Travel Journal - Africa's Wildlife 2025
August 31 - September 13, 2025
Photos and written by Henry Zises ’22
Welcome to Africa! This was my first time on the continent, and I was incredibly excited to visit four countries over two weeks this past August on UCLA Alumni Travel's Africa's Wildlife trip. This was an incredible experience; from seeing roaring waterfalls to animals I'd only ever dreamed of, each day brought a new sight, sound, and memory that I'll never forget. From the urban landscape of Johannesburg to the dark night sky in the heart of a Zambian National Park, it truly was a once in a lifetime experience. I'll cherish the memories I made, and the people I became friends with, both from UCLA and the locals we met along our adventure. I hope you can join us in Africa soon!
https://alumni.ucla.edu/travel/tours/2027-08-africas-wildlife/
Welcome to Victoria Falls + Me at the Falls
Our tour takes us to a new country, and one of the greatest wonders seen on our adventure. This is Victoria Falls, a massive waterfall that stretches along the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, and is over twice the height of Niagara Falls. We saw roaring waterfalls, and even rainbows in the midst of the falls! For a trip focused on nature, this showcased the intensity of it tenfold.
Traveler with Orphan
One stop took us into Soweto, a neighborhood in the heart of Johannesburg. This day was incredibly fulfilling, as we stopped off at an orphanage and interacted with the children. I played soccer with some of the children, and other travelers were talking and playing with the children as if they were their own. It was an eye-opening stop into how the people and children of the city live, especially on the first day.
First Safari
Day three was our first day of safari. The jeeps were incredibly comfy, and everyone had an excellent view, with the passenger seat being a hot commodity!
School Day
We visited a school located in the town. While it wasn’t an official school day, there were still plenty of children learning and at school. We learned about how school days work, saw the massive kitchen they have where they cook meals, and even had the students ask us plenty of questions about ourselves and UCLA!
Days of Safari
Double safari days were very fun, and we had many of these on tour! They consisted of an early morning departure for a first safari, usually about 5:30 am, followed by a second afternoon safari in another part of the park. These were very fun days, as you saw so many different animals in different areas. We saw two wonderful sights that really stood out, a female lion by herself, and a family of elephants getting really close to our vehicles.
Giraffes and Leopards
There is no shortage of animals to see on safari! In my opinion, two of the coolest animals are the lion and giraffe, and we saw plenty of both. The lion is just majestic, especially with the mane flowing down their neck and back. The giraffe stands tall, and is just a very large creature, impressive to see up close. No animal in the safari areas and preserve are afraid of the vehicle, so we were able to get up close and personal to all of them!
Break Time
One of the highlights of our evening safari were our refreshment breaks. We’d find a nice open spot, and set up the vehicles and have drinks and snacks and catch up on what we saw and how the trip was going. It was an excellent way to relax, especially with the gorgeous sunsets and views behind us.
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