KANE — For 12 days in late September and into October of last year, a couple from Kane lived in tents while on an adventure of a lifetime. The pair captured the big five on film and witnessed the wildebeest migration, all the while exclaiming, “We are in Africa.”
Betsy and Rick Zeigler have been on many trips. They try to take one overseas and one within the states each year. Last year’s adventure came from a recommendation while on a previous cruise; and the two couldn’t have asked for a better itinerary.
Of course each day was filled with seeing the animals. The two were on a mission to see the big five: black rhino, elephant, cape buffalo, leopards and lions. And, they did. During their presentation at Friends’ Memorial Library at 6 p.m. Thursday, the couple plans to share their encounters with these animals and tell about the experience of seeing the wildebeest migration.
Betsy Zeigler explained that before they had arrived, the couple had no idea that the tour company was as philanthropic as they are.
“Thomson Safaris bought 12,000 acres and gave back 2,000 to the people. The company built schools, roads and wells. It was amazing to know that the money we paid to go was also helping the community.”
And she described going to visit the local community, the boma as it was called.
“The homes were made of dung,” she said.
Rick Zeigler added, “The structure was about 15 by 15, there was a cowhide over sticks as a bed, and a fire over a stone in the center of the room. The ceiling had a hole over the top, in the middle, and the smoke went through that.” They said about 15 or more lived in each home.
“We are really lucky to have been born in the U.S.,” they said.
As their trip began, they spent two nights with the Thomson Safari before moving on to four camps in the national parks.
“The biggest difference between Thomson and the parks was that we didn’t have to stay on the road or in the Land Rover the whole time with Thomson; they owned the land,” said Betsy.
Rick added, “We had breakfast in the bush, went hiking, and on night drives. We could go where the animals were and we were not limited to a road.”
Camping in Africa was what Rick Zeigler called “glorified” and Betsy termed “glamping.”
“We lived in big tents the whole time,” they said, “with a queen-size bed.” The two explained that water was heated on a fire every morning and brought to them to use in the sink. Some sites had flushable bathrooms, but not all. “The best part was the perfect temperature showers,” Rick said. “They heated the water on the fire and brought it to us in big five-gallon containers. But it was always the perfect temperature. I don’t know how they did it.”
The couple traveled with a total of nine vacationers in two Land Rovers after leaving the Thomson Safari. The animals they saw, “were close enough to touch,” they said. “But we weren’t allowed,” Betsy clarified.
Betsy and Rick will be headed to Greece and Turkey in April via Viking Cruises.
