Visitng Africa as a tourist is stereotyped by a chance to witness "The Big Five" of safari wildlife encounters: buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino. While we have yet to see any of these beasts we enjoy debating our personal 'big five' updates daily and have been lucky to view some amazing wildlife, especially here in Tanzania.
Our current list, with only some minor deliberation as to its rankings:
1) Sea turtle hatchlings
2) Chameleon
3) Bats
4) Spider
5) Crocodile
While witnessing the sea turtle hatchlings was a truly amazing experience, one might wonder about the auspicious rankings of the other critters we've seen. Well, the chameleon was truly cool and put on a fascinating show with his oven-mit claws, rotating eyes and comical contrast of clumsiness and predation. Bats? Not only lots of bats...like a swarm, but big bats, larger than a crow, swift, agile and silent. Spider ranked ahead of crocodile? Absolutely, because when we say spider, we mean one of those jungle-dwelling science fiction monstrosities that you'd gladly trade an encounter with a hungry croc should it be chasing you.
We'll update the list as we witness other spectacular wildlife. But I'm betting, shiver, unless we encounter, sweat, some more beastly arachnid, that the spider is staying in the top five.
Well that's a respectable list to begin with, all very interesting and exciting. I love spiders, but apparently size does matter. I'll take a spider over a crocodile any day.
ReplyDeleteGreat picture!
The Fantz-Sands family reminds you never smile at a crocodile! We miss you and sounds like you are having a great adventure.
ReplyDeleteHi, we found the internet here on the island!! Please feel free to contact us via email or on the blog
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Kirsten
OMG, I had sleepless nights trying to avoid those monstrous spiders! I would rather see the black mamba! In Tanzania you should see the cats and wildebeest etc if you're by the parks. I have enjoyed your list though. I never saw a chameleon, impressive! How are the kids doing? Enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
Sarah ~ I can't get over how much you look like your MOM!!! I am enjoying your posts... Great writing. Chris, I think your next adventure will be the book you are meant to write!
ReplyDeleteA shout out to President Obama from little ol' me here in Oregon. IMHO he is way cool on so many levels. Is there chatter across the globe about him? Just curious.
Loving your life-changing trip ~ Julie
Ok your followers await word what 6-10 are? Hope all is going well and we look forward to your next post..... Pictures, more pictures. Greedy aren't we?
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteChris is the only one who knows how to actually post an entry, but this weekend we went on a very rural African adventure. We saw monkeys with very blue testicals!! We stayed in a room that was $5 per night and worth more like $3.50. More about that I'm sure.
Kirsten and Sarah