Night sounds: There’s a reason the Maasai say that the day is for people but the night is for wild animals

On the equator at six o’clock each night, darkness settles quickly, and there in the wilderness surrounding us, the earth quieted, the temperature dropped, and we people spoke in hushed tones, wondering what our first night would be like in a vast land ruled by lions, leopards, and Cape Buffalo.

We didn’t expect Cape Buffalo to be a problem, but our director, Brian, warned us we might hear lions or leopards walking around our tents. There’s a reason the Maasai say that the day is for people but the night is for wild animals.

Tourists flock to Africa to see wildlife

in its natural habitat,

but most of them stay in tourist lodges

protected by walls and fences and guards.

We, however, were experiencing Africa’s wildlife for real—

with no walls, no fences—

with only our flimsy tent wall surrounding us,

and a couple of Maasai guards.

At such a time, I suppose it’s normal to remember stories of lion attacks, and to recall photos or movies or videos of a lion attack (click on that link). In “Top 10 of Africa’s Most Dangerous Animals,” the lion takes the lead with an estimated 250 annually across Africa.

Another article, “These Are The Top 15 Deadliest Animals on Earth,” states that “A 2005 study found that since 1990, lions have killed 563 people in Tanzania alone, an average of about 22 a year.” At Eleng’ata Enterit we were within walking distance of the Kenya/Tanzania border.

But that night Dave and I slept well—perhaps exhaustion was a gift—and we didn’t hear frightful noises.

In the morning, we unzipped our tent and examined the ground for animal footprints.

We didn’t see any that morning, but on other mornings we did—massive footprints all around the edge of our tent.

The unsettling moments—

the most alarming moments—

were the mornings when Dave asked me

if I’d heard the big cat outside our tent

making a low growl.

By God’s grace, I slept through each incident.