don't forget to call your mother: Nature's zoo and our first guest blog

Hello everyone! I am very excited to post our first guest blog from my sister, Jess. She flew all the way from Denver to visit and join us on our safari. It was so great to see her after being away for 3 months and we can't wait for more family visits soon!

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I’m so honored to be a “guest blogger” on my favorite blog! First off, let me answer the question that inquiring minds really want to know – Yes, Zach and Lesley really do seem to still like each other and are getting along very well! Now that that’s out of the way….

Going to Africa has always been a dream of mine. Thanks to my brother and Lesley’s world tour, I had the chance to make that dream a reality. We had many adventurers during my two weeks in Africa, including a safari through several of Tanzania’s most beautiful national parks – Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti and Lake Manyara.

zebras and wildebeests grazing at Ngorongoro crater

With so many animals in close proximity, it can be easy to feel like you’re in a zoo and your safari jeep is on a track. It all becomes very real again when you see blood dripping down the lions’ face from their recent kill, or a mother baboon nursing her baby that looks so human-like you have to wonder how people can deny evolution.

male lion resting after a kill

baboons and their baby

There are no fences or cages, just the endless planes of the Serengeti. The grand prize of all safari finds is the leopard. With its spotted coat which camouflages so well and stealthy moves it’s easy to miss him, even when he’s right in front of you. Thanks to our trusty guide, Omar, we were lucky enough to find a leopard. Several vehicles huddled around the spot where the elusive leopard was hiding. Feeling so lucky to be among the select few who get to see this safari gem, Zach, Lesley and I started intently at this beautiful creature. We marveled at how still he could stay, surprised that he wasn’t startled by the paparazzi-like group of safari goers. Zach peered through the binoculars and confirmed that he was in fact breathing. I snapped away taking picture after picture.

Then suddenly, there was a flurry of activity, pointing and shouting, and the parade of jeeps all darted to the other side of the road, each jockeying for the best position. But wait, the leopard hasn’t moved…where is everyone going? Turns out, Zach, Lesley and I had spent the last 20 minutes staring at a log. Luckily, we did get to see the actual leopard when he crossed to the other side of the road for at least a few minutes before he once again disappeared into the brush right before our eyes. He was even more beautiful than the log!

the log which Zach guaranteed us was breathing

the real leopard. a bit more impressive than the log

the crowds hoping for a glimpse of the leopard

Other safari highlights for Zach included seeing an elephant doing his business

yuck!

and an aroused monkey.

grooming is exciting!

Here is Zach communing with nature.

a little extra watering during the dry season

It was good to see that the past few months of world travel hadn’t changed my little brother too much.

It was an amazing two weeks. Zach and Lesley are great travelers; I’m very impressed by their ability to give up so many comforts to which they are accustomed (like regular showers, for example). I’ll miss them both and am already counting down the days until they come home (at least for a short hiatus) in December.

Thanks again for an unforgettable trip, Zach and Lesley!