A Fortnight in the Wild: Preface

Into Africa

"The survival of our wildlife is a matter of grave concern to all of us in Africa. These wild creatures amid the wild places they inhabit are not only important as a source of wonder and inspiration, but are an integral part of our natural resources and our future livelihood and well being. In accepting the trusteeship of our wildlife we solemnly declare that we will do everything in our power to make sure that our children's grand-children will be able to enjoy this rich and precious inheritance.

"The conservation of wildlife and wild places calls for specialist knowledge, trained manpower and money, and we look to other nations to co-operate with us in this important task - the success or failure of which not only affects the continent of Africa but the rest of the world as well."

Julius K. Nyerere (1st President of Tanzania), Arusha Manifesto, 1961.

A love of animals, a love of photography, a love of Africa, a love of marmite. All collide to imbibe me with an instinct to migrate. And have marmite soldiers...

This time it was to be two weeks in Tanzania, on the endless plains of the Serengeti. 

Since the age of six years old, I had wanted to go to Africa. 'Daktari' was my guiding star. 

It was to take a very long time to achieve my dream, but now, in my dotage, I can comfortably sit back and say "I've been there, I've done that." And I have to do it again. And again. Yet another addiction. 

My trips to Africa have given me the privilege of having taken many thousands of photos. Here are some of my favourites:

Our two weeks in Tanzania this time were absolutely stunning. Full of everything from incredible wildlife and amazing adventures, to irritating insects and interesting intestinal movements.

Packing luggage for such an adventure is an art form. The small planes used to bus everyone around the Serengeti and other National Parks insist on a limit of fifteen kilos each. Years of practice now mean that it merely takes two months to pack everything in its ideal place. Only to be changed half hour before leaving. 

The fifteen kilo limit does not gel easily with the cabin baggage limit of twelve kilos imposed by KLM, our main carrier. Even so, this is made possible by maximal use of camera equipment and minimal use of underwear. 

Thus all geared up, we arrived at check-in only to be told one of each of our two bags would need to go into the hold. 

Would we ever see them again?

Leaving home at three o'clock in the morning and finally getting through Kilimanjaro customs at nine o'clock in the evening is not exactly my idea of fun. The promised queues in Toulouse did not appear. The promised queues in Amsterdam were exceded.

All of this is grist for the mill for us adventurous types. Grist gets ground down to flour. I know exactly how it feels. 

The documentation finished with i's dotted and t's crossed out, the packing packed in, packed out, then packed in again, the airports endlessly navigated, the heads endlessly aching, we arrived ready for our much awaited safari into deepest Africa.

What can possibly happen in as little as a fortnight? 

A lot.

Here is just a glimpse of what is to come...

Over the next few weeks the details of this, our best safari ever, will be revealed. 

Try hard to keep incontinence at bay...

Chapter 1 In Arusha here