We set out from Halali Camp in Etosha National Park early one morning on what was to be the only guided game drive we did during our five days there. We arrived at the park in the late afternoon and wanted to get our safari feet dusty the next morning with someone who knew the lay of the land. We woke at 4:00 am and climbed into the back of an open-air safari jeep. It was still dark and very cold for two people coming from Congo so we made good use of the blankets we were given to keep warm. Our guide drove us through the bush for hours looking for something interesting to tick off our big 5 list. All we saw for three hours were the same zebras and springboks that greeted us on our way into the park. We were all tired and cold and ready to call it quits for the morning so the driver turned the jeep back toward camp. We had nearly made it back when finally this old bull appeared. The driver pulled the vehicle up so we could get a closer look. The bull was not impressed with this move and began flapping his ears at us, letting us know that if we didn’t back off he would show us just how small and vulnerable we really were compared to his great force of nature. The driver quickly backed up and gave the bull some space. He went back to eating for a bit before continuing his journey into the bush. And then we continued our journey to a hot shower and a warm coffee.
Magic 159/365, The Old Bull, Etosha National Park, Namibia, December 22, 2017
