Daniella's game drive expectations exceeded

game reserve time...

this is the day that I have been anticipating the entire trip. While applying for the study abroad program I read that we would be going to a safari and I was sold on the trip. I've always wanted to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity and I was so thankful that I was able to. I think it's safe to say that everyone has always dreamed about going to an African safari to just witness the animals in their natural habitat. The semester long Cape Town Study Abroad students are able to go to  Kruger National Park but that is a two hour plane ride from Cape Town so we didn't have enough time, so in order to see animals we went to Aquila Game Reserve, which is only an hour and a half from Cape Town. Words cannot describe how incredibly beautiful this venue was. They had little hut like cottages with outdoor showers. They also had two beautiful pools, one which had a bar attached to it. There was the dining room, which served delicious meals, and a lounge area. I felt like I was at a five star resort, absolutely beautiful. The first day there we were off into the safari. The first animal we saw was a water buffalo, I had no clue what it was. It was so funny, because we were all shouting out different animals that it was and we were wrong. I think I called it a ram. Then we started seeing springbok and zebra. I love zebras. I think everything in my room has a little hint of zebra print, so to actually see them in person was incredible. They were so cute, I loved them! Then we encountered the mighty elephants. I have never seen an elephant up close in my entire life. They were humongous, but I felt a sense of peace within them. But that peaceful feeling quickly faded when one of them came charging at our truck. The elephant extended his trunk as if he wanted to grab one of us out of the truck. It was such a trill, I loved it. That's a moment that I will never forget. Then we moved along and saw hippos, rhinos, ostriches, more zebras, and then out of nowhere beautiful giraffe emerged. I was so excited! At that moment my initial reaction was to just snap hundreds of pictures of it, but I remembered what Ben said about actually just looking at the animal from your own eyes and taking in that moment. So that was exactly what I did and it was so worth it. Just watching the way he moved was surreal. I think that was the best moment for me. Then we went to the lion's dens. They had so many lions, both male and female. Surprisingly the lions were so calm, they weren't even phased that we were there. Th next day we got to see more of the animals that were rescued; one being a cheetah which I have officially named Max. I can't begin to describe how adorable he was. He was just laying down watching us watch him. If only I could have taken him home. My goal was to see 4 animals; zebras, giraffes, lions, and elephants; but my expectations were exceeded. Just watching all of the animals near the waterhole living among each other so peacefully is only what one can wish for the world. If the animals can do it, I would hope that humans could do it too. One thing that the driver said that stuck with me is that the animals view humans as mortal enemies, that saddens me. We shouldn't be harming such animals for such materialistic things. I think we should join the fight to protect these animals. 

Cindy's game drive beyond amazing

The game drive we went on was beyond amazing! We went to Aquila Game Reserve and we arrived Friday afternoon then left Saturday morning.  Right after we arrived we had lunch (buffet style) and there was tons of food. After lunch we went to our rooms, they were gorgeous. Then we had about 2 hours until the game drive so we invited Carrie over and chatted for a while. Finally it was time to begin the safari ride everyone was so excited. It was late afternoon and the sun was going down so they gave us blankets and heating pads to prepare for the cold night ahead of us. We began and the first animal we saw was a zebra, one of my favorite animals. It was so unreal how close we were to it. 

We all took tons of pictures, but I tried to keep in mind what Ben had told us the day before, which was try to actually observe the animals in their natural habitat because a camera can’t capture the beauty of that and looking back at photos wont always show you or give you the same feeling. After the zebra we ran into some elephants, they were beautiful! One of them actually came very close to the truck, so our driver/tour guide had to quickly drive away. He told us that they tend to be territorial. Then we continued on with our drive and we saw all sorts of animals such as springbok, water buffalos, ostriches, giraffe, hippos, rhinos, wildebeests and finally lions! 

 

My absolute favorite animal, they were stunning to observe. I learned that lions typically live to the age of 14 but there was actually a lion there that was 16 years old. He looked frail because his mane was barely there, but once he got up and growled at another lion while protecting the lioness that graciously lay on top of a shack I could quickly see how ferocious he was.  It was amazing how all these animals could be living on the same territory and get along. They are all so different from each other yet they seem to rotect one another and interact. It was intriguing to see how they don’t attack each other over food, land or anything else because there’s so much violence in the world today that I just wonder how its possible for animals to live civilly while humans are always fighting instead of protecting each other. 

One thing that Marita mentioned that stuck with me was that humans are the only living creatures that take more than they need. Plants and animals survive with just what they need, they never take more than they need at that given moment. I think if we did the same there wouldn’t be so much violence, hatred, or discrimination in the world.

Daniella on hiking Table Mountain

On hiking table mountain . . .

the thought of hiking table mountain was not a thought that crossed my mind. I am in no way, shape, or form an athletic individual. So it is no surprise that when I heard of the option of taking a cable car too and from it was sounding more like a definite possibility. But after speaking to my advisor, who visited Cape Town not too long ago, he convinced me that I should hike the mountain instead of taking the easy way out. So Sunday, June 9, was the day. I was actually pretty excited about it but a bit worried because I didn't know what to expect. I was also worried that I wasn't going to be able to accomplish it because I was not in shape. I feared lagging behind and holding up the other students. But all that fear went away the moment I reached Table Mountain. It was absolutely breath taking. The drive up there alone was a sight to see and actually being there was amazing. I was so pumped and excited to go.The scenery was so beautiful; all the rocks, the plants, and the streams. Hiking definitely took a lot of strength both mental and physical. I have to admit hiking Table Mountain was one of the hardest things I had ever done; besides leaving the country alone of course. It challenged me in ways that I never knew possible. There were times when I would see others running and sprinting up and the down the mountain with so much energy and I was dragging my feet completely exhausted. That discouraged me because I was suppose to be this young energetic girl and I couldn't do what these middle aged people were doing with no issues. But then I thought of myself, and realized that I was just as capable of achieving this. I might not be the fastest or strongest but I could also finish it. And that was exactly what I did. The moment I saw the top it was like I was looking into the heavenly skies. My legs were aching, I was having hot and cold flashes, and starving; but I sprinted up those last steps and finally reached the top. It was one of my proudest moments ever. I will treasure that moment forever. That experience makes me realize that I can accomplish any obstacle that comes my way. If I push myself, then nothing can stop me.          

Ferry to Robben Island

Zuleika, Leslie, Eddie, Marita, Deborah, Carrie 

            

 

                                                                  Daniella, Maeve, Alssa, Cynthia, Chivelle, Cindy