Soooo- we saw tons of baboons, and they are so human-like and funny, it's easy to just watch them for great lengths of time. And that's whAt we were doing when we let our guard down. There were 5 of us in the Landcruiser and we came upon probably 16 baboons- moms, babies, pops-you had the whole family. We had just finished lunch and were enjoying the end of the day. It was hot out and our windows were down. The two back seats were empty- to set the scene for you- the seat directly behind ME was empty. My sister was video taping the baboons and we were stopped, engine off just watching out of the left side windows as a baby tried to jump up a wall while another baboon kept pushing her down. All of the sudden, Colleen turned around and facing me said, " Um, there is a baboon in the car." A medium sized baboon had walked around the back and jumped in the window behind me on the right side. The driver turned around and with what I interpreted as a bit of panic said to stay calm, and don't act afraid. ( I later learned that if you show your teeth and/or make eye contact they will very likely attack.) Well, although I didn't scream, and supposedly acted calm, I was dying inside. A baboon bite would send anyone of us to the hospital assuming the baboon didn't maul us first. And it was behind me- wanting our left overs from our lunch boxes. At this time my sister has now turned her video somewhat towards me and the car baboon, and although through her own nervousness, the camera is upside down or sideways, the audio is so great. The driver was out of the car pounding on the window where the baboon was. Really???I assumed the driver knew what to do, but Isn't this going to backfire, cause the baboon to freak out and sink his teeth into my neck as his arms strangle me? Um, everybody, a wild baboon is behind me on the seat. I knew the driver wasn't gonna wrestle the baboon in a heroic effort to save me, nor was he a match for a medium baboon. I was screwed. I desperately tried to get my seatbelt off, but it felt like forever. I was terrified- the noise he was making and the commotion was just too much for me. If you know me well, you know bumble bees send me into panic mode, so you can imagine what a baboon behind me is doing to my heart rate. African adrenaline is in full force. As I finally got my belt off and calmly ( not really) got out, another baboon passes me on my exit as enters the truck thru the front. It was like invasion of the baboons. Well, pretty soon, passengers were out and baboons were in- but our driver was able to scare them off. Back in the Americans climbed, windows up. After the fact, we have never all laughed so hard. We collectively agreed it was the best part of our day. Our driver said this has only happened to him once before in 22 years- later we learned a good friend of his took 9 years to fully recover from a monkey bite. A total Jana thing to happen. I consider myself lucky that this story didn't end " Jana style "
Phew.
Such a fantastic day with the wildlife! Note to self- if ever on a safari again- close windows when watching wild baboons.
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