Wolverines in South Africa, Day 5: Entabeni Safaris and Dinner Under the Stars
5/8/2019 3:55:00 PM | Football
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The Michigan football program is on a one-week experiential learning trip for its student-athletes in South Africa, which includes stops in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Follow the Wolverines on social media (#UbuntuBlue) and with a daily travel log on MGoBlue.com.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- The wake-up calls came at 4:05 a.m. on Wednesday in preparation for the exciting safaris. The Wolverines experienced early morning and afternoon game drives on the Entabeni Safari Conservancy as well as a spectacular African themed dinner under a fig tree on the property.
After a light breakfast, the party headed out into the darkness for the three-hour morning safari, sorted by position groups. In 50-degree temperatures on a reserve the size of the city of Seattle (85 square miles), the drivers showed the Wolverines the true safari experience by finding lots of animals, including packs of impalas, wild hogs, warthogs, wildebeests, baboons, zebras and giraffes. The highlight of the morning was a grouping of four lions walking in the bush next to many of the safari Jeeps scattered throughout the preserve and another location where two male lions were laying in the weeds stalking their prey.
Ben Mason
Groups of players and staff visited a special area, iKHAYA NYATHi Wildlife and Buffalo Breeding Centre, where they saw white lions, brown lions, wild dogs and monkeys up-close. Some of the players, coaches and staff enjoyed the 10-hole par-3 golf course during the midday break between safaris.
The afternoon session of the safari tour took the Wolverines to see a few animals not seen during the cooler morning temperatures. With the temperatures in the mid 70s during the expedition, many of the groups were treated to some new animals including elephants, white rhinos, multiple hippos, kudu, baby monkeys, black jackals and a rarely seen bush pig. In addition, two of the guides showed incredible dedication as they fixed a flat tire in the wooded region heading to track elephants, a task completed in less than five minutes.
After completing the afternoon drive, the group got together for an amazing dinner under a large fig tree lit up with lights out in nature. There was a bonfire and a band playing South African beats for the Wolverines to enjoy during its festive dinner under the stars. The evening ended with remarks from athletic director Warde Manuel and senior captain Ben Bredeson as well as the signing of "The Victors."
The travel party returned to their rooms for the evening to prepare for tomorrow's early safari and return trip to Ann Arbor.
• Wolverines in South Africa: Day 4
