Happy as a Dung Beetle in Sh#*!t,Happy Elephants, Walking Safari, Gun-Toting Guide and all before Breakfast

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Free to be me...the life of a charmed elephant (as it should be for all)

ALL BEFORE BREAKFAST

Woke up today like an excited kid ready for their first day at Disney Land.  Before breakfast we head out on a walking safari.  Mole National Park is unique in the fact that it is the only easily accessible wildlife park in Africa.  Anyone on any travel budget can do this place.  The walking safari is less than $10. 

There were about seven of us in our group and our shotgun-toting guide was a wealth of information on the park and it’s four legged and winged residents.  Right from the get-go we came across my first ‘African Elephant’.  I have seen many elephants on my travels throughout Asia but never in the wild.  Unfortunately, in Asia, it is difficult to find wild elephants…they are all used as work animals.  What a beautiful thing to see one just doing her thing.  The people who live within the bounds of the national park respect the animals.  The influx of tourist dollars is a driving motivator to the care of the animals of Mole National Park. 

We also ran across a Reedbuck just chilling, taking in the beautiful day.  As we left the village for a trail a car drove by a spooked the elephant.   She took off trumpeting and running after the car.  I could feel the ground tremble, amazing.

We walked the savanna for a couple hours amongst Reedbuck, Bushbuck and many other antelopes.  The birds were too numerous to begin to identify but I did catch site of a few Kingfishers, which I adore.  Our walk led us to a watering hole that is viewable from the Mole Motel. 

There were six elephants bathing and playing at the watering hole when we arrived.  I couldn’t stop snapping pictures.  It reminded me of the first time I say kangaroos in Australia.   I must have taken 100 photos of Roos (back in film days so it cost a pretty penny).  Once satisfied I had grabbed a few good shots I just sat and watched for a long time. 

Dung Beetles doing their thang'

I am more than inspired now to get to Tanzania at some point in the next couple of years and do a two-week minimum safari.  I need to see loins and tigers and more oh my.  On the walk back I saw lots of my personal favorite; the Warthog oh and a Dung Beetle doing it’s poo rolling thing (and yes, I got photos).

Once we got back I ate breakfast and watched the elephants at the watering hole over a leisurely cup of coffee.