African Safari (The Barclay Family Adventures 2)

African Safari BY

Ed Hanson

THE BARCLAY FAMILY ADVENTURES Series 1

Series 2

Amazon Adventure

African Safari

Danger at 20 Fathoms

Disaster in Oceania

Desert Ordeal

Falsely Accused

Forest Fire

The Floodgates

Hostages

Free Fall

Lost at Sea

Hurricane

Mountain Blizzard

Iron Mountain

The Pass

Mystery at Bear Lake

The Swamp

Ransom

Tornado

Sunken Treasure

Development and Production: Laurel Associates, Inc. Cover and Interior Art: Black Eagle Productions

Three Watson Irvine, CA 92618-2767 Website: www.sdlback.com Copyright © 2005 by Saddleback Educational Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

ISBN 1-56254-800-X Printed in the United States of America 10 09 08 07 06 05 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS CHAPTER

PAGE

1 Planning the Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2 Base Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 3 The Serengeti . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 4 Lions and Elephants . . . . . . . . .25 5 The Zambezi River . . . . . . . . . .33 6 Hippo Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 7 Hungry Crocs . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 8 Photographing Wildlife . . . . . .50 9 Back to Nairobi . . . . . . . . . . . .54 10 Winners and Losers . . . . . . . . .58

MEET THE BARCLAYS

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Paul Barclay A fun-loving father of three who includes his kids in his adventures whenever he can.

Ann Barclay The devoted mother who manages the homefront during Paul’s many absences as an on-site construction engineer.

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Jim Barclay The eldest child, Jim is a talented athlete in his third year of college on a football scholarship.

Aaron Barclay A high school senior, Aaron is inquisitive, daring, and an absolute whiz in science class.

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Pam Barclay Adopted from Korea as a baby, Pam is a spunky high school freshman who more than holds her own with her lively older brothers.

CHAPTER 1

Planning the Trip “A camera safari to Africa?” Pam asked. “You’ve got to be kidding, Dad!” “No, I’m not kidding,” Paul replied. He was a little disappointed in his daughter’s lack of enthusiasm. “Look, everybody,” he went on. “It’s one of the last wild areas on our planet. We’ll see animals you can only read about or watch on TV. Why, this would be a trip we’d remember for the rest of our lives!” he added. “Right, Dad! I remember some of our trips only too well,” Aaron said with a grin. “Those memories give me nightmares.” “Okay—so we ran into some hairy situations once in a while. We’ve always

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handled it, haven’t we?” Paul asked. Pam rolled her eyes and looked across the room at her mother. “What Dad tries to pass off as a ‘hairy situation’ is usually downright terrifying.” Sensing her husband’s frustration, Ann came to his aid. “Well, I for one think it would be a great trip,” she said. “Besides, we don’t do many activities as a family anymore. You haven’t said anything, Jim. What do you think?” The Barclays’ college-age son was half listening to the discussion as he read the newspaper. Now he glanced up. “To tell you the truth,” he said, “I’ve always wanted to see Africa. I’d love to go.” Aaron and Pam idolized their older brother. His enthusiasm about the trip quickly changed their minds. “Well,” Aaron said, “if Jim’s all for it, I guess I’ll go too.” Pam laughed. “Hey! I’m not staying home alone! Besides, someone has to go

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along to keep Aaron out of trouble.” “Wonderful!” Paul said with a smile. “This will be our best trip ever.” Jim had a thoughtful look on his face. “Africa is a huge continent, Dad. Have you thought about exactly where you’d like to go?” he asked. “As a matter of fact I have. Africa is the world’s second largest continent. We’re talking about nearly 12 million square miles! Only 100 years ago Africa was called ‘the dark continent’ because so much of it was still unexplored. “So you’re right, son. We’d only be able to visit a few places on a single trip. I thought we should fly to Nairobi. Then we could spend a few days in the Serengeti, which is not too far away. It’s now a national park with vast herds of animals. Next, I’d like to take a short flight to the Zambezi River. That’s just a few hundred miles to the south. We’ll stay at a lodge or fishing camp on the river. Then we can

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explore that part of Africa by canoe.” “Sounds like a good plan,” Ann said. Once the decision was made, Paul set about making the necessary reservations. Although the trip was six months off, the weeks flew by quickly. One week before they were scheduled to leave, Ann surprised the family. At dinner she brought out five packages. “Here’s a little gift for the trip,” she said with a grin. Each box contained a small but highquality camera. “I thought we might have a little contest. Let’s see who can get the best picture or pictures on the trip. And to make sure the contest is fair, each of us has exactly the same equipment.” Paul beamed with approval. “What a great idea, Ann!” he said. “I love contests! What’s the prize for winning?” Aaron asked. “Oh, Aaron!” Pam piped up. “I wouldn’t worry too much about that. You’ve only got two chances to win anyway—slim and none.” 8

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“We’ll see about that,” Aaron laughed. The day of their departure finally arrived. After a long flight from New York, the 747 aircraft began its descent. The pilot was preparing to land at Nairobi International Airport. Pam peered down at the sprawling city spread out below them. “Look at that!” she exclaimed. “Nairobi is a really big city, isn’t it?” “It sure is,” Paul answered. “More than a million and a half people live there.” The big jet landed with a jolt. Then it sped along the runway for several hundred yards before turning toward the gate. Soon the flight attendant came on the public address system. “Welcome to Nairobi,” she said. Paul unlatched his seatbelt and bounded into the aisle. “I can’t believe we’re finally here!” he exclaimed. Ann smiled. He’s more excited than the kids are, she thought to herself.

