8

I took this photo in a moving Safari vehicle. The giraffe was right at the side of the road but we were in a rush to get out of the Serengeti before our park permit expired, otherwise we would have been splitting the cost for another day [not spent] in the Serengeti, and the permits were expensive. I felt really lucky with how the photo came out. The colours are so bright and it's such an amazing animal!

2011 had so many unbelievable memories, sometimes I can't even believe I was there.

5

Back in April, I was in Moshi, Tanzania doing some volunteering. I have to admit that Africa didn't really agree with me, or I just didn't have the energy for it at the time, but the Safari was worth the trip. We went to Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Nogorongoro Crater. It was pretty amazing to be that close to the animals and feel like you could reach out and touch them. I may have wanted to snuggle them, but just a little. They just looked so cute and cuddly like stuffed animals! Obviously they're not, but when they are just sleeping there in the grass and completely ignoring the truckload of excited tourists clicking away on their cameras, I couldn't help but think they wouldn't mind if I reached out and gave them a pat on the head, that is of course until they jumped up and gave a big yawn, flashing their pearly whites in my direction.