Safari Experiences from Rufiji River Camp - Day 3
Waking up to the sunrise over the Rufiji River is one of the most magical experiences I've ever had. The first rays of the sun break through the morning mist and reflect in the water, while the hippos slowly wake up. The sound of birds fills the air, and I feel incredibly lucky to experience this amazing place.
The morning began with an early safari, and the anticipation of seeing some of the animals still on my wish list made it easy to get up despite the early hour. We hopped into the Land Rover with Daimon and Lucas, ready for a new day of discoveries. The atmosphere in the vehicle was charged with excitement – maybe today we would finally see the lions?
Although we didn't spot any lions today either, it's understandable considering the park spans over 30,000 square kilometers. You need some luck to cover that much land, especially when you're only out for 6-7 hours at a time. Another group had seen a small pride of lions some distance from the camp, so we'll try again tomorrow – we have a full-day safari planned!
As a little consolation, we had 45 minutes of intense excitement when we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of a baboon drama like no other. The baboon scouts were ordered up into the trees by the dominant male, and they began a loud warning call! It was incredibly exciting and dramatic. Daimon assured us that this likely meant a leopard was lurking nearby, which significantly raised our adrenaline as we hoped to catch a glimpse of this rare big cat!
We saw most of the same animals as yesterday, but the highlight of the day was undoubtedly a cute little Masai giraffe. Daimon estimated that it couldn't be more than 2-3 days old, as parts of the umbilical cord were still hanging under it. Watching this newborn giraffe wobble around on its long legs, so fragile yet so full of life, was truly touching. The little giraffe seemed curious about the world around it, and its mother kept a close watch, always ready to protect her newborn. This was the only picture shared for the day – this giraffe was too cute to be mixed in with the many other animals from yesterday's post.
After returning from the early safari, we had a short break at camp with refreshments and relaxation. It was wonderful to sit in the shade, enjoy a cold drink, and let the morning's impressions sink in. In the afternoon, we went on a new boat safari. Here, we spotted several new bird species we hadn't seen before – it was great to finally check these off the list!
On the way back to camp, we unexpectedly came across a herd of buffaloes ready to relax along the riverbank for the night. Seeing this large herd grazing peacefully by the river, with the sunset in the background, was the perfect ending to the day.
Now it's time to crawl into bed, as a new and exciting day awaits tomorrow.
With the day's memories fresh in my mind and a sense of happiness in my heart, I say good night from the bush.
Stay tuned for more unforgettable adventures!