One beautiful morning just at daybreak, I grabbed a coffee at the Vic Falls hotel, and took the narrow path off of the rear veranda to the Falls.
It was my first trip and a top lifetime bucket list item.
I was alone with my thoughts... not another single person in sight.
Other than the low distant roar of the Falls, and misc wakeup calls from the local bird life, it was as quiet and peaceful as imaginable.
As I rounded a corner on the path I was looking at a lone giant male Baboon about 15 or 20 feet in front me...sitting in the middle of the path... motionless...but staring intently at me.
I stopped...he stared.
Mexican standoff.
After what seemed like a lifetime (closer to 2-3 minutes) he stood, assumed an NFL-esque 4 point stance, and either yawned out of boredom, or or purposely tried to scare me to death, by opening his mouth wide enough to latch onto a regulation size basketball.
Not being a Baboon- ologist, I have no idea what he was thinking, or the point he was trying to get across, but I do know this.
He never made a sound... he never took his eyes off of me...and never blinked.
Not once.
As he exited to the left into the thick, he continued to give me the "side eye" until out of sight.
Still now, 34 years later, that priceless chance encounter remains a top 5 "best morning ever" moment.
Best
Spike