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CHAPTER 2

Base Camp A tall blond man met the Barclays at the airport. “I’m Eric Gibbons,” he said with a smile. “I’ll be your guide for the next few days.” “Glad to meet you, Eric,” Paul said. “I’m Paul. This is my wife Ann, and our kids—Jim, Aaron, and Pam.” After shaking hands all around, Eric said, “Welcome to Africa. I hope you’re ready for the time of your life!” Eric helped the family gather their luggage. Then he led them out of the terminal to his Land Rover. “This isn’t the best vehicle for the city, but you can’t beat it for the bush,” he said. Paul cocked his head as he tried to

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place Eric’s accent. “You sure don’t sound much like a local guide,” Paul said. “You’re not an African native, are you?” Eric laughed. “Right you are, mate. I came to Africa from Australia. That was about four years ago.” “What made you decide to go so far away from home?” Paul asked. “Well, mate, Australia got just a bit too small for me,” Eric said with a laugh. “But seriously—I intend to explore all seven continents before I decide where to settle down. Guiding in the Serengeti is just one step along the way.” As they drove along, Aaron and Pam asked Eric about the different animals they might see. “Oh, you’ll be seeing lots of animals,” he assured them. “The migration north hasn’t started yet. That means the park is loaded with both predators and prey right now.” “We were told that this is the very best time of the year to visit,” Ann said.

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“That was good advice,” Eric agreed. “You missed both the very rainy and the very dry seasons. Many of the animals will head north in another month. But as I said, they’re all here now.” The trip to the base camp took four hours. After the long drive on bumpy dirt roads, all the Barclays were happy to stretch their legs. Although they would be sleeping in tents, the camp was quite comfortable. The tents were set up on wooden platforms. A bed, a desk, and a couple of chairs were in each tent. Kerosene lamps provided light. The kitchen and eating areas were in the middle of the campsite. Four Africans, two men and two women, were in charge of providing all the meals. Since 20 to 25 tourists were there at any one time, the kitchen staff was kept busy. After a fine dinner, Jim asked Eric if he’d ever had a dangerous encounter with the animals. “Well, we’re always alert

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and careful,” he answered. “Animals are unpredictable. One day a critter might run off with its tail between its legs. The next day, the very same critter might go out of its way to take you out. But I’ve never had an experience where I feared for my life, if that’s what you mean. Unlike my friend Brian.” “Who is Brian?” Aaron asked. Eric turned toward Aaron. “Oh, he’s one of my buddies back in Australia,” he replied. “We both worked as guides back home, too.” “What happened to him?” asked Pam. “Something pretty darn scary,” Eric said. “He was swimming when he got attacked by a big old saltwater crocodile. That’s one of the most dangerous creatures on this planet! Crocs can reach 13 or 14 feet in length—and they fear nothing! A big croc can tear a person or large animal apart in minutes!” “What happened to Brian?” Pam

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asked, her eyes wide with wonder. “Well, this old croc came up under him. It clamped its teeth on Brian’s left arm. As it was dragging him under, he knew just what was happening to him. And even worse, he realized what was going to happen next.” Fascinated, Aaron was on the edge of his seat. “What do you mean, Eric?” Eric captured Aaron’s eyes with an intense stare. His voice was hushed. “Do you know how a crocodile tears the meat from its victim?” Pam and Aaron shook their heads. Their eyes never left Eric’s face. Eric let a few more seconds tick by before continuing. “The croc rolls over and over,” he said. Now his voice was louder and much more animated. “This spinning action rips the arms and legs from the victim’s body. Once they’re detached, the crocodile can then easily eat the body. “But my mate Brian was a cagey fellow.

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He knew what that old croc’s next move would be. And he knew he had only one chance for survival. So Brian wrapped his legs and his free arm tightly around the croc. That way, when it started its spinning, Brian’s body could turn with it. It took a lot of courage and strength to make that maneuver. But Brian rode that old croc the way a cowboy rides a bucking bull. And it worked, too! It saved his arm from being torn off.” Ann’s face had turned pale. “That’s horrible!” she cried out. “You got that right, Ann,” Eric replied. “But old Brian still had a major problem. His arm was still attached to his body— but it was also trapped in the croc’s powerful jaws. And that croc was six feet beneath the surface!” “How did he get away?” Aaron gasped. “Well, mate, after spinning for 30 seconds or so, that big old croc stopped moving. He must have been mighty

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frustrated. Brian saw his chance and immediately went on the attack. He used his free arm to attack the beast’s only weak spot—its eye. “He pounded and gouged until the croc opened its jaws and released him. By then, Brian’s lungs were bursting. His arm was broken in two places, and he was bleeding badly. But somehow he struggled to the surface. Fortunately, a nearby boat had witnessed the attack. Brian was pulled aboard just as the crocodile was returning for a second attack.” Paul shook his head in amazement. “Your friend Brian was certainly lucky to be rescued,” he said. Eric smiled and nodded. “He sure was! If that boat hadn’t been there, he would have been a goner for sure. There’s no way he could have survived a second attack.” “We don’t have to worry about any crocodiles here, do we?” Ann asked. “Well, there are lots of crocs in the lakes and rivers,” Eric replied. “But as long 16

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as you’re in the Land Rover, you’re safe— just as safe as you’d be in your living room at home.” Eric stood up and stretched. “Well it’s getting late,” he said. “Since we have a full day tomorrow, maybe we should turn in.” “Good idea, Eric,” Paul said with a big yawn. “And by the way—what time do you want to get started in the morning?” Eric grinned. “An early start is the best start,” he said. “Breakfast is served from seven to eight o’clock. We should be heading out by 8:30.” The weary family was glad to settle down in their tents for the night. A full moon was rising over the Serengeti as the Barclays fell deeply asleep.

