In a country far, far away...
About ten years ago, I was on a family holiday on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe. We had chartered a houseboat, and were moored within a national park. I had woken early, and taken a tender boat to the shore to try and get some good pictures on my camera of wildlife or whatever else I could find. It was a warm, sunny day, the birds were singing, the air was fresh and all was right with the world.

Whilst all seemed peaceful and calm, I wandered blissfully along, absorbing the ambience. The path took me past several large grey rocks. I then noticed that the birds had stopped singing. The silence was overwhelming. I slowed my steps, and looked around, snapped out of my reverie.

This was when I realised that the large grey rocks of which I had not taken much notice, were not rocks at all, but in fact were a herd of elephants! They had all gone quiet, and had stopped their browsing, as I had bumbled into the middle of them. Several thoughts crossed my mind at this point; did I spin round and run, or carry on forward, or very slowly walk backwards and away.

The last plan of action seemed to be the best, with the least chance of spooking the herd and getting myself trampled. I slowly backed up, keeping the large grey shapes in my peripheral vision as I kept my eyes forward in a non-threatening manner, and moved back until I was able to turn and walk away with a bit more speed, my heart jack-hammering in my chest.

My camera still hung around my neck, completely forgotten, and I realised afterwards that taking pictures, with the loud mechanism of my motordrive, whilst in the middle of the herd, could have got me stampeded.

Shat myself? Nearly!

First post! Yay for nooby Tuesday!
(madoda, Tue 27 Feb 2007, 11:21, Reply)