(Safari Part 2)

At the close of the evening on our first game drive our driver took off in the vehicle at top speed.  We thought at first maybe he was in a hurry to get us back to the resort or was just giving us a good red-neck ride through the prairie.  Dale turned his hat backward, stood up to let the wind hit his face and hollared “Yeeehaw!”  What was actually happening though was something even more thrilling.  We were on our way to witness the rarely seen African leopard.

This beautiful male cat was the biggest our veteran driver had ever seen.  He was pretty impressive indeed and as we watched him slowly and gracefully make his way across the grassland we circled our vehicle into his oncoming path several times to get good looks at him.  At some points he was heading right toward us and we got the eerie feeling he might just jump right into the truck window.  It was simply spectacular!

To see a leopard was one of Isaac’s desires before we even came to Africa.  In many ways we thought this was just wishful thinking but when God allowed us all to see this male leopard on the first day, we really felt like it was an answer to prayers from our friends back home.  Was this just a fortunate coincidence? We think not!  Does God care about such things?  We’re convinced He does!  And when God blesses his children He often gives us abundantly more than we could have asked or imagined.  Case in point: the very next morning we saw this young female leopard in a tree feasting on her fresh kill (Thompson gazelle).

       

Isn’t she a beauty? (note the red stained paws)

Photo by Rachel

We have talked with several people who have been to the Maasai Mara on multiple trips and have NEVER scene a leopard.  What a privilege for us to be able to have this experience…but that isn’t the end of it!  Wait until we show you what we saw on our last game drive. We’ll tell you about it in part 4 of this series!

On to another of “The Big 5”.  The rhino is a massive beast and in particular seasons they can become quite aggressive.  Fortunately, this is not that season.  We cautiously admired this mating pair from distances we didn’t expect to achieve.   We were able to walk on this portion of the safari as the rhino must be guarded by armed men around the clock against poachers who wish to harvest their valuable horns. Despite the guns there is still a certain level of anxiousness when you are this close. You don’t turn your back for long.

   

Here are some pics of other creatures we got to see.  They may not seem as spectacular but they still have a beauty of their own.  We joke about “The Ugly 5” here in Africa (Warthog, Wildebeest, Hyena, Vulture and Baboon) but I don’t believe any of God’s creations are genuinely ugly.  They just need to be appreciated in different ways.  (All pictures are taken by various members of our immediate family)

Jackal, Warthog, Hyena

   

Baboon, Secretary Bird (stomps its prey), Zebra

   

Ostrich, Dick Dick (second smallest deer), Wildebeest, Eland

    

These following creatures are the most precious; our family and friends.  We went to the resort as three families: Ours, Rachel’s brother Dan’s and their friends, the Crefelds.  It was even more fun to enjoy this experience with loved ones.

    

 Here is JJ with her stuffed giraffe from the states named “Safari” (given by her Aunt Lisa) on safari with a real giraffe in the background.

Landscape photos by Annie