Did You See That?

Written by Jordan Heinzel-Nelson
February 27 2008

12:00
We are all super excited! Why? Were going on a safari! I can’t wait. It’s a 2 hour drive, and I hate the car but I’m too excited to care.
2:00
When we arrive we go on a boat ride out to the park. On the way we see a gigantic Crocodile, and a bunch of hippos who think they are sneaky because only their pink ears are showing above the water.
3:00
When we arrive on land we are taken to our house where we are staying and get settled, then quickly get into a car for our first animal watch. The car is an army truck. It is huge. Monkeys roam freely. We watch one scamper up a tree. Then we drive into a beautiful lush green open land were there are plenty of birds, Bushbaby, Waterbuck and Impala, all types of antelope. The Impala have black butts. The Waterbuck have a white ring around their butts used for when they scatter at night when danger is around and can see each other easily to get back into their herd. Then we go into a forest with trees called Butterfly trees, in English that is. It’s really another name in some African language that means Butterfly Tree. Then we saw a few hippos on land that are huge. Right after that we see two elephants. The tour guide told us they eat eighteen hours of the day. Amazing! The only thing is, they weren’t as big as I thought they would be but they were still cool. Then we saw some more Warthogs. One snorted as if about to charge the truck then turned, shot its tail in the air and ran off. Then we stopped and had a drink while the sun set. When we left it was dark and so a man sat on the front of the army truck with a flash light. I wanted to see a Hyena but I didn’t. We saw practically no nocturnal animals but some birds.
7:30
When we arrived back at the house we had a dinner buffet. All I know is, it was good. Then we went back to our Chalet to sleep.


February 28 2008
1:00A.M
A snorting, munching sound drifts into Mom and Dad’s room. Hippos! Mom and Dad snuck outside just to see two huge shadows run quickly into the water. Hippos are very shy animals. Meanwhile Terra and I are sleeping soundly.
7:30
Later that morning, when we wake up we go for a quick dip in the pool before breakfast. The pool water is still warm from the burning sun the day before.
8:30
After breakfast we get in the army truck and drive off to see more animals, but it doesn’t look like we’ll see much. Only birds and warthogs.
9:00
Then we go to switch into a boat that takes us along the Shire River. We see so many Hippos. So many they soon get boring. Then we spot an elephant flapping it’s ears to keep cool. We make sure to get a picture. It was the coolest thing I had seen yet. Then we turn around to go back. On the way back we see three HUGE giant lizards crawling around. Then we go back because we have to leave.
1:00
We go to our chalet and pack after a nice swim. We go have lunch, then put our stuff on the boat and go back to are car. On our way back I feel the boat slow down to a stop and there sitting on the bank is a crocodile. It’s mouth is wide open. They say that keeps them cool. It was an awesome sight. Then it quickly runs into the water. Then we see another crocodile behind it. We have to keep going but it was so awesome.


I had so much fun! I know we will experience more animals so I will not worry that I did not see a lion. I can’t wait to show Jem and Clay the amazing wildlife of Africa.