Searching for Giraffes
Estasha National Park
Botswana
July 2001
We are up and eagerly
on the truck by 7:30 AM in search of more great, big, wild animals. We are in a
good mood and filled with so much anticipation that we can hardly speak to each
other. Immediately we see oryx, impalas, springbok, zebra, birds and now for
the first time a huge long-necked, graceful giraffe.
He hides behind a big leafy tree and our view is
disappointing. We stop the vehicle and wait in hopes that the giraffe will come
out from behind the tree. We wait several minutes but he doesn’t move an inch.
He just stands there, ignoring our anticipation and admiration.
Begrudgingly we decide to take off and then, just then, our
luck changes. He slowly and almost teasingly steps right out and stands in
perfect view for us. We cheer for our good fortune. He poses for us. He turns
one way and then slowly turns the other way and we snapped photo after photo as
if we are photographing a highly paid model.
After five minutes, this giraffe slowly meanders out of view
and melts away into the distant horizon but not without first capturing our
hearts. We watch every graceful step of his as if this may be the last time, in
our lifetime, that we ever see such an elegant living being again. We are in
awe of this magnificent creature. He leaves us speechless.
