The Clever Hare and the Python
Reading time: 6 min
About this story: The Clever Hare and the Python is a set in the . This tale explores themes of and is suitable for . It offers insights. A clever hare uses his wit to outsmart the mighty python and prove that intelligence is the greatest strength of all.
Deep in the heart of Kenya, where the golden grass of the savanna stretched endlessly and the winding rivers cut through the land like serpentine veins, lived a small but cunning hare named Njoro. He was not the fastest animal, nor the strongest, but he had something that set him apart from the others—his brilliant mind.
Njoro had outwitted lions, tricked cunning hyenas, and even escaped the sharp talons of eagles. But there was one creature he feared above all—the mighty python, Mamba. Mamba was feared throughout the land, a monstrous serpent who ruled the dense riverbanks. His thick, scaly body was the color of shadows, and his eyes gleamed like two polished stones. Whenever he coiled around his prey, there was no escape.
One fateful day, Njoro found himself face to face with the fearsome python, and what followed would become one of the greatest tales ever told in the African savanna.
A Dangerous Encounter
One morning, as the sun cast long golden beams over the tall grass, Njoro was hopping along the riverbank in search of breakfast. The night before, he had dreamed of sweet, juicy roots hidden beneath the earth, and now his nose twitched with excitement as he sniffed for them.
But as he dug into the soft soil, a cold shadow passed over him. The birds in the trees went silent. The rustling of the leaves stopped. A chill ran down Njoro’s spine.
Slowly, he turned his head.
There, slithering toward him with terrifying grace, was Mamba.
The python's thick body glided through the grass, his scales catching the morning light. His head, wide as a lion’s paw, rose above Njoro, and his long, forked tongue flicked out as he spoke.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” Mamba’s voice was slow and measured, his words dripping with menace. “A little hare, all alone, so deep in my territory.”
Njoro swallowed hard. Running was out of the question. Mamba was faster than he looked, and the river was too close—one wrong step, and he’d be trapped. Fighting? That would be foolish. A single coil of the python’s body could crush him like a dry leaf.
That left only one thing. Thinking.
Njoro forced a smile. “Mamba, my friend! What an honor to see you! In fact, I was looking for you.”
Mamba’s yellow eyes narrowed. “Looking for me?”
“Yes!” Njoro said, straightening up. “You see, I have a message for you. A very important one.”
Mamba flicked his tongue again, intrigued but not convinced. “A message?”
Njoro nodded enthusiastically. “Oh yes! I overheard something troubling, and I thought you’d want to know about it. They say the lion thinks he is stronger than you. He tells everyone that if you ever crossed paths, he would defeat you easily.”
The python’s massive body stiffened. “The lion said that?”
“Oh, absolutely! In fact, he’s been boasting about it for days. But I told myself, ‘Mamba will not stand for such insults. He is the strongest, the most fearsome! He should teach the lion a lesson!’”
Mamba hissed, his pride wounded. “That foolish lion underestimates me. Very well, hare. What do you propose?”
Njoro grinned, his mind already racing.
The Trap is Set
Njoro led Mamba to a clearing near the lion’s den, his little heart pounding in his chest. He had only one chance to make this plan work.
“Here’s what we do,” Njoro explained, stopping near a thick patch of tall grass. “I will go and challenge the lion. He will chase me, thinking he can catch me. I’ll lead him straight through this clearing. You, my mighty friend, will be hidden here.”
Mamba nodded, his long body curling into position. “And when he comes past, I will strike.”
“Exactly,” Njoro said. “Then all of the savanna will see who the true king is.”
Mamba’s eyes glowed with anticipation. “Do not fail me, little hare.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it,” Njoro said, already trotting toward the lion’s den.
At the edge of the savanna, beneath the shade of a giant acacia tree, lay the mighty lion, Shujaa. His golden mane shone in the afternoon sun, and his eyes were half-closed as he rested.
“Lion! Oh, mighty lion!” Njoro called, his voice carrying through the grasslands.
Shujaa opened one eye and groaned. “What do you want, hare?”
“I challenge you to a race!” Njoro declared.
The lion’s ears perked up. “A race?”
“Yes! You always boast that you are the fastest, the strongest. But can you catch a tiny hare like me?”
Shujaa chuckled. “You are a fool, Njoro. I could catch you before you even took five steps.”
“Prove it,” Njoro taunted. “Or are you afraid?”
The lion growled and stood up. “Very well. Run, little one, and I will show you why I am king.”
And with that, Njoro bolted, his tiny feet kicking up dust as he dashed toward the trap.
The lion thundered after him, his powerful muscles propelling him forward. Closer and closer he came, his eyes locked onto the hare. Njoro could feel the lion’s breath on his back as they neared the clearing.
Then, at the last second, Njoro veered sharply to the right, leaping over a rock—just as Mamba struck!
A Turn of Fate
Mamba’s thick coils wrapped around the lion in an instant. Shujaa roared in shock, his mighty paws thrashing against the python’s crushing grip.
“What trickery is this?!” the lion bellowed, struggling.
From a safe distance, Njoro grinned. “Oh, just a simple lesson in humility.”
Mamba squeezed tighter, his powerful muscles contracting around the lion’s chest. But something was wrong. The lion was not an easy target. He twisted and clawed, his sharp nails digging into the python’s scales.
Mamba let out a hiss of pain. The lion roared and used all his strength to lunge forward, tearing free from the coils.
The moment he was loose, the tables turned. Now it was Mamba’s turn to panic.
The lion pounced, his jaws snapping at the python’s head. Mamba barely managed to slither away, his massive body twisting as he retreated into the undergrowth.
Panting, Shujaa turned to Njoro. “You tricked me, hare. But you also tricked the python.”
Njoro smirked. “It’s not about being the strongest, my friend. It’s about being the smartest.”
The Hero of the Savanna
Word of the great battle spread quickly. The other animals cheered for Njoro, the little hare who had outwitted the most fearsome predator of them all.
As for Mamba, he slithered deeper into the jungle, humiliated and defeated. Never again did he dare to return to the open savanna.
From that day on, the animals respected Njoro not just for his size, but for his intelligence. He became a legend, a reminder that sometimes, the sharpest mind could overcome even the most terrifying foe.
And so, the savanna was safe once more, all thanks to the clever hare.
