A Safe Journey

Michelle and her family were on a safari in Kenya. They traveled for a week by jeep through the Masai Mara animal reserve. Michelle was excited because they were going on a hot-air balloon ride. The pilot, Joseph Kamau, welcomed them. As the balloon went higher above the forest, she saw families of monkeys playing in the trees.

Then, suddenly, the forest ended. She could see thousands of zebras, giraffes and elephants moving south. “Where are all those animals going?” asked her brother, Kevin.

“Ther’re going to a place called the Seregeti, which is an animal reserve in Tanzania,” answered Joseph. “You see, Kevin, now it’s the dry season. Every year the animals travel to the Serengeti, where there’s water. If they stay here in Kenya, they will die. These animals have already traveled very far and they are tired and hungry.

“Look!” said Joseph. “That’s the Mara River below us. It’s dangerous to cross that river. Crocodiles live there and they eat animals.”

Michelle looked down and saw a baby zebra. “Oh, no!” she cried. “There’s a crocodile! It’s going to eat the baby zebra! We have to do something!”

“There’s nothing we can do,” Michelle begged him.

You have a gun. Use it to scare, the crocodile away,” her mother said.

“I’m very sorry,” said Joseph. “I know it seems cruel, but the crocodile needs to eat or it will die.”

The balloon crossed the river and they couldn’t see the zebra and the crocodile anymore. Michelle would never know if the zebra go to the other side.

“Our journey will soon be over,” said Joseph, “but the animals still have a long and dangerous way to go.”

Michelle turned to watch the animals. “Goodbye,” she said quietly. “Have a safe journey.”