TOP 10 ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS

It's Top 10 time.

Since much of our trip revolved around looking for, swimming with, and hiding from beasts big and small, we kick things off with a list of our 10 favorite animal encounters. 

From the world's biggest fish in the Philippines to a lake full of jellyfish in Palau to an overly-friendly lemur in Madagascar, it was one wildlife-filled ride.

Hugging Lemur, Madagascar

On a visit to a wildlife refuge in central Madagascar, a lonely but loving lemur decided Kip needed a hug. Then he wrapped himself around Kip's leg and wouldn't let go.

Whale Sharks, Philippines

The reason we started our trip in the Philippines--swimming with the world's largest fish. Swam with them...check. Counted and cataloged them for an international conservation group working to protect them...check.  Dream about seeing them again someday soon...check.

 









Happy Pygmy elephants, Borneo

Prior to this trip, we weren't sure Pygmy Elephants existed. But after taking a boat up the Kinabatangan River in Borneo, we got to see for ourselves. The elephants' smiles made for some happy tourists, too.

Baby Orangutan, Borneo

We had the pleasure of meeting this swinging creature and his mamma up close, at the Semmengoh Orangutan Reserve, just outside of Kuching, Borneo.

Great White Sharks, South Africa  

Who couldn't love that face to the left? He was even kind enough to donate one of his teeth, after Liz did her most incredible, and surprisingly accurate seal impression.

Hungry Ocelot, Costa Rica 

This pretty lady gave us her best "Blue Steel," at least until we presented her with a plate of perfectly sliced beef hearts that we'd spent the morning cutting up.

 










 Millions of Jellyfish, Palau 
Swimming in a hidden mountain lake with millions of stingless jellyfish should be on everyone's list. And Palau is one of the only places to do it. 

Feeding Mother Leopard, Serengeti 
Watching this mother leopard drag a wild boar carcass across the road, up into a tree, and feed it to her two leopard cubs is as close to live National Geographic as we will ever get. And it was awesome. 

Sharks, Palau

The ocean in Palau is the purest we've ever seen. And with lots of fish, come lots of sharks. And we got to see lots of them up close and personal, including this curious grey-tipped reef shark.

Baby sloth,Costa Rica
When visiting Cahuita, Costa Rica, you're bound to see a sloth or two. After all, it is the sloth capital of the world. We caught this little guy napping just outside of our bedroom window.

LUNCHTIME FOR A LEOPARD

What's on the menu today? For this mother leopard in the Serengeti, it's one unlucky warthog.

The leopard, who has to feed herself and two recently-born cubs, skillfully chased down the adolescent warthog before carrying it up a tree only a few feet from where our guide Yosef had parked. 

Smiling proudly, Yosef told us we were lucky to be in the right spot to see such a rare occurrence so close to our vehicle. We couldn't have agreed more. 

But then, there sure were a lot of other fortunate folks that day who got lucky, too. Such is life on safari in the Serengeti.

 

By the way, in case you noticed, we're a little behind time-wise and still reporting on our travels through Africa, though we actually just passed through DC. After a few more safari pics, and a visit through Rwanda, Uganda, and Egypt, we'll be almost up to date...and our next destination...

BABY TIME IN THE SERENGETI

Following his mother up an acacia tree, a one-yr-old leopard stares at a Land Rover of photo-happy tourists.

Our priorities may have changed when it came to hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro. But nothing was keeping us from a multi-day safari in the world famous Serengeti. 

Budgets be damned, we would be riding in the back of a well-aged Land Rover, camera in hand, tacky tourist hat on head, gawking for hours at lions and leopards and sunsets that could fry a memory card.

While we came for the wildebeest migration (photos later), we got an unexpected surprise by seeing so many babies. It seems spring had sprung, the rainy season was on the way and lots of brand new little animals were taking their first steps. The squeals (from us) and cuteness (from the animals) was pretty overwhelming.

Enjoy the photos!

Awwww! A baby zebra peers over her mom's shoulder.

The vigilant parents of a baby water buffalo stand guard. Buffalo are the third most deadly animal in Africa when it comes to killing humans. 

A mud-covered baby elephant calls for his mother. This little guy put on a show wallowing in a water hole.

Baby giraffe with mom.