Early on the last Saturday of July, the GSSAP team awoke and
boarded two vehicles with pop-up roofs to travel to Murchison Falls Game Park.
We were all extremely ecstatic to travel and see the elephants, giraffes, and (if
we were lucky) lions. When we arrived at the game park my expectations were far
exceeded, but in a way that I did not anticipate. Growing up in America the
only material I was exposed to pertaining to African wildlife was either on Discovery
Channel or Lion King. Therefore one of the sources influencing my expectations for
this journey involved sensational action shots of giraffes fighting and lion
kills with dramatic commentary. The other was retelling of Macbeth, featuring cliché
animation and festive music. Don’t get me wrong - we were lucky enough to see a
lion stalk and kill an antelope, and it was amazing to see such a powerful
animal up close. In the end, however, the game park was so much more than my
preconceived notions. While we were riding up on top of our jeep, I found a
certain kind of peace about the place. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking
and the mood across the park fell into perfect harmony. I felt this strange
sense of serenity while surrounded by these powerful creatures. It gave me a
greater appreciation for the wildlife I continuously saw portrayed on
television as well as a whole new perception on what a game park is. I learned
an important lesson this weekend; no matter how well made TV or movies are,
they can never hold a candle to being there in person.
Giraffe walking across the grassland
Lion tracking
Hungry, hungry hippo
Solitary elephant
Lion on the hunt!
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