Strange things happen on Safari like baboon attacks. More about that later.
First of all, check out the 2 zebras in the picture. We were quite excited about seeing these 2 because they were the first animals we saw as we entered the Ngorongoro Crater. We were fumbling around, grabbing our cameras to get this once in a lifetime shot as they patiently looked on. Little did we know that we would see hundreds of zebras as the day went on along with water buffalo, elephants, hyenas, gazelles, hippos, monkeys, ostriches, baboons (more about those guys later) and, yes…lions! I was shooting video for most of the day and it should be pretty cool stuff. The Ngorongoro Crater is a self contained eco system and all of these animals live together in this basin and, believe me, they are everywhere. It was pretty incredible.
We started the day, at an actual Maasai village. To say it was rustic, would be an understatement. It was like walking back in time. The Maasai live as they have lived for thousands of years. They herd cattle and live in circular villages with a corral in the middle for the livestock and which is surrounded by small huts made of cow dung, mud and ash. By the way, the next time you’re unhappy with where you live…maybe the carpet is the wrong color or the drapes just don’t work…think about how it would be to live in a cow dung hut. Just a thought. We watched them dance and took a tour of the village and one of the huts. Our guide did a great job telling us about the Maasai culture. You can tell, however, that things are changing. You see Maasai warriors walking along the road with a staff in one hand and talking on a cell phone with the other. These people are slowly becoming a part of the 21st century so it was good to see their way of life while it still exists.
As we were leaving the park, we stopped at the gate to sign out and our driver, Joseph, reminded everyone to roll up their windows because baboons were known to enter vehicles and steal food. Tuck, our guide and I were in the back seat putting on our shoes (you have to take them off to stand on the seats to get the best view through the open roof). As I was lacing up, I looked up and thought, “Wait, that’s not our driver!” There was a huge male baboon, sitting in the driver’s seat with a nasty look on his face that said, “You got a problem with this, pal?” Joseph had forgotten to take his own advice and left his window open. I took immediate action by shouting and waving my arms more in panic than any premeditated line of self-defense. Thankfully, the baboon took the hint, grabbed a box of tissue and left by the open window. As I sat there trying to figure out what just happened, the baboon was in the parking lot tearing apart the box of tissue, pissed off because he hadn’t grabbed a box with food inside. And, he obviously didn’t need to blow his nose. I may be able to take a baboon in a fair fight but I don’t want think what it would be like to go at it with one of those things in the closed confines of a Land Cruiser. Another day at Ngorongoro.
First of all, check out the 2 zebras in the picture. We were quite excited about seeing these 2 because they were the first animals we saw as we entered the Ngorongoro Crater. We were fumbling around, grabbing our cameras to get this once in a lifetime shot as they patiently looked on. Little did we know that we would see hundreds of zebras as the day went on along with water buffalo, elephants, hyenas, gazelles, hippos, monkeys, ostriches, baboons (more about those guys later) and, yes…lions! I was shooting video for most of the day and it should be pretty cool stuff. The Ngorongoro Crater is a self contained eco system and all of these animals live together in this basin and, believe me, they are everywhere. It was pretty incredible.
We started the day, at an actual Maasai village. To say it was rustic, would be an understatement. It was like walking back in time. The Maasai live as they have lived for thousands of years. They herd cattle and live in circular villages with a corral in the middle for the livestock and which is surrounded by small huts made of cow dung, mud and ash. By the way, the next time you’re unhappy with where you live…maybe the carpet is the wrong color or the drapes just don’t work…think about how it would be to live in a cow dung hut. Just a thought. We watched them dance and took a tour of the village and one of the huts. Our guide did a great job telling us about the Maasai culture. You can tell, however, that things are changing. You see Maasai warriors walking along the road with a staff in one hand and talking on a cell phone with the other. These people are slowly becoming a part of the 21st century so it was good to see their way of life while it still exists.
As we were leaving the park, we stopped at the gate to sign out and our driver, Joseph, reminded everyone to roll up their windows because baboons were known to enter vehicles and steal food. Tuck, our guide and I were in the back seat putting on our shoes (you have to take them off to stand on the seats to get the best view through the open roof). As I was lacing up, I looked up and thought, “Wait, that’s not our driver!” There was a huge male baboon, sitting in the driver’s seat with a nasty look on his face that said, “You got a problem with this, pal?” Joseph had forgotten to take his own advice and left his window open. I took immediate action by shouting and waving my arms more in panic than any premeditated line of self-defense. Thankfully, the baboon took the hint, grabbed a box of tissue and left by the open window. As I sat there trying to figure out what just happened, the baboon was in the parking lot tearing apart the box of tissue, pissed off because he hadn’t grabbed a box with food inside. And, he obviously didn’t need to blow his nose. I may be able to take a baboon in a fair fight but I don’t want think what it would be like to go at it with one of those things in the closed confines of a Land Cruiser. Another day at Ngorongoro.
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