Safari | 狩獵旅行

So I've finally had some time to go through the photos I took from this South Africa trip. There are a lot so I'm gonna have to break this blog about my trip into three parts. This is the Safari part and will probably be the most interesting to animal lovers, Discovery Channel freaks and carnivores(you'll see why in a sec).

The first stop on the trip was the Tanda Tula Lodge in the Timba Vate private game reserve on the edge of Krueger National Park. I have been on Safari before but this time I wanted to get the real bush experience. Tanda Tula puts all of their guests in tents rather than an actual lodge. This way you are right in the bush with all the sites sounds and smells right there all around you. Animals can literally walk right up to your tent if you're lucky enough. We were taken on two game drives a day, one at 6 am and another at 4pm. These are optimal animal viewing times because they hide away from the heat of the day. What surprises most first time safari goers is actually how close you can actually get to the animals, especially the predatory animals. My Mom was very scared as Lions and Elephants passed within feet of the jeep. The rangers' explanation is they see the large topless jeep as one large and harmless entity so they do not feel threatened by them. Also these animals have grown accustomed to these jeeps following them around. That said, if you step out of the jeep,you're looking to become mince meat. I guess the goal of every safari trip is to see the big five. The big five are Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Leopard and Lion. My last safari I didn't see the Leopard but I did see a kill, which was a pride of Lionesses catching and killing a large Kudu, which is like a big deer. I filmed this but haven't had time to put it on the site. It was gruesome but fascinating at the same time. I'll post it when I get a chance. Here's a Lion we saw the first evening eating a buffalo. The buffalo must have been dead for a couple days because the stench of rotten meat was horrible. This photo was taken from about 20 feet away and in low light thus the blurriness. Last time we missed the Leopard but this time we saw one the first day. He was sleeping on the edge of a dry river bank. When we came back the next morning, he was eating this gazelle breakfast.

His spots were so amazing and I was lucky to get some nice golden sunlight to enhance the photo.

Elephants are amazing creatures. Usually you only see them in the Zoo or shackled down for tourists to take a ride on. But when you see them in the wild in their natural environment eating, playing and bathing, you really get to see them as the graceful animals that they are. Especially this cute little baby.

But even these seemingly gentle giants can become fierce. This Moma got protective of her clan and made a charge for us because my Dad was talking too loud. Luckily our tracker Phillip banged on the hood of the car and stopped the charge about 2 feet from the car. When elephants stick their ears out like that, it means they're pissed off.

Rhinos are really cool too. They really look prehistoric from head to toe. On this trip, the Rhino was proving to be elusive. We spent most of our last morning trying to find one to complete the big five sighting. We had to do some serious off-roading through the bush to catch up to this one.

Also on the last morning we followed a pride of Lions that was being tracked down by this male Lion. This beautiful male was waiting for the right opportunity to attack and fight the adolescent male of the pride to kick him out and take over.

You might think this is cruel and unfair but the adolescent male of this pride is also the brother of these lionesses so he needs to go, otherwise inbreeding occurs.

Incest is not best. This pic kinda reminds me of Lust Caution.

We waited for over an hour but no fight . The tension was thick!

If you ever get a chance to go on safari, do it. It might change your life and it definitely will change the way you look at the world and maybe even inspire you to take some measures to take better care of this planet so beautiful creatures like these can continue on living in freedom.

終於有時間回顧這次非洲之旅拍攝的照片。太多了，我要把這個博客分成三部分來寫。這是狩獵旅行部分，動物愛好者、探索頻道發燒友和喜歡食肉動物(馬上你就知道為什麽)的人對這部分會最感興趣。PREFIX = O / 旅程的第一個停留點是 唐韃圖拉旅館，在Krueger國家公園旁的Timba Vate私人動物保護區中。我以前參加過狩獵旅行，但這次我想要一次真正的灌木叢歷險經歷。Tanda Tula讓所有客人呆在帳篷裏而不是真正的旅館中。你身在灌木叢中，能感察到周圍不遠的聲響和氣味。如果夠幸運，動物們真的會經過你的帳篷。每天我們兩次出去看動物，一次是早上6點，一次是下午4點。這是觀賞動物的最佳時間，因為他們需要躲避日熱。

令大部分首次狩獵旅行的遊客最感驚奇的是可以距離動物非常近，尤其是那些掠食動物。當獅子和大象近如咫尺經過我們的吉普車時，媽媽非常害怕。管理人員解釋說，這些動物認為巨大無頂的吉普是某種大型、無害的東西，沒有感覺到對它們的威脅，而且它們對在身邊轉來轉去的吉普車已經習以為常。也就是說，如果你走出吉普車，將被撕碎成為他們的盤中餐。

我猜每次狩獵旅行的目的都是看五個大家夥，他們是大象、犀牛、水牛、美洲豹和獅子。上次狩獵之旅沒看到美洲豹，卻看到一場獵殺。一群雌獅追捕並殺死了一頭巨大的、看起來象大鹿的羚羊。過程我錄了影，還沒時間傳上來。既殘忍又精彩，有機會給你們看。這是第一天晚上我們看到的獅子吃水牛，這頭水牛一定死了好幾天，腐肉的惡臭味十分濃烈。這張照片是20步之外拍的，燈光很暗，所以有些模糊。

