Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Chasing Lions: A Rain-soaked Safari Adventure
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Story Transcript:

Af: Die droë lug was verfris deur die winterreën, en die Kruger Wildtuin was volgemaak met die reuk van klam aarde en vars blare.
En: The dry air was refreshed by the winter rain, and the Kruger National Park was filled with the scent of damp earth and fresh leaves.

Af: Die bome van die bosveld was greedig groen, en die horison strek eindeloos oor die savanne.
En: The trees of the bushveld were greedily green, and the horizon stretched endlessly over the savanna.

Af: Thabo, Inge, en Kobus was in die oop safari-voertuig, hulle oë skerp gefokus op die wildernis voor hulle.
En: Thabo, Inge, and Kobus were in the open safari vehicle, their eyes sharply focused on the wilderness before them.

Af: Thabo het sy kamera gereed gehou.
En: Thabo kept his camera ready.

Af: Hy het gedroom oor 'n foto van 'n trots leeus in hul natuurlike habitat, die tipe beeld wat in tydskrifte verskyn.
En: He dreamt of a photo of a pride of lions in their natural habitat, the type of image that appears in magazines.

Af: Vir Inge, wat altyd 'n bietjie benoud was oor vrylopende diere, was elke geluid vanuit die bos 'n mengsel van afwagting en spanning.
En: For Inge, who was always a bit anxious about roaming animals, every sound from the bush was a mix of anticipation and tension.

Af: Kobus, met sy kalm stem en uitgebreide kennis, het hulle hoop gegee.
En: Kobus, with his calm voice and extensive knowledge, gave them hope.

Af: "Leeu-spots is skaars na hierdie reën," het Kobus gesê, "maar ons sal ons kans waag.
En: "Lion sightings are rare after this rain," Kobus said, "but we'll take our chances."

Af: "Die hemel was donkerder met wolke wat swaar aan die horison gehang het.
En: The sky was darker with clouds hanging heavily on the horizon.

Af: Reën het weer begin val, en die pad was gladde modder wat onder die wiele geskuifel het.
En: Rain started falling again, and the road was slick mud shuffled under the wheels.

Af: "Ons kan omdraai en wag vir 'n beter weer," het Inge voorgestel.
En: "We can turn back and wait for better weather," Inge suggested.

Af: Sy het deur haar reënjas getrek en na die dreigende wolke gekyk.
En: She pulled at her raincoat and looked at the threatening clouds.

Af: "Nee, kom ons hou aan," het Thabo daarop aangedring.
En: "No, let's keep going," Thabo insisted.

Af: Sy passie het deur sy woorde gebreek.
En: His passion broke through his words.

Af: "Miskien klaarlig die weer net betyds.
En: "Maybe the weather will clear just in time."

Af: "Kobus het met sy ken gestem, en so het hulle voortgedruk deur die motreën, die blare wat nat teen die voertuig geklap het.
En: Kobus nodded in agreement, and so they pressed on through the drizzle, the leaves wetly slapping against the vehicle.

Af: Die geluid van die reën het 'n ritme gehad wat kalmerend was, selfs vir Inge.
En: The sound of the rain had a rhythm that was calming, even for Inge.

Af: Na 'n paar uur het die reën geleidelik bedaar.
En: After a few hours, the rain gradually subsided.

Af: 'n Streak van helder lug het deurgebreek en die veld begin verlig.
En: A streak of clear sky broke through and began to light up the field.

Af: Kobus het skielik sy hand opgesteek.
En: Kobus suddenly raised his hand.

Af: "Kyk daar!
En: "Look there!"

Af: "Op 'n rots in die verte, glinsterend met waterdruppels, het hulle die moedige silhoeëtte van 'n leeutrots gesien.
En: On a distant rock, glistening with raindrops, they saw the courageous silhouettes of a lion pride.

Af: Die diere het in ontspanne stilte gelê, die konings van hul wêreld.
En: The animals lay in relaxed silence, the kings of their world.

Af: Thabo het vinnig, maar versigtig, sy kamera geskuif om die perfekte hoek te kry.
En: Thabo quickly, but carefully, maneuvered his camera to get the perfect angle.

Af: Sy hand het roerloos gebly terwyl hy die sluiterknop afgedruk het.
En: His hand remained steady as he pressed the shutter button.

Af: Klik-klak.
En: Click-clack.

Af: Hy het sy asem ingehou en nog 'n paar keer die kamera laat flits.
En: He held his breath and let the camera flash a few more times.

Af: Toe, net so vinnig as wat hulle verskyn het, het die leeus omgedraai en in die langsame gras verdwyn.
En: Then, just as quickly as they had appeared, the lions turned and vanished into the long grass.

Af: Thabo plaas sy kamera op sy skoot en glimlag tevrede.
En: Thabo placed his camera on his lap and smiled contentedly.

Af: Hy het geweet hy het die oomblik vasgevang wat hy gesoek het.
En: He knew he had captured the moment he had been seeking.

Af: Toe hulle terugkeer na die lodge, oorwin deur opgewondenheid en trots, het die reën weer begin drup.
En: As they returned to the lodge, overcome with excitement and pride, the rain began to drizzle again.

Af: Maar nou was daar 'n nuwe lig in hul gemoed.
En: But now there was a new light in their hearts.

Af: Thabo het geglo in sy vaardighede as 'n fotograaf en Inge kon die skoonheid van die natuur sonder vrees waardeer.
En: Thabo believed in his skills as a photographer, and Inge could appreciate the beauty of nature without fear.

Af: Hulle avontuur in die Kruger Wildtuin het hulle nie net nader aan die natuur gebring nie, maar ook nader aan hulself.
En: Their adventure in the Kruger National Park had brought them closer not only to nature but also to themselves.

Af: 'n Reis verryk met herinneringe wat baie langer sou hou as die ligte van die winterreën.
En: A journey enriched with memories that would last much longer than the light rains of winter.


Vocabulary Words:

• refresh: verfris
• damp: klam
• greedily: greedig
• savanna: savanne
• anxious: benoud
• roaming: vrylopende
• anticipation: afwagting
• tension: spanning
• knowledge: kennis
• sightings: spots
• slick: gladde
• threatening: dreigende
• passion: passie
• drizzle: motreën
• calming: kalmerend
• subsided: bedaar
• streak: streep
• glistening: glinsterend
• courageous: moedige
• silhouettes: silhoeëtte
• maneuvered: geskuif
• shutter: sluiterknop
• contentedly: tevrede
• overcome: oorwin
• excitement: opgewondenheid
• appreciate: waardeer
• beauty: skoonheid
• enriched: verryk
• memories: herinneringe