uscmolly

As I plan my second trip back to Africa, I keep thinking about what the "highlight" of my next trip might be.

Although there are many amazing moments from my last trip, if I HAD to pick one: seeing a lion for the first time. It was at Chitabe in the morning, and it was VERY cold out. We could see his hot breath and hear his call for his brother so clearly. He came within 10 feet of the land rover...and I held my breath for those moments! That morning will stay with me forever.

If you HAD to pick ONE highlight from a trip...what would you pick?

atravelynn

Great highlight!

Since you mentioned the highlight of your first trip, I'll mention the highlight of my first trip.

Last day, in the Maasai Mara. We were watching cheetah jumping on the hoods/bonnets of vehicles. It was Queen and her cubs.

One cheetah jumped onto the side of our vehicle with front paws over the top open hatch and back legs scrambling for traction along the doors. At that moment we kissed. The cheetah's face touched mine, just by accident. Then the cheetah fell back to the ground. I was dumbfounded.

matnikstym

the highlight of all my trips to Africa so far was one night at Somalisa Camp in Hwange, Zimbabwe. We sat down to a candlelit dinner by the pool, were having a glass of wine and an elephant came up to the pool to drink, not 6 feet from us. It was such an incredible experience watching and listening to this amazing creature, one I will never forget.

Momliz

Years ago - in the late 60's when safaris were not as frequent and it seems that the animals were not habituated to people we were in Ngorongoro. The Land Rover got a flat, and my sister absolutely had to go to the bathroom, all near a pride of lions. Our guides were besides themselves with worry. They and my dad fixed the flat, and my sister still has a small bladder. AS a teenager, I couldn't wait for something exciting to happen to my (then) lame family.

nevermind

Seeing a full moon rise over the Ngorongoro Crater.

knlaw

Our first afternoon game drive at Mombo Camp we were driving around looking for lions. One of the guys in the vehicle who had a lens on his camera that was longer than my arm wanted to find the "big" male cats. As we were driving along the road, all scanning the horizon and bushes. The lady sitting behind me said "Lion!" We all keep looking around. "Lion, Road!" At this point we all look at the road in front of us and there is a young male lion sound asleep in the road. As the vehicle jolted to a stop and idled, we all looked around and all around us lion heads and ears started popping up in the long, tall wheat grass. We then counted a pride of 19 young male lions all laying around us in the grass. We sat and watched the lions until the sun set. (Having Cocktails of course) They were playing and cleaning themselves, and walking around us. They ended up walking single file right behind the jeep. They were so close that you could hear them breathe. (We of course weren't breathing at this point) I will never forget watching the sun set in Botswana with a pride of lions walking off into the dark.
Kim

CarlaM

What's the saying...you never forget your first one? My first night in the bush was a Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe where our boat was surrounded by crocs and yawning hippos. If that wasn't exciting enough for a greenpea, along the river bank, through the thick brush came a charging elephant into the river towards our boat chasing a hippo right out of the water. I will never forget how big that ellie was and how bad I was shaking while trying to capture my first ellie photo in Africa.

hetismij

So many highlights! Watching the birth of a wildebeest, spotting three cheetahs before the guide did and then spending half an hour watching them with no other jeeps in sight.....Listening to a lion right outside our tent. Sorry I can't pick just one.

GeoffG

So many Highlights.

Here's one. Chizarira 1993 - walking safari.

Standing my ground with a lioness six paces away whilst grabbing hold of womans arm and calmly telling her not to run.

Lowlight. Amboseli 1986,
Seeing a lioness work hard for a meal, drag it into a thicket and then being surrounded by six minivans each driving into the bushes in an attempt to get her into the open. The poor thing was terrified and left her meal.... I've never been back to East Africa.

Geoff.

dssxxxx

Our butler for 3 days at NCL.

Oh, and lots of animals....

bradley57

Two particular highlights, one whilst sitting having dinner at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, looking out at the crater and seeing fire! It was night-time, the fire was spreading rapidly across the full height of the crater,and we were in the middle of Africa - help!!
Of course, the staff in the lodge were completely unconcerned because it was just controlled burning (had no idea how much management of the crater goes on)but it was an unforgettable heartstopping few moments!
The second highlight had been earlier that day, at a viewpoint near the crater rim as we approached our lodge. We looked down on the crater floor, bathed in sunlight but all around us damp, mysterious vegetation and mist.
It was like looking at the Lost World,or finding Noah's Ark with all the animals spilt out, a feeling of other-worldliness that persists in my mind

Khakif

I remember our first night, camping under the trees at the hippo pond on the Crater floor (the place where most people now take lunch). A grazing herd of hippo is like a very bad orchestra… interminably tuning up for an evening’s performance—it was an unforgettable acoustical experience.

The next morning I sleepily unzipped the tent anticipating a hearty breakfast and some much needed caffeine. I poked my head out to look around before exiting and there to my surprise were two lionesses about 50 yards away with paws crossed, looking my way. Decided it was best to zipper-up and forego the walk to the dining tent (who needed caffeine after that adrenalin rush!) After a few minutes, a Rover pulled up in front of my tent, the passenger door swung open…an encouraging voice urged me to come on out. (The camp crew had already reported our “visitors” when they made their wake-up rounds)

Africa can certainly leave her mark on you; I am admittedly addicted to safaris (and reading about all YOUR adventures on Fodors. Having lurked on this site for ages…I’m finally getting the nerve to start participating. A few of you have sent encouraging e-mails; thanks for the warm welcome.

marydonaldson

Enjoying a hot morning coffee with cookies at Kikoti Camp and Mbuzi Mawe while enjoying the morning sunrise....the anticipation of what lies ahead on safari.