Mark Wallace is a Phoenix-based AdoramaTV show host, best known for the popular web-based video series “Digital Photography One on One” and “How’d They Do That?” His Mark on a Bike Blog site explains how his current working trip through Africa is destination number two on his "broad plan is to visit the world in regions." Recently Mark was in Botswana in Africa, in search of Africa's wild elephants but his journey hit a hitch in an unexpected place.
Mark Wallace made a surprising discovery in Africa
Mark discovered that in the wilderness, bikers have to watch out for elephants crossing and that speeding simply does not pay.
Speed traps in the wilderness are probably more common that the elephants he finally encountered.
Old Africa hands know that elephants always have right of way simply because they are much bigger than bikers. In the Central African country of Botswana elephant conservation is a top priority and they are one of the few countries in Sub-Sarahan Africa where the hunting of elephants has been so strictly regulated that it is almost impossible to shoot one.
Africa's elephants up close with Wallace
Mark Wallace chose a great country to ride his bike into elephant territory and find his first ever wild elephant roaming free in the wilderness.
Like many travelers to Africa, Mark discovered that there is a lot more to Africa than the media induced preconceived impression that Africa is a backward continent filled with only poverty and drought.
Mark encountered a modern, well set up traffic enforcement operation and had to pay speeding fines - more than once.
Mark was probably fortunate that his interrupted journey to stop and get traffic fines more than once in a day happened in Botswana and not in neighboring Zimbabwe. Three strikes in a day and you are out the game in Zimbabwe and will face charges of being a habitual offender.
A rather repentant Mark did pose with a traffic cop to tell the kids that speed kills and it does not pay to speed. Nevertheless, the journey was more than learning about persistent traffic enforcement and he did indeed, find his first ever completely wild elephants.
Idiots and respect for Africa's wildlife
In his video of the encounter, Mark explained how he was not going to get off his bike and try and get any closer to the elephants as it could be dangerous.
His stance was not only intelligent but did show that he has a basic courtesy towards the wild elephants many sophisticated African residents lack.
One only has to look at Youtube to see the often intrusive behavior of local visitors to the famous Kruger National Park. Kudo's to you, Mark.
Americans on vacation in beautiful Africa
More Kudo's for Mark lies in the fact that so few Americans visit Africa as a tourist destination. Statistically, according to figures published by Tourism Industries U.S. International Air Travel Statistics, in 2016, only around three hundred thousand Americans went to Destination Africa and most of those people were not on vacation.
Mark's mission to find Africa's wild elephants is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the beautiful country of Botswana where the long-term survival of these endangered animals is a top government priority.
You can watch a short snippet and share the moment Mark found his wild elephants below.
