At Franatee’s insistence, ("we can relax anywhere let's make the most of the time we have left!") we went for one last guided walk. I am so glad we did. We had seen elephant grazing nearby as we had breakfast and our guides soon set a beeline for where the tembo had been walking. Up and down following torn up grass and trees and lots of elephant dung, past an abandoned hyena burrow inside a 170 year old baobab tree until we could see the herd only a few hundred metres from us. They seemed agitated and we soon found out why. “Simba!” one of our guides said excitedly. A solitary lioness was trying to take a baby elephant while the elephant matriarch of the herd fended her off.
To my horror I soon realised the wind was blowing from us (and taking our scent) to the charged scene. The lioness started looking our way and let out a roar...which made wifey give off a location confirming shriek("Sorry I didn't mean to!"-wife)
(elephant is holding lioness away from the herd...lioness is looking towards our group...ulp)
Through the binoculars we could all see both the frustrated lioness and the (very angry looking) elephant scenting the air for us. Our guides asked to use our binoculars...I guess a lion is a reason to upgrade from their excellent game-spotting vision and rely on the optical 'big guns'.
The lioness darted out of sight and as soon as that happened, our guides gave the retreat order.
(lion has disappeared who knows where...elephant is getting our scent..ulp again)
When the Maasai are worried, it means we need to go. And quick. Despite the fact our protection only consisted of a spear and a stick, I wasn't too terrified, more elated at the mad fun of it all. Dunno if the wife was as excited as I...However once we were well clear of the area, everyone started laughing and sharing the excitement of having made a rare (and on foot) sighting of a lion.
We said our goodbyes to the staff at the lodge and promised to return later in the year for another break. The staff there were cool and it was great being able to converse (in a limited way) in Swahili with them. We were driven the 45 km back to the main road in the blistering sun past ostriches, zebra, wildebeest and (yet more) elephant. Got home at 6pm, tired, sunburnt and sad to be out of the wilderness.
(an elephant at the Park sadly watches the horizon for our return)
Sounds like you had a lovely time. Did you bitten when you were in the bubble bath?
ReplyDeleteAwesome time. No bites in tub, we up on a high hill so no mozzies...all the tsetse flies hang out by the river. I hate them.
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