Having picked up their completed paperwork to work and travel in Africa, Bee and her companions retrieved their luggage. In the airport lobby, they found the rest of their group: Corbin, their trip coordinator, and several of his workers. Their companions were to lead them around Africa, guiding and teaching them all they would need to know.
Once the group made sure everyone and their luggage was present and accounted for, they were ushered out of the building in search of their rides to the hotel. Finding their transportation wasn't hard; some of Corbin's workers found their drivers outside the airport holding up a sign with their names displayed. Bee and her companions hired a driver to take them to their hotel. Jay assisted Bee with her luggage, carrying her bags to their awaiting truck for her.
In all the movies and pictures Bee watched, Africa looked like a massive jungle. It surprised her to discover parts of Africa were dry, and the plant life was scarce, while other areas in Africa were full of tall blades of grass that appeared to go on for miles. Even though it was not how she pictured it, Africa was beautiful, a sight to behold.
While driving to the hotel, Jay pointed out the strangest animal Bee had ever seen. It was a giraffe-like animal eating from a tree with its long tongue. The unusual animal wore a deep reddish-brown coat; on its hindquarters and its upper legs, it had zebra-like stripes, the lower legs were white, and his hooves were dark.
"It looks like a giraffe and zebra mixed," Bee announced.
"Its neck and body are much shorter than a giraffe," Nicholas informed her.
"Look at its tail switching back and forth," Jay laughed.
The strange creature had two long, brown ears, two large eyes, with two horns on the top of its head; his face was dark with white markings on the side.
"It's an okapi, a nocturnal animal, related to the giraffe. Okapis weren't discovered until the nineteen hundreds."
Bee looked at him with wide eyes when he told her they were ruminants; they swallow their food without chewing it.
"You must be part okapi," she laughed.
"Why do you say that?"
"I have seen you eat; you don't chew your food either," she said teasingly.
"Aren't you funny?" Nicholas laughed. Bee couldn't help but follow suit.
"Hey! Look at this," Jay called her, but to her disappointment, by the time Bee turned around, the animal had vanished.
Pulling into the red-clay parking lot of the hotel, the five companions were astonished to see oxen used to carry several villagers loads as they traveled. Leaving their bags behind and taking in their surroundings, Bee and her companions walked into the hotel.
Everybody registered at one time; it was a little chaotic. Bee could hardly wait to get to her room, she was exhausted, but they didn't receive their keys until everyone was signed in.
Knowing she hadn't slept, neither of them had, Jay carried her bag into the lobby for her. "Would you like me to take your bags to your room?"
"Thank you, I can handle them," she assured him. "You are tired, go ahead, and take care of yourself."
Since they were leaving in the morning, Bee decided to save herself some trouble and choose not to unpack. Once her belongings were situated in her room, she rejoined her companions.
"I'm hungry," Jerry announced, rubbing his growling stomach.
"Me too," Daniel second as Corbin joined their group.
"We can eat after collecting our supplies," Corbin told the guys.
Since they had a lot to take care of by their checkout time, they moved quickly to make sure their supplies were ready for their trip into the village the next day. Afterward, the companions went out for a meal consisting of a salad, steak, mashed potatoes, and broccoli with cheese. The waitress brought them a non-descript concoction called chai, which she said was African tea.
During their meal, they chatted about the ride from the airport to the hotel, sharing the fascinating sights they observed. Everyone, especially Bee and Jay, who hadn't slept, agreed the ride was draining, and the meal was filling. Exhausted, Bee leaned on Jay's shoulder for support as they walked back to their hotel.
"Make sure you set the alarm for breakfast," Nicholas reminded his brother.
"I won't forget," Daniel promised.
Whispering in her ear, Jay invited Bee to have breakfast with him.
"You'll have to wake me," Bee accepted.
"See you in the morning," her companions told her when they'd reached their hotel.
"Good night," Bee said, excusing herself to her room while they stayed behind engaged in conversation.
