GPS -- African Style

As you all slept, we began our adventure looking for the only remaining wild giraffes in West Africa. We traveled with an Nigerian woman, Phoebe (she was our translator and protection as we traveled out of the city for the first time). We traveled to the guide center where we hired a giraffe guide and paid our fee for our car and cameras. Before the adventure continued it was necessary for someone in our group, who should remain nameless, but won't - KAY, had to use the "public restroom" (a unisex hole in the ground surrounded by 3 and 1/2 walls about 4 feet tall - no door). Sue provided privacy and toilet paper - what a great friend. She is so proud of Kay -- she almost hit the hole! Just so you know we have a picture to prove it - though we won't be posting it.

Back to giraffe hunting. Our guide brought with him his giraffe GPS. This consisted of him sitting on the roof of the 4X4 with a long stick that he pointed down on the windshield to go left or go right through the bush. When he wanted us to stop he would tap the windshield. We saw 12 ( 3 babies, one 3 months old) in total. They are the only giraffes in the world that roam entirely in unprotected habitat. They wander among villagers and nomadic herders (not Ed and Gloria). Because Niger is one of the poorest and most desolate places on earth, people and giraffes are both fighting for survival competing for some of the same scare resources in this dry, increasingly deforested land. The herd now numbers at 175 up from 60 in 1996. Sue, Karen and Wanda rode on top with the guide as we searched the bush. We passed many small villages and camels, goats and cattle too. It was so quiet in the bush compared to the noise and chaos of the city. It was a great change. By the way it was 106 degrees.