Out of Africa: Part 10 (Continued – D) – Full Day of Debriefing, Reflection and Relaxation

On my recent trip to Africa, I disciplined myself to keep a daily journal of what transpired and how I felt about it. These entries are from that journal.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Experience #5 – Still More Animal Reflections

Lion – It is not just Disney that calls the lion the “King of the Jungle.” The oft repeated phrase among the Africans was, “He is the king.” Or, “There is a reason he is called the King.” The lion will attack and usually kill anything when the hunger is enough.

We drove up to where a male lion was resting. It was about 9:30 in the morning. The male lion was sleeping seemingly oblivious to our presence just 20 feet away. I stood with my upper body protruding out of the opening in the top of our vehicle amazed at his size and beauty. We were told by one regular there that there were two young cubs in the bush and if we would be quiet, they might come out for us to see. Where there is young, there is a mother.

We then were aware off to our left, a very young gazelle that had gotten separated from the herd and was walking all around the lion that seemed to ignore it. After a few minutes our driver started to move toward it. I asked him to stop, pointing out the female about 25 yards away stalking the young gazelle. I kept repeating this, but he did not hear me, or did not care to, and drove between them, causing the gazelle to leave. We moved where they could see the female, but I kept my eyes on the gazelle, knowing something would soon be up with an inexperienced animal separated from the herd like that. Another vehicle came between us, and I lost sight. Everyone around started making a commotion, and commenting that the male was up and moving so we could get close. We drove back over; to discover the young gazelle in the mouth of the lion as the last of its life was squeezed out as the male suffocated it.

One of the men from another vehicle told me that he was watching as well; when he saw the lion raise his head, see the gazelle and was upon it in an absolute instant. When he appeared to be asleep he was just exercising the trait that any good predator must exercise . . . patience.

As he stood there completing his kill, he was only about 15-20 feet from us. He then walked to a shady place where he began the slow process of eating a meal that had been delivered to him, not one that he had hunted down. The “lion lying with the lamb” will never be read the same by me!

Our guide said he probably was not that hungry, but could not pass it up since it was close, and he could always eat. One lady in our jeep said, “Will he take it over to feed the young?” “No,” was the reply. Actually a male will take food from the female and young. It is up to the lioness to feed the young. The male lion provides protection from any predator that might endanger the others, including the young. So much for family values and the providing father!