You are in the savanna of Senegal. You hear a rustling in the grass around you. You look around trying to figure out the cause of the commotion. What could it be?
Monkeys. It was a monkey.
Today we had the adventure of a safari through the Bandia Reserve, as the students have off of school since yesterday was Easter. I know- it seems a little weird that a country that is 96% Muslim would have off the Monday after Easter, but you can blame the French for that. The school system was established by the French, and continues to be run that way.
When we got to our 4×4 for the Safari, I must have looked like a kid at Disney- I was grinning from ear to ear. My travel companions, both who have done African safaris before were laughing at me, as the closest I’ve gotten to an African safari is the Safari at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.
As we started driving through the reserve, I felt like the beginning of the movie “Jurassic Park,” where one of the actors comments while traveling through the park in the vehicles on how it is a dinosaur park without any dinosaurs. However, the safari driver was headed farther into the park, so I just needed to calm the excitement and exercise some patience. In reality, it was not long before the monkeys were showing off their foraging, and ostriches were snacking off of the savanna floor.
We got to see Impala, giraffes, rhinos, warthogs, zebras, antelopes, savanna buffalo, and elands, all in their natural habitat. No fencing between us and the animals, no waivers to sign, no seat belts…just us and the nature around us- in the environment on earth where they live naturally! It was really cool to see which animals were pack animals and which animals run solo. Even though we went in the hottest part of the day, the animals were pretty active.
After the safari, we went back to Suly Beach for our standard 4 pm lunch. The Senegalese people know how to eat RIGHT on the beach. Both yesterday and today, I was curious about the tide time tables, as I wasn’t sure how long we could stay at our table before we would start taking on water! It is a true treat to be so close to the ocean. The Senegalese people use the beach as their stress relief. Had a bad day? Take it to the beach. I haven’t been in Senegal long, but I do know the beach has been in most conversations I’ve had with students and adults alike!
We are back at the hotel now, ready for classes to start back up again tomorrow! I can’t wait to see those smiling and curious faces again- it seems like FOREVER since I’ve seen those students! I wish my 3-day weekends back home felt this long!
Car Full of Harmony 
Published by