En-Gedi Mission Trip Update #6
After a buffet breakfast on Sunday and Monday mornings, our safari driver, Sammy, picked us up, and we entered Amboseli National Park. We were blessed and excited to see hundreds of African elephants, zebras, pink flamingos, and Thompson’s and Grant’s Gazelles. Small groups of warthogs, monkeys, baboons, ostriches, hippos, and a cheetah were among the other animals we saw.
Mid-morning on Sunday, we stopped at a resort for snacks, refreshments, and cooling down. Brenda carried a small bag of potato chips as we walked from our safari vehicle. Several baboons and monkeys were nearby; some mothers held and carried tiny babies. We watched them for a bit. Suddenly, a monkey came out of nowhere, ran toward Brenda, grabbed her bag of potato chips, and climbed into the trees! Brenda squealed, and every monkey and baboon in the area chased after the monkey and chips! Tree leaves flew, and a lot of chattering followed! It all happened in the blink of an eye! Oh, what we’d give to have captured it on video!
By 1 pm, the heat became unbearable, and we returned to our lodge to cool down and have a late lunch. Some of us enjoyed cooling off in the swimming pool while others rested in their cabins.
As the temps lowered in the afternoon, we noticed several Vervet monkeys around our resort. They chased each other, played and chattered, and swung through the trees. Their antics had us chuckling!
In the early hours of Sunday morning, Margaret heard lions grunting and growling and goats and sheep bleating and crying. We heard the following morning that lions had tried to attack goats and sheep in a nearby Maasai village. But three or four Maasai men armed with spears guarded the gate to their village and livestock. The lions instead attacked and killed two zebras.
Late Monday afternoon, some of the ladies toured the nearby Maasai Village. The three men who were our guides showed us the spots where the zebras were killed. Seven lions had first picks at the meal, and about 50 hyenas cleaned up what was left. All that remained were two brown spots on the ground and many lion and hyena paw prints!
A lion pawprint.
We were welcomed to the Maasai Village with songs and dances and even participated a little. They shared their customs, values, and rituals. We were invited into one of their houses to see how they cook and where they and their children sleep. Some of the men are polygamists, while others choose to marry one wife.
We were shown a water pump where a woman was filling large jugs. We were informed that some American people came to their village, dug a well, and installed the pump so they could have clean, cool water to drink. Another well was dug a distance away to supply water for livestock. They are so grateful!
The safari, resort, and all the beautifully created animals and African Savanna were all such a surreal experience we thanked God we could have! What a privilege and blessing!
