A Lion Tale

   Our most stunning moment in Etosha Park came just after lunch on Friday.  Our trailer had gotten a flat tire so we stopped into the petrol station to fix it.  During that time, another friend of Uanee strolled by.  Uanee had been a Park guide for 4 years so he know many, many of the employees.  This fellow was named Isaskar Uahoo and he was a Park Ranger.

Isaskar Uahoo

He asked if we were enjoying the park and if we had seen lots of animals.  We said yes and yes, except we hadn't seen any lions yet.  He said that there was a  pride of lions only 6 km. up the road, but that they were hard to see as they were resting several 100 yards off the road.   So we kindly asked him if he would show us and that if he did, he would be his be our best friend forever.  And we made him an honorary PLU alumn by giving him a PLU pin and pen and we smiled and laughed.  Then Uanee said something to him in Otjiherero.  He said OK, I will go along.
   So we drove down the road a ways with Isaskar following in his pick-up.  Isaskar passes us then pulls off to the side and gets out (which is illegal in the park unless you're a ranger).
   He asks, "Who would like to get close to a lion?" and we all raise our hands.
   "Get into my truck."

Paula, Jan and the girls crawl into the back making sure not to sick on the elephant dung or dung beetles that he has in the back.  I get in the front with him (African etiquette).  :-)
   We drive another kilometer and there is car parked alongside the road.  It has some German tourists looking out into the field with binoculars.  He rolls down the window and says, "We are going to examine this situation.  You must not follow us."   And he begins to drive out into the bust where the pride of lions are resting.  He drives right up to the male, maybe 10 yards away.

On the other side of us are six other lions, a large female, a young male and four young females.

 I look in the back of the truck and everyone's mouth is open.  I asked why the lion wasn't annoyed with us being between him and his pride.  He said that they had just killed and eaten a zebra a day and a half ago and we're hungry at the time.
   Then the male gave a loud roar.

Actually, that would make for a great story, but he was just yawning and showing off his teeth!

The young male didn't seemed too pleased to have us around.  Stuck his tongue out.

 

We moved away from the big male and drove closer to the mom, who didn't seem too pleased.

"When she gets on her honches like that, she's ready to pounce."

Yikes, my ride is here so I'll have to finish this story and others when I return.

See you Tuesday!