Through the Eyes of a Lion
By Diana Ellis
 It
was the second week of a two-week Kenyan safari. We were in the Maasai Mara, the
only game preserve in Kenya where you can actually drive off the road, right up
to the wild life. We had already seen all the herd animals. The zebras,
wildebeests, gazelles, and giraffes as well as elephants, hippos, crocodiles,
baboons and even the elusive rhino. Now all we were interested in were the big
cats, the lions.
 In
the South-East corner of Kenya and part of the Seringeti, the Maasai Mara is one
of the best game reserves in East Africa. The 25,000 square kilometers (9,750
square miles) of vast plain, rolling hills and grasslands of the Serengeti-Mara
Ecosystem is home a variety of animals including 450 species of birds from the
tiny sunbird to the ostrich and the large birds of prey. The inner game reserve,
established in 1961, is now a national park providing 518 square kilometers (202
square miles) filled with wild life and void of permanent human settlement. It
is one of the few places where you can still the see the safari “big five” the
elephants, rhinos, buffalo, leopards and of course the lions making it the most
popular safari destination in Kenya.
 Kitty
Kitty. That is what we had been calling them for the last few days. There they
were lying in the grass under the trees, three males and a female. Young adults,
about three to five years old, likely brothers and sister, according to our
guide, James. Lions do not reach maturity until about seven years.
Our landrover stopped beside them and I put my head through
the sunroof. After I had taken a few photographs, I was drawn to one of the
males. He lifted his head and looked directly into my eyes. At first, I was
fascinated, staring into those beautiful amber eyes. Then I realized that there
was intelligence behind them.
I could sense him appraising me.
Is she a threat? Probably not.
Is she edible? Probably.
Would she be an easy catch? Absolutely.
Would she put up much of a fight? Not a chance.
My fascination turned to fear. This was a predator, a
vicious killer, not just a larger version of my house cat and he was considering
eating me for lunch!
But would she be worth the effort? Nah
The king of beasts broke eye contact with me and resumed
his nap. |