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CHAPTER 3

The Serengeti Eager for their first day on the African plains, the Barclays woke at dawn. By 6:30 Jim, Aaron, and Pam were up and dressed. They wandered around camp for a while. Eric had told them that a ringing bell would call them to breakfast. When the bell finally rang, the Barclay family was first in line. Jim quickly devoured a large plate of ham and eggs. Then he turned to Paul. “We may be in the middle of the Dark Continent, but we couldn’t get better food anywhere.” “I agree!” Aaron exclaimed as he finished the food on his plate and headed back for seconds.

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After everyone had eaten, Eric loaded the Land Rover with box lunches and fresh drinking water. “Is everyone ready?” he asked. “Did all of you remember to bring your cameras?” Ann called. Suddenly, four arms shot up in the air. Each arm held a camera. “Okay, okay!” Ann laughed. “I get it. As a mom, I’m officially going off-duty. But here’s a fair warning: As of now I’m on duty as a competitor in the photo contest.” As Eric drove away from the base camp, he explained the procedures used by the guides. “We’ve divided this whole area into six different zones. Each party goes to a different zone every day. This system prevents crowding. And fewer people puts less pressure on the animals.” “So we won’t be seeing any of the other groups today?” Paul asked. Eric shook his head. “I doubt it, Paul,” he replied. “All of the tourist groups

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should be at least 20 miles apart today.” “What if there’s some kind of—uh, accident?” Ann asked in a worried voice. “I have a radio to keep us in touch with the base camp,” Eric explained with a smile. “And if we have a real problem,” he went on, ”there’s always this.” He pointed to a high-caliber rifle. Pam’s eyes grew wide with interest. “Have you ever had to use that gun, Eric?” she asked. “Only twice in all the time I’ve been here. Don’t worry. Usually, just a shot in the air will drive off an overly aggressive animal. That’s what happened both times I had to use the gun.” About 20 minutes later Eric turned off the gravel road and headed across the Serengeti. Within a few miles they reached hilly terrain. Carefully avoiding rocks and acacia trees, Eric stopped on a hilltop. A vast grassland, stretching for miles, spread out before them. It took a few

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moments for the family to focus their eyes. Thousands of wild animals were grazing on the grass below. “Wow!” Aaron cried out. “Look! Are those wildebeests, Eric?” “Mostly—and there are probably some zebras down there, too. We’ll know for sure when we get closer.” Minutes later they were inching along just 100 yards or so from the edge of the herd. “These animals have seen a lot of vehicles. That’s why they’re pretty much ignoring us,” Eric explained. Then Eric pointed away from the herd. “Now there’s a sight that not many visitors get a chance to see,” he said. Everyone turned to look. Sure enough, they were thrilled to see a pride of lions lying in the grass. All the lions were eyeing the wildebeest herd with great interest. Eric spoke over the clicking of several cameras. “I think they may be hungry. If so, they’re getting ready to attack. Let’s

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stop here and watch them for a while.” Ann noticed that the pride consisted of six adult females and four cubs. “Where are the males?” she asked. “Good question,” Eric said. “Just one large male controls each pride. He’s probably sleeping nearby. He’ll stay there until the females make a kill. Then he’ll come wandering in for his share of the food.” “Are the lions really going to attack the wildebeests?” Pam asked excitedly. “It sure looks that way to me,” Eric answered. “Watch! See how the lions are spreading out now? Pretty soon a couple of them will charge into the herd. Then they’ll try to drive a young animal toward the lions that are hiding.” Pam made a face. “I’m not so sure I want to see this,” she said uneasily. Eric smiled at her and shrugged. “Well, we can leave if you want to,” he said. “But this is how these big cats survive. And it’s

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also something that most tourists never get a chance to see. Besides, these lions may not be successful. Only one in every three or four hunts actually succeeds.” Aaron was staring at Pam. “You don’t really want to leave, do you?” he asked in disbelief. Pam bristled. There was no way she was going to let her brother get the better of her. “Of course not,” she replied firmly. Then she turned back to the drama unfolding before them. The Barclays watched in awe. Three of the female lions were crawling forward on their bellies. When they were 100 yards upwind of the herd, they stopped. Hidden in the tall grass, their tawny bodies were almost invisible. One lioness remained behind to protect the cubs. Then, without warning, the last two cats charged the herd of wildebeests at full speed. Most of the herd animals headed downwind, away from the ambush. But

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three wildebeests got cut off by the attacking lions. Before they could see what was happening, they’d run headlong into the lions’ trap.

