Eeek.......there's a snake in my bed!

Helen Shelver on 10 June 2014
I boarded a light aircraft in Nairobi high with excitement and just a little trepidation – well it was a really small aircraft! After a faultless take off, our young lady pilot had us happily floating above vast plains on our way to the Masai Mara. Have you ever noticed how close the ground looks when you’re in a small plane? Have you ever noticed how grown men can shriek one minute and instantly assume a deadpan face of supposed calm courage and bravery a second later?

Minutes after landing at the Governor's Camp airstrip, luggage safely stowed, we piled onto waiting vehicles overseen by smiling, upbeat staff and racing to the camp in open sided vehicles. Colonial governors sure knew about the good things in life. Set on the banks of the Mara River on one side and the vast plains of the Masai Mara on the other, Governor’s Camp is an unfenced luxury tented camp and just magical. Breakfast and lunch on the sprawling lawn, pre-dinner drinks in the bar overlooking the Mara River and dinner in an open-sided tented dining room with endless views over the plains. Tranquil peace broken only by the noise of the wild. Sheer happiness. What more could anyone ask for?

Did I mention that the Governor’s Camp is unfenced? Then you’ll understand when I tell you that it is compulsory to be escorted to your luxury tent and once there you’re briefed on what to do when their resident family of wild elephants come calling. Is there a tent closer to the main area? No? Flash your torch if you need help? Someone is on watch - all night? OK, I can live with that. Scared? Who me? Not at all.

So there was I safely ensconced in my luxury tent with all the creature comforts needed for a good night’s sleep. Dusty and tired, a hot shower and warm bed was high priority. Freshly scrubbed and pyjamas on, I hopped into bed. Did I tell you the camp is unfenced? So I start pulling the bed covers back and out of the corner of my eye I see a flash of colour. Simultaneously my foot touches something soft and warm! The Masai in the adjoining village were surely woken by my scream as I jumped three feet backwards. Shaking, heart pounding – what to do? And the flash light is on the bedside cabinet! How am I going to get help?

After what seemed like an hour but was no doubt mere minutes, I inched my way cautiously back to the bed and heaven help me, I don’t know what possessed me, but I grabbed the tip of the bed cover and ripped it off, flinging it to the far side of the tent. There, nestled comfortably in the middle of the bed, was a lovely, warm hot water bottle! I can’t imagine what my neighbours thought of the manic mutterings, interspersed with uncontrollable giggles that went on and on. I am not ashamed to confess that I did sleep with the light on all night!

Did I mention that the camp is unfenced? So morning eventually arrived and, having slept quite soundly considering, I jumped out of bed and pulled back the curtains. Inches away was a giant eye staring back at me! No jokes - a real live giant's eye! For the second time in 24 hours, my poor body was forced to outdo the best efforts of an Olympian high jumper. And there we were, elephant and I staring each other down, neither moving, neither giving any ground. Well ok, me only because my body had turned to stone! Not until the said elephant got bored and moved on did I dare to let a muscle twitch, to take a breath!

Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would I visit Governor’s Camp again? In a heartbeat.