Africa - August 24, 2012 - Part 2

Startled awake shortly after midnight by the sound of a lion right outside our camp. He was so close, Kate could hear him panting as he plopped down near her tent. I lay motionless for the longest time, trying to breathe deeply and stay clam, and I had almost convinced myself it was a dream when....ROAR! It sounds strange, but I relaxed after that second call, realizing there wasn't a thing in the world I could do if kitty wanted a midnight snack. So I decided to lay back and enjoy the sound of his voice, which was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard -- somehow powerful and effortless at the same time. Eventually he wandered off, and I drifted back to sleep.

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Brad's footnote:
I slept soundly through the roar, as, disturbingly, did our tour leader. Jenn woke me up after she heard him the second time, and she didn't say a word but starting drawing lines on my palm. I was never more than half awake, and eventually I fell back asleep. Later she told me she was spelling "L-I-O-N," but if so, it was with the Greek alphabet, I swear.

1 comment:

MaggieandBandit said...

We love the new stories! Wish we were there to chase the big kitty!

You've inspired us to blog again!

The staff says to tell you to be safe.