Not all animals are enemies

Besides my war with most of the animals, there are a few that I have seen/heard/learned about that are pretty cool.  To date, I have had no negative experiences with any of these three. Let’s hope I don’t jinx myself. 

Go-away birds

            This small bird sits high up on trees and serves as the security system for all of the animals.  If the Go-away bird spots humans or anything that may be of danger, it shouts its alarm, sounding something like, “Go away! Go away!” and all of the animals quickly scatter.  Quite a nuisance to the hunters, but I found it rather interesting and they were all over the bush where we were camping. 

Ant-lions

            These tiny bugs live in the dirt/sand and devour ants and other similar bugs like a lion would its prey (hence the name).  They dig these little cone-shaped holes and wait until an ant falls into it.  It rarely succeeds to climb up because the walls of the hole are so steep and slippery, and additionally the ant-lion will shoot sand up at it to try and knock the ant down.  Once it’s trapped, the ant-lion grabs its victim with its pinchers, sucks all the juice out of it, and then takes it down below the surface to be consumed.  Sneaky little fellas.  The funny thing is that when they move on land they walk backwards and leave these funny little trails that look like worm-trails. 

Honeyguides

            While we were camping Nani told me about this awesome bird.  If you find this bird, it will lead you to a wonderful bee-hive full of honey.  Animals as well as people collaborate with this pretty little bird, sometimes for very long distances, to find this sweet treasure.  However, you must get some honey for the bird as a reward (notably its incentive) otherwise it will reportedly lead you to a snake or hyena den upon your next encounter.  Apparently if you’re following one and you lose sight of it, all you have to do it make it’s call and it’ll come back to get you.  Amazing!  We had some researchers staying at Nani’s house recently who told us they had found one the day before and had successfully gotten honey. 

Washa-washa

            A pretty little caterpillar, but be careful because washa-washa is Kiswahili for itchy-itchy.  While roaming around with the boys I found one and almost picked it up, but Dylan warned me that as soon as you touch one it pees all over you and then it itches for days. Close one.