A friend of mine jokes that he comes from the "deep south," but this does not imply the simple culture gap of a few more Cracker Barrels. The question arose, "Just what is the deep south like?"
Pondering the difference, as my travels have not reached this continent, my curiosity found remedy with the opening of "African Safari Adventure 3-D: Safari in the Okavango" at the IMAX, and in 3-D no less. It was the perfect solution to acquiring a firsthand account, and, for a mere $7 and five minutes traveling time to the Bob Bullock IMAX, I could experience Africa, safari-style.
The 3-D glasses top off the adventure as we find the perfect seats among a theater of children and anticipate the National Geographic journey. The safari in the Okavango Delta follows South African zoologist Liesl Eichenberger and the wildlife filmmaker Tim Liversedge as they strive to capture the beauty of Africa, both in wildlife and landscape. The preserved nature of a 20,000 square-kilometer spread of lagoon, channels and islands create a sense of awe that finds no comparison in America.
Liesl guides the viewer throughout the vast expanse of African wildlife as the small motorboat skims the top of this long stretch of swamp and annoying brush keeps brushing the audience.
Suddenly, my friend's depravity of "The Wizard of Oz" is no longer of crucial importance, and conservation efforts in Africa beg my attention. The film captivates, whether you have background knowledge of Africa or label walking to the mailbox an experience of the great outdoors.
The 45-minute feature allows Liversedge enough time to illustrate the beauty of Africa and promote the preservation of the peaceful delta. The "Big Five" - the continent's most dangerous animals, including the elephant, the Cape buffalo, the rhino, the leopard and the lion - all grasp the spotlight and command attention with the dominant presence the IMAX captures.
All in all, "African Adventure" is a nice change of pace, and when you are ready to branch out of your pop-ridden atmosphere, head to the IMAX for some foreign education.
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