Who would have thought that this bright afternoon would turn to the dark side?
Even seeing this Klipspringers could not hold it back.
And oh look. Yet more wildebeest considering their fate.
My god, there were a lot of them.
They did the usual thing of pretending to cross, going back, going across, going down, going bonkers.
Some of them decided that leaping down a cliff face was a good way of surviving.
More and more did the same thing, as is their wont. Going back was not a simple option. The pressure of the mass of bodies built up behind those on the water's edge, giving those at the front little option. Sink or swim.
Decision made, let's go for a dip.
They set off in single file.
Basic mistake.
When you are on the outside of a herd crossing the Mara you know that your life expectancy is lowest.
In single file, everyone is on the outside. Opportunity knocks.
This crocodile had a lot to choose from.
It had picked its prey.
Another croc had different ideas. A head shot.
And yet another crocodile entered the fray.
This was one enormous bastard.
One bite and there went half a young wildebeest.
This was one heroic wildebeest. It forced its way towards the banking.
There was but a slim chance it would make it.
But no chance when a second crocodile enters stage left.
These jaws engulfed the wildebeest's head.
This is the end of life.
The first wildebeest was still attempting escape.
But once more the murder squad teamed up against it.
One last breathe...
There were thousands of wildebeest that succeeded in crossing the Mara that afternoon.
But for some, their existence came to a horrible halt.
...
Having seen a little too much of the dark side, we headed south towards our camp.
We stopped by a rocky outcropping just below where some lions were soaking up the last rays of the sun.
So. There we were, just below them.
In an open-topped truck.
This, I think, was the only time during the entire fortnight of totally crazy stuff, that I felt a small twinge of fear.
Thankfully these oh so powerful beasts let us leave unharmed. Their stomachs were probably full of previous tourists.
...
Just before the sun gave up on us, we spotted this sleeping leopard.
We left him in peace, arriving back at camp on time for once, so that we could pack ready for our departure the following day.
Despite the fire, all our belongings were still intact and uncooked.
The following day was to be our last morning in the Serengeti.
It was to have an unexpected ending.
No comments:
Post a Comment