Morning Drives

We completed our fourth drive today. Diane and I are taking the afternoon off. This evening we will take our first night drive.

African Buffalo

We have some great pictures of zebras, buffalo, wildebeast, warthog, giraffe, rhinocerus, and from this morning, the elusive elephant. Too bad I can't post a few. Kevin asked how close we could get to the animals and since I can't show you yet, I'll have to describe it.

Since we are in a car, the animals are accustomed to the diesel fumes and don't run right away. We missed the giraffe by twenty feet. Today we crept up on a sleeping rhino. We have a great picture of the elephant staring down another jeep. Alternatively, it is really hard to get close to zebra who spook like horses.

Elephant

Yesterday afternoon, we went on a bush walk. Since we were walking, we couldn't get close to any of the animals -- even with a 12x optical zoom lens. Apparently, their sense of smell is very acute. I think they see something moving and don't know what it is. Our guide carried a 375 bolt action rifle. She's only used it once in eight years, so I didn't feel too scare walking around.

Tomorrow morning we are going on a boat cuise on the St. Lucia river and will see quite a few different animals there.

Oh, the mornings here are about 60 degrees and the locals are wearing full sweaters and mufflers.

Giraffe

Indian Ocean

Rhinocerus