Day 10 - Entering Etosha N.P.

  Okaukuejo Camp, Namibia
Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Etosha was the first African game park I had ever been to. I had a general idea of what it was going to be like, but in reality it was SO much better. I had invisioned driving down bumpy, dirt roads to catch random glimpses of staggered wildlife. This could not have been farther from the truth. In reality, there were animals and birds EVERYWHERE!

Most surprising were the park's water-holes. I expected these oasises would be popular among the wildlife, but I was completely taken back at true that was. The quantity, diversity and general lack of conern for tourist trucks was simply crazy. These guys and gals just didn't take who was around.

Bring in the smelly warthogs! Make way for the elephants! And of course, smile your best for those crazy tourists sticking their flashy cameras out the windows!









It was a circus... no, a zoo... NO, even better - this was real, natural and amazing!
And sooo much better than any animal experience I've had. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to go back to one of those dreadful "instituations" ever again. It's hard to say that the wildlife should be anywhere but their normal habitat. Just doesn't seem right.

Things continued all day and I don't think my adenaline ever wore off. There was just too much to see. In the evening, as we sat around our camp's water-whole, massive black rhinos wandered in to top our day off. What a remarkable ending to a truly memorable day.