From the mysterious Himalayan Yeti to the southwestern Chupacabra – and all the Loch Ness monsters, Alties, Bunyips, Sasquatches, and Babayagas in between – our world is just filled with shadowy creatures of myth and legend. Or, at least, the world is filled with stories about these shadowy creatures of myth and legend. And the vast and enigmatic continent of Africa is no exception!
While cryptozoology has been pretty well-documented and culturally prominent in North America and other western countries for a while now (and it seriously is culturally prominent, by the way – there are even Meetup.com groups devoted to spotting Bigfoot in the United States), the epic monsters of African folklore have taken a little longer to get their moment in the global spotlight.
Tales of these mythic African beasts remained endemic to the continent until the turn of the 20th Century, when Captain William Hichens, on a lion hunt, became the first non-African to record the local tales and superstitions. He published his notes on these infamous creatures in the magazine Discovery in 1937 – including his own personal supposed sighting of the secretive Agogwe, a small, furry humanoid from eastern Tanzania. Thus did the rest of the world first learn of these amazing animals!
If you and your kids have the cryptozoology bug, what trip could be more exciting than a family safari tracking down these animals right in there own backyard?
With the help of Aardvark Safaris, a company dedicated to tailor-made family safaris in Africa, we’ve devised a hypothetical 6-beast, 6-day, 6-country (how’s that for you, numerologists?) itinerary that will show you the incredible sights of Africa – and, if you’re very lucky, incredible sights of incredible cryptids!
So strap on your best pair of binoculars and hiking boots, intrepid explorers! And kids, be sure to be there for your parents in case they get scared! Because this wild African safari will surely be one of mythic proportions.
Africa’s Mythological Beasts
Day 0
The first day, of course, is all about “getting there.” For purposes of this safari, it makes the most sense to fly into Kenya, where our travel story begins, and then work our way south. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (formerly Nairobi International) is the largest aviation facility in East Africa, and relatively accessible from any major western airport.
Once you’ve arrived, get a good night’s sleep; tomorrow, you seek the Nandi Bear!
Day 1