Africa.

I've just returned from South Africa...an amazing journey, well worth the 20+ hours on a plane. 4 nights in Cape Town, sightseeing and then it was off to Kapama Private Reserve for safari. 4 game drives, each more exciting than the one before.  A few things I learned:

1. There is nothing as humbling as a full grown male lion standing 5 feet away from you and looking you straight in the eyes. There is also nothing that makes you feel quite so edible.
















2a. Full grown elephants are scarier than lions, especially when they are walking right towards you. They're incredibly huge, and you do not want to stand in their way.  Rhinos are also large and scary.

2b. Baby elephants are the cutest animals ever, followed by baby lions, baby zebra, and yes, baby Cape buffalo. See #5

3. If you're arachnophobic, you probably should not go on a game drive in South Africa. Golden Orb Spiders are everywhere...and they are BIG.

4. Getting excited over seeing giant piles of fresh poop is acceptable in the bush...especially if it's White Rhino poop.

5.  5am wake up calls aren't so bad if it means that you'll see 15 elephant at a watering hole, or a lioness with her two cubs and a fresh kill.