October 5, 1995
"A tree frog in our shower last night. It was reddish brown, about 4" long. Exited out shower drain just as Kent was ready to take its picture.
Kent told the young Masai men a cowboy poem around the campfire. They loved it. One of them is reading the poetry in Kent's book.
Kent and I stayed in camp today instead of going on the game drive. I had so many mixed emotions yesterday as we drove off-road across the plains. We ended by joining several vans around one lioness.
We followed some vultures to see others in a tree, and then realized they were swarming on the ground. Over the plains we drove until we began to smell a strong musty scent. The vultures were swarming on a partially eaten eland. A jackal ran off as we approached. The vultures were in a feeding frenzy, pushing and biting and hissing and complaining in a most strange ritual. One lone Marabou stork hung around the outside and darted in every once in awhile. Suddenly all the vultures turned and looked left, then moved off the kill. Looking in the same direction, I saw a beautiful lioness with full belly and an angry demeanor approaching her kill. She moved to the eland carcass, and glared with her amber eyes at the vultures that dared remain close. She grabbed the still huge carcass with her sturdy jaws, tucked her huge head in and down, leaned into the weight and began dragging the carcass towards some brush and trees. It was a long way.She stopped a few times to pant and glare at us. We let her go. Suddenly I felt depressed watching the vans follow her, though we agreed in ours to leave her be. I wish there were a way to control this somewhat. Today I wished the lioness a peaceful afternoon, hidden in the brush during the heat of the day.
So this morning we let the others go, and we stayed behind to shower, do laundry, and relax away from the group. Leading a group is exhausting. I need a break once in awhile, even though the group is great. Later we went with 3 Masai young men, Sumare, Kiu, and Siranka, to walk up the little valley out of our camp. We visited different cattle herds and Sumari talked about Masai traditions. In greeting the elders you say "mama (baba), sopa." You extend your hand slowly to take theirs, and you do not shake. The whole morning was very peaceful and relaxing. Just what I needed!"
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