The statement doesn’t so much roll off my tongue as it stumbles out of my mouth as I look at the scrappy tufts of feather on the leathery head of a marabou stork.
Others on the boat mutter similar sentiments.
“It’s one of the Ugly Five,” says Amos, our captain and guide on an afternoon safari cruise at Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana’s Okavango River Delta.
His enthusiasm feels exaggerated for such a hideous bird.
Safaris tend to focus on the so-called Big Five — lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinos, elephants — but the Ugly Five makes for a fun alternative for anyone who’s already checked off the safari stars.
The list runs like a cast call for the “Lion King’s” least majestic animals: marabou stork, hyena, vulture, wildebeest and warthog.
And we’re here to meet them all.
Marabou stork
The marabou stork doesn’t just rely on its looks — it’s also got a scent thing going down.
“They can grow up to five feet long,” says Amos as we get close enough to see the scabby-looking beak of one these large birds.
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As the unpretty cousin of the more elegant eland and gazelle, the wildebeest is a peculiar genetic mishmash.
It has the head of a buffalo, body of an antelope and tail of a shaggy horse.
Its elongated face is connected to a dirty-looking neck fringe and features a mouth shaped, and used, like a lawnmower.
Murky gray bodies decorated with black and white markings add to the unkempt appearance.
“Its ugliness is no problem for mating, they’re practically blind,” Amos laughs.
Getting There
The only way to get to Moremi Crossing is by small plane, followed by a five-minute boat ride. The guided cruise, bush walk and mokoro rides are part of all-inclusive packages for guests.
Accommodations include luxury tents, outdoor showers and nightly hippo serenades.
Moremi Crossing, Maun, Botswana; +267 686 0023; from $335 per person
