I Killed A Leopard With My Bare Hands

When I left home on Saturday June 4, 2005, right after breakfast, I had no worry in the world. As a farmer in Kihato, my life has been quite calm. But I'll never forget that day. On arrival at the farm, I strolled around, straightening a bean tendril here and uprooting a weed there.

A machete at hand, I hummed a gospel tune, thanking God for the rains, which had made it possible for my crop of potatoes and beans to blossom. There was promise of a bumper harvest this season.

I cannot explain what made me change my course and head to the uncultivated patch where the grass was long. I still regret that decision because it almost cost me my life.

I remember that something caught my eye but I gave it little attention as I tried to imagine what the harvest would be like during the year.

Suddenly, an animal with yellow-spotted fur hurtled towards me and, before I could say "leopard", it was on me.

My survival instincts took over. It bared its canines, which were as long as a three-inch nail. Its claws looked deadly too.

It let out a blood-curdling snarl that made the birds stop chirping. I froze for some seconds, and then it dawned on me that death was staring me in the face.

It was at that precise moment when I felt a rush of adrenaline in my system that made me react in a way I would have never thought I was able to. All the while, I clutched my panga (machete) in my right hand. Instinctively, I tilted my body slightly to the right to gain some leverage.

Before I was steady, the beast and I were entangled in an embrace.