[img_assist|nid=415|title=African Bullfrogs Fighting for Mates|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=0|height=0]As I get ready to leave for our 2009 African safari the question I get asked most is whether I'm returning to places I've been or visiting new places. The answer as always is some of both--frequently prompting a question of why I re-visit shooting locations. In addition of course to the fun of sharing them with participants on the trip I'm reminded of the story of the accompanying photo of African Bullfrogs mating. It was one of the most remarkable scenes any of us had ever witnessed (including the guides who were with us). The female frogs were almost submerged in a shallow pool formed by the first rains of the season while the males fought to mate with them. They would literally throw themselves at other males, sending them cartwheeling off into the water until they hopped back and returned the favor.
Aside from the sheer joy of watching these gaudy creatures perform like circus creatures what made this event so special was that it is very rarely seen. The frogs mate only in vernal pools after the first or second rain of the season, and the whole process might only go on for about an hour. Despite the many trips I'd made to the same area and the hundreds the guides had made this was a unique opportunity for all of us.
So as exciting as it is to see new places it is also an astonishment of its own kind to see the changes and new behaviors and experiences in areas I've been to before. We try to carry that philosophy through to our safaris as well. So each one features some familiar locations where we can see and share changes from the past with some new places for us that we can all learn from together for the first time and have to share on future trips.
It has been fascinating to keep track of the changes in wildlife, weather and people in the places we visit each year. And watching our local hosts and their families grow and grow up is also exciting. It is amazing how resilient nature and cultures can be. We watched Thailand suffer through and recover from the tsunami and how Burma is rebuilding after cyclone Nargis. And we're looking forward to seeing the result of all the wonderful rain that has come to the Texas Hill Country to end their recent drought.
Let us hear your thoughts on travel to old and new palces either by commenting here or in our forums on nikondigital.org. Regards and safe travels--David Cardinal