TRAVELLIVE MAGAZINE Travellive 02-2016 | Page 128

community illegal huNtiNg, traNsportiNg aNd tradiNg rhiNo horNs is a gloBal proBlem. to save this precious eNdaNgered species from the threat of eXtiNctioN, eXteNsive efforts have BeeN made By wildlife coNservatioN orgaNiZatioNs. travellive has cooperated with educatioN for NaturevietNam (or eNv) aNd chaNge - two coNservatioN orgaNiZatioNs iN vietNam - to provide you with BreakiNg News of this puBlic coNcerN. DAYS IN THE kINGDoM of BIG fIVE Upon stepping foot on African soil, this foreign land will enchant you with the exotic and majestic beauty of its vast wilderness, mesmerized by the images of giraffes craning their necks in the afternoon sun, leopards running swiftly in the savannah and lions roaring in the hot yellow sand of the desert. On our planet, only Africa has large enough wildlife reserves where the life-anddeath struggles between species can take place in such magnitude. However, there are only a few countries in Africa with these large and unadulterated national parks where you can immerse yourself in nature, sleep near swamps at the center of pristine highlands and rise amidst the curious eyes of antelope and wild boars. Of these parks, Kruger National Park in South Africa is the most famous with the largest number of wild animals. Kruger forest spans an area of 2 million hectares, approximately the size of Wales. Get in a jeep and go deeper into the forest, and you will be welcomed by the five classic African animals (the Big Five), namely the lion, elephant, wildebeest, rhino, and leopard. Moreover, you can also witness certain cultural treasures: a cave with prehistoric paintings by South African aboriginals and the remnants of the ancient kingdom of Thulamela which flourished centuries ago. Text: Phan Cac Truc - Photos: Poulomee Basu @Poulomee Poulomee / @Poulomee Shannon Benson @Shannon_Benson Shannon_Benson / @Shannon_Wild Russell MacLaughlin @Russ_Wildlife Russ_Wildlife / @Russ_Wildlife - Other photos by ENV & CHANGE 128 TRAVELLIVE