Safari Trip at the Kruger National Park

Last summer, I had a crazy experience on a safari trip at the Kruger National Park. In South Africa, it's common for locals to go on game drives with our own vehicles. Safari vans are mostly for tourists and can be very overpriced for us.

My family and I decided to take a game drive in our trusty old car. We packed snacks, water, and binoculars, and set off early in the morning to catch a glimpse of the wildlife. As we drove along the dirt roads, we saw elephants, zebras, and even a pride of lions resting under a tree. It was amazing!

However, the most unforgettable moment came later in the day. We were driving slowly, trying to spot a leopard that other visitors had mentioned. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a huge rhinoceros appeared in the middle of the road. We stopped the car immediately, our hearts pounding. The rhino stared at us for a few moments and then started walking towards the car.

We didn't know what to do. Should we stay still or try to drive away slowly? Before we could decide, the rhino came even closer and started rubbing its side against our car. The whole car shook as the rhino used it as a scratching post. We were both terrified and thrilled at the same time!

After a few minutes, which felt like hours, the rhino finally walked away into the bush. We all let out a big sigh of relief and couldn't stop laughing about our close encounter. It was an experience we would never forget.

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VOCABULARY:

Term	Definition
Safari	A trip to observe and photograph wildlife.
Game drive	A drive through a game reserve to see wildlife.
Vehicle	A car or other means of transport.
Binoculars	A tool to see distant objects clearly.
Wildlife	Animals living in their natural habitat.
Elephants	Large mammals with trunks.
Zebras	Animals with black and white stripes.
Lions	Large carnivorous animals known as the "king of the jungle."
Leopard	A large spotted wild cat.
Rhinoceros	A large mammal with thick skin and one or two horns on its snout.
Tourists	People traveling for pleasure.
Overpriced	More expensive than it should be.
Trusty	Reliable or dependable.
Terrified	Very scared.
Encounter	An unexpected meeting.