Of Safari
After two weeks of drilling in Kaacade, before we returned again to our first location, Matt Miller, his daughter Abby, the Kennell family (all with the Church of Christ Kabiye team) and I went on a weekend safari. We went to the Pendjari gamepark, three and a half hours away, in the neighboring country of Benin.
I've had the pleasure of African safari before, but never under the guidence of Mr. Miller. He has mastered the art of approaching a herd of elephants as they cross the road, and backing up towards them until they charge the vehicle. "The trick is to have plenty of open road in front of you," he says about enticing elephant rampages.
I captured an instance on video. In the background, one of the Kennell's gradeschool-age daughters gives instructions about her will as the elephants approach, growling and trumpeting. No, I did not know that elephants could growl either.
Such moments were reminiscent of the Jurassic Park scene wherein the Tyrannosaur chased a jeep. While the jeep sped away to safety in the film, I have no doubt that Mr. Miller would've at least driven slowly to lengthen the pursuit, if he did not back up to restart the chase entirely.
The heat was brutal during the afternoons, 104 in the shade, but fortunately, we were staying in lodges. Unfortunately for some of our friends still arriving, their car broke down seven miles from the lodge within the gamepark. No animals harrassed them, but they stayed stranded in the blistering night heat until the next morning when a tourist vehicle found them and took them and their luggage the rest of the way.
On our return trip we visited among the most spectacular waterfalls I've ever seen, also in Benin. Children who lived in the area glided easily across rocks slick with moss and helped the members of our party hike to and from the falls. A vast pool spread out at the base of the waterfall, and the Benin children jumped into it from their 20-foot climb up the cascade's rock wall.
I'm in gratefully indebted to the Kabiye team for the awe-inspiring experience, as well as the much needed rest. I'm happy that we were able to put it to good use with the completed well in the week that followed.
I've had the pleasure of African safari before, but never under the guidence of Mr. Miller. He has mastered the art of approaching a herd of elephants as they cross the road, and backing up towards them until they charge the vehicle. "The trick is to have plenty of open road in front of you," he says about enticing elephant rampages.
I captured an instance on video. In the background, one of the Kennell's gradeschool-age daughters gives instructions about her will as the elephants approach, growling and trumpeting. No, I did not know that elephants could growl either.
Such moments were reminiscent of the Jurassic Park scene wherein the Tyrannosaur chased a jeep. While the jeep sped away to safety in the film, I have no doubt that Mr. Miller would've at least driven slowly to lengthen the pursuit, if he did not back up to restart the chase entirely.
The heat was brutal during the afternoons, 104 in the shade, but fortunately, we were staying in lodges. Unfortunately for some of our friends still arriving, their car broke down seven miles from the lodge within the gamepark. No animals harrassed them, but they stayed stranded in the blistering night heat until the next morning when a tourist vehicle found them and took them and their luggage the rest of the way.
On our return trip we visited among the most spectacular waterfalls I've ever seen, also in Benin. Children who lived in the area glided easily across rocks slick with moss and helped the members of our party hike to and from the falls. A vast pool spread out at the base of the waterfall, and the Benin children jumped into it from their 20-foot climb up the cascade's rock wall.
I'm in gratefully indebted to the Kabiye team for the awe-inspiring experience, as well as the much needed rest. I'm happy that we were able to put it to good use with the completed well in the week that followed.
posted by El Peregrino at
10:12 AM
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