Saved by Batman and Robin
After the day that we chased the honey badgers, we decided to try to go back to see what predator it was. We drove back to the place where we first saw the dragging marks. We decided to drive around the area and maybe with luck get more clues. As we are driving towards the area, we encounter another vehicle with guests.
Because we are a “school” in the reserve, paying guests from a Lodge have the priority to the sighting. We drive a little more and we see another car. “John” stops the car and asks one of the guides in Afrikaans:
– Good morning. How are you? What are you guys looking for? – he asked while also saying good morning to the guests.
– Lions! – the guide answered in Setswana “Tau’.
We use African names so the guests can’t understand us. This is not to hide from the guests but imagine we are searching for a leopard, but the guide tells us the leopard is gone already, and probably we won’t see them. Maybe we will try another animal and return later to see if we can see the leopard. But one of the guests might want to wait 5 hours for the leopard, while the others don’t. In a way to avoid an anger guest or guests, we don’t tell them until we are sure of it.
The other car with the guests continues and “John” turns to us and says:
– Well Lions are in the South of the reserve – he says while turning back to face us – all the lodges are sending their guides to look for them. Yesterday the lions dragged the carcase to another side close to the road. They got a Blue Wildebeest.
I started to smile. That was my guess.
– Well done João – “John” said – good guess!
We decided there was no point looking for the lions because we would not have a chance to see them. So, we continue our drive in search of other animals that also deserve our attention. After the drive we return to the camp.
We had our breakfast/lunch and then we had some time, like 2 hours before our class. On the other side of the camp, on the other side of the river there is a big “big” rock. Almost like Lion King style. I discovered a way to get up there. After lunch I grabbed my books and went to the rock.
Sometimes camp can be very loud, and sometimes you need time for yourself. And that is what I needed. I was missing my family, so I wanted to study alone in the middle of my African bush.
Right now, you must be wondering who Batman and Robin are. Batman and Robin are two Tree Squirrels that I met in the camp. They are super naughty! They taught me a valuable lesson “never leave food at the table for 5 minutes”. One day I was studying in the classroom and I was eating some cookies. I went quickly to my tent to grab another pencil. When I returned, Batman and Robin jumped from the table to the nearest tree. They stopped and looked at me.
I looked at the table and found out that they had eaten all of my cookies! All my “one month stash cookies” gone! I was so angry! I called them everything! I was so mad! No more cookies for me until the end of the course!
Ok now you know who Batman and Robin are. Back to the day I was at the rock. I was studying on my rock when I noticed that the other students are starting to come out of their tents to come to class. I start to pack my things when I start to hear Batman and Robin alarm calling.
They were close to me, so I was thinking they were making fun of me. Reminding me of my lost cookies. I didn’t care much. As I get up, they get louder and more frenetic! I start to look around and then I see it.
A leopard sleeping in the river! Right next to camp.
– Dam! – I thought – Now what?
Leopards like lions sleep 20 hours a day, it will take ages for it to move. I start listening to “John’ asking everyone where I was. They have no idea that there is a leopard on the river! I can’t scream because it is quite close to me.
I hear “John” saying:
– Why are the Tree Squirrels so frenetic? Maybe it is a snake! Come guys, let’s see it – he said while leading everyone down the stairs.
I couldn’t say anything or do. All I could do was to watch and hope they see the leopard in time. When they arrived at the river “John” stopped. He looked at the leopard and looked at me. He then signals me to stay there and don’t move. He led the rest of the students back to the classroom.
Photo taken in Kruger.
20 minutes passed and then I start hearing noises behind me.
– Dam! – I said – The hyenas couldn’t do it, so they sent the leopard.
The noise is getting closer and closer, so I start to untie my shoelaces. Then I see “John”. My heart felt on my feet. He signals me to not make a sound and to follow him.
– The road is still far so we have to walk a little – he said while leading me.
Only when I got to the car I relaxed and breath again.
I decided for the rest of the course to study in the classroom.
AFTER IT!
