Songs on Safari: I know where the lion sleeps tonight

It really bugs me that I never finished writing about the safari, because there are a few things I really wanted to share.

First of all, that safari was proof that my colleagues are MY PEOPLE. How do I know this? It was like a karaoke van. My colleague Nisma kept singing songs from The Lion King, and of course we had to sing Toto. I don’t remember what else we were singing, but I remember the people in the other van were doing pretty much the same thing.

The best part, though, was singing to the lion.

I’d explained in a previous post that the safari is a bit like an amazing race. There are a lot of people in a lot of vehicles, roaming the park to try and see the wildlife. The drivers would alert each other via radio if they spotted this animal or that, and where, and soon you’d see the vans racing, dust everywhere, to get you a good spot.

Of course, everyone wanted to see the lions.

We’d seen a lioness walking down the road, and it was pretty impressive how she was basically IDGAF while all the vehicles surrounded her and all the tourists snapped their photos. (right) But of course everyone wanted MORE LIONS.

We were slowly making our way to the exit, when the radio crackled again. Lions!

Off we zoomed, and because we got there before the other vans did, we had a pretty good vantage point…

Of the back of a lion’s head. (above)

“Look here! Look at us!” we called out. The lion ignored us. So I started singing.

(Turn around)
Every now and then, I get a little bit lonely
And you’re never coming ’round
(Turn around)
Every now and then, I get a little bit tired
Of listening to the sound of my tears
(Turn around)
Every now and then, I get a little bit nervous
That the best of all the years have gone by
(Turn around)
Every now and then, I get a little bit terrified
And then I see the look in your eyes

And what do you know, it worked!

Not only did the lion turn around, but he also got up! He probably wanted to see what was making all the noise. I tried to stop singing when he looked at us, but I was on a roll and I couldn’t stop, so Nisma joined me! Happy to say the lion did not attack us, and we made it out of Nairobi National Park unscathed.