Oh, To Be a Giraffe!

Unfortunately, I did not take this picture and saw nothing quite this exciting on the safari today, but I learned a lot about African wildlife and saw some exotic animals up close and personal. Since there were absolutely no males of interest on the safari (unless you think homosexual 15-year-olds are interesting), there was little to focus on other than the lives of the animals themselves.

In this particular safari reserve, there are only two giraffes: one male and one female. They are both very young (their colors are much lighter than the ones in the above picture, because apparently they develop their darker coloring as they age), and not ready to mate. However, the hope is that when they reach maturity, they will render each other weak at the knees and make little baby giraffes.

In some very strange way, I am slightly jealous of the giraffes. In a way, their lives (and loves) are all laid out for them. Dating in the human world tends to be much more complicated

Other fun facts from the safari:

All the lions do all day is eat, sleep, and have sex. What a life.

When tortoises are handled against their will, they emit a whitish liquid that smells foul.

Rhinos only digest about 45% of the food they intake; therefore in the dry season they can eat their own feces.

Elephants like to eat squash.

Buffalo are surprisingly affectionate and like to be pet on their heads like dogs; they'll still charge you if they deem you a threat though.

Guys who give tours on safaris who have South African accents and are knowledgeable about animals can be extremely hot in spite of the camo-pants-and-safari-hat look.