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CHAPTER 4

Lions and Elephants Instinctively, the three hidden lions chose their prey. Bolting from the grass, they headed for the same wildebeest. All avenues of escape were cut off. Their frightened prey darted left and then right. But in every direction, the wildebeest faced another lion. The end came quickly. A set of powerful jaws clamped down on its throat, cutting off the air supply. In 30 seconds the struggle was over. Almost immediately, the big male cat appeared in the distance. Walking slowly and gracefully, he advanced toward the kill. From the opposite direction, the last female and the four cubs also headed toward the kill. The five females who’d

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been tearing at the carcass moved away as the big male arrived. To the Barclays’ amazement, all the females and cubs stepped to the side. They waited quietly until the big male had his fill. When he finally moved off, the females and cubs moved in on the carcass. As they finished it off, they harmlessly bickered and snarled at each other. “What an amazing sight!” Eric said. “I’ve been here for several years and that’s only the third time I’ve witnessed a kill.” “Those lions certainly have an interesting pecking order,” Ann said with false disapproval. “Obviously, women’s lib hasn’t reached the Serengeti yet!” Pam joined in on her mother’s complaint. “Yeah,” she protested. “You sure wouldn’t find me waiting on you guys to eat first!” Paul laughed. “Watch out, boys,” he said. “There’s no way we’re going to win this one. I think we’d better just

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fade into the background for a while.” “Oh, no!” Aaron suddenly cried out. “I can’t believe it. I forgot to take any pictures of the lion attack!” “Too bad,” Pam said with a grin. “I got some great pictures of the whole thing.” Jim looked at his younger brother and shook his head. “Come on, Aaron! If you don’t get on the ball you’ll have no chance of winning the contest.” “Don’t be so sure,” Aaron shot back. “There’s still a lot of time left.” Compared to the lion attack, the rest of the day was fairly uneventful. There was no shortage of wildlife, however. The family saw giraffes, impalas, zebras, and a pack of hyenas. As they watched the hyenas, Eric said, “Did you know that lions and hyenas hate each other?” “Really?” Ann replied. “Why is that?” “Well, no one really knows for sure. Probably because they compete for the same food. At times, lions and hyenas are

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known to have some really terrible battles.” “But don’t the lions always win?” Aaron asked. “After all, they’re a lot bigger.” “The male lions are a lot bigger, Aaron. But an adult hyena and a female lion are nearly the same size. Besides, hyenas never attack alone. Suppose a lioness gets separated from her pride for some reason. She’s got a big problem if four or five hyenas surround her.” “What would happen?” Pam asked. “The hyenas would keep attacking her until she was exhausted. Without help from other lions, there’s no doubt she’d be badly wounded—or even killed.” “Wow! Life on the African plain isn’t very easy, is it?” Aaron remarked. Eric smiled. “It sure isn’t, Aaron.” At the base camp that evening, the Barclays compared experiences with some of the other visitors. All the groups had interesting stories. But nothing could

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compare to the Barclays’ experience of actually witnessing a lion pride’s kill. The next morning, as they were leaving the base camp, Jim asked Eric if they might see different animals today. “Not really, Jim. The same animals roam all over the Serengeti. We may have a better chance of seeing elephants in this zone, though. I know that whenever I’ve seen elephants it’s been here.” The Land Rover bounced along for more than an hour before Eric slowed. “We’re going to be passing through thicker vegetation for the next few miles,” he announced. “You never know what you’ll see here—so keep your cameras ready.” About 20 minutes later he stopped the Land Rover and pointed off to the left. A gigantic bull elephant stood in a small clearing only 80 yards away! Everyone started snapping pictures of the big bull, but Aaron was distracted. He’d spied a young calf grazing 100 yards

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off to the right. This was his chance, he figured, to get a prize-winning close-up photo! While everyone was looking the other way, he jumped out of the Land Rover. Then he started to sneak through the brush. A few moments later Aaron crept around a heavy stand of bulrush. He was just 15 yards from the baby elephant! At the sight of Aaron, the little calf let out a high-pitched squeal. That sound alerted the calf’s mother, who appeared out of nowhere. Now she was standing between Aaron and the Land Rover. Back at the Land Rover, everyone’s attention had turned to Aaron. He’d gotten himself into a life-or-death situation. It was bad enough that the mother elephant was between him and the Land Rover. But it was even worse that he was between her and her calf! Eric immediately saw the danger. If the female felt her calf was in danger, she’d

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probably charge Aaron and trample him to death. Eric yelled, “Aaron! Walk slowly away from the calf!” Then, grabbing his rifle, he started through the brush. The large female was clearly agitated. She stomped the ground with her huge feet, raised her trunk in defiance, and bellowed loud enough to wake the dead. Aaron was terrified! After all, the creature weighed more than a ton—and it was eyeing him with hatred! Slowly and steadily he started to back away from the calf. Finally, he cleared a path for the youngster to return to its mother. With Aaron no longer blocking the way, the little calf trotted back to its mother’s side. They quickly disappeared into the bush. In a stern voice, Eric said, “That was a very dumb thing you did, Aaron. You must never leave the protection of the group again! Understood?” Aaron hung his nead and nodded. Back at the Land Rover, Paul and Ann

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repeated Eric’s warning. Seeing how embarrassed her brother was, Pam felt sorry for him. “Well,” she spoke up cheerfully, “there’s one good thing. At least you must have gotten a great close-up of that baby elephant!” Aaron looked up sadly. “I almost did,” he said in disgust. “But when the baby’s mother looked at me, all I could think of was getting away!” Despite the seriousness of Aaron’s encounter, the family couldn’t help but laugh. Jim quickly gathered everyone together in a group. “Come on, Aaron,” he said, still laughing. “Snap our picture. I promise we won’t attack you!” Aaron bristled for a moment, but his natural good humor won out. He raised his camera and shouted, “Say cheese!”

