In the Jungle

"(A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
(A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)

In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight"

The Lion King by The Tokens

The Ngorongoro Crater-Serengeti-Masaii ecosystem houses over 20-25 thousand large animals and its lush, magnificent landscape formed over 2 million years ago. The ecosystem is defined by the western wall of the Great Rift Valley; the western boundary of the Crater adjoins the Serengeti; and Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Meru, and Loolmalsin lie in the East. Flat-top acacia, candelabra, lion paw trees and shrubs grace the plains offering animals a cool shade to rest from the equatorial dry heat or provide stealth cover for a hunt.

The safari jeep speeds through the plains at 65-70mph/hr. I stand up and hold on tightly to the railings; the cool, dry wind blows over me as the wheels kick up a trail of dust in its wake. I selfishly have the jeep to myself.

"Madam, is driving too fast?" inquired my safari driver-guide

"No Atanas, the speed is fine," I responded reassuringly. I'm lost in a moment of total freedom and peace with nothing but miles of Savannah plains punctuated with Acacia trees and golden shrubs.

"Atanas, will I see the Big 5?'

"Good chance Madam. Only Leopard hard to see during the day. Which do you want to see most?" he asked.

"I want to see the lions. I cannot leave Africa without seeing the lions. Can you show me the lions?" I asked imploringly.

"Hakuna Matata. I take you to see the lions" he responded confidently, and we trailblazed into the distance. True to his word, over the next few days, I witnessed the majestic cape buffalo, elephants, rhinos, herds of wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, hyenas and countless more glorious animals in their natural habitat.

Off to a short distance, our jeep slowly approached two beautiful ostriches engaged in some form of animal communicado.

"Madam, see the dark feathers. He is male."

Oh, did I see this male ostrich. He was beautiful-a tall, dark, and elegant bird. His black feathery plumage; lean featherless, muscular legs; long tall outstretched neck. He was refined, and he strolled as if he knew it. His focus and strut were aimed directly at the object of his desire a short distance away. The female ostrich was walking confidently in front of him, staring straight ahead of her and hypnotically flapping her plush wings every few seconds.

"You see, the female moving her feathers, she is calling the male. She is in hot." In heat, she was, and I caught a brief glimpse into the world of animal seduction.


We turned the corner of the dirt road towards the west and came upon a pride of lions lounging near a pond. The two male lions rested languidly next to each other without a care in the world, a few feet away lay their harem of four lionesses. One lioness was crouching on all fours attentively facing eastward. Her body tense and gaze intensely focused on her target directly in front of her some 50yards. Her target was an innocent warthog grazing on some shrubs. Inch by inch she slowly edged towards her mark, but the warthog is entirely oblivious to the impending danger. He takes a second break from his meal to lift his head and survey his surroundings. I quickly turn my attention to the lioness who immediately lowered her head and body ever so close to the ground ducking for cover. It's a close call, and the unsuspecting warthog returns to his meal.

For over 30minutes, we observed this dance of approach and cover. The lioness inches slowly to close the distance between her target and position herself to move in for the kill. Suddenly, the startled warthog raises his head and gazes in the direction of the lioness. He immediately realizes his impending danger and takes off squealing and zigzagging in the opposite direction. The lioness lunges into her sprint trying to make up the lost ground, but she was too late. Lunch will just have to wait for her.