It was time for lunch. A simple task of finding a (relatively) safe place to stop, unpack the not-all-that delicious food, uncork the wine, relax and enjoy. Then maybe a short siesta, although those have been few and far between.
Looking for the right ambiance, we skirted by this hippo, as they do have an unpleasant habit of interfering with luncheon and killing people.
This one did not seem interested in us. We assumed this to be the case as we were still alive. However, taking no chances, we moved on a little further.
We parked up by the banks of the Mara where some water-born variety hippos were up to some no-good. This was an ideal place to eat lunch while keeping an eye on whatever they were doing.
This is where lunch started to get a little more interesting than just the uninteresting food in-front of us.
There were two young adult hippos in mid-stream. Oddly they were surrounded by several crocodiles, all keeping their distance. As mentioned before, crocodiles have an allergy to being trodden on by huge masses.
They had something with them that we could not yet see. Never mind, we had more important things to do such as eat our lunch and then, given adequate opportunity, relieve our bodily functions.
But wait! Whatever they had was being fiercely fought over by one of the hippos, who attacked the other, throwing in the air whatever it had in front of it.
Why was this hippo so enthralled? Why attack the other hippo? Although, in my experience, they don't need much in the way of excuses to attack anything.
Look. Now it was even rolling over in what appeared to be ecstasy.
Very strange. I, for one, was not rolling over in ecstasy at the food presented to us.
The wine however...
Even the local crocodiles seemed energised. Why was that?
The reason would soon become clear, although not before several other amazing things happened.
Good grief. We could see it now. It had a dead, floating, slightly bloated, wildebeest in front of it.
Could it be eating the wildebeest? It did kinda look a bit like it, but this is absolutely not possible. These animals are obligate herbivores. Vegans even. And we all know what vegans are like.
Also, there did not appear to be any marks on the dead beast. Surely this could not be a meal?
Although it did look more appetising than what we had.
Others (multiple crocodiles) seemed to think was worth hanging around for. If they were that desperate, they could have our food. All of it.
But not the wine.
The crocodiles remained stationary around them, none would come too close. Can't say I blame them.
This wildebeest had been killed by the crocodiles, and then left to marinade several days. As they do.
It technically belonged to the crocs.
The hippo didn't care about technicalities.
This was not food. IT WAS A TOY!
It had found a new plaything and it was damn well going to play with it!
This was one happy hippo.
Surely that is a smile on its face?
Whilst this hippo was enjoying itself, and whilst we were making a vain attempt to eat our lunch. Whilst we were thinking it was time to risk leaving the van to relieve ourselves, we suddenly realised that a short way upriver, something was happening.
And it was happening NOW!
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