I just got back from my first photo safari and learning vacation in Africa. What an experience! I took over 1100 photos, and I’ve posted some of my very favorites here. To see more click here!
This woman is trying to get me to taste some of her banana beer.
I was amazed at how close some of the animals came to the jeeps. The most thrilling incident was when an elephant came right towards my window and our driver quickly moved out of the way. I was so happy that I brought binoculars, too. Here I am checking out a family of elephants in the shade of a Baobab tree (like in the book, The Little Prince!)
Here I am with some of our amazing guides from Thompson Safaris and one of our jeeps with the tops that pop up for better wildlife viewing. The guides continually amazed me with their ability to spot animals far away. Once they realized that I was starting to pick up some Swahili (I made flashcards on the plane), they started quizzing me.
I was surprised to realize that I already knew some Swahili thanks to Disney’s The Lion King. “Hakuna matata” really does mean “no worries” and “simba” means “lion.”
Baby lions! So cute! There was a whole pride hanging out in the rocks.
Two cheetah brothers, scoping out gazelles.
These lions plunked down right in front of one of our jeeps. It’s like they’re posing.
My favorite wildlife viewings were of big cats.
Hyena and hartebeest stare down.
We turned a corner and suddenly saw sixteen giraffes among the trees. I’d never seen baby giraffes before.
We had the wonderful opportunity to visit a Maasai village.
I was so happy to see so many baby animals on the trip.
Tanzanite is my second favorite gemstone after sapphires. Look at this! Dark, clear and huge! Only $970,000. Can you believe they let me hold it?
