Encounter with Hyena
Sunday, May 16, 2010
We are a group of friends who love to go on Safari every year.
usually we are four to eight vehicles, each vehicle with a couple we have to do the planning well in advance. The routes, the meals and who is taking what, we are in the bundu and the trip will be self catering. Each couple will be responsible for a dinner and a breakfast depending on the duration of the trip. We all help, but you will be responsible for your turn's food for the group.
Some of the friends have well equiped canopies on their vehicles and others Roof Top Tents and special boxes for all their provisions. All the vehicles are fitted with two way radio's and GPS.
It was late afternoon when we stopped at our camping site in the Savuti Game Reserve in Botswana. It was our turn to cook. We pitched our tent on top of the Pajero, where we feel safe to sleep, away from al the dangerous animals prowling in the camp at night.
The other ladies went to the showers, quite a distance from where we were camping.
It was already dark when everybody finished eating and as the tent was already standing on the roof we could not go to the showers, unless you want to be a lion's meal for the night, for Savuti is well known for it's lions. They even take on the Elephants.
Robert made me some hot water and poured it into our canvas wash basin. The camp was quiet, everybody was sleeping, some snoring, tired after the long journey.
I was washing my feet, with one foot in the basin when I heard something behind me. At first I was to scared to look, It was dark moon, I turned my head slowly and looked, the light from my headlamp shined in the eyes of a the huge hyena, I lost my balance and fell in the dust as the hyena disapeared in the bushes.
From sheer shock I giggled softly, thinking how it would have looked if somebody have seen the whole episode. I know I am very lucky to tell the story, there are gruesome stories bout the hyena, one of the most dangerous predators in Africa.
I want to quote from Patience Strong "Golden Hours": There is One who walks beside you in the darkness and the light.
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