Rhino encounter

In Zambia Suds and I went on safari in Mosi Oa Tunya National Park. It was a spur of the moment decision made 5 minutes before we were to leave. The night before on a sunset cruise we met a couple'a Canadians who were going and asked us along



We sure are glad we went! Our guide took us on the cruise the night before as well. He had some friends in the park so we got a small discount on park fees and got to meet the rhino's! The rhino's are a couple and have 2 rangers with them at all times. The rangers carry machine guns.
We were so close we heard them chewing!

We are smiling, but really we are afraid!
We had to walk slowly to the log to sit. Then make no sudden movements. Once in awhile the rhino would get too close and the ranger would say its name and tap on his gun. That's all the animal needed to back off, I guess.



It was crazy! He said we were very lucky because usually people have to pay $80US to get this close but we were getting it for free!


Tip for the Day:
It is not a horn on the rhino, but actually hair that's formed together and hardened to make it. Weird.




The happy couple







We only saw white rhinos on the trip. Apparently black rhinos are more violent and territorial and you can't get close to them. White rhinos are called that because they have a wide mouth for grazing and wide turned into white somewhere along the way. Also, white rhinos young walk in front of them and black rhinos young follow behind them. This is similar to people (as we heard a few times). White women push their babies in a stroller in front of them and black women have their babies on their backs behind them.