Our bus trip south of Dakar took us to the wild game park in the Bandia reserve on our way to Mbour. Safari hats in hand, students loaded up on the 4x4's for a ride through the 10 square km. of bush to view some typical African savannah wildlife, or whatever animals might surface that day. No lions, tigers, or bears, but we got really psyched when a wort hog greeted everyone at the entrance.

It was a great feeling just to be in the open, away from city air, and out in the bush with nature. Some ostriches and a hornbill opened the tour, then we came upon two groups of monkeys engaged in a territorial dispute. Who doesn't love monkeys? After an interesting interaction, our appetite was wet for more of the wild. Soon we were fortunate to see a two-week old giraffe with it's family. Still no lions, but an elephant tree.

Some sweet Roan antelope and impalas made great photos. The West African forest buffalo were plentiful and the ostriches were interesting. Still no lions.

En fin! A male white rhino came across our trail and we circled back to get a closer look. Our guides brought us in range to get out and take close-up photos of the male and the female. We continued through the park with a look at the male ostrich, which according to our guide was actually more dangerous than the rhinos. A baobab holds the remains of the griot, nomadic musicians of old, that were buried inside the trees in order to protect the villages from the bad luck of burying them in the land.

The park holds a fair amount of crocodiles and a variety of animals in hiding for our visit. No lions. Still, after a final look at the killer tortoise guarding the exit, we had a very fulfilling day!