Behind The Awkwardness: Drive-Thru Safari
August 26th, 2010
“This photo of my family was taken at one of those drive-through safari places in the 80s. My brother thought the politically incorrect “tribesmen” were real and was terrified. My mom hates snakes. I’m the one with the live snake (yes, it’s real) around my neck and although I love them, I’m struggling because it was a lot heavier than me. And my Dad? He’s just excited that his shorts are shorter than my mom’s.”
(submitted by Kirsten)
I like this one the best! Awesome pic!
Everything is politically incorrect these days. Pretty soon breathing will be politically incorrect.
Lady Gaga is insane
Thank you!!!!!! I just laughed the hardest I’ve laughed in…. months. (That’s sad =). I could barely read on I was laughing so hard. Your poor brother!!!!!! That’s when my laughing fit started. And then poor YOU!!!! Two traumatized kids and the parents look so content!
Phew, thanks for a good laugh!
I am Aunt Jo of the Safari Family photo. I took them through Lion Country Safari in Palm Beach, Florida, and insisted on this photo! My brother is the handsome father in the group! We had fun that day but I actually was upset about them putting the snake around Kirsten’s neck – I had nightmares. And, yes, little Geoff was not a happy camper!!! Our family has quite a collection of awkward family photos – might send in some more – we are a crazy bunch!
Is that a bike helmet hanging from the tree? Upper right corner
Its not a bike helmet silly…its a skull with a detachable chin strap…that is supposed to look like a bike helmet…they totally tricked you !!!
Is it just me, or if you look at the hut, right next to the Mom. Is that a Basketball Hoop and a Ball that just went through it ? If not, it sure would be funny
I’m so glad I missed this fad in the 80s…too much stereotyping to handle. Love the snake though!
It’s interesting and funny.
you’re dad resembles Chris Noth
Clockwise from the upper left:
Steve, Terri, Bindi and Robert.
How are the “tribesmen” politically incorrect?
“When we got back in the minivan, Dad wouldn’t stop playing the Steve Miller Band’s ‘Jungle Love’ in the cassette player.”
Great Adventure is still open in NJ, supposed to be the largest safari drive-through in the US. I went through it once back in the 80′s and the car was a mess when it was over. Camels licked the windows ALOT, llamas spit on the windows, and baboons destroyed the vinyl on the roof and tore off the windshield wipers to bang on the car with. The best part was the lions, when a male sauntered over to a female for about 2 seconds and she fell right over on her side afterwards. We must have sounded like the baboons, screaming and laughing in the car.
Kirsten, you and your mom would be totally stylish today in Jersey…you are both rocking the animal prints!
Hmmmm… Dad looks kinda hot.
That python is squeezing all the fun out of that vacation
Corn WIN
Absolutely awesome, K!!
haha I like the way Mom has her right arm up away from the snake! She probably has a death grip on Dad!
That’s me! We’re awkward! And yes…this is framed and hanging on my wall.
The landscape and the fake tribesmen are evocative of Africa, however the boa constrictor is indigenous to Central and South America. Also, the fake tribesman on the right is wearing a fedora, which I don’t believe is authentic tribal attire. The proprietor of this establishment apparently wasn’t thorough in his research. Of course, this was in ancient times – the pre-internet ’80s.
A drive-thru safari with headhunters…..now I get it….Meals on wheels.
Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!!!
Meet the Proto-Irwins!
This screams “Griswolds.”
FTW!!
hahahahahhah…nice
You missed the fact that the politically incorrect tribesmen are wearing tiger-print thongs, not actual loincloths. Definitely awkward!
That’s assuming that they are not made out to be from tiger “skin” for “authenticity.” Makes it worse if they were.
Oh wow, LOVE!
Your mom has a real festive shirt on! Woohoo!
It was the fanciest hat party ever… save for one young girl.
Who wear short shorts? Your dad wears short shorts!
oh, Kirsten, thank you sooo much for sharing! what an incredible photo and thanks, too, for the story behind it. i was wondering why mom had such a “deer caught in the headlights” look.
ooohhhh WWWOOOWWWW!!!!
this one is sure to rank right up there as the all time favorites on AFP
Love this picture. Specially the skull hanging in the tree. Perfect “incorrect” 80s awkward.
I think this might be why they encourage you to stay in you car.
The best part is the village looks so “real” and yet they give the little girl a boa constrictor around the neck….what!
Kirsten, you simply ROCK for holding on to a live snake. Your synopsis of this picture is priceless. Your poor little brother. I’m ltotall diggin’ your dad’s blue shorts. The only thing you failed to mention was the skull hanging in the tree. I hope this picture is hanging on your wall somewhere.
-Sees skull-
This just went from awkward to sinister….
This is pure poetry
Have these drive-thru safari places closed? It would be a mercy.
AW, poor little boy probably had nightmares after this! He’s probably still traumatized to this day, with flashbacks!
that’s dangerous to have a constrictor around your neck. you should have a resentment against your father.
No way. That boa was most likely captive bred and around humans it’s entire life. She was in virtually no danger.
virtually
seriously? I’ve had boas around my neck on four separate occasions, at zoos and once at the circus. Those snakes and this one was probably fed before being brought out and are tame after being around humans so much.
I actually thought this family was in the middle of the Serengeti !!! It just goes to show you how easily duped I can be. I couldn’t find one thing wrong with this pic until I saw the explanation…now there is just all kinds of Awkward
I honestly thought the village would be having this family for dinner..not having them over for dinner…but having them for dinner, served in that Cauldron !!!
Mom looks like she is trying to be fierce!
O-MY-GAWD
Wow, those tribesmen are Politically Incorrect!
LOL…Everyone knows tribesmen are much better dressed and carry a laptop..geezz…drive through…what were you thinking? I mean, afterall…that is what I see in my PC photos!
This looks like it was dad’s idea. You can almost hear him in the family car as they drive past the signs: “Hey, look! A safari! Let’s check it out!” Personally, I love the cannibalistic element suggested by the giant cauldron…
Whoa now – “one of those drive-through safari places in the 80s”??? I obviously missed something huge – explanation please!
Just replying to myself. I just realized the kind of place you’re talking about – for some reason I thought it was a place where you just went to get photographed! I went to a similar place in Canada, the monkeys were bored, and they totally ripped all the trim off our rental car, snapped off the wipers, and tried to get in the (locked) doors. All kinds of trauma.
Ok I totally missed THAT part of the 80′s…
We still go to them, it’s kinda fun
Drive thru safari place? Ha ha ha that is awesome!
Maybe I’m missing something but what about the tribesmen is politically incorrect? In National Geographic pictures of African tribes that is what they look like.
I think she has the wrong phrase, I think she meant anatomically correct instead of politically incorrect.
That was the greatest comeback I’ve heard in a long time.
One of the models (left) ISN’T HUMAN!
I was just gonna say the same thing…they look pretty accurate to me.
Oh really, you see tribesmen with tiger fur underwear and snazzy wide brimmed felt hats?
Yeah, the tiger skin underoos are a nice touch. Because african tribesmen kill asian animals all the time….
Drive thru Safari? It appears that the young lady asked for the snake to be supersized! And dad, well dad had trouble reading the menu…
yup… drive-through safari… there’s one in West Palm Beach, FL called Lion Country Safari. I believe it’s the only one… but I could be wrong. You can still get your picture taken there in this exact same back-drop wearing the exact same “costumes”. I have a picture of my family posed the same way back from about 1985.
Gotta love it!
The best supersized thing…. the giant rhino poops you drive through….
Yes……this is awkward. Well done.