There we were, eighteen of us from various countries around the world, sitting in the back of a truck under the star lit sky of Africa. As we were bouncing along the bumpy, long and winding dirt road, we each had a sense of fear stewing within us. This was it; we were heading to the area where we would spend our first night in the open bush. This was going to be the adventure of a lifetime, and although we wanted to scream out our joy, we all sat quietly, each listening for any noises of a hiding animal. During our drive we searched into the darkness with a spotlight, looking for any glimpses of red eyes belonging to a leopard or lion hiding in the trees and shrubbery.
Upon our arrival at our destination, a small open felt surrounded by bush and trees, we began to build our fire that would remain alit the entire night. The fire was to be our protector, and we were each assigned a time for fire duty as we unrolled our sleeping bags in a circular formation around the fire. Aware of the sounds around us, we did not dare to leave the circle alone.
Wrapped in or sleeping bags, sipping hot cocoa, we huddled together and gazed up at the Milky Way and all the beautiful constellations in the sky. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an immense sound caused our hearts to skip a few beats and seek comfort in our friends around us. Then it commenced; a whole chorus of lions began to roar to their fullest ability. At first the noise was extremely frightening, but it soon became beautiful music to our ears. As I looked up at the stars above, and listened to the massive chorus, I closed my eyes and wished to never leave the soil upon which I lay, and the friends whom I lay next to.