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Photos: Retired School Administrator From Paramus Visits Africa

PARAMUS, N.J. — Andrea Holmes's travels have taken her from Paramus to all corners of the globe.

"Speaking of rhinos, this one just finished having a nice mud bath," Holmes wrote. "Maybe I will try it. I have heard it’s good for the skin.

"Speaking of rhinos, this one just finished having a nice mud bath," Holmes wrote. "Maybe I will try it. I have heard it’s good for the skin.

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holems
"I couldn’t get up on [the] jeep, so I rode shotgun in the front. God forbid I had to make a quick exit. Look who just cut in front of the jeep."

"I couldn’t get up on [the] jeep, so I rode shotgun in the front. God forbid I had to make a quick exit. Look who just cut in front of the jeep."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"We closely see some more residents of the bush, particularly this dad protecting his family while taking a snooze. Lions are nocturnal animals and sleep most of the day and prowl at night."

"We closely see some more residents of the bush, particularly this dad protecting his family while taking a snooze. Lions are nocturnal animals and sleep most of the day and prowl at night."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"He finally gets up and faces our camera."

"He finally gets up and faces our camera."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
(Holmes second from right) "Taking a safari break in the bush; wine and cheese are served. Can't get much better than that...except if a random lion decides he wants some cheese."

(Holmes second from right) "Taking a safari break in the bush; wine and cheese are served. Can't get much better than that...except if a random lion decides he wants some cheese."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"Tatyana gave me some Peanut oil to rub on my skin for protection; was it a coincidence that when we left the building an elephant went crazy and charged through the resort, splitting a tree in half and trampling the bushes?"

"Tatyana gave me some Peanut oil to rub on my skin for protection; was it a coincidence that when we left the building an elephant went crazy and charged through the resort, splitting a tree in half and trampling the bushes?"

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"Here is the tree the elephant split in half."

"Here is the tree the elephant split in half."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"The night after the elephant charge, we heard a leopard growling under window. We found out it was a leopard because the guides came and examined its tracks and dung. They can tell everything by dung. FYI: Vegetarian animals don't have smelly dung."

"The night after the elephant charge, we heard a leopard growling under window. We found out it was a leopard because the guides came and examined its tracks and dung. They can tell everything by dung. FYI: Vegetarian animals don't have smelly dung."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"We were smack dab in the middle of these buffalo, and I kept thing of the song 'You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd'! ”

"We were smack dab in the middle of these buffalo, and I kept thing of the song 'You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd'! ”

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"The water buffalo lying down is a very old grandmother, the young one standing is trying to take care of her and is urging her to get up and try to move. They take care of each other."

"The water buffalo lying down is a very old grandmother, the young one standing is trying to take care of her and is urging her to get up and try to move. They take care of each other."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"I showered in this outdoor shower and look who came by to look at me in the shower. I think he is terrible looking; wonder what he thought of me?"

"I showered in this outdoor shower and look who came by to look at me in the shower. I think he is terrible looking; wonder what he thought of me?"

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"We went to a wonderful animal reserve where they rescue and care for injured animals. This zebra lost his mom and he was rehabilitated and this sheep stood in for his mother. To this day they behave like mother and son."

"We went to a wonderful animal reserve where they rescue and care for injured animals. This zebra lost his mom and he was rehabilitated and this sheep stood in for his mother. To this day they behave like mother and son."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"Vultures waiting in the tree; hoping that their dinner isn’t me."

"Vultures waiting in the tree; hoping that their dinner isn’t me."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"This is how giraffe have to bend to get a drink."

"This is how giraffe have to bend to get a drink."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"Time to go on our elephant safari. My elephant was named Minos. I was so scared that I hung on to the poor guide’s waist until he couldn’t breathe."

"Time to go on our elephant safari. My elephant was named Minos. I was so scared that I hung on to the poor guide’s waist until he couldn’t breathe."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"Mosquito netting may seem romantic and beautiful; but let me tell you: If you are a restless sleeper you can get all tangled up and your toenails catch in the net."

"Mosquito netting may seem romantic and beautiful; but let me tell you: If you are a restless sleeper you can get all tangled up and your toenails catch in the net."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"Up close and personal with some zebras."

"Up close and personal with some zebras."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"Cheetah – you can tell because cheetahs have the black teardrop lines going down their face."

"Cheetah – you can tell because cheetahs have the black teardrop lines going down their face."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"And then came a herd of elephants; we were right in the center of perhaps 100 of them."

"And then came a herd of elephants; we were right in the center of perhaps 100 of them."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"A circle of hippos from behind . . ."

"A circle of hippos from behind . . ."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"For those of us who have had termites, can you believe this is an African termite hill? I thought I had termite problem!"

"For those of us who have had termites, can you believe this is an African termite hill? I thought I had termite problem!"

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"We then were off to a farewell cruise on the Zambeze River . .. . We were told on our boat ride to look for 'rocks with ears' The rocks wiggled their ears . . . voila: a hippo!"

"We then were off to a farewell cruise on the Zambeze River . .. . We were told on our boat ride to look for 'rocks with ears' The rocks wiggled their ears . . . voila: a hippo!"

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"When hippos open their huge mouths in a yawn it means they are very territorial and they want you to get the hell out of their water. We did."

"When hippos open their huge mouths in a yawn it means they are very territorial and they want you to get the hell out of their water. We did."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"One of the most beautiful sights from the boat was a lone elephant on a deserted island. We pulled up close to see him and he started kicking up dirt with his feet. Another sign that the territorial animal did not want us there in his space."

"One of the most beautiful sights from the boat was a lone elephant on a deserted island. We pulled up close to see him and he started kicking up dirt with his feet. Another sign that the territorial animal did not want us there in his space."

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
"Sunset on the mighty Zambezie River. I left Africa with a ton of amazing memories!"

"Sunset on the mighty Zambezie River. I left Africa with a ton of amazing memories!"

 Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes
Matt Speiser
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Recently, she went to Africa -- and compiled a selection of photos to share with Daily Voice readers (see above).

"Seeing Africa was a life-changing experience for me," said the 74-year-old Maywood native, who once served as superintendent of the River Dell Regional School District.

"I admit I was scared; I was afraid of the animals, the food, the people, the climate -- just about everything," she said. "But I came home enthralled with a new respect for animals in the wild, the culture and caring and joyous nature of the people, and the delicious natural food.

"I would go back in a heartbeat."

ALSO SEE: Meet World-Traveling Paramus Grandmother

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