Safari-land

My perceptions of Africa prior to moving here were a bit skewed to say the least. I imagined a world of elephants and rhinos, endless plains and wild jungles, and a population that was spread into small villages rather than concentrated into big cities. Finally, after our visit to Tanzania, I found the Africa I was looking for...all within the regulated confines of the national park system.

As we started our 6-day safari, I couldn't help but draw parallels to one of the first scenes in Jurassic Park. Jeff Goldblum had just met with the park's creator and, along with the creator's grandchildren, was escorted via jeep on an electric track to view the park first-hand. Being realistic, we weren't towed along on a mechanized track and there was no entrance of grandiose proportion; but we were in Land Cruisers, the only other signs of human life were also in SUVs led by safari companies and the occasional Masai village on the outskirts, and we traversed the Serengeti on manicured trails maintained by the national park. There was even a well-maintained museum at its entrance to explain ecosystems and plant and animal life that we would observe within the park.

Despite East Africa being famed for exotic game, we didn't see lions roaming beside the local highway nor did we see much of any wildlife outside of "Safari-land." In fact the only animals we came in close contact with outside the confines of the national parks were camels and goats... not very "Africa" if you ask me. Like false perceptions of Texas -- everyone rides horses, wears cowboy boots, and lives on a ranch -- East African cities are not swarmed with hyena packs or zebra and wildebeest migrations. But if you keep a close eye, the occasional giraffe roaming roadside will give you a subtle reminder that, yes... you are indeed in Africa.