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Published: March 25th 2006
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We repeat the method of early morning and afternoon safari as yesterday. I am disappointed at the fact that everybody is now blasé and bored of the "common" animals and are ranting about the big five and where to spot them. The car will speed past fantastic groups of antelopes and gazelles as if they were cows ruminating next to the freeway. Everytime I ask if we could stay for a picture everbody seems completely surprised and almost bored, which pisses me off. When I return I will have a car of my own, and I will take the time to appreciate these fantastic animals in peace.
Mr. Wahlstedt, our main guide has a keen eye for birds, so keen in fact that whenever he points out a great snake eagle or huff puffed pointy buzzard nobody has a clue where he spots them. At the dinner he will also attempt to summarize what animals we have spotted during the day and I notice most of the guests start drifting away in their own thoughts.
Back at the camp again an intense but somehow serene rainfall comes over us and we are reminded that we are right at the
Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
Note the cute transmitter necklace... beginning of the short rainy season. I'm sitting on the porch waiting for the afternoon safari to begin when all of a sudden the sounds of lots of feet can be heard... or actually those are not feet, it is a herd of cattle from the nearby masai village who have come to feast on the lawn. Someone has been sleeping on the job...
During the afternoon outing rumour has it that a group has spotted a leopard. The park is criss crossed by loads of little white minibuses from other camps and lodges in the area, and every time we meet up with one of them the drivers will exchange information. This afternoon is a fine example of how things sometimes become absurd. Everybody are rushing to catch a glimpse of the leopard which is hiding in a baobab tree. Imagine a big grassy plain. On this plain are scattered a few trees. Under one of these trees are a cluster of ten or so minibuses. It is horrible and pathetic at the same time. Give me an ostrich or an impala in peace instead.
A bit later on we arrive at a deserted research facility in
the middle of the park. I cannot exactly remember what kind of place it was, but wandering around the derelict buildings and looking at the giant pieces of jaw bones and what not scattered about makes me wonder if we somehow ended up in Jurassic Park instead. Spooky!
Back at the camp I chat a bit with the young masai warrior who is guarding the perimeter next to our hut. The camp employs masai from the nearby village for a variety of tasks and it is very cool standing in the starry night talking to a guy with a spear who is supposed to keep you safe from the blood thirsty monsters of the night.
Later that night I have some trouble sleeping, from the heat I suppose, and suddenly I realize that I am not alone. I keep hearing this low, growling sound, and it is coming from here. I immediately remember the campfire tales about tigers coming to prey on unlucky people and start to wonder what to do. Of course I know these thoughts are silly, but the fact remains, something is growling and snarling, and it is just outside. That is when I realise
the sound comes from under the floor. The hut stands on poles some half a meter above the ground and something is sneaking into the camp literally under my watch. No monster rips through the tent to feed on me though, and as the growling disappears I go back to uneasy sleep.
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