上次錯過了美洲豹，但這次第一天就看到了。其時它正睡在一條幹涸的河邊，第二天早上我們回來時，它正享用這頭瞪羚當早餐。

它呆的地方很美，很幸運我有金黃色的陽光照亮拍攝。

大象是迷人的生物。通常你只能在動物園看到它們，被鎖著供遊人騎。但當你在它們生存的野外自然環境中看到它們吃東西、玩耍和洗澡，你會發現它們是很優美的動物，尤其是這頭可愛的小象。

但連這種看來溫順的巨型動物也有可能暴躁起來。因為我父親講話太大聲，這頭猛獁在族群的保護下對我們發起攻擊。還好我們的追蹤者Phillip大聲關上車引擎蓋，阻止了它兩步之外的追隨。當大象這樣把耳朵撐起來，就是發怒了。

犀牛也非常酷，他們從頭到腳都象遠古生物。這次旅行證明了犀牛的難以捉摸。我們花了最後一天早上的大部分時間尋找一頭犀牛，已完成看全五個大家夥的願望。最後我們不得不脫離道路，穿過灌木叢才看到這只。

最後一天的早晨，我們跟著這頭雄獅所追隨的獅群。這頭美麗的雄獅正等待恰當的時機襲擊年輕的領頭雄獅，與其搏鬥把它趕走，取而代之。

你可能認為這很殘酷和不公，但領頭的年輕雄獅同時還是這群雌獅子的兄弟，它必須這麽做，不然就會近親繁殖。

近親繁殖並非最佳遺傳。這張照片讓我想起《色戒》。

我們等了一個多小時，沒有發生爭鬥。氣氛很緊張!

如果你有機會參加狩獵旅行，一定要去。它可能改變你的人生，也一定會改變你看待世界的眼光。甚至激勵你采取一些行動保護好我們的星球，讓這些美麗的動物可以象這樣繼續自由自在的生活下去。

终于有时间回顾这次非洲之旅拍摄的照片。太多了，我要把这个博客分成三部分来写。这是狩猎旅行部分，动物爱好者、探索频道发烧友和喜欢食肉动物(马上你就知道为什么)的人对这部分会最感兴趣。 旅程的第一个停留点是 唐鞑图拉旅馆，在Krueger国家公园旁的Timba Vate私人动物保护区中。我以前参加过狩猎旅行，但这次我想要一次真正的灌木丛历险经历。Tanda Tula让所有客人呆在帐篷里而不是真正的旅馆中。你身在灌木丛中，能感察到周围不远的声响和气味。如果够幸运，动物们真的会经过你的帐篷。每天我们两次出去看动物，一次是早上6点，一次是下午4点。这是观赏动物的最佳时间，因为他们需要躲避日热。

令大部分首次狩猎旅行的游客最感惊奇的是可以距离动物非常近，尤其是那些掠食动物。当狮子和大象近如咫尺经过我们的吉普车时，妈妈非常害怕。管理人员解释说，这些动物认为巨大无顶的吉普是某种大型、无害的东西，没有感觉到对它们的威胁，而且它们对在身边转来转去的吉普车已经习以为常。也就是说，如果你走出吉普车，将被撕碎成为他们的盘中餐。

我猜每次狩猎旅行的目的都是看五个大家伙，他们是大象、犀牛、水牛、美洲豹和狮子。上次狩猎之旅没看到美洲豹，却看到一场猎杀。一群雌狮追捕并杀死了一头巨大的、看起来象大鹿的羚羊。过程我录了影，还没时间传上来。既残忍又精彩，有机会给你们看。这是第一天晚上我们看到的狮子吃水牛，这头水牛一定死了好几天，腐肉的恶臭味十分浓烈。这张照片是20步之外拍的，灯光很暗，所以有些模糊。

上次错过了美洲豹，但这次第一天就看到了。其时它正睡在一条干涸的河边，第二天早上我们回来时，它正享用这头瞪羚当早餐。

它呆的地方很美，很幸运我有金黄色的阳光照亮拍摄。

大象是迷人的生物。通常你只能在动物园看到它们，被锁着供游人骑。但当你在它们生存的野外自然环境中看到它们吃东西、玩耍和洗澡，你会发现它们是很优美的动物，尤其是这头可爱的小象。

但连这种看来温顺的巨型动物也有可能暴躁起来。因为我父亲讲话太大声，这头猛犸在族群的保护下对我们发起攻击。还好我们的追踪者Phillip大声关上车引擎盖，阻止了它两步之外的追随。当大象这样把耳朵撑起来，就是发怒了。

 犀牛也非常酷，他们从头到脚都象远古生物。这次旅行证明了犀牛的难以捉摸。我们花了最后一天早上的大部分时间寻找一头犀牛，已完成看全五个大家伙的愿望。最后我们不得不脱离道路，穿过灌木丛才看到这只。

最后一天的早晨，我们跟着这头雄狮所追随的狮群。这头美丽的雄狮正等待恰当的时机袭击年轻的领头雄狮，与其搏斗把它赶走，取而代之。

你可能认为这很残酷和不公，但领头的年轻雄狮同时还是这群雌狮子的兄弟，它必须这么做，不然就会近亲繁殖。

近亲繁殖并非最佳遗传。这张照片让我想起《色戒》。 我们等了一个多小时，没有发生争斗。气氛很紧张!

如果你有机会参加狩猎旅行，一定要去。它可能改变你的人生，也一定会改变你看待世界的眼光。甚至激励你采取一些行动保护好我们的星球，让这些美丽的动物可以象这样继续自由自在的生活下去。