| The giraffe is one of the easy animals to | | | | paid much attention. Koech in his aggressive |
| find in various kenyan parks. It is easily | | | | style drove straight into the herd. His |
| identified by its long neck and beautiful | | | | intention was to go accross to the other side |
| spots. It has a such graceful walk and and | | | | and leave the animals at peace. |
| almost a friendly glance to you from up | | | | |
| there. But like all the animals in the park, | | | | One rule about the giraffe is that the bull |
| never cross the giraffe in the wrong way. | | | | always walks behind the family. He oversees |
| | | | that the females and the young are safe from |
| The big cats in Africa, love to prey on | | | | a vantage position, behind them. Anyone or |
| different animals. The giraffe is no | | | | anything that interferes with this set of |
| exceptional. Lions often attempt to attack it | | | | affairs is an enemy who should be dealt with |
| especially when it is with calf, but chances | | | | ruthlessly. Without his knowledge, Koech had |
| that a hunt of the giraffe will be successful | | | | broken one of the cardinal rules of the |
| are minimal. Being one of the few animals | | | | giraffe, by driving through the family. Due |
| that can kick with all the four legs, the | | | | to poor visibility, the vehicle was moving |
| giraffe makes even the biggest of the African | | | | slowly. |
| lions avoid it and go for easier prey. | | | | |
| | | | The first kick hit the edge of the |
| Understanding the animal behavior, likes and | | | | windscreen, forming a muddy blackout. There |
| dislikes can make the difference between life | | | | were two others on the sides almost |
| and death in parks. For instance when near | | | | simultineously leaving everyone baffled and |
| elephants, it is important to keep silent at | | | | confused. Koech had now stopped the vehicle, |
| all times. The cats seem playful even when | | | | uncertain what the cause of the mayhem was. |
| they are most dangerous and the buffalo needs | | | | There was one last massive kick on his door |
| no provocation to attack. Never stand on the | | | | before the bull girrafe gracefully trotted |
| way of the hippo to the water, but | | | | towards the rest of the family. |
| ultimately, always maintain a safe distance | | | | |
| from all animals in the parks even when the | | | | Unknowingly to the crew, the girafffe had put |
| animal can be classified as a no threat. | | | | the landrover between his legs for intruding |
| | | | into the family unit. This rare encounter |
| On one of their morning routine check up | | | | could easily have proven deadly had it not |
| trips, Martin and colleagues woke up to a | | | | been for the strong reinforcement of the side |
| very foggy morning. The check up involves a | | | | landrover bars. All this was done in utter |
| drive through the park to confirm that all | | | | silence. Indeed the giraffe never makes any |
| has been well the night before. Martin was | | | | sound and most of its communication is with |
| seated at the back of the landrover while two | | | | gestures and movement. But it is one animal |
| warders and the driver were in front. After | | | | that one does not consider dangerous and you |
| driving for only a few meters from the gate, | | | | often see people walking past the giraffe |
| Mr Koech a warder requested to have a feel of | | | | daily. But as is with the case all African |
| the vehicle. He had just learnt driving, and | | | | wild animals, even the friendly looking ones |
| the wheel gave him a lot of excitement. | | | | are basically wild and they roam |
| | | | independently, instictively defending |
| Visibility was poor. One could hardly see | | | | themselves and their kind in the true sense |
| beyond ten metres. Koech who could not be | | | | of survival for the fittest. |
| described as a smooth driver, was having a | | | | |
| ball, swerving and breaking the landrover. | | | | James G. Kamweru is a tour operator and has |
| The bumpy Koech drive was more of interest | | | | been organizing and reporting on Vacation, |
| this morning and it seemed they will go back | | | | Travel and Tours for years. For More |
| to the camp without any incident. Even when | | | | Information Visit his site at Kenya. |
| they encountered a herd of giraffes, nobody | | | | |