I’ve been an animal lover my whole life. Even thought I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was a kid. I was especially captivated by African wildlife. Elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras, rhinos and the rest. Life took different turns and of course the natural, logical alternative to animal welfare doctor is…um, advertising creative director. Fortunately, sometimes life brings you back to those childhood dreams, and you find yourself filming those amazing animals on an African safari.
Wild thing, I think I love you
Landing in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, we then board a small plane into the Heart of Africa. Next thing we know we’re riding in a Land Rover over dusty, barely-there trails, barreling toward adventure. The savannah goes on for days. It’s big. It’s wide open. But then something on the horizon catches your eye. Sticking up above the grasses, above the sparse trees. Those necks. Long and graceful and curious. The rutted road takes a sudden turn and –– “are you serious?” –– you see those famous black and white stripes. A zig-zagging herd of wild and wonderful.
Over the next few days we quietly observe elephant and ostrich, baboon and buffalo. And lions. Oh the lions. Such a sight…such a sound. They’re guttural nighttime roars seem to echo across all of Africa. You are advised not to leave the compound. With that blood-chilling rumble?? No problem.
Our African safari is too brief; we’re off to film mountain gorillas in Rwanda. But living in a National Geographic wonderland for a few days is something this wanderer will never forget.
Photo credit: Thanks to my good friend and co-worker of 30 years, Ron Foth Jr., for many of these awesome photos. He’s an amazing, award-winning photographer and always gets the shot, even when chased by a cheetah.