Safari Story by Guest Blogger, Mary Lee

After Mzima Springs, Patty, Sonja and I wanted to return to the camp, Sonja wasn't feeling well (a bad reaction to the Malarone anti-malaria medicine) and Patty and I felt the call of the swimming pool.  Thus we decided to separate from the group and return to Finch Hattan's with Peter, our driver.

After about an hour and 10km from camp, the van just died in the middle of the road.  Despite all the warnings of "never get out of the jeep" Peter got out of the van and attempted to get the vehicle running again but his efforts were to no avail.  This is where the trouble started.

But first a note about Patty.  This is her first experience outside of the US and it is not an easy trip but she is a trooper, got the visa, got the shots, bought a camera and ventured out into the bush despite all her fears...which are many.  Patty is a "worst case scenario" type of person and getting stuck in the bush is a worst case scenario.

The day was quite hot and to generate some sort of breeze, Peter opened the van door which only heightened Patty's anxiety.  In an attempt to reassure her that there were no wild animals lurking anywhere near, I went on high alert with my binoculars...no lions, cheetah or buffalo.  We were safe!

Or so we thought.  

Unable to repair the vehicle, Peter resorted to SOS via the CB radio.  After about 15 minutes he finally reached someone in Mombasa (which is approximately 300km away) then it cut off.  We had no idea if or when we might be rescued.  About this time Patty could no longer take the uncertainty of the situation and tried to convince Peter that they should walk back to the camp but of course he would see nothing of that plan!  "Never get out of the Jeep," remember?

Then we saw the baboons. We had been so concerned with the van, the radio, and the possibility of marauding poachers that we failed to notice a formidable troop of baboons that were setting up for an ambush!  All of a sudden, dozens and dozens of baboons descended from the nearby trees while others began pelting our van with sticks, seed pods and whatever else they could use as cannon fire against us.

Sonja, still in her catatonic state, was more concerned with whether or not she was actually coming down with malaria was unfazed by the current situation. It was about this time that we hear the sound of another vehicle and the baboons scattered.  

As if I was in some sort of African fantasy, two Masai warriors decorated in their red robes pulled up in a luxurious, land rover.  It was incredible.  It was crazy!  It was Africa!  Regal, confident and eager to assist, they offered us a ride back to camp while Peter could stay with the car. We awoke Sonja from her delirium, climbed into their ride and they whisked us back to Finch Hattan's camp.  

Upon arrival back at FH, we learned that our one radio contact had already been in touch with someone there and had dispatched a tow truck to rescue poor Peter.  Our heads were swimming with the whole ordeal as we relived the experience with some gin and tonics at the pool.  Was it all a dream or were we  really rescued by 2 Masai from a baboon war in the middle of the bush?  I only regret that I didn't catch their names.