Reading and minding my own business....

During a visit to Ruckomechi Safari Camp in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, I was minding my own business,

soaking up the warmth of the sun at my tent and enjoying some reading.

When who should visit me?  This beautiful elephant. 

At first, he stayed away, eating near the beautiful Zambezi River.

Then he came closer and sauntered past.

I never thought I'd say an elephant's tush is my favorite photo in a post..but this is.

And he stopped to eat some more and I realized quickly he was so much more interesting than my book.

And then perfectly across the river, a hippo yawned.

I felt incredibly blessed to find such solitude and such beauty around me.

That's my tent on the left, as seen from the Zambezi, where I was minding my own business.

A vulture!  This really has nothing to do with the post, I just thought it was a cool photo from my walking safari....

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The mighty crocodile of the Zambezi

A crocodile on the Zambezi River in Mana Pools National Park -- Zimbabwe.

There were many, many, many crocodiles in the Zambezi.

None to which I wanted to get any closer.

Warthogs may be some of the cutest animals ever.  I had no idea. 

Here a mama leads her two babies away--when they run, their tails go straight up in the air like antennas.

And their hair reminds me of some serious old-school side burns.

A waterbuck next to the Zambezi.  They're easy to pick out because of the bulls eye on their tushes.

A waterbuck and a zebra.

Baboons.  Kind of an unnerving shot with its human-like quality, eh?

A hippopotamus stares me down from his perch in the Zambezi.

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Three of the Big Five

While on safari in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, I was lucky enough to see three of the big five!

One: this impressive male lion.

Two: this huge hippopotamus in the Zambezi River.

Three: this huge herd of African Buffalo.

So amazing...and my heart beat a bit faster the closer they got to us.

Even with their beauty, you can see how they are the kings.

We didn't see a leopard sadly..but one was spotted while we were there. So close!

(African Buffalo skull...)

Two hippos on a small island in the middle of the Zambezi River.

We weren't lucky enough to see the fifth of the big five: the rhino.  

They apparently don't come to that part of Zimbabwe anymore and those that used to had been poached.

(Why are these the big five?  They are the most dangerous animals to hunt.  

In particular, they are the ones that will charge you vice run from you when threatened.)

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