Knock, knock, we heard at our door. "Good morning. It is 5am. I am here to escort you to the gathering place for your morning safari," said our Leopard Hills personal bodyguard. We followed our bodyguard to the breakfast area for coffee, tea and juice. Our chef had prepared a picnic basket of breakfast breads and fruit, in case we got hungry while out.
We left early, just before sunrise, on our morning safari drive. However, after a few hours out driving in the bush, we failed to have even one lion sighting; nor did we see leopard, cheetah, or elephant, even though our tracker and guide Raymond had promised us an interesting and exciting morning. The sun would soon be rising. Therefore, our chances of coming face to face with a lion was quickly diminishing. The look on Raymond's face was regretful. Hopefully, we would have better luck during tonight's safari drive.
As we drove back to our lodge for brunch and our afternoon bush walk, Raymond began to sense something good about to happen. "What is it Raymond," our safari ranger asked. Raymond replied I do not know yet, but something is out there, lurking. " We began to worry. What did Raymond sense was out there? Was it a lion as big as the one who came up to our Land Rover last night? Perhaps the lion remembered it was us, perhaps he now knew our smell and was following us. What else could it be?
Raymond, our tracker (Courtesy of Leopard Hills)
Our ranger Marius, radioed to the senior ranger Ryan, our location and relayed something big was about to happen. Suddenly, Raymond called out for Marius to stop the vehicle and jumped off his perch chair on the front of the vehicle. Raymond started to exclaim, "Look, it is snake poop!" In the vehicle, we all just looked puzzled at one another. "Snake poop, really! Not lion or elephant poop?"
Soon Ryan drove up in his Land Rover and headed over to Raymond, who by this time was yelling that it was indeed a snake. Ryan used the handle of his rifle to provoke the snake. That is when we saw the head of an angry snake rise up with its mouth wide open. Ryan called for backup help from our ranger, Marius, who reluctantly got out of the vehicle to assist. Before we all knew what was happening, Ryan and Marius were walking out of the bush with a big snake in their hands.
By the time the snake was captured (alive), Ryan began to summon me out of the vehicle, inviting me to pet the snake. I wasn't sure if the ranger was serious or crazy. I mean, he didn't summon anyone else out. I approached the two with their snake and Ryan exclaimed, "Touch it., feel how soft it is. It would make a nice handbag or shoes for you."
I first wanted to get this event on camera, but then, once convinced the two had a tight grip of the snake, rubbed the snake's skin. "Oh yes, it is very soft," I replied. At this point, everyone else in both vehicles felt it was safe to get out and photograph our find.
Ryan and Marius proceeded to lay the snake out on the road, they estimated it was a 17-foot long python. By now, all the other safari vehicles, some from other game reserves, had heard the buzz on the radio and drove over to get a glimpse at Raymond's find.
While all the guests approached the snake for a photo opp, all the trackers, huddled at a distance away. I went over to Raymond and asked why he did not want to join the snake viewing. Raymond replied, "I have been afraid of snakes, ever since I was bit by one." The other trackers seem to agree with Raymond's sentiment.
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