If your bucket list includes going on an African safari and watching the interactions of The Big Five, you definitely should consider going to Kenya. Kenya has a wide variety of animals, birds and marine animals. The country is diverse and perfect for hiking, bush treks, game viewing, snorkeling and other exciting safari activities. However, you will need to know what to do if you encounter a wild animal in Kenya.
Safari: to go or nor to go?
It is important to note that safaris require some kind of bravery. The activities often need a level of resilience and mental alertness. For instance, you have to learn about predators. You also have to learn about how they stalk and haunt their prey. And don’t forget that wild animals prey on human beings, too.
A few years ago, a parliament of baboons attacked a tourist and his tour guide, and they narrowly escaped with their lives. Elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and tigers are notorious for attacking tourists, too. So, if you are planning to go on an African safari, you definitely need to know what to do if you encounter a wild animal in Kenya.
What to do if you encounter a wild animal in Kenya: some tips and tricks
Before we discuss the tricks and tips of surviving an encounter with a wild animal, let’s look at a few prevention strategies. As much as possible, avoid being in risky situations with wild animals. These animals are untamed flesh-eaters; they do not hesitate to eat humans. Avoidance is the most effective survival strategy.
So what effective safety measures can anyone apply when touring round Kenya?
• If you are hiking on the wilderness or a bushy trail, ensure that you make a lot of noise. Noise scares animals away.
• Flee from all animal carcasses. Dead animals littering the trails are likely to be a hungry predator’s latest kill. You don’t want to give the animal the impression that you’re there to steal its food.
• If you are travelling with your dogs, ensure that you keep them under control. Dogs can irritate wild animals and escalate chance encounters.
• Always move around in a group. Lone travelers are easy targets for predators.
As we all know, things rarely go as planned and preventive measures occasionally fail.
So what should you do when you encounter a wild animal in Kenya?
1. Do not run
When you encounter a wild animal, the first impulse is to run, but that’s the costliest mistake anyone can ever make.
Running automatically triggers an attack response in the animal’s brain. So what should you do when you encounter a wild animal in Kenya? Slow down and move decisively. Don’t show fear. According to experts, animals can pick out the scent of adrenaline (the hormones your body releases when you’re afraid). Don’t betray yourself by showing fear.
2. Maintain cautious and unhurried movements
Do not run. Rather, move slowly and cautiously. Don’t hurry, so you won’t give the impression of flight. Rather speak softly to the animal.
When you maintain slow and unhurried movements, the predator becomes wary or even scared. The animal will back away because it’s wondering if you have any weapon. Remain confident.
3. Resist the temptation to walk towards the wild the animal
An American tourist got carried away once and decided to walk towards a wild animal in the bush. It didn’t occur to the visitor to back away from the wild animal. The animal maimed his arm. Had he walked in a different direction, the animal might not have reacted violently.
Sometimes, these animals react a certain way because they don’t trust humans. And you can’t blame them. In the jungle, it’s basically the survival of the fittest. The lions, elephants, leopards, Rhinos and tigers aren’t in the bush to get friendly with you. So please, don’t approach the wild animal.
4. Carry every little child with you so that the wild animal won’t target them
If you encounter the wild animal while you’re with your child, make sure you carry the child. You can lift the child unto your shoulder; you can also carry the child across your laps. This way, the wild animal won’t assume that your little children are prey.
5. Make very loud noises
If you have pans and pots, clash them like cymbals. Hit a fork against a pot or a metal kettle. Your goal is to scare the animal away and to get the help you need from security guards, tour guides, local and foreign.
6. Make yourself look bigger
The more imposing your figure, the less the likelihood of an attack. To make yourself look bigger, raise your hands to the sky and wave them frantically.
7. Make room for an escape route
While making yourself look bigger and making a lot of noise, also leave an escape route for the animal. When wild animals feel boxed in, they automatically enter fight or flight mode. You can’t engage an animal in a one on one combat. Don’t make the animal feel it has to fight.
8. Never ever back the wild animal
Turning your back to the wild animal will only embolden the animal to attack you. So walk carefully. While backing away, ensure that your eyes are trained on the animal. Back away but keep your eyes trained on the animal.
9. Don’t make eye-contacts with the wild animal
In the animal kingdom, eye contact signals defiance and aggression. So do not make direct eye contact, because that is considered an act of aggression. So avert your eyes from the wild animal.
10. Play dead
If all else fails, play dead. Lie down flat on the floor. While your face is on the ground, make sure that your arms and hands cover your head. Pretend to be dead. There is a high chance that the animal will leave. If it wants you for food, it will begin to maul at you. When this happens, fight with every weapon you can lay your hands on. You can use a knife, a stick or a pan.
Aim your weapon at the animal’s eyes. This strategy will increase your chances of winning the battle.
Encountering a wild animal can be a harrowing experience. It’s even worse when you haven’t prepared for the encounter. What will you do if you encountered a wild animal on a trail in Kenya? Follow the steps on our list of tips!
Resources: SafarisAfricana
List25.com
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