Each predator enclosure at Kragga Kamma was much larger than the ones that lions and cheetahs can often be seen in metropolitan areas. Plus, the environment itself is natural, more closely resembling what life would be like as a wild animal. Both the lions and cheetahs at Kragga Kamma are there for rehabilitation and sanctuary purposes. Unfortunately, we did not see the lions (they often sleep 20-22 hours per day). Fortunately, we did see the cheetahs during their feeding time. They are such majestic, nimble creatures… and larger than I expected them to be. Perhaps the most exciting thing that occurred on our excursion was something that I was not even present for! While my host, Greg, and I observed the cheetahs, Maria chose to remain in the car due to the rough terrain and her old age. She left the windows down to stay cool. Oops. That was a mistake leading to some monkey business. Looking for food, a monkey climbed into the car with Maria in it! This left her quite frightened. So—a word from the wise—when in monkey territory, leave your windows rolled up!
My second safari more closely resembled the stereotypical wild experience we contrive when we think of African adventures. Early one Sunday morning, I packed into a 4x4 jeep and departed for Addo Elephant National Park. Addo is the third largest of the 20 national parks in South Africa. It is massive; just like the creatures it is named after. Elephants are the main attraction at Addo. Standing at an average of 10-11 feet from the shoulder and weighing in at an average of 12,000-15,000 pounds, the African bush elephant is the largest land animal on the planet. The immensity of their size is obviously highly intimidating, but seeing them was a real highlight of my trip.
