One day we were safari-ing in Ngorongoro when Baraka
“He’s just looking for water,” Baraka assured her, so matter-
made a quick stop. Out of the low grassland that covers most
of-factly he could have been ordering coffee. And, in fact,
of the 100-square-mile collapsed volcanic crater (one of Tan-
the lion walked by us, oblivious to potential hors d’oeuvres
zania’s world wonders) a male lion, it’s massive head framed
crossed the road, drank from a puddle of water then ambled
by a multicolored mane, sauntered up.
off toward a nervous herd of wildebeests.
Sauntered up to the Cruiser’s passenger side -- Jody’s side,
Every big cat encounter is special. We saw lion cubs nursing
the windows-rolled-down-side, the easy-bite-for-lunch side
and lions mating. (Ten seconds max, and no foreplay.) We
– until the Lion King was so close Jody could have reached
saw a mama cheetah teaching her two cheetah kids to stalk
down and scratched his head. “Baraka,” she said, leaning
a line of zebras in the Serengeti. We saw a leopard dragging a
nervously back into the truck, “should I at least close the
Thompson’s gazelle across a rain-swept grassland stopping
window?”
every few yards to check for competitors and catch its breath.
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WDT MAGAZINE SPRING 2017