Lion fighting!
Chasing hyenas!
Riding zebras!
Feeding elephants!
The two drove along, sightseeing all the way, encountering countless animals and taking loads of photos on their phones. One photo grid a day could not fit them all, so they had to combine two or three into one to avoid spamming the feed.
Huang Xiumin: [You went to Africa?]
Lin Wan: [Yes!]
Liu Leng: [Sis, why are you so close to that lion? Is it a wild one? Or trained?]
Liang Yuandong: [Idiot! Did you not see the background in the photo?]
Lin Wan dared not post photos of herself getting close to giant pandas and Siberian tigers back home, but in Africa, she had no such worries.
Had not those foreign documentaries shown so many foreigners getting up close with lions and leopards? So she could do the same.
That made sense, right?
So…
She hugged a cheetah, stood side by side with a lion, posed for big shots with a zebra, played in the water with a baby elephant, and even rescued a giraffe from her second brother.
Well, who could blame her second brother for being ugly? Lin Wan admitted she was a looks person too.
Li Ying: [Sister Lin is awesome! Boo hoo, I want to go to Africa to see lions too!]
Tian Jinsong: [This skill of yours is top notch at our office, impressive.]
Besides the animals, Lu Zheng turned into photographer Lu, snapping away non stop.
Lin Wan changed outfits constantly, capturing countless beautiful scenes that turned her female friends in the circle into sour lemons, the acidity shooting to the sky. Lu Zheng could tell from Lin Wan’s hearty laughs.
For example, right now, Lin Wan was driving, dressed in khaki outdoor gear, looking dashing and cool, while a cheetah squatted on the passenger seat like a statue.
Lu Zheng was outside the jeep, backing up in flight while capturing brilliant shots.
The cheetah glanced at Lu Zheng now and then, feeling this two legged creature moved differently from the animals it had met before.
…
Bang! Bang!
Two gunshots made Lin Wan slam on the brakes instinctively, and the cheetah whooshed off the jeep and sped away.
Poachers again? Lu Zheng asked.
Not necessarily. Some places in Africa allow legal hunting. Do not plenty of rich Europeans and Americans come to Africa for safaris? Lin Wan said.
In Tanzania’s national parks and wildlife reserves, there were no hunt zones of course, but also legal hunting areas. That was one of the highlights drawing foreign tycoons for tourism.
In legal hunting zones, one could hunt with guns, but with limits. No unlimited killing of animals, and some species were off limits.
For instance, one could hunt wart hogs, antelopes and other African specials that were not rare, but protected ones like elephants, rhinos, lions and so on were forbidden.
Are we in a hunting zone now?
No idea? Lin Wan said, then pulled out the map and Beidou locator to check their position. We should be on the edge of Tarangire National Park.
Never mind, nothing to do with us. Lu Zheng shook his head. Lets go.
Lu Zheng flew back to the passenger seat, Lin Wan had no issue, and she floored the accelerator to keep racing.
But before they drove two miles, a convoy burst out from the side.
Three Hummer modified jeeps, plus two heavy duty pickups with wheels up to the waist, kicking up dust as they herded a herd of wildebeest across the road ahead.
Spotting Lu Zheng and Lin Wan’s car, the convoy ditched the wildebeest, turned, and chased from the side.
Whoa, two Asians!
Gutsy. I did not see any guns on their car.
Lucky so far. Looks like they have not run into poachers or bandits yet.
Hello! Hi! Do you understand English?
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan turned back to see a foreigner leaning out from the left driver seat, waving at them.
Yes! Lu Zheng waved back and replied.
Seeing Lu Zheng respond, the man pulled out a walkie talkie, said a few words, then signalled Lin Wan to stop.
Lin Wan did not mind, braked and pulled over.
The convoy stopped one by one, but only two jeeps opened doors, and three people got out.
Two men and a woman, all blondish foreigners, plus two burly guys from a pickup, one black one white, both armed. But they posed no threat to Lu Zheng and Lin Wan.
Japanese? Or Chinese?
Chinese. Lu Zheng got out and asked, What is up?
The man who had waved sized Lu Zheng up twice, shook his head, and stuck out his hand. You two have some nerve.
How so? Lu Zheng blinked, shook his hand.
The man said, This place is far from towns. The plains are full of primitive tribes and poachers. You two driving alone here could be dangerous.
Whatever else, the reminder was kind, so Lu Zheng nodded thanks. Thanks for the heads up, we will be careful. If nothing else, we will head off.
The man, …
Did he not explain well, or did this guy have no clue at all?
The man sized Lu Zheng up again carefully, thinking maybe he was some clueless rich kid just out to romance and show off with his girl.
He turned to Lin Wan. Sure enough, she was a stunner, tall and slim, smooth skin, and a cool vibe. She would be top tier in European or American fashion circles too.
What a shame for such a beauty to follow this brainless poser rich kid.
England, James.
With that thought, the man introduced himself. This is my friend George and his girlfriend Katherine.
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan nodded, but had no intent to give names.
First, why should they share names just because he did? They did not plan to chat much or make friends.
Second, the two wanted these folks gone quick so they could enjoy their twosome world. After all, some of their antics were pretty wild, and they did not want witnesses.
Seeing Lu Zheng and Lin Wan’s reaction, James frowned. George and Katherine nearby looked annoyed too.
Next moment, the window of the other jeep rolled down, revealing a man and a woman.
James, these two Chinese clearly do not appreciate it, and know nothing. Why bother? Lets go. The guide said there is a lake ahead, we might see lions hunting.
Got it, Louis.
James waved to the man, then turned back again. He thought a bit and still gave a kind warning. Anyway, this area is far from towns, danger could strike anytime. You have no guns, so I suggest for the rest of the way, follow us back to Babati together.
They meant well after all, so Lu Zheng nodded with a smile. Thanks for the kindness, we will be careful.
James was speechless, looked to Lin Wan. You not talking sense into him?
Lin Wan smiled, linked arms with Lu Zheng, and said the same. Thanks for the kindness, we will be careful.
James, …
Fine, she was pretty but just a greenhouse flower too. Bet she would wet herself if real trouble hit.
James shook his head, stopped persuading, got back in his jeep and drove off.
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan exchanged a smile.
Lion hunt, want to check it out?
Lets go. See if there are cubs. If so, once they leave, we can play with the little lions a bit.
