Two years ago, Sun Prairie resident Karen Ross’s friend went on a safari through South Africa. When she returned to the state, she promised that she would again visit Africa, and Karen would be going with her.
In late September, the two friends did just that, along with Karen’s husband, Pat.
“After she got back, she said it was the most amazing trip,” Karen Ross said. “She said she was going to return and basically she told me, ‘I’m going again and you’re going with me, and you better start saving.’ I actually kind of told Ross we were going, instead of asking.”
The couple left out of Chicago on Sept. 19 and returned to Wisconsin on Oct. 2. Their destination was Kruger National Park, a reserve established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of South Africa. It covers more than 7,500 square miles and extends 220 miles from north to south.
The group went through the Bearded Heron Safaris company out of Johannesburg, South Africa. Their guide, Neil Heron, was a former park ranger with Kruger National Park for more than 20 years.
“His biggest thing was, ‘Don’t leave footprints,’” Pat Ross said. “It’s nature, and you don’t interfere. That’s what we liked about it.”
The couple said their guide not only pointed out unique features of the park, but educated his guests about them as well. In total, the Rosses traveled in a group of seven, lead by their guide. They took part in both vehicle-lead tours and trail hikes.
“We’d go off the beaten path and then we did trail walks,” Pat Ross said.
The group lodged at several camps located within the park, spending two days at each location. Their huts were round with thatched roofs, and their beds were tucked tight to keep out scorpions, spiders and snakes.
Each morning, they woke up at 4:30 a.m. and had a breakfast of tea, coffee, orange juice and biscuits. To avoid the rush of other tourists, they left their encampment at 6 a.m. to watch the animals begin their day. The temperatures varied from the lows in the 30s or 40s, to the hottest of 105 degrees.
They saw the classic landscapes and animals associated with Africa – lions, giraffes, zebra, wild dogs, a variety of birds, and monkeys, among others.
When they arrived, the start of the rainy season had just begun. This opened up more opportunities to see unique creatures.
“Turtles came out of nowhere, millipedes … butterflies and all kinds of interesting things crept out after the rain,” Karen Ross recalled.
As a hobby photographer, Karen has more than 1,400 photos documenting the trip, which Pat described as perfect for wildlife watchers.
“If you are a bird watcher, this is a place to go,” Pat Ross said.
One reality the Rosses came close up with was poaching. In fact, their morning and night revolved around the common problem.
“The sad part is, a lot of those animals are going to be gone in 10 years,” Pat Ross said. “The rhino horns go for $2 million apiece now.”
Each night, the compounds containing the camps in the national park were locked at 6 p.m. If guests returned to their compound after they were locked at night, they faced a $300 fine.
During the night, military officials are given orders to “shoot to kill” if they discover poachers. Drones are also used to help put an end to the illegal trade.
The compounds were not unlocked until 6 a.m.
It was a part of the trip that has had great resonance with the couple. While they have always believed in conserving nature and being cautious about their actions, their trip to Africa has engrained in them a greater appreciation for the animals they saw.
“For me, it was the trip of a lifetime and something I wish everyone could do,” Karen Ross said.
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Article source: http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/community/features/article_d3202f04-3b54-11e3-8565-0019bb30f31a.html