And the Serengeti Award Goes To …

1) People’s Choice Award

Warthog

A face only a mother could love. Sophie says the warthog is my spirit animal. I’m not sure if this is a compliment. 

2) Best Dressed Award  ( It’s a tie)

Plains Zebra

Were you two away for the lesson on camouflage?

3) Robert de Niro Award

American Buffalo

“You talkin’ to me?” 

Surprisingly the most deadly animal to humans in the Serengeti. You could climb a tree to get away from them but watch out for lions and leopards when you’re up there.

4) Best Name Award

Kirk’s Dik-Dik

What can I say, I’m really a 12 year old boy at heart. Named for the sound the female makes when feeling threatened. They stand only about 12 inches high.

5) Best Engineering Design Award

Giraffe

Height advantage for the juiciest leaves and the best lookout. Excellent vision up to 2 km. Powerful kick with large hooves. Elegant walkers and fast runners.  They are studied by NASA to help design better spacesuits. Must be doing something right as they live up to 25 years in the wild ( if they survive early childhood).

6) Best Laugh Award

Spotted Hyena (aka laughing Hyena)

Mia’s favourite, she loves their sound and thinks they’re cute. Go figure. They do get a bad rep. They are not just scavengers nor are they hermaphrodites. Females are bigger and stronger than the males. ( Witness Shenzi in The Lion King). They would hang around our tented camps at dusk.

7) Kim Kardashian Award

African Elephant

Does my butt look big enough to you?

How can you easily tell an African elephant from an Asian elephant? Their ears resemble the shape of the African continent.

8) BFF Award

Zebra And Wildebeest

These two animals migrate together every year  ( 1.5 million wildebeest and 250,000 zebra) using the superior eyesight and better memories of the zebra and the excellent hearing and sense of smell of the wildebeest. They eat the same grass but zebras the long and wildebeest the short. A match made in heaven.

9) Unsung Hero Award

Female Lion

Hunter, defender, nurturer and leader are just some of their roles that ensure the survival of the pride. The lion “king” waits for the female to “ bring home the bacon” and then is the first at the table. I’m starting a campaign for the Lion Queen.

10) Best In Show

Frederick

Our formidable guide. Responsible for our health and welfare for eight days and nights. An excellent driver and navigator, wildlife expert, photographer, multi-tasker, comedian, teacher. Patient, kind and bilingual. Our Swahili is improving.

Flat-Headed Rock Agama