Page 72 - May-June-July_Life_In_Naples_Magazine

The only man I

envy is the man
that has not yet
been to Africa for

he has so much to
look forward to.

ranged from high 40’s to mid 80’s during out quest.
Night time is a golden gift of sounds, the animals
start their choir of the vocal harmony of acappella
groups. I would simply sit back with a glass of wine
and enjoy the symphony. Following breakfast, we are
back with camera in hand for the next adventure. The
law of the jungle is real, very real. We watched the
hyena pack hunt as a well-organized team of killers.
A baby giraffe caught by lions; it took the mother
three days to leave the site. The most exciting event
was the crossing of the wildebeest through the Masa
Mara River. The crossing is so unique that only one
in a thousand visitors see the actual crossing. This
herd of almost three hundred thousand gathered on
a bluff over forty feet above the river. Our guide told
us they all go after the first is forced over the side
of the cliff and that they did. The crocodiles were
gargantuan and were swimming closer. I don’t think
even Troy Landry of “Swamp People” would consider
getting one of these in his boat.
Every day we were reminded to be back in
our camp before sunset because of the danger of
poachers. It is miserable to know the animals are
poached for meat, hides, tusk, etc. The African
government is doing a much better job of protecting
these beautiful animals, but the problem is limited
resources and vastness. The protected preserves have
no fences so the animals migrate into dangerous
areas where hunters are allowed. An African proverb,
“Until the lion learns to write; every story will glorify
the hunter.”

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