King of the Jungle

"Down in front.  Come on, down in front."

Geez, those females and cubs should know that photographers on that Land Rover aren't trying to get pictures of them.  It's my magnificent mane and mighty roar they come for.  Hmm... maybe a demonstration will get the amateurs out of the way and give the paparazzi some shots.

"Roar!"  Not bad.  Now to mix in a flex of the old mane.  "ROOO...AR!

That's better.  The Nikons and Canons are a lot safer then what they carried in the bow and arrow and long rifle days.  Although my friend the eagle says they might be more dangerous in the long run.  He's afraid of run away tourism, whatever that means.

The biggest problem the camera junkies cause is the impact on the gazelles and other prey.  Prey are skittish.  Wouldn't you be if my wives were after you?

In any event, the cameras going off keep the herds on edge.  It's more difficult for even the best stalkers to get close to them.  Often, to keep me well fed, it's the old, the young, or the infirm gazelles that get served up.

They don't taste as good, and are bad for our image, leading to the belief that only the helpless are hunted.  Believe me, a healthy full grown gazelle warmed up by a long run, is about the tastiest feast available.

The camera tourists seem to eat well though.  When the dinner bell rings at their camp, they don't waste any time rushing back.

Judging by the rapid clicking coming from their cameras, I'll be featured in a lot of their travel journals.  Probably labeled "King of the Jungle".

Which always gives us a laugh.  This is a savannah.  Why would anything want to be King of a damp overgrown jungle?