Last week I described the most frightening experience of my time in Kenya, the baboons in the night, this week I want to tell you about the highlight of all my safaris.
We were out in the Mara as usual, me, my husband and our guide, when we came across a couple of lionesses snoozing in the afternoon sun. There were no other vehicles around so we pulled up not too far from them and switched off the engine. It was so quiet and peaceful. I took a few photos and just relaxed, enjoying the view, after a short while one of them woke up, stretched herself and started to check out the surrounding area, completely ignoring our jeep. She had her eye on something much more interesting! not far away a small female impala was grazing. The lioness slowly started to move in the direction of the impala, or dinner as she probably thought of it.
The lioness began stalking the impala, keeping low in the grass and hiding behind bushes, the impala had no idea she was there. It was fascinating to watch, the lioness was so patient, waiting then creeping forward, then waiting and creeping forward again, this went on for about 20 minutes. I was really torn between wanting to see the lioness catch her dinner, especially after all the work she was putting in and not wanting to the innocent looking impala to be caught and be that dinner. Finally she made her move, however this time she was unsuccessful and the impala got away. I had been standing up looking out from the roof, I sat down now and leaned out of the open window as she started to saunter back, walking right towards the jeep. It just felt so natural to be there, watching her until it ocurred to me that she was getting very very close. I stayed where I was, well actually I froze, I didn't want to startle her. Truth be told she was the least startled one there. Then she walked alongside the jeep right beneath the window I was leaning out of, and on towards the shade and the other lioness.
That was the highlight of my day, in fact the highlight of the whole trip, it was exhilarating to have been so close to the largest of the big cats, and you can't imagine just how big and powerful they are until you are right up close. The only reason this was possible is because the big cats are used to seeing the jeeps that they really don't pay them any attention at all. It was something that I will never forget.
