Охота На Бегемота | Hippo Hunting
Кровати африканских лоджей как будто специально сделаны так, чтобы не хотелось вылезать из них по утрам. Правда, за такие деньги, я бы больше удивилась если кровати бы были менее удобными. Разбудившие нас птицы теперь звали нас наружу. Вчера, мы приехали после темноты, и лил проливной дождь. Сейчас светило солнышко, мокрая трава щекотала пятки, и мы впервые взглянули на территорию Loldia House. Решив прогуляться, мы вышли за ограду фермы и подобрались к озеру. Вдалеке плыли облака, летали цапли, паслись буйволы. Ближе, прямо в нашу сторону, шли два бегемота - самка и подросток. Как всегда, учуяв дичь, я, не долго думая, устремилась в сторону бегемотов, меняя на ходу настройки фотоаппарата. Осторожно, прячась то за деревом то за кустом, я подобралась совсем близко, не рассчитав того, что бегемоты тоже двигались в мою сторону, и теперь мы оказались совсем рядом. После того как я в очередной раз щелкнула затвором, бегемотиха остановилась, наклонив голову в мою сторону. Нас разделяла лишь полоска кустов не выше моего бедра, а бежать было некуда - рядом не было высоких деревьев, и даже если бы я сумела перегнать бегемота, что мало вероятно, то на моем пути оказался бы забор под напряжением способным остановить слона. Несмотря на то, что бегемоты не хищники, большинство смертельных нападений на человека в Африке приписывают именно им, и я решила, что мне стоит меньше высовываться и больше прятаться. Шурик наблюдал за всей сценой с невысокого холмика, Сёма сидел на корточках неподалёку и снимал, то меня, то бегемотов, а я, затаив дыхание, пыталась все-таки сделать хороший кадр через кусты - ну чтобы хотя бы не было так стыдно помирать.
photo by pavlyuk
photogallery | фотогалерея
The beds in African lodges are so comfy, you don't want to get out of them in the morning. Of course, at this price, I'd be surprised if it would be otherwise. But the bird chatter that had awakened us, was calling us outside. When we've arrived late last night, well after dark, it was raining cats and dogs. Now, the wet grass was tickling out feet, the sun was out, and we got to take our first look at the territory of Loldia House. We stepped outside the electrified fence and walked towards the lake. Buffalos were grazing in the distance, followed by white flocks of cattle egrets. Not to far away, two hippos - mother and juvenile - were marching our way. And just like that, I was on the war trail again. I rushed towards them adjusting the camera settings on the go, moving carefully between bushes. However, I failed to account for their movement, and got a bit too close. All of a sudden, all that separated us was a waist-high line of bushes and not one tree around I could climb. There was nowhere to run, and even if I could outrun a hippo, which is highly unlikely, my retreat was blocked by an electric fence that could stop an elephant. Hippos are peaceful grazers, but, nevertheless, most of the fatal animal attacks in Africa are attributed to them, so I've decided to keep low. Simon was squatting with his camera in the bushes not too far away, while Shurik was observing the whole scene from the questionable safety of a small hill. Holding my breath, I did manage to take a few shots through the bushes hoping they might justify the risk.
photo by pavlyuk
photogallery | фотогалерея
The beds in African lodges are so comfy, you don't want to get out of them in the morning. Of course, at this price, I'd be surprised if it would be otherwise. But the bird chatter that had awakened us, was calling us outside. When we've arrived late last night, well after dark, it was raining cats and dogs. Now, the wet grass was tickling out feet, the sun was out, and we got to take our first look at the territory of Loldia House. We stepped outside the electrified fence and walked towards the lake. Buffalos were grazing in the distance, followed by white flocks of cattle egrets. Not to far away, two hippos - mother and juvenile - were marching our way. And just like that, I was on the war trail again. I rushed towards them adjusting the camera settings on the go, moving carefully between bushes. However, I failed to account for their movement, and got a bit too close. All of a sudden, all that separated us was a waist-high line of bushes and not one tree around I could climb. There was nowhere to run, and even if I could outrun a hippo, which is highly unlikely, my retreat was blocked by an electric fence that could stop an elephant. Hippos are peaceful grazers, but, nevertheless, most of the fatal animal attacks in Africa are attributed to them, so I've decided to keep low. Simon was squatting with his camera in the bushes not too far away, while Shurik was observing the whole scene from the questionable safety of a small hill. Holding my breath, I did manage to take a few shots through the bushes hoping they might justify the risk.