Saturday, July 19, 2008

Still alive

My time in Africa is quickly coming to a close. The experience has truly been indescribable. This morning at 3:00 AM I had a Lion (Simba) just inches away from my tent. His footsteps woke me then a minute later he started to grunt and growl. Yesterday there were Giraffes (Twiga) behind my tent which I didn't mind so much. The Lion(s?) I'm not embarrassed to admit had me literally paralyzed with fear. I don't think I've ever felt so alive as the time I've spent in Africa. I am so happy to be in a wonderful villa tonight. The camping has been great and an incredible experience but I can say with 100% honesty I was thrilled to find a hot shower, soap and flushing toilet tonight :) It's funny how the things I've taken for granted all my life have become so important. I've seen many, many beautiful animals and met incredible people. This afternoon on extemely long, brutal drive from Serengeti to Ngorongora Crater we had a SNAFU with the trailer we were pulling and found ourselves in a Masaai village where I learned a great deal about an culture far different from my own. All of these stories I will blog about in great detail when I publish my journal from this trip (which is almost full by the way!). Tomorrow I will be on Safari in Ngorongora Crater, followed by another night in the tent on the rim of the crater then it is to the airport in Tanzania, Nairobi, London, Denver and Seattle!

Take care,

Mat

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Mat Hayward walks into a bar in Arusha with a giraffe and they sit down to take some shots. A giraffe in the bar is awkward enough, but this one is trying to sit, which is just slightly not impossible. So Mat and his giraffe friend are pounding them down, one after another. Eventually the giraffe passes out and Mat gets up to leave. The bartender says "Hey, you can't leave that lyin' there!" Mat says "You dolt, its a giraffe, not a lion."