a few warthogs and impalas.

We saw many termite mounds like the one above, and learned a lot about the vegetation, animal poop and animal tracks (yes I did say poop!).  The sun was beginning to set so we had to hurry back to our mokoros.  It was a great little intro to walking safaris, and fortunately our second one was much more of an adventure....

Date Accomplished:  September 21st & 22nd, 2010