Have you ever imagined seeing a mother lion chasing a warthog as meal for her pride… a herd of wildebeests and a dazzle of zebras migrating from Tanzania to Kenya… a full and bloated lion lying down panting with his newly caught wildebeest beside him… a pod of pelicans doing a synchronized swimming stunt… a giraffe eating leaves from a tree unbothered by the people taking selfie with him…and a memory of elephants parading and crossing the river? How about witnessing the sunrise while flying on a hot air balloon over the Maasai Mara reserve in Kenya or the sunset while cruising the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe? These are images that I only see and watch on National Geographics or Amazing Earth.
But during the recent African Safari that I joined, I got to experience all of these live, up close and personal. The 10-day Safari organized by Cristy Kaimo of Kirst Destination Travels and Tours, brought us to Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. These are countries I used to only hear in Miss Universe pageants, but there I was, together with 23 other “Safarians”, marveling at the beautiful sights and sounds of Africa.
Our first stop was Kenya, famous for its scenic landscapes and vast wildlife reserves. While there are other wildlife reserves in Africa, Kenya’s has become the leading Safari destination as It’s well known for the Big Five (elephant, lion, buffalo, rhinoceros, and leopard) and for the Great Migration (the ever-moving circular migration of over a million animals in search of food and water), which only happens at the Serengeti (Tanzania)- Maasai Mara (Kenya) River. Our group was the luckiest as we witnessed a part of the migration where Wildebeests and Zebras crossed from Tanzania to Kenya. What an awesome experience! As if we’re watching a movie on a big screen. Aside from the wildlife reserves, Kenya also boasts of beautiful lakes like the Lake Nakuru, Elementaita and Naivasha which served as sanctuaries for different birds and marine species. What I may consider the highlight of our Kenya adventure was the walking safari on Crescent Island, where we got to walk with and be up close with zebras, giraffes, gazelle, wildebeest, etc. Imagine taking a selfie or groufie with them! Kenya is also home to brave tribal people like the ones we met at the Maasai Mara village. Amidst the modernization and progress in most parts of Kenya, these people managed to preserve their culture and traditions. Their story deserves a full article.
After a brief overnight stay in Ethiopia, our group proceeded to Zimbabwe, famous for one of the largest waterfalls in the world, the Victoria Falls. It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to personally experience what’s recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 1977, on 3 different vantage points: view from Zimbabwe, view from Zambia and view from the top aboard a chopper. We didn’t mind getting soaked (despite the raincoats) while walking along the edges of the Victoria Falls Rainforest where it rains all day. It’s part of the whole adventure! Cruising along the Zambezi River to catch and watch the beautiful sunset and being treated to a real African gastronomic experience in one of their popular local restaurants, Bomo, were truly delightful.
Aside from seeing another side of the Victoria Falls, our day-tour in Zambia was punctuated by a walking tour with the white rhinos. It’s surreal to be few meters away from one of Africa’s Big Five. While we stayed calm and poised doing our photo ops, we were ready to run anytime, in case.
An hour drive away from Zimbabwe was Botswana. It’s a boat safari in the morning at Chobe River and a game drive in the afternoon at Botswana National Park. That time was an interesting experience to see the interaction and dynamics among a herd of wild elephants. Highlight of Botswana trip was going up the Kazungula Bridge, where the Quadripoint is- the only point in the world where 4 countries- Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia meet.
This 10-day Safari exposed and revealed to me a whole new Africa. While poverty, famine and civil unrest are still happening in some parts of this continent, we are thankful to have seen and experienced the wonderful blessings God has endowed Africa.
The Krist Destination Travels and Tours did an excellent job with our itinerary, accommodations, and in choosing their local partners, who were all professionals in their service. These made our African Safari extra memorable and meaningful.
You should definitely include this African Safari in your travel bucket list!
