The A - Z April Challenge: C ...Succintly Yours

This post might equally be titled, 'Beauty and the Beast'...

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 C is for Cheetah

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Without question the swift and sleek cheetah is one of Africa’s most beautiful creatures, and we were fortunate to see many of them on the savannahs of Kenya and Tanzania.

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Before embarking on our safari, I sought assurance we were not intruding. Though mindful that our presence was itself a intrusion, I hoped our impact might yet be minimal.

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 From the beginning, my fears were allayed. Riding slowly along the rutted roads on our first day in the Samburu Game Reserve, we saw a pair of cheetahs approach from the left and head toward the road.

Immediately, our driver stopped the truck and shut off the engine.   

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Unperturbed by our presence,

the lead cheetah moved 

 onto the road ahead of us,

and stretched himself out comfortably

on the warm ground.

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The second soon joined him and the two began to play gently, while we watched and waited.

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The morning was so still we could hear the loud purrs and snuffles that accompanied their game.

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Only when they moved off on their own accord did we continue on our way.

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In my sixth decade, I have accrued many joys in life to look back on…yet I think only a handful will ever compare to the half hour spent on this golden plain watching two wild felines roll happily about in the dusty road like a pair of over-sized house cats…

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Because the April 16th prompt on Photo Hunt is 'roads', I'm linking this up to tnchick...do pop in and visit the other players...
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http://tnchick.com/

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C is also for Cape Buffalo.

 Considerably larger and much less nimble, the Cape buffalo is no less amazing a presence, given its sheer size and fearsome look.

Our Kikuyu guide explained that the Cape buffalo was the most dangerous and unpredictable animal we would see in our travels, particularly one who has left his herd and become rogue.

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These lone buffalo appeared frequently on the grasslands, and we skirted around them most carefully…

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For more A - Z letters, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what other have done with the letter C!

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http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting-announcement.html
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Succintly Yours
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The culprit who pokes a mad cat,
Be it tiny or terribly fat,
Soon learns his mistake
For abuse they’ll not take
But will eat you in ten seconds flat!
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As Monday's prompt at Succintly Yours is cat-related, I thought to include it with this cheetah post. This challenge asks that we build a tale around the picture provided using no more than 140 characters or words. Today, I have also worked the optional word 'culprit' into my piece. I have Mad Kane to thank for unleashing the limerick monster I did not know lived inside me!!
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Succintly Yours: http://grandmas-goulash.info/
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Mad Kane:  http://www.madkane.com/humor_blog/