Guest Post: Night Terror

Darlene and I had considered going to the Masai Mara for our vacation.  But in the end we decided against it for a few reasons.  One, Darlene had been there in the past and we wanted each of us to have a new experience; two, the mara is extremely crowded this time of year and we were hoping to have a little bit of space to ourselves; three, we wanted to have a more active adventure than sitting in a safari car all day allows; and four, terrifying things can happen on a safari.

Our friend Deborah was here briefly for work and took a few days for a camping safari. She writes about a night visitor in this guest post. Our story starts here, a photo of her cabin that provides a sense of foreboding:

I spent 4 days on a camping safari trip to the Masai Mara, the most famous game reserve, in Kenya.  My camp was located right on the river that forms one of the boundaries of the game reserve.  I was pleased to have cabins to sleep in and not tents and even have hot showers.  In our orientation at camp, we were encouraged to keep our doors shut at all times  -- baboons it seems like to scatter clothes and such if the unsuspecting visitor leaver his door open. I make a note to comply and do so.

The first night when you go to bed you try to relax and not let you mind race.  Yes, I know that Masai guards are keeping watch to chase away any large game.  I still hear strange sounds. I manage to sleep.

On night two, I am alone in my cabin lying on one of the bunk beds.  The dim light bulb is still on while I read before I turn out the light to sleep.  Just me, my sleeping bag, some water bottles in a plastic bag on the floor, and my duffle bag with my other possessions.   I think that I hear plastic move. Ignore it I tell myself – don’t imagine things.  Later I think that I hear it again. Okay, this leads to me putting my book down and getting up looking through my bag, looking under the beds.  I see nothing outside the ordinary.  Soon it is time to turn off the light. 

Then my eyes meet his. Right by the door is a 2-3 inch long frog.

We have all heard the critter stories about Africa.  Here I am to see the big five and other animals as well. I had thought about seeing snakes in Africa and the Big Five—frogs had not been on my mind.

The Amazon has frogs that are used to make deadly arrows.  As a child, I do not recall hearing about dangerous frogs in Africa.  Is he harmless?  My new bedtime mission is to get the frog out the door regardless.

I open the door.  The frog jumps into the corner and then freezes in fear.  How do I make a frog jump out the door that is wide open for him? Bring in the flip flop – I nudge the frog outside and shut the door.

Now it is bedtime and the light will go off.  No more critters in the cabin or so I hope.

Now you may be thinking, hey, it's just a frog.  But this was the frog: