I took these photos last year in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. The experience of watching wildlife in their natural habitat was life changing.
I knew that animals are intelligent, compassionate and caring but watching them interacting with each other or with other species and taking care of their young was heartwarming.
![Hwange Zebras and impalas2](http://insidejourneystravel.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/hwange-zebras-and-impalas2.jpg)
Zebras are incredibly beautiful up close. And almost every time we saw them, impalas were not far away.
![Hwange - Giraffe6](http://insidejourneystravel.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/hwange-giraffe6.jpg)
Despite their height, giraffes are stately and gentle animals.
![Lioness](http://insidejourneystravel.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lioness.jpg)
We watched this lioness for about 20 minutes. She was so full after a kill the previous night, she hardly moved.
![Hwange Buffalo - but look how close they are to the camp](http://insidejourneystravel.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/hwange-buffalo-but-look-how-close-they-are-to-the-camp.jpg)
As we watched this herd of buffalo — there could easily have been 100 of them — we noticed several herds of elephants approaching. Despite their size — they’re the largest land animals in the world — they’re incredibly quiet. You hardly ever hear them coming!
![Hwange Elephant - No question. She's close2](http://insidejourneystravel.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/hwange-elephant-no-question-shes-close2.jpg)
We were watching a baby elephant on one side of the road and didn’t see her mother standing a few feet away. I was so shocked, I’m glad I didn’t scream or fumble the camera.
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