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CHAPTER 5

The Zambezi River After another day of touring, it was time to leave the Serengeti. The great Zambezi River was the next stop on their African adventure. The Zambezi is a huge watershed that passes through six countries on its 1,500-mile journey to the Indian Ocean. Like most tourists, the Barclays were eager to visit the Zambezi. Here they’d see wildlife that they hadn’t seen on the plains of the Serengeti. After breakfast the family climbed into the Land Rover for the final time. As they drove along, Aaron turned to Eric. “I want you to know, Eric, that I’m really very sorry for the trouble I caused the other day,” he said.

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“Oh, you didn’t cause that much trouble,” Eric replied. “I was just afraid that one of those big elephants might make a pancake out of you!” Aaron grinned in response. “So was I,” he admitted sheepishly. Halfway back to Nairobi, they came to a small lake. A floatplane company there specialized in flying tourists to various locations. All the Barclays had done a fair amount of flying, of course. But a trip in a pontoon plane sounded very exciting. After saying goodbye to Eric, the family boarded the small six-passenger plane. On the two-hour trip south, they’d be flying just a few thousand feet over the African jungle. “This will be a completely different experience than our ride through the Serengeti,” Paul said. “What do you mean?” asked Pam. “Well, for one thing, we’ll be traveling on the river—which means no more Land Rover. And I’m pretty sure that we’ll see a

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number of different animals in this area.” “Like what?” Aaron asked. “Hippos, crocodiles, and cape buffalo, to name just a few,” Paul replied. “Gee, Aaron,” Pam teased, “this may be your chance. Maybe you can finally get a picture of something other than us.” “Very funny,” Aaron grumbled. Sometime later the pilot called out, “Look! That’s the Zambezi up ahead. Your lodge is about 50 miles downriver from here. We should be landing in about 20 minutes.” The little floatplane continued to follow the river downstream. The family marveled at the size of the river. In some places it was more than a mile across! Then the pilot spoke up again. “There’s quite a sight coming up on the right. Look! A big herd of elephants is crossing. I’ll fly a little lower so you can get a picture.” Just a thousand feet over the river, the pilot banked the plane to the right. That

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gave Aaron, who was sitting on the right side, the best view. He quickly snapped four or five shots of the herd swimming in the dark water. Moments later the pontoons touched down, sending a spray of water in all directions. The plane tied up at a large float about 30 yards from shore. Several workers loaded the family and their luggage into a power boat. They reached the dock in minutes. The Redcliff Lodge proved to be very comfortable. It wasn’t fancy, by any means, but it was clean and cozy. They were met by a small, wiry African man who introduced himself as Samuel. He said he’d be their guide for the next few days. Shortly after the Barclays got settled in their rooms, it was time for supper. A delicious baked fish was served in the lodge dining room. “What kind of fish is this?” Ann asked. “That’s tiger fish,” the cook replied with a smile. “You can catch them right off

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the dock out in front of the lodge.” “Well, it’s very tasty,” Ann remarked. Jim noticed that Aaron seemed to be strangely quiet. He wondered if something was bothering him. “Hey, Aaron,” he said, “maybe you are back in the contest. After all, no one else got any pictures of those elephants crossing the river.” Aaron looked over at Jim and slowly shook his head. “What’s the matter?” Ann asked. “Oh, I shot some pictures all right. The only problem is that I forgot to take off the lens cover.” Pam couldn’t resist. “I guess becoming a professional photographer isn’t high on your list of career choices, is it?” she said with a smirk.

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CHAPTER 6

Hippo Attack Early the next morning Samuel gathered the Barclays around him. “I have an exciting day planned for you,” he announced. “Did you know that many smaller rivers flow into the Zambezi? Some of them offer better viewing than the Zambezi itself.” “Why is that?” Paul asked. “Mostly because of its great size. In some places the Zambezi is so wide that you can’t see the opposite shoreline. Of course, we’ll spend some time on the great Zambezi. But what I really want to show you are its tributaries.” “Whatever you say, Samuel,” Paul answered. “You’re the expert.”

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Two 17-foot canoes were loaded into the back of a truck. Some box lunches and other gear were added to the load. Then they took off down the bumpy road. As he drove, Samuel told them what to expect. “The Tutsi River flows into the Zambezi five miles upstream from here. About 20 miles up the Tutsi there’s a waterfall. We’ll put the canoes in just below the falls. Then we’ll paddle all the way back to the lodge.” “That sounds like a long trip. How long will it take us?” Pam asked. “It depends on how often we stop,” Samuel replied, “but I expect we’ll be out most of the day.” The road was little more than a jungle path. It was midmorning before they unloaded the canoes. The Tutsi River was much larger than the family had expected. The pool below the falls was deep and almost 100 yards across. To Jim, it looked like an excellent spot to cast a lure. He wished he’d brought a fishing rod!

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Samuel sat in the stern of the first canoe. Jim was in the bow and Pam in the middle. Paul, Ann, and Aaron took their places in the second canoe. Since they’d be traveling with the current, little paddling was needed. As the canoes drifted downstream, the Barclays saw some amazing wildlife on both river banks. Gazelles, impalas, and zebras were coming down to the river for a drink. Crocodiles basked in the sun on the sandy shoreline. In some of the deeper pools, hippos eyed the canoes with little interest. Then they went back to feasting on the underwater plants. All the Barclays were busy with their cameras. Even Aaron was finally shooting some pictures. About 20 minutes later the two canoes pulled up on a little island. There, under the hot African sun, Samuel and the Barclays ate lunch. Samuel glanced at his watch. “It’s almost 3 o’clock,” he said. “Let’s get going

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now. We’re still about eight miles from the Zambezi. Then it’s another five miles back to the lodge.” A mile downstream the river suddenly widened. For a while the two canoes peacefully glided side by side. Pam was passing her mother a water jug when she felt a jolt. Then suddenly, the river beneath them seemed to explode! Next, to everyone’s horror, a gigantic hippo lunged out of the water. Grabbing the stern of one canoe in its massive jaws, it splintered the boat like flimsy kindling wood! Pam and Jim were thrown into the water. Then they heard Samuel cry out in pain. The huge hippo was biting into his leg! Paul had no time to react. An enormous wave created by the 2,000pound animal swamped the second canoe. Now Aaron and his parents were also thrown in the water. Apparently satisfied with the havoc it had caused, the hippo

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released Samuel’s leg and disappeared. The Barclays spotted a small sandbar in the middle of the river. With Samuel in tow, they made their way there without difficulty. Samuel was bleeding badly from his injured leg. While Ann tended to his wounds, Paul began to survey their situation. It wasn’t good! All their supplies were gone, and they were miles from help. Paul thought it through. When they didn’t return to the lodge, someone would be sent to look for them. But it could be a long time before help came. Worst of all, they were stranded on a small sandbar in the middle of a crocodile-infested river. With night soon approaching, their prospects seemed very bleak indeed. Paul knelt beside Samuel. “How are you doing, my friend?” he asked. Samuel looked up and shook his head in frustration. “I’ve been traveling this river for eight years,” he groaned. “Nothing like

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this has ever happened to me before. I can’t imagine why that hippo attacked us.” Paul nodded. “Let’s not worry about that now. We have to figure out how to stay alive until help comes.” “You’re right, Paul,” Samuel quickly agreed. “Before long the crocodiles will notice that we’re trapped out here. Do we still have any of our canoe paddles?” Paul shook his head. “I’m afraid not,” he answered. “We lost everything.” “All right, then,” Samuel said with a sigh. “Let’s keep an eye out for any branches or tree limbs that come floating down the river. That’s not much to fend off hungry crocs—but anything is better than nothing!”

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CHAPTER 7

Hungry Crocs Pam was wet, miserable, and still trembling from the hippo attack. “Do you think we’re going to be all right?” she asked her parents. “Oh, of course we are, honey,” Paul said confidently. “People at the lodge knew where we were going. They’ll send someone to look for us. Our job is to stay calm until they get here.” Pam shivered. “But what about the crocodiles?” she asked nervously. Paul tried to be reassuring. “We can keep them away. Don’t forget that there are six of us here to fight them off.” But he wasn’t at all sure that he was telling her the whole truth. As night fell, the reptiles

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would surely become more aggressive. Keeping them off the little sandbar would be very hard—particularly with no weapons. What if several of the huge beasts decided to attack at the same time? He hated to think of his family’s fate. At Samuel’s suggestion, Jim and Aaron were stationed on the front of the sandbar. Looking upstream for floating debris, they were poised to grab anything they could use to defend themselves. Meanwhile, Pam and her mother scoured the sandbar. They piled up any big rocks they found that could be used as weapons. Already they could see several large, dark shapes swimming around the sandbar. And they knew that more would come! Just before nightfall Jim spied an object floating down the river. At first he thought it was another crocodile. But as the murky shape got closer, he realized it was a tree limb. Unfortunately, the limb was caught in a fast-moving current. Someone would

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have to swim 10 feet from the sandbar— among the crocs—to recover the limb. In spite of the danger, Jim dove into the water. Surfacing right beside the branch, he quickly started to tow it back. Everyone but Jim could see that a big crocodile was coming up behind him! Paul and Aaron started to pelt the reptile with rocks. Luckily, one especially large rock landed directly on top of the croc’s head. The blow made the beast veer away. It gave Jim just the time he needed to scramble back onto the sandbar. “Good work, son,” Paul said. “This big limb will be a great help in keeping the crocs at bay.” Now there was nothing to do but wait. In the center of the sandbar, the Barclays formed a circle around Samuel. The only weapons they had were one club and a pile of rocks. As the last rays of daylight slipped away, they counted 15 crocodiles circling their tiny refuge.

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**** Back at the Redcliff Lodge, the power boat was being loaded for the search. Perhaps they would find the Barclays on the five-mile stretch of the Zambezi. If not, they had to be somewhere on the 20-mile branch of the Tutsi below the falls. But travel would be slow—particularly on the smaller Tutsi River. Even with lights, searchers would have to be very careful to avoid rocks and other hazards. By 8:30 P.M. the rescue crew was under way. For the first hour, Paul swung the limb more than 40 times. Each time, the croc would back off into the water—but not for long. As soon as Paul turned to another animal, the first one would be trying to pull an ankle into the water. Paul’s arms ached painfully. He gave the limb to Jim while he took a rest. Aaron threw rock after rock at the attackers. But soon there were only a few stones left in the pile. So he started to concentrate on

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only the most aggressive animals. Samuel cursed himself for not being able to help. But he called out words of encouragement to the others. And he kept watch for crocs that the others might not have spotted. It was nearly midnight when everyone heard the hum of an outboard motor in the distance. When they saw searchlights downriver, the Barclays let out a yell of joy. The boat pulled up to the sandbar just in time. The rocks were all gone now. And after so much pounding, the tree branch had broken in half. The crocodiles had scattered as the boat approached. Now free from the threat of attack, the Barclays finally relaxed. As the rescue boat headed downriver, Aaron spoke up. “It’s a miracle that all of us hung onto our cameras.” That was true. Safe in their waterproof cases, all the cameras had survived! Pam tried to look on the bright side.

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“Well, at least we can still compete in the photography contest. But you guys are just wasting your time,” she said smugly. “I’m telling you right now that I got the winning picture days ago.”

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CHAPTER 8

Photographing Wildlife When they arrived back at the lodge, a floatplane was waiting to fly Samuel to the hospital. Since he’d be laid up for a while, a new guide was assigned to the Barclays. The owner of the Redcliff Lodge couldn’t stop apologizing to Paul and Ann for their frightening day. He even offered to refund the cost of their stay. “Believe me, nothing like this has ever happened before!” he kept repeating. Paul assured him that it wasn’t his fault. “We know that wild animals are unpredictable creatures,” he said. “That’s one reason so many tourists come to see them. If we wanted to be perfectly safe, we

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could have seen most of the same animals caged in a zoo somewhere.” “Good point, Mr. Barclay,” the owner of the lodge said gratefully. “But I can tell you this much,” Paul continued. “After today’s excitement, we’d all like to have a nice, quiet, safe day tomorrow. And please—call me Paul.” “Of course—Paul. How about a trip upriver in one of the new powerboats? That’s just about as comfortable and safe as you can be on the Zambezi River.” “Sounds good to me,” Paul responded. “And let’s make it a late start, as well.” The next morning it was close to 11:00 before the family finished breakfast. At the boat, they met their new guide. An American named Doug Morgan, he explained that he’d come to Africa on vacation a year ago. Having fallen in love with the country, he decided to stay when the Redcliff Lodge offered him a job. The 22-foot Wellcraft was large and

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comfortable. It gave the Barclays a feeling of security they hadn’t had in the little canoes. Powered by a 90-horsepower outboard motor, the Wellcraft could zip along at high speed. It could also idle down to just a few miles per hour when necessary. As they headed upriver, Doug used his binoculars to scan the shoreline for wildlife. A few miles past the mouth of the Tutsi River, Doug turned into a large cove. He slowed the engine and pointed his finger. A small herd of cape buffaloes were on the shore about a half-mile up ahead. Doug gave the Barclays a brief introduction to these unique African animals. Although unpredictable and fearless, they had no enemies as long as they stayed together. A lone buffalo might be attacked by a hungry pride of lions. But even a large pride wouldn’t dare attack a whole herd of cape buffalo. Their sharp horns provided ample defense against the lions.

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Doug shut off the engine, and the boat quietly drifted toward the shoreline. The Barclays got busy snapping pictures of the huge beasts. Crocs were all around them. But even they seemed to know that these animals were too big to be dragged off. In spite of that, however, several crocs were watching intently. Perhaps they were hoping that a small calf would wander from the safety of the herd. Before heading back to the lodge, the powerboat traveled upriver for another eight miles. It had been a quiet, uneventful day. After yesterday’s hair-raising experience on the Tutsi River, the Barclays had no complaints. In fact, the peaceful day had been just what they’d hoped for!

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CHAPTER 9

Back to Nairobi Two days later the Barclays packed their things for the trip back to Nairobi. Their African safari was over. That night they would stay at a hotel in the city. After the short flight to Nairobi, a taxi dropped them at their hotel at about 5:00 P.M. “We have time to do some shopping,” Ann said to Paul. “Let’s get some gifts and souvenirs to help us remember our trip.” “Sounds like a good idea,” Paul added. “Do you want to come along with us, Pam?” “I sure do!” she said eagerly. Jim looked up from a book he was reading. “I don’t want to go shopping, Dad,” he said. “Maybe Aaron and I will just take a sightseeing walk around town.” “That’s fine,” Paul answered. “So let’s 54

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meet back here at 8 o’clock. Then we can all have dinner together.” After the rest of the family had left, Aaron turned to Jim. “I don’t know if I got any worthwhile pictures,” he said. “Let’s go to a photography shop. Maybe I can buy some pictures of African wildlife. I could cut them down and say I took them.” Jim looked at his brother and laughed. Faking shock, he gasped, “You mean you want to cheat on the contest?” “Well—not really, Jim. But what if Pam has better pictures than I do? I’ll hear about it for the next six months.” Jim shook his head. “Mom and Dad aren’t stupid, you know. Don’t you think they can tell the difference between professional photos and our amateur snapshots?” “Darn! I guess I hadn’t really thought it through,” Aaron said. “I understand your problem, Aaron. But I think you’d better go with what you shot and hope for the best.” 55

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Aaron was quiet for a minute. Then he said, “Well, old buddy, maybe you can give me a couple of your pictures.” Jim smiled and shook his head again. “Come on, Aaron! You’re taking all the fun out of our friendly competition.” Aaron was all out of ideas. And he had to accept that he wasn’t going to get his brother’s support. “Yeah, you’re right, Jim,” he said. “I was only half-kidding anyway. But I have to tell you—I just can’t stand the thought of Pam beating me. If I don’t win, I’ll just have to hope that it’s you, Dad, or Mom who does!” Jim and Aaron wandered around the city for a couple of hours. When they returned to the hotel, the rest of the family was waiting for them. As they talked over dinner, they recalled exciting moments on their trip. Everyone agreed that being dumped into the Tutsi River by a hippo was a close second to fending off crocodiles! “I believe we could make 20 trips to 56

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Africa and never have an experience more exciting than that!” Paul exclaimed. “Oh, no! There you go again, Dad,” Pam piped up. “Once again, you’re confusing excitement with terror. We could have been killed—and, I might add, it would have been a most unpleasant way to die!” Paul had to agree. “Okay, okay. I guess that experience was a step or two beyond exciting.” “For once, I have to agree with Pam,” Aaron added. “Fending off those crocs was far from fun, Dad!” Now it was Ann’s turn to have her say. “You’re outvoted on this one, Paul,” she said. “The crocs were literally horrifying. I’m sure that I’ll have bad dreams about that experience for months to come.” Paul threw up his hands in defeat. “Gee,” he muttered, “I guess I won’t bring up that subject again.”

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CHAPTER 10

Winners and Losers It was 10:00 P.M. when five tired people dragged themselves into their house in Rockdale. After traveling for 14 hours, they were all glad to finally be at home. The next morning Ann wrote each family member’s name on a separate envelope. Then she asked them to put their film inside. “When we get the developed pictures back,” she said, “we’ll each select five of our very best shots to enter in the contest. “And here’s something special I haven’t told you yet,” she continued. “Do you remember Ruth and Chandler Davis? They own the Rockdale Photography Shop. I’ve asked them to judge the pictures. They’ve promised to enter the winner in several 58

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national contests. Prizes in those contests range from $500.00 to $1,000.00.” Pam was thrilled. “Wow, that’s great news, Mom! I’ll be rich and famous at last!” she cried out. “I wouldn’t be so sure that you’re going to win, young lady,” Ann said. “After all, there are four other people competing.” “There are really only three real competitors,” Pam corrected her mother. Ann couldn’t help feeling sorry for Aaron. She turned to her youngest son. “Don’t give up yet, honey. I’m sure you’ll have at least a few great pictures.” Three days later Ann picked up the photographs. At supper that evening she handed each person—except for Aaron—a thick envelope. His envelope was quite thin. Obviously, it contained far fewer photographs than the others. “Now,” Ann said, “let’s take a few days to decide which five photos we want to submit.” Noticing Aaron’s thin envelope, Pam said, “It won’t take Aaron a couple of days 59

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to select five pictures. He can probably do it in the next couple of minutes.” “That’s enough now, Pam,” Ann said sternly. “That really isn’t funny.” “Oh, that’s okay, Mom,” Aaron said. “After all, we’re looking for quality, not quantity, aren’t we?” “Good point,” Paul agreed. **** Two evenings later Ruth and Chandler were guests for dinner at the Barclays’. After dinner Chandler Davis looked around the table with a big grin. “Well, I know I wasn’t invited here for my good looks,” he said. “Ann mentioned something about judging a photo contest, I believe. Why don’t you go get your pictures now. Ruth and I will need some time to look them over.” The Davises took the photos from the family and sat down in the living room. An hour later they were still studying the entries. Finally, they came back to the dining room and announced that they had selected a winner. 60

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“I must say,” Ruth said, “there are some excellent shots here.” She pulled out one of Pam’s pictures. It showed a lioness pulling down a wildebeest. “Normally, a great shot like this would be a winner. But there’s an even more spectacular photo here. Let’s see—the winning picture was taken by Aaron.” With that she tossed the photo on the table for all the family to see. The Barclays stared at the picture in amazement. It showed a big, open-jawed crocodile rearing out of the water to grab Ann. The picture also showed Paul rushing to his wife’s rescue. He was gripping a heavy tree limb. Clearly, he was prepared to smash it down on the reptile’s head. In its entirety the scene brilliantly captured the terrifying experience shared by everyone stranded on the sandbar. Everyone studied the photo in silence until Chandler Davis spoke up. “Aaron,” he said, “you must have nerves of steel. It’s amazing that you were able to take 61

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this great picture in the midst of all that commotion!” Paul, too, was very impressed. “How did you get this shot?” he asked. Aaron pulled his eyes away from the amazing photo. “Well, it’s not that hard when you’re as cool and collected as I am,” he boasted. “Oh, please!” Pam said, rolling her eyes. “Okay, okay,” Aaron laughed. “The truth is that it was just dumb luck. I just wanted to get a picture of us in the middle of the river. But just when I got the camera focused, the crocs started attacking. I wasn’t even sure I’d actually snapped a picture. So I’m even more surprised than the rest of you.” No one in the family could argue with the Davises’ decision. Aaron’s picture was great—both spectacular and horrifying. “Congratulations, Aaron,” Ann said as she gave her son a hug. Jim winked at his sister. “Hey, Pam,” he said mischievously. “What do you think of 62

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Aaron’s small stack of pictures now?” Pam scowled at Jim. “I don’t think an accidental picture should be allowed to win the contest,” she protested. Then she turned her glare on Aaron. But she could hold her pose for only a few seconds. Suddenly, a big smile flooded her face. “Just kidding!” she giggled. “The truth is: Aaron, you rock!”

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COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS Who and Where? 1. Who was the Barclays’ guide on the Tutsi River? 2. Who forgot to remove the lens cover before snapping a picture? 3. The Barclays’ flight to Africa landed in what large city? 4. Eric Gibbons, the guide, was born on what continent? 5. What African river passes through six countries on its journey to the Indian Ocean? 6. Who eventually won the photo contest?

Remembering Details 1. What gift did Ann give each family member to take along on the trip? 2. What animal did the lions ambush on the Serengeti? 3. What large animal overturned the Barclays’ canoes? 4. What “weapons” did the Barclays use to fight off crocodiles